Thursday, June 30, 2011

Another Kurdish worker was killed by the Iranian government forces


BANE, -- Kurdish workers have been one of the main victims of Iranian state-terror in East Kurdistan. Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) killed a worker in the city of Bane.
According to our local correspondence IRGC opened fire on a group of Kurdish workers in the areas of Bilesin of Bane city and killed one.
The worker who was killed is identified as Serdar Purbenefsh and is the father of three children.
The Iranian regime is working to black list the Kurdish resistance movement led by Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), but this the Kurdish people who have been subjected to the state-terror of Iranian Mullah Regime.
Kurdish people are deprived of their very basic national and human rights. They even do not have access to decent employment and impoverished as a result of that.
Systematic and consistent unemployment of the Kurdish people who are regarded as “separatist” and “terrorist” by the state, forced hundreds to Kurds to work on the borders carrying goods into the country.
Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) who is responsible for the implementation of state terrorism in Kurdistan, assault the Kurdish workers and kill them on the border regions.
In their latest assault they murdered Serdar Purbenefsh who was the father of three.

Robert Gates said that Iranian government is Arming Iraqi Groups Attacking U.S. Troops


Iran is furnishing new, more deadly weapons to Shiite Muslim militias targeting U.S. troops in Iraq as part of a pattern of renewed attempts to exert influence in the region, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.
About 40 percent of the deaths of American soldiers since the official end of U.S. combat operations almost 10 months ago have occurred in the past few weeks as a result of the attacks, Gates said yesterday in an interview at the Pentagon that also touched on Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. has raised the attacks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and others, said Gates, who leaves office today. Gates will be succeeded by Leon Panetta, director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Iran is “facilitating weapons, they’re facilitating training, there’s new technology that they’re providing,” Gates said. “They’re stepping this up, and it’s a concern.”
Iran is supporting radical Shiite groups intent on “killing as many as possible in order to demonstrate to the Iraqi people that, in effect, they drove us out of Iraq at the end of the year,” he said.
The attacks are increasing as the U.S. and Iraqi governments are discussing politically acceptable ways to extend the American military presence beyond December. Iraq’s nascent security forces have struggled to combat Sunni Muslim al-Qaeda affiliates and Shiite militias, and the country lacks the military capability to defend its borders.

Iranian Influence

The aid to radical allies inside Iraq reflects Iran’s stepped-up efforts to wield influence in theMiddle East and the Persian Gulf region, Gates said. The pattern has become particularly evident since populist revolts began against authoritarian rule in TunisiaEgypt and elsewhere, collectively known as the Arab Spring.
“They didn’t create the Arab Spring or start it, but they are clearly trying to exploit it wherever they can,” said Gates.
In Iraq, more than 100,000 U.S. troops left in the year leading up to the Sept. 1 transition from combat operations to a mission that primarily advises and supports Iraqi troops. The goal was to withdraw the remaining 50,000 soldiers at the end of this year.
The Pentagon has recorded 28 soldiers killed in action since the start of the new mission, called Operation New Dawn. Almost 3,500 previously had been killed since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Troop Deaths

The department two days ago announced that two U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq’s Diyala province when their unit was struck by a roadside bomb. Staff Sergeant Russell J. Proctor, 25, of Oroville, California, and Private First Class Dylan J. Johnson, 20, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, were with the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas.
Three U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq yesterday in a rocket attack on their base near the border with Iran, the Associated Press said today, citing an unidentified U.S. military official who blamed the strike on a Shiite Muslim militia with Iranian links.
The Iranian threat to the U.S. forces has increased “in the last three or four months,” Gates said. Iran is supplying bigger “explosively formed penetrators,” or EFPs, a particularly powerful type of roadside bomb, and “improvised rocket-assisted munitions,” or IRAMs, he said. IRAMs are bombs capable of creating a more powerful explosion than a conventional mortar shell.

Threat to Armor

The U.S. also is concerned about growing supplies of advanced rocket-propelled grenades, Gates said. The weapons, popular with insurgent groups, are effective against U.S. armor.
“So they are really making this as difficult as they can,” Gates said. The weapons are manufactured in Iran, he said.
One of the achievements Gates has touted for his 4 1/2 years in office is wrestling with the Pentagon to focus on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly in developing technology to better protect U.S. forces from roadside bombs.
He pressed to speed purchases of mine-resistant, ambush- protected vehicles, or MRAPs, in part to counter Iranian-made EFPs. He then bore down to get all-terrain versions of the vehicles, called MATVs, for Afghanistan’s rugged terrain. He also established a task force to find other ways of intercepting and countering the devices.

Accusations in 2006

The issue of Iran supplying powerful roadside bombs capable of penetrating the thickest armor flared in 2006, when the U.S. repeatedly accused the government in Tehran of seeking to undermine Iraq and the foreign coalition in the country.
The U.S. said the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps was providing the aid. Iranian leaders denied the allegations.
The issue began to wane in late 2007, when the U.S. military acknowledged a decline in the number of Iranian- supplied bombs.
Gates said at the time that he doubted the credibility of assurances from Iranian officials that they would stop facilitating the deadly roadside bomb attacks.
During a Nov. 1, 2007, news conference at the Pentagon, Gates said Iran’s most senior leaders “probably” are aware that elements of their military are helping the bombers, adding that he hadn’t seen definitive intelligence on that point.
He said the Iranians had given assurances to Iraqi officials that they would try to halt such aid.

Had Declined

Gates said yesterday that there had been a decline in attacks with EFPs until the recent resurgence.
On Iran’s nuclear program, the defense secretary said he still believes the country’s leaders are intent on building an atomic weapon and are “getting closer,” Gates said.
“There is, I think, a general view that they may be seeking what people call a threshold capability, which means not really having an assembled weapon but the capability to move quickly to a weapon should they choose,” Gates said.
It would be difficult to verify that point, he said. “If they get that close, then you have to assume that they have the weapons themselves,” Gates said.
Iran’s nuclear program, which the country’s leaders say is intended solely to generate energy, is under the scrutiny of inspectors from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.

Weapons ‘Threshold’

“The real threshold is when will they have enough low- enriched uranium to make it worth their while to throw out the IAEA and then enrich that uranium to weapons-grade so that they would have several weapons,” Gates said. The question, he said, is “At what point could they do that?”
Iran also would need to develop a weapon to employ the uranium.
Still, the window of time in which Iran might achieve a nuclear weapon remains one to three years, Gates said, declining to comment on overt or covert efforts to throw a wrench into the program.
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have said international sanctions and technical difficulties have slowed Iran’s nuclear progress.

Source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29804

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Iranian and Turkish Governments joint operation on kurdish areas of Iran, iraq and Turkey

Turkish and Iranian armies have carried out a common military operation.

The operation on June 27 which included the Vargenîma and Ahmet Bendi regions on the boundary line of Hakkari is reported to continue on both sides of the border.

Separately, Turkish army has launched a bombardment on the valleys in Dersim, new operations in Hakkari, Siirt and Muş and declared some regions in Sirnak, Hakkari and Diyarbakir as temporary security zone and banned the entrance of civilians into these areas.

Dersim valleys under bombardment

Following yesterday's clash in Dersim where three MKP (Maoist Communist Party) militants have lost their lives, the military operation is expanding in the rural areas of Hanusagı and Bunrak villages of Dersim.

While the Pülümür Valley, Kutu Brook and Vartinik Hamlet are reportedly hit by dropped bombs for long hours with two cobra helicopters, it has been informed that a military operation has been launched in Hasangazi Village territory of Pülümür district.

Post-explosion operation in Hakkari

With the participation of a large number of soldiers, Turkish army has launched another operation in Hakkari region following the explosion reported during the passage of a military vehicle on Hakkari-Cukurca way close to the Gecimli village. Hakkari Governor Muammer Türker reported no loss of lives or injuries in the explosion.

Air-supported operation in Siirt

Following the explosion reported at early morning hours during the passage control of soldiers at the 20th kilometre of the Siirt-Eruh highway, an air-supported operation has launched in the region. No reports of deaths or injuries came after the explosion.

Operations in three regions of Varto

Also Operations have been launched reportedly in three regions of Varto this morning. The operations in rural and forested areas of Icmeler (Reqasa) village and at Buzlugöze (Rindalîya) Village rural are joined by thousands of soldiers.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Chief of General Staff has declared many regions in Sirnak, Hakkari and Diyarbakir as temporary security zone and banned the entrance of civilians into these areas. The ban on the regions, names announced on the web-site of the Chief of General Staff, will stand as of July 1st till October 1st.

Source:  http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1343-turkish-and-iranian-armies-joint-operation

Iranian government continue their bombing of Kurdish Areas

Islamic Republic of Iran has been shelling South Kurdistan {Iraq} for the last ten years, killing thousands of defenseless Kurdish civilians without any respect to international covenants. Due to the nonintervention of neither Washington, nor Baghdad, Tehran has been further emboldened to continue its cross-border aggressions.


Iranian consul has confirmed attacks on Kurdistan borders. Under the false disguise of hunting members of dissident groups, Iran is taking advantage of the opportunity to test fire some of its latest weaponries. Deafening explosions, abnormal smoke odors, and suspicious activities have been reported by eye-witnesses in near-by villages.


Iranian UAVs and Turkish-type “predator” and “heron” have been noticed flying over Iraqi territory in Northern parts of the country in the past.

Iran has recently transported some of its ballistic missiles to Kurdistan border regions to most likely target US military bases in Iraq, in case of a pre-emptive military strike on its nuclear facilities. Earlier, Tehran had warned Ankara to not ally with Washington in trying to topple Syrian authoritarian regime.

Jabbar Yawar, Kurdistan Region’s spokesman for Peshmarga forces stated that Kurdish military forces are powerless to respond to these encroachments, however, facts indicate that there is a trilateral agreement in place between Kurdistan, Tehran and Baghdad that lawfully authorizes Tehran to carry out such illegitimate attacks. Iranian saboteur and espionage embassy in Baghdad admitted this fact in 2009.

Kurdish Defense Forces reliance on Baghdad to guarantee Kurdish citizen’s protection, has further added to public frustration. Peshmarga Forces should counter respond if Baghdad fails to intervene.

The US forces should without delay dispatch a team to promptly investigate Iranian unusual activities, and weigh up the scope of damages inflicted on civilians
source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29709

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

26 prionsers were executed in one day in Wakilabad Prison by the iranian government

The execution of people in Iran has been continuously going on with no stop. Twenty six people were executed in Wekilabad prison in Mashhad district.
According to International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 26 people who were charged with drug-trading were hanged in Wekilabad Prison.
The charge of drug-trading held against them is not being confirmed by any independent sources. Iran has executed many political activists in the past labelling them as “drug-dealers” to justify their execution.
The Iranian authorities have also confirmed the allegation that in the last year they had executed 140 people in Wekilabad prison.
It should be noted that the numbers of execution carried out in Mashhad province are very rarely published by the Iranian authorities.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1339-iran-26-people-executed-in-wekilabad-prison

3 kurdish Political prisoners continue their hunger strike in iranian Prison for 26 days

Today, three Kurdish political prisoners in Rajai Shahr ‘Gohardasht’ (Karaj) prison entered their 26th day of hunger strike. The political prisoners reportedly plan to be on hunger strike until their demands are met by prison officials who have so far ignored the prisoners.
Alnoor Khaziri, Kamran Sheikhi, and Seyed Ebrahim Seyedi are three Kurdish political prisoners who began a hunger strike to protest the unacceptable living conditions in prison. They are held among criminals charged with rape, murder, and drug-dealing. The main demand by the three prisoners on hunger strike that has gone ignored by authorities is to be transferred to the political prisoners’ ward. The situation for these three men on hunger strike has been unknown for the past two years. The prisoners are also demanding for their files to finally be processed.
According to the Kaleme website, the three political prisoners, Alnor Khaziri, Kamran Sheikhi and Seyed Ebrahim Seyedi, were previously held behind bars in ward 350 of Evin prison. They were illegally transferred to Rajai Shahr prison; a location where even the basic rights of people are not upheld.
These three Kurdish prisoners were kept in the quarantine area of Rajai Shahr prison for 50 days. This is a location in the prison with substandard conditions with lack of basic health and sanitary standards. Usually, when prisoners are first transferred to Rajai Shahr, they spend one day in the quarantine ward before they are transferred out. But the three Kurdish prisoners were locked up in the quarantine ward for 50 days before being the transfer to ward 6 of Rajai Shahr prison (a ward that usually hold criminals, not political prisoners.
Ramzan Ahmadkamal, Davood Abdollahi, and Ramzan Saeedi are another three Kurdish political prisoners held behind bars with dangerous criminals. who have their time behind bars housed with regular prisoners consisting of criminals. They have also not been transferred to the political prisoners’ ward.
Based on the alleged crimes of these Kurdish citizens, they are incarcerated for political reasons and they should therefore be held with prisoners who are accused of similar crimes.

http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/101793.html

Iranian officials stated that the prisons in Iran are holding 8 times their maximum capacity

Prisons in Iran are currently overcrowded as much as eight times their maximum capacity, according to a report by the reformist Shargh daily.
Describing the poor prison conditions in the country, the newspaper said that in some cases, some 800 inmates were being held a single prison whose maximum capacity was 100 detainees.

“The country’s prisons can hold up to 55,000 inmates, but there are currently more than 220,000 prisoners,” says Iran’s head of Prisons Organisation. Less than three months ago, Gholamhossein Esmaili announced that since he took over as the country’s prison chief a year and a half ago, the number of prisoners in the country had risen by 55,000.
Citing a member of the Iranian parliament’s judicial commission, the newspaper said the condition of some of the prison complexes made them “inoperative,” raising the vulnerability to diseases under poor hygienic condition.
“At the moment, the number of prisoners is four times the capacity, and in some places, the number of inmates is as much as eight times bigger. This means that in a prison that can hold up to a hundred detainees, 800 are being held. This is something we can see in smaller cities,” Yousefian told Shargh.
While acknowledging the need for more prison space, he asked “with the changing laws on a global scale, is there really a need for so many prisoners?”
According to Shargh, on 30 April, Younes Mousavi, another member of the judicial commission of the parliament, voiced similar concerns regarding overcrowded prisons, claiming that some prisoners were forced to sleep in prison corridors due to a lack of space.

Source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29705

Kurdish Parliament members attacked by the Turkish Government



ISTANBUL, Turkey, -- Kurdish MPs for Istanbul Sebahat Tuncel and Sırrı Süreyya Önder have been taken to hospital suffering from respiratory difficulties after police attacked a demonstration in Istanbul.
The police have thrown tear gas at the crowd protesting against the Election Board decision to strip Hatip Dicle the Kurdish MP for Diyarbakir of his mandate and his exclusion from parliament.

Police heavily attacked a demonstration promoted in Istanbul by Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block to protest against the Election Board decision to strip Hatip Dicle of his mandate.
Protesters, among which were many Block deputies, have been voicing their protest against the government of the AKP as well. Thousands have been joining the demonstration when police attacked the crowd with tear gas. Deputies Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Sabahat Tuncel and Levent Tüzel were at the demonstration in Şişli.

Ten people have been wounded and twenty three people have been taken into custody

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1337-kurdish-mps-attacked-by-turkish-police

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Iranian Activist,Tara Sepehrifar Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison and 74 Lashes by the Iranian Government

The verdict has been issued in absentia and her lawyer has been unaware of the trial. According to the Human Rights House of Iran, she was sentenced to 5 years in prison for conspiracy and gathering against national security, one year for anti-regime activities and one year of imprisonment and 74 lashes for disturbing public order.  She was detained twice after the disputed elections. The Prosecutor’s Office has seized her bail.

Persian Article:http://www.rahana.org/archives/41839
Source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29590

Amnesty International calls for release of an Kurdish political prisoner in Iran

Thursday Amnesty International issued a statement calling for the release of Farzad Haghshenas, a Kurdish speaking Iranian political prisoner. Amnesty’s statement pointed out the torture and harassment of this political prisoner by the henchmen of the mullahs’ regime and said:  Farzad Haghshenas, who is 35 years old and is from Kurdestan province was arrested by the security agents of Islamic Republic of Iran without any explanations or reasons and was transferred to the Intelligence Ministry’s offices in the city of Marivan

Source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29598

Mass Protest against Turkish Government's exclusion of Hatip Dicle from Parliament in Diyarbakir

 Kurdish capital in North Kurdistan is getting ready for a new march this afternoon to protest against the decision by the Turkey’s Election Board (YSK) to strip the city's deputy, Hatip Dicle, of his mandate. The march will begin at 5pm from the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) building in Baglar.

Democratically elected Dicle have on 22 June 2011 has seen his mandate removed by Turkey's Supreme Board of Election (YSK). The Board banned Dicle from taking his seat in the Turkish parliament, despite the fact that he has been legitimately and democratically elected with record level vote. He ran as an independent candidate, but represented the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) during the recent national elections.

It is worthwhile to note that Mr. Dicle has been in custody since 24 December 2009, when he was arrested as part of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) trial.
Recently, the Ankara 11th High Criminal Court decided to cut 453 days (one year and eight months), the time he has served in prison, from the sentence of 20 months imprisonment he had received in 2010 for spreading what is called as "terrorist propaganda."
On the other hand, he has lost an appeal against his 2010 conviction earlier this month. Nevertheless, DI and numerous human-rights lawyers have repeatedly underlined that the Turkish legislation on terrorism are very vague and subject to broad interpretations, and selective enforcement.

Prior to the elections, the Turkish Election Board had barred seven Kurdish candidates from running, but that decision was reversed under pressure (thousand of people took to the streets for days in protest) on six of them.
Obviously, if Mr. Dicle, who won his seat in the city of Diyarbakir, remains barred from Parliament, a member of Mr. Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Oya Eronat, is expected to replace Mr. Dicle, thereby manipulating the victory of the independent

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1331-march-against-dicles-exclusion-from-parliament-

4 Kurdish workers Killed By the Iranian Government Forces in 1 week

EAST KURDISTAN, -- Not only the Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) gun down the Kurdish workers, but they do also force them to spy on the positions of Kurdish guerrillas.
Two workers were trapped in an ambush of IRGC set in Meriwan three days ago. As a result of the gunfire of IRGC, followed up by the ambush, one of the workers named as Soran was died on the spot and the other seriously injured. He is in coma held in a local clinic.
On 21st June IRGC opened fire on a vehicle of workers on the road to Sawe region. One of the vehicle passengers named as Ismail Kerimpur was died on the spot by the gun fire.
In another occasion in the same day on 21st June, a group of Kurdish workers came to the ambush of IRGC on the mountain slopes of Qendil, and a worker named as Abdullah Sur was died a result of IRGC’s gunfire.
Another worker called Salehi was killed by IRGC in the outskirt of Serdesht district.
In the meantime IRGC forces the Kurdish workers as well as the farmers, particularly the farmers of the areas of Sershir of South Kurdistan to spy on the positions of PJAK guerrillas otherwise they will be published severely.
The Iranian regime is working to black list the Kurdish resistance movement led by Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), but this the Kurdish people who have been subjected to the state-terror of Iranian Mullah Regime. Four workers murdered only in one weak.
Kurdish people are deprived of their very basic national and human rights. They even do not have access to decent employment and impoverished as a result of that.
Systematic and consistent unemployment of the Kurdish people who are regarded as “separatist” and “terrorist” by the state, forced hundreds to Kurds to work on the borders carrying goods into the country.
Iranian Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) who is responsible for the implementation of state terrorism in Kurdistan, assault the Kurdish workers and kill them on the border regions.
Just in one weak 4 workers were murdered by IRGC. This is truly the act of state-terrorism.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/kurdistan/1329-irgc-killed-4-kurdish-workers-in-a-weak

Muhammad Alizade Kurdish Student Arrested in Iranian city of Esfahan By the iranin goverment

A Kurdish student named Muhammad Alizade was captured in Esfahan city by Intelligent Service (Atelaat) Units on Wednesday 25th May.
Muhammad Alizade was captured in Esfahan University by Iranian Intelligent Units. He was then transferred to the city’s Central Detention.
Mr. Alizade is from Serdesht city and he is the director of Chia Publication. He is active student in Esfahan University.
It should be noted that the family Mt Alizade has announced they haven’t heard any news of their son.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1330-a-kurdish-student-captured-in-esfahan

Friday, June 24, 2011

Kurdish representatives Refuse to enter Turkey's parliament

The newly elected members of parliament of the pro-Kurdish Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block decided not to enter parliament.
The deputies met in Diyarbakır on Thursday (23 June) to discuss the decision of the Supreme Election Board (YSK) to strip elected MP Hatip Dicle of his deputyship. Dicle is a detained defendant of the case related to the Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK). Also the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is affiliated to the KCK.
After the meeting, the deputies of the block announced that they decided not to enter parliament.
The Independent Member of Parliament of Diyarbakır, Şerafettin Elçi, declared, "The process that was started with the veto of the YSK was carried on uninterrupted with arbitrary arrests and military operations. The last link that blocks the peace process ended in the usurpation of Hatip Dicle's legal rights".
"The ones who claim to have become victims are responsible for this operation themselves. It has clearly emerged that our people will be dealing with this type of operations continuously".
"We are not going to enter parliament until a concrete step at the very point of solving this problem has not been taken. The management of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has to restore the stolen deputyship immediately. We announce the unanimous decision of the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block to the public".

Kürkçü: "We are waiting for concrete steps"

Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Independent Deputy of Mersin, said in a statement made to bianet:
"Over-all, the meeting passed in a positive environment. Various questions regarding the decision we were going to take were discussed. A clear stance was taken by the result. Now we are expecting the addressees of this stance to take a step. We do not enter parliament but we keep our position where we are".

Tanrıkulu: "We will do whatever is necessary"

The Istanbul Deputy of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Sezgin Tanrıkulu, commented the decision on dipnot.tv. He said that it was the political choice of the independent Members of Parliament. Tanrıkulu assured that the CHP was ready to do whatever was necessary.
"If this means an amendment of the law or of the constitution; we are ready to do whatever is needed. However, it is the AKP with the majority vote that can do so. This decision [regarding Dicle] is wrong both in terms of politics and the law and it should be corrected as soon as possible". (NV/AS/VK)

Source:  http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/130984-independent-deputies-refuse-to-enter-parliament

A 75 years-old Kurdish mother on hunger strike to get her son’s body back from the Turkish Government

DERSIM, North Kurdistan, -- Seventy-five years old mother Sakine Yıldız and his son Hüsnü Yıldız went on hunger strike to find Sakine other son and Hüsnü's brother Ali Yıldız body.
The mother and son have been on hunger strike for 13 days for Ali, who lost his life together with 17 other PKK members during an armed fight with Turkish Military Forces (TSK) in Çemişkezek, a district of Dersim, on April 1997. The guerrillas were buried in a mass grave in the town.

Mother Yıldız spoke to DİHA: “The state thinks that my son does not deserve to be in a normal grave. We have known that there are more than hundred mass graves in Dersim and other cities with a predominantly Kurdish population. It is possible to find a mass grave under any mound of dirt in the region. Now we found comfort for our heart as we have learned where how son is buried but we cannot take his body from the mass grave. I want to pray by my son’s grave before I die. That is why this hunger strike will continue until we take the body.”

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1324-75-years-old-mother-on-hunger-strike-claiming-her-sons-body

Unknown fate of a Kurdish Individual arrested by the Iranian Government in Mariwan

MERIWAN, East Kurdistan, -- Iranian Intelligent Service arrested a Kurdish resident of Meriwan district last month and since then no news of his whereabouts is being disclosed.
According to Mukrian News Agency, Ferhad Heq-Shenas has been disappeared by the Intelligent Units of Meriwan for the last month.
Although the family of Mt. Heq-Shenas has tried to find out about the fate of their son, the Intelligent Service has neither explained their rationale for his arrest not they have informed them of his whereabouts.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1325-unknown-fate-of-a-detainee-in-meriwan

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Kurdish political prisoners on hunger strike for the 18th day

KARAJ, Iran, -- Hunger strike launched by Kurdish political prisoners in Rajayshahir detention of Karaj district entered its 18th day.
According to Mukrian News Agency, two political prisoners called Kamran Shexe and Enwer Xizri who are from the district of Mihabad, entre their 18th days of hunger strike.
They launched the hunger strike to protest against the prison’s condition, their unknown and suspending status, and holding them with the criminal prisoners.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1316-kurdish-political-prisoners-on-hunger-strike-18th-day

Kurds in Qamishlo Demonstrate in demand of recognition of the Kurds in Syria

KURDWATCH, June 19, 2011—Nation-wide protests demanding the overthrow of the regime on June 17, 2011 again led to numerous dead and injured. As in previous weeks, the demonstrations in al-Qamishli, ʿAmudah, Darbasiyah, and Raʾs al-ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê) were largely peaceful. The number of demonstrators there is estimated to have been between 10,000 and 15,000. Earlier estimates of 30,000 participants were presumably exaggerated. The demonstrators in the Kurdish region also demanded the recognition of the Kurds and the recognition of the Kurdish language as an official language in the Syrian constitution. In al-Qamishli, demonstrators attacked a school building where pictures of the president were displayed. The pictures were publicly burned, and the security services did not intervene.

Source: http://www.kurdwatch.org/index?aid=1682

Kurdish Politician Emine Ayna was sentenced to 10 months of jail time by the Turkish Government

The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court sentenced independent MP Emine Ayna to imprisonment of ten months. The conviction was based on a speech delivered by the politician at the Newroz festival in Siirt (south-eastern Turkey) in 2007.
31 un-detained defendants were tried in the scope of the same case, none of them attended the final hearing as reported on 16 June.
The prosecution said in their final plea, "It was evident that the Newroz celebration in Siirt on 21 March 2007 was turned into propaganda for the PKK [outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party]. 24 of the defendants made propaganda for an illegal organization by carrying pieces of cloth that featured symbols of the terrorist organization and by unfolding posters that showed the leaders of the organization".
The court board handed down prison terms of ten months each to 25 defendants, including Emine Ayna, on charges of "spreading propaganda for an illegal organization" according to Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law. Six defendants were acquitted. (HK/VK)

Source: http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/130815-10-month-prison-sentence-for-kurdish-politician-ayna

A mass-grave Found in Sirvan area with over 80 buddies of Kurdish freedom fighters killed by Turkish Government

Eighty Kurdish Freedom fighters of HPG (People Defense Forces) were buried in a mass grave in Shex Cume regions of Sirvan, reports ANF.
They have lost their lives because of the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish army in the Sirvan countryside in 1994.
It has been noted that the location of the mass grave is also known by the village-guards who took part in the clash at the time.

According to the statement by eyewitnesses, the operation in 1994 in the Shex Cuma area of Sirvan countryside was also joined by village-guards, while Turkish army started to use chemical weapons after having lost a number of soldiers during the clash with a group of up to 110 HPG members.
An eyewitness told the followings to ANF; "The Turkish army lost many soldiers in the clashes during this period. The guerrilla troop consisted of woman and man guerrillas. The army, angry because of the heavy losses in the last days of the operation, resorted to chemical weapons. 80 guerrillas lost their lives because of these chemical weapons during the operation which was also joined by village-guards who know much about these attacks and the current burial place of these 80 guerrillas."

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/kurdistan/1303-80-kurdish-guerrillas-buried-in-a-mass-grave-in-sirvan

More Executions By the Iranian government

Ongoing executions of people in Iran have worried human rights organisations. One person is reported to have been hanged in the district of Shahrekord.
According to ISNA News Agency one person called Ayub M, was executed on Saturday morning in the general detention of Shahrekord district.
The indictment held against Ayub is not reported yet.

also, 2 people were executed in the province of Esfahan, Human Rights News HRA reported.
Two people named as Sh. Siyakhan from Zabul and N. Mohammad from Afghanistan who were charged with drug-dealing hanged in Esfahan.
265 people have been executed in Iran in 2011.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1308-executions-continue-in-iran
source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1310-iran-two-people-executed-in-esfahan

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Another Kurdish Mass grave of kurdish freedom Fighters killed by the Turkish Government was Found in North kurdistan


WAN, North Kurdistan, -- Mass graves are successively discovered in Kurdistan. The discovery of these mass graves marks one of the most atrocious sides of the policies of the occupying powers of Kurdistan.
A new mass grave was discovered in the regions of Shax, in the distinct of Wan, in which 41 bodies of Kurdish guerrillas are believed to have been dumped in 1998.
The evidences suggest that Turkish army used chemical weapons to fight Kurdish guerrillas in October in 1998.
In that case 41 half-dead guerrillas affected by the gas from chemical bombs were taken by Turkish armies and then mass murdered.
The bodies of all 41 were dumped into a mass grave, which found toda
source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1296-another-mass-grave-discovered-in-kurdistan
pic source: http://asbarez.com/App/Asbarez/eng/2011/01/mass-grave-discovered-at-military-junkyard-2011-01-06_l.jpg

A Message from Shahid(myrter) Farzad Kamangar’s Mother

I have said it numerous times in my messages and will say it again that we must think of our beloved prisoners and don’t allow them to be kept in prison, tortured and killed. No prisoner will be set free without our efforts because the cruelest and the most apathetic individuals are tasked to decide the prisoners’ fate. To break this lock, solidarity is essential.
There must be solidarity between families, and people must help them. Certainly, this assistance does exist. We must ask why our loved ones are imprisoned when they are innocent; we must ask what gives the authorities the right to kill our children. Although many years have passed, a large number of families still don’t know in which prison their children are locked up or even whether they are still alive or already slaughtered. Those families whose children are slain don’t know where they are buried.
Thousands of families similar to me are wandering from town to town. What law, which God and which human can accept this? What was my Farzad’s crime? He only said that a human being must live like one. The authorities imprisoned my son for this reason and executed him.
For sure, there are other young individuals who wish to live like a human and state the same desire similar to my son. Why should they be imprisoned? How long must these mothers suffer, weep and wear black for mourning? I am a mother who has suffered immensely both when my Farzad was in prison and now that the authorities have taken him from me. I understand what other mothers go through for their loved ones day and night. I neither wish grief nor pain even for my enemies’ mothers because I am a mother myself. I want no mother wail for her child.
I say this to all the families of political prisoners and to all human beings. The only solution out of the current situation is solidarity. We must become united as one in both inside the country and abroad. From all the defenders of human rights organizations, I request not to forget this country’s youth and not to permit the authorities to imprison our young and murder them. It is enough.
I kiss you all.
Source: http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/100902.html

20 Kurds were arrested in kurdish city of Batman by the Turkish government

20 people in Batman in Kurdish region of south-eastern Turkey were taken into police custody in the course of raids on their homes. The operations were carried out simultaneously in the beginning of this week. Members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Party Assembly and the BDP Batman Provincial Deputy Chairman, Mizbeh Ok, are among the people in custody, as reported on 15 June.
The people in custody were brought to the Provincial Police Directorate. The reason for the operation was not announced. Independent MPs Bengi Yıldız and Ayla Akat Ata of the Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block went to the Batman courthouse to talk to the prosecutor.
Meanwhile, a bilingual signboard in both Turkish and Kurdish installed on the BDP building in the district of Doğubayazıt (Ağrı) became the subject of a court case. The signboard was part of the "bilingual life" campaign launched by the BDP in co-operation with the Democratic Society Congress (DTK).
An investigation was launched about the signboard that was put up by the BDP Doğubayazıt District Organization. After that, the Doğubayazıt Public Chief Prosecution submitted the indictment to the Doğubayazıt High Criminal Court, it was announced.
According to the Dicle News Agency (DİHA), the indictment claims a "breach of the Political Parties Law constituted by the signboard in Kurdish". The indictment seeks prison terms of between six months and 20 years for former BDP District Co-Chairs Dalha Kaya and Sümeyra Salaz Demir and district executives Mustafa Özer, Talat Aktaş, Halit Oral, İbrahim Kaya and Nilüfer Kaya. (ÇT/ŞA/VK)

Source: http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/130783-batman-20-people-in-police-custody

Prison Sentences of almost 92 Years for 11 kurds In turkey

Eleven people were handed down prison sentences of 91 years and eleven months in total as the result of the trial on the "Ağrı Union of Kurdistan Communities Turkey Assembly (KCK/TM). The decision was given at the final hearing on 14 June before the Erzurum 2nd High Criminal Court.
The KCK intends to organize Kurdish people. The organization also includes the armed outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
As reported by FıratNews, 18 defendants were charged with "membership in an illegal organization". They were taken into custody and arrested subsequently in the course of operations carried out on 13 February 2010 in Patnos, Doğubayazıt and Diyadin as districts of Ağrı and in Van and Muş, three cities in the Kurdish-majority south-east of Turkey. Employees of the head office of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) were also among the defendants as well as party members and a journalist.
The Tuesday hearing was attended by detained defendants Hamit Duman, Nevzat Tekid, Gökmen Çiftçi and Şefika Bilici, all of whom were working at the BDP head office, and lawyers Baran Bilici, Cemal Demir, Şaziye Önder, Timurhan Gül and Timur Demir.

"They spoke in an unknown language"

The defendants requested to present their defence in Kurdish. The court board dismissed this request and registered that "the defendants spoke in an unknown language". Consequently, the statements of the defendants were not taken. The defence lawyers claimed that this trial was politically motivated and demanded their clients' acquittal.
However, the court board rejected this demand too and announced its decision after a brief intermission. Detained defendants Bilici, Tekid and Çiftçi were each sentenced to imprisonment of 13 years; Duman received a 16-year prison sentence.
The other defendants were handed down prison sentences of various lengths. Mustafa Akyol, Provincial Chairman of the BDP in Ağrı, and Mehmet Şirin Açık, District Chair of the BDP in Patnos, were each sentenced to seven years and six months behind bars. Mehmet Babayiğit, Deputy Mayor of Doğubayazıt, journalist Mirza Mehment Şen and Yusuf Yılmaz, Mayor of Patnos, received prison sentences of six years and three months each. All defendants were convicted of "membership in an illegal organization".
Defendants İlhan Çevik and Cesim Göktepe were tried under allegations of "making propaganda for an illegal organization" and each sentenced to ten months in jail. The court file will be forwarded to the Court of Appeals. (AS/VK)

source: http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/130774-agri-kck-trial-prison-sentences-of-almost-92-years

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Ahmed Turk : The Result of this election shows our Unity

 The Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block’s newly elected Mardin deputy and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair, Ahmed Turk, assessed the election results. He said to DIHA News Agency that "goals were achieved but we could do better". The final results of the election are very important for the Block and for the Kurdish people.

“In Kurdistan, what we did is very important,” said Turk, and he continued, “We participated in the election for a democratic constitution, for democratic autonomy and we are still struggling; for education in our own language and to free our friends from prisons. We are clearly embarking on a journey by making these pledges for our people.”

Turk explained that the election is like a referendum. “The election results mean that the Kurdish people are united and our demands are going to be on the national agenda. If not, there will be more pain and more problems in the future,” he said.

Turk said that the Kurdish people continue to show their determinations after the election: “The only choice that we have is dialogue and negotiation. The message is very clear; the state needs to pull itself together. We are calling for a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. We will no longer accept a life like this. We will continue to be united and we will continue doing peaceful civil disobedience actions.”

For Kurds, Democratic Autonomy is essential, said Turk and continued; “The new constitution must be based on democratic autonomy, which must be a topic in the open for discussion and we will work towards this. If these demands are ignored by the state, the people will create their own method to establish the system they are aiming for.

Mr Turk said that “in the 2007 elections, Kurdish people were caught unprepared and they could not organize the party or people. “I have seen one more time that our collective efforts are very important. In 2007, we only got 81,000 votes in the Mardin area. However, today, in the same place, we got 166,000. Indeed, our people have proven how much they are linked to the struggle for freedom, our demands and the way we practice politics. This solidarity is definitely very important and it has put responsibility on our shoulders. Our people have done their duty. From now on, parliamentary duty will be performed by us and our friends. We will do our best to be worthy of representing Kurdish people and all Bloc supporters in the parliament.”

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1292-turk-election-results-show-kurdish-people-united

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

iranian government keeps and tighten the pressure on kurds

 Pressures of the Iranian regime on the Kurds are sustained unabatedly. Three people were sentenced to 15 years imprisonments in Bokan, a number of others arrested in Sine.
According to Mukrian News Agency three people from the district of Bokan named as Abdullah Xosrewzade, Hisman Mohemedi and Hemin Mehmud Texti, who have been held incommunicado for the last 20 months for their alleged affiliation with certain religious groups, were each sentenced to 5 years imprisonments.
It should be noted that these three are currently held in Rajaishahir prison in Karaj district.
Our news correspondence also revealed the summoning of a number of Baha’i – a religious group – to Sine’s Intelligence Agency. Their names are as follow:
Perwane Rehmani, Zebihullah Reofi, Sema Reofi, Fatime Pirani, Fernaz Eygan, Wehdet Xelusi, Shiwa Derexti, Shohre Reofi, Wehide Xelusi, Aghay Nexei and his wife, Nader Mudeti and Sudabe Mudeti.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1288-irans-sustained-pressure-on-kurds

Monday, June 13, 2011

Kurdish Areas sends 11 Kurdish Female representatives in Turkey's elections into Parliament

The new Turkish Parliament will see a higher number of women deputies than the previous one. In 2007 the women deputies were 50. Yesterday's results show that this time 78 women will enter parliament.

The ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) has elected 45 women deputies, the main opposition party, CHP (Republican's People Party) 19, the nationalist MHP (National People Party) 3.

The Kurdish Labour, Democracy and Freedom Block will send 11 women to parliament out of its 36 deputies.
The Kurdish Block female deputies are: Sebahat Tuncel, Pervin Buldan, Aysel Tuğluk, Leyla Zana, Nursel Aydoğan, Emine Ayna, Mülkiye Birtane, Ayla Akat Ata, Gültan Kışanak, Selma Irmak, Gülseren Yıldırım.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1287-kurdish-block-sent-11-women-to-parliament

Kurdish areas in Turkish elections have 36 representatives

NORTH KURDISTAN, -- Despite the various attempts of Turkish authorities for stealing of the votes and threatening of people to avoid voting for the Kurdish candidates, Labour Democracy and Freedom Block managed to send 36 Kurdish MPs to Turkish parliament.
The numbers of Kurdish MPs are as follow:

Diyarbakir: 6

Mersin: 1

Kars: 1

Hakkari: 3

Sirnak: 3

Mardin: 3

Batman: 2

Siirt: 1

Bitlis: 1

Van: 4

Muş: 2

Ağrı: 1

Iğdır: 1

İstanbul: 3

Urfa: 2

Bingöl: 1

Adana: 1

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1286-36-deputies-from-kurdish-block
pic source: http://kurdistancommentary.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/amed_20091022.jpg

913 people have died in prison in 10 years in Turkey


TURKEY, -- While situation of ill prisoners is ever worsening, 913 prisoners, who fell ill due to poor living conditions in prison, have lost their lives in the last 10 years.
401 people committed suicide and the number of deaths will increase much more unless the prison conditions are improved.

According to the data of Human Rights Association, detainees and convicts get mostly diseases of heart, cancer, stroke, memory loss, and stomach diseases resulting from stress.

The 2011 data of IHD revealed that prisoners and convicts catch many diseases due to unfavourable living conditions.
1318 prisoners died naturally, 401committed suicide and 38 were murdered by other prisoners.

source:http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1285-turkey-913-people-died-in-prison-in-10-years-
pic source: http://en.trend.az/news_photos/Prison_231008.jpg

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Kurdish parties refuse dialogue with Bashar al-Assad and Syrian government

KURDWATCH, June 11, 2011—After much hesitation, the parties of the Kurdish Patriotic Movement in Syria, which is an association of the eight parties of the Political Council, the two parties of the Democratic Alliance, and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), decided not to meet with President Bashar al-Assad at this time. In a statement issued on June 8, 2011, the parties wrote that they would have agreed to »an initiative for a meeting with the president that aimed at developing a political solution to the country’s current crisis«, but not under the current political conditions.
This decision by the political leadership was due in large part to pressure from the Kurdish population in Syria and in the Diaspora, including party members. After initially agreeing to the meeting with Bashar al-Assad, the Kurdish parties were intensely criticized from all sides. The Governor of al-Hasakah province invited the parties to travel to Damascus on short notice on June 4, 2011 for a meeting with the president. Originally they were to take part in talks in two groups, and the government had also invited fifteen other Kurdish public figures. The Kurdish parties, however, made their participation contingent on having the representatives of all parties, and only these representatives, meet together with al-Assad. The Governor of al-Hasakah province accepted this request.
When the parties of the Kurdish Patriotic Movement in Syria met on June 3, 2011, they decided to accept the invitation from Damascus. The Kurdish Freedom Party in Syria (Azadî) was the only party that wanted to discuss the situation with its party board before agreeing to a meeting. The Kurdish Patriotic Movement then told the government that the meeting would have to be postponed a few days.
The Kurdish Future Movement in Syria did not participate in this meeting. In a statement on May 28, 2011, they stated that they were canceling their membership in the Kurdish Patriotic Movement as well as in the Kurdish Political Council in Syria because the other political parties had been too hesitant in supporting the dissident demonstrations.
On June 5, 2011, the speaker of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (Yekîtî) in Syria stated that his party would not take part in the meeting with Bashar al-Assad, »as long as the repression of peaceful demonstrations has not been stopped, the military has not been pulled out of the cities, the siege of the cities has not ended, and the right to demonstrate has not been guaranteed«. Moreover, the party speaker stated that the party did not want to have a dialogue with the Syrian regime without the approval of the allies in the national democratic Syrian Opposition.
Ultimately, the Kurdish Coordinating Committee, which is made up of the Kurdish Union Party in Syria (Yekîtî), the Kurdish Freedom Party in Syria (Azadî), and the Kurdish Future Movement in Syria, rejected the offer to participate in a dialogue with Bashar al-Assad. In a statement issued on June 7, the committee demanded a general dialogue with the entire Syrian opposition in the form of a national conference. Moreover, according to the three parties, before a dialogue can take place it must be ensured that Syria will have a new modern constitution in which »no party or ethnicity is discriminated against« and in which »the political and ethnic diversity [of Syria] is accepted«.

http://www.kurdwatch.org/index?aid=1651

16 Secret Executions took place by the iranian government in Iranian prison

16 prisoners were secretly hanged at Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison. Sixteen prisoners were secretly hanged at Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison on May 23 and 24, says the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, citing “reliable sources.”
It reports that on May 23, twelve prisoners were hanged for drug charges. The next day, three sisters were hanged for drug charges and a convicted rapist was executed.
The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran had earlier reported that over the past two and a half months, 70 prisoners have been hanged in Vakilabad Prison. The campaign contends that the executions were drug related and carried out secretly and en masse.
The campaign maintains that the prisoners were executed without prior notification to the families and lawyers of the prisoners.
The recent surge in the number of executions in Iran has set off alarm bells in international human rights communities.
In March, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed “international concern” regarding the rise in executions in Iran and the conditions of prisoners at Mashhad’s Vakilabad Prison in particular.
Source: Human Rights House of IRAN
source : http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/100477.html

Paralyzed political prisoner returned to prison by the Iranian government despite need for urgent treatment

According to reports, on Tuesday June 7, on orders of the Ministry of Intelligence, political prisoner Hadi Abed Bakhoda who was on a medical leave from prison and was receiving treatment was once again returned to the Lakan Prison in Rasht despite the fact that his treatment was not yet finished.
This political prisoner is paralyzed and can only move with a wheelchair. A number of his body organs such as his bladder and kidneys no longer work. He has a urinary sack attached to his body which has to be changed on a daily basis but according to the head of the prison’s infirmary, these kinds of facilities do not exist in prison. It was for this reason that [during his last detention] his urinary sack was not changed for 40 days which led to a severe infection in his body.
This political prisoner was transferred back to prison which lacks minimum medical facilities even as the Medical Commission and Medical Examiner have announced in a written report to the Revolutionary Court that he cannot tolerate prison conditions and the prison infirmary has announced that it does not have the necessary facilities for Mr. Bakhoda and will not be held responsible [if anything were to happen].

Notably, the inhumane flogging sentence for this political prisoner was carried out in the 1st branch of the Rasht Revolutionary Court on May 23. Political prisoner Hadi Abed Bakhoda was sentenced to 51 lashes for not turning himself in on time. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jun. 9, 2011)

source: http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/29043

10 years jail for Kurdish journalist by the Turkish government

Diyarbakir 5th Heavy Penal Court has sentenced Vedat Kurşun, License and Chief Editor of Kurdish daily newspaper Azadiya Welat, to 10 years and six months in prison for “Making propaganda for an illegal organization.”

Kurşun was sentenced to 166, 5 year in prison and Supreme Court reversed the judgment ordering a rehearing.

The Court Board refused Kurşun’s request to give his statement in Kurdish and defined Kurdish “a language the court members did not understand but assumed Kurdish,” in the minute.

In addition, Adana 6th Heavy Penal Court convicted Dilşah Ercan, a worker of Azadiya Welat, of “Being member of an illegal organization” and “Making propaganda for an illegal organization” to eight years and six month imprisonment.

Kurşun and Ercan were already in prisons for more than eight months.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1274-ten-years-imprisonment-to-kurdish-journalist-
pic source: http://en.tengrinews.kz/userdata/news/news_1643/thumb_b/photo_4896_en.jpg

Two Kurdish publications closed down in Urmiye by the iranian government


East Kurdistan, -- Two magazines published by Kurdish students in Urmiye University were closed down by the Iranian officials, report said today.
Herewez and Bojan published in Urmiye University were closed down and the rationale for such closure is not given out. But the occupying powers of Kurdistan have never hesitated to suppress the Kurdish literature and in the past they have closed down many Kurdish magazines.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1275-two-kurdish-publications-closed-down-in-urmiye

Prisoners forced to watch executions of other prisoners by the iranian government

QIZILHASAR, Iran, -- Prisoner held in Qizilhasar detention were taken to the venue of the executions and were forced to watch when the convicted prisoners were hanged, Family Victim Defence Committee reported.
According to the reports leaked from Qizilhasar prison, despite the ill-treatments and sustained humiliations the prisoners had received, they were forced to watch the execution of other prisoners.
Prisoners were forced to watch the moments of hanging of other prisoners or they would have received further humiliations.
Qizilhasar is one of the most notorious prisons of Iran, where hundreds of detainees have been executed.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/middle-east/1273-prisoners-forced-to-watch-execution

124,000 people arrested in North Kurdistan and Turkey by the Turkish government

Turkish Prime Minster Tayib Erdogan does every thing to gain more votes for the coming election. It’s very interesting that he has repeatedly praised himself for advocating freedom and democracy.
Erdogan said on the election campaign in his speech that his government brought a radical democracy to the society.
But Erdogan never mentioned anything in regard to the killing of Kurdish children, torturing of the Kurdish mothers and the imprisonment of thousands of Kurds.
Turkish department of justice statistics declared to the public and mentioned that Erdogan wants to mislead the people.
In relation to department of justice, the number of prisoners in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan is significantly high, prisons are full of detainees and there is no room for more prisoners.
Until 2001, the number of prisoners was 55 thousands. Only under AK Party’s government 67 thousand prisoners added to the toll and it reached to 122 thousands prisoners.
Recently AK Party carries out some operations against political activists, mostly the Kurds including Members of Parliament and mayors in Kurdistan.
Including the latest arrests carried out in Kurdistan, the number of prisoners exceed to 124 thousands. There have been 2000 Kurdish children and 69 elderly of 80 years old age are imprisoned.

http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1278-124000-people-jailed-in-north-kurdistan-and-turkey

A Female prionser testifies about rape in Iranian prisons

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran has released a video which testifies the widespread phenomena of rape in the Iranian prisons.
The video is about a story of a woman who has witnessed rape by her own eyes in prison. The story is shocking and exhibits the truth nature of Iranian detentions and the systematic tortures and degradations the prisoners are subjected to.
After the sparking of the unrests followed by Ahmadinejad’s coup, Mehedi Karobi one of the leaders of “green movement” talked about male and female prisoners who had been raped, and he raised his objection to rape and denounced it as anti-Islamic.
In the bellow video the girl describes her extensive torture and repeated rape after her arbitrary arrest.
Her forceful testimony challenges the Iranian authorities’ official narrative, which denies widespread use of torture and rape by security forces against ordinary protestors.

http://vimeo.com/24944194

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1281-a-woman-tells-about-rape-in-iranian-prisons

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

3 Kurdish political prisoners on hunger strike

KARAJ, Iran, -- Three Kurdish political prisoner held in Rajayshahir prison in Karaj, have been on a hunger strike for the last week protesting against the ill-treatment and the prison’s appalling condition, report said today.
Enwer Xezri, Kamran Shexi and Seyd Ibrahim Seydi who had previously been held in compartment number 350 of Ewin Detention House in Tehran, were transferred to Karaj Rajayshahir prison.
Sines they had arrived, these three prisoners of consciences have been held in a quarantine for the last 50 days, where they are deprived of the very basic facilities.
People who are transferred to Rajayshahir prison are normally held on quarantine only for one day. These three however have been held there for the last 50 days.
To protest against being held in such a terrible condition they had staged a hunger strike last week.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1265-kurdish-political-prisoners-on-hunger-strike-in-karaj

28 years jail time for two Kurdish political activists in Iran

SEQIZ, East Kurdistan, -- Two Kurdish political prisoners were tried by Iranian Revolutionary Court and sentenced to 28 years imprisonments, our local sources said.
Selam Sediq Heseni who was arrested 6 months ago was sentenced to 14 years imprisonments by first branch of Seqiz Revolutionary Court.
Diler Rozger was tried in the same court and also sentenced to 14 years imprisonments for his alleged involvement with a Kurdish political party.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1266-28-year-imprisonments-for-two-kurdish-political-activists

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Ahmad ʿAbdullah Husayn Kurdish Political activist was arrested by Syrian Government

KURDWATCH, June 7, 2011—On May 30, 2011, the political activist Ahmad ʿAbdullah Husayn (b. 1952, married, seven children) was arrested at the Nusaybin/al-Qamishli border crossing. He, his wife, and one daughter wanted to visit relatives in Turkey. Husain is a member of the Kurdish Equality Party in Syria (Wekhevî). It is suspected that the arrest occurred in connection with the Syrian opposition conference in the Turkish city of Antalya from June 1-3, 2011. In addition to Farhan Jamil ʿAbdulqadir and Ahmad Bakr ʿAli, Husayn is the third political activist from ʿAmudah prevented from entering Turkey before the conference.

Source: http://www.kurdwatch.org/index?aid=1630

Ihsan Gulek Kurdish Mayor was arrested in Kurdish city of Wan by Turkish government

WAN, North Kurdistan, -- Turkish prime minster paid a visit to the Kurdish city of Wan but the Kurds refused to attend his public speech. Having met with such inhospitalities of Kurds, the state reacted revengefully.
Ihsan Gulek the mayor of Albak who has already been fired from work, was arrested in Wan. After being investigated, Mr Gulek was taken to one of Wan’s detentions.
Mr. Gulek was accused of attending a funeral of Kurdish guerrillas in 2006 and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonments.

Source: http://www.welat.eu/english/kurdistan/1255-kurdish-mayor-arrested-in-wan

Turkish military operations in Wan and Hakkari Province in north kurdistan

NORTH KURDISTAN, -- Turkish army launched military operations in Wan and Hakkari Province, the armed wing of the Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK) announced.

People's Defence Forces (HPG) released a statement about the military operations in Wan and Hakkari provinces.

HPG said Turkish army continues its operations in Catak district of Wan province for the last two days. Turkish soldiers were deployed in Geliye Tizize area and no clashes were reported between Turkish army and Kurdish guerrillas.

Turkish army is also started an operation in near Kavale village of Hakkari. Kurdish guerrillas reported no clashes between two sides.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1256-military-operations-in-wan-and-hakkari

Kurdish political prisoner Enwer Husen Penahi in Critical condition

SINE, East Kurdistan, -- Kurdish political prisoner Enwer Husen Penahi who has been held in Sine detention is reported to be at a critical condition. He is suffering from lung bleeding and at urgent need of surgery, human right committee reported.
Mr Penahi was arrested by the Iranian security forces on 6th November 2009. After 6 months of being held in a suspended status, he was tried in Revolutionary Court and was sentenced to death.
After a range of serious efforts made by various institutions, his charge was commuted to 16 years of imprisonments.
The relative of Mr Panahi said that Qurwe’s Intelligent Service is trying to fabricate another stories to open a new case against him.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1253-enwer-husen-penahi-at-critical-condition

10 people executed in Evin prison in Iran on june 7 th

TEHRAN, -- Ten people were executed in Evin House of Detention, human rights and democracy activists reported today.
Ten people who had been held in second compartment of Qizilhesar Detention were taken to Evin Prison on Wednesday 1st June with the purpose of carrying out their execution.
According to the report they were all executed upon the arrival in Evin Prison.
It should be pointed that after the unrest in the second compartment in Qizilhesar prison and its suppression by the prison officials over 170 detainees have been disappeared and 50 people killed.
Lieutenant Muradi one of the director of the prison, has revealed that 20 prisoners were executed by firing squad in front of the other prisoners.
Adding this case, the execution toll in Iran has reached 256 people for 2011.

Source:http://www.welat.eu/english/component/content/article/1251-10-people-executed-in-iran

Monday, June 6, 2011

Three Kurdish parties in Qamishli call on supporters to demonstrate

Nation-wide protests on June 3, 2011 again resulted in numerous dead and injured. As in previous weeks, the demonstrations in al Qamishli, ʿAmudah, Darbasiyah, Raʾs al-ʿAyn (Serê Kaniyê), and ʿAyn al-ʿArab (Kobanî) were largely peaceful. In the Kurdish regions more than twenty thousand people took to the streets. The protestors demanded democracy, freedom and the overthrow of the regime. For the first time, three Kurdish parties, the Kurdish Union Party in Syria (Yekîtî), the Kurdish Freedom Party in Syria (Azadî), and the Kurdish Freedom Movement in Syria, called on their members to take part in the demonstrations.

source: http://www.kurdwatch.org/index?aid=1627

Iranian government declares Baha’i university illegal in Iran

The Ministry of Science and Technology has declared The Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) as an “illegal” organization. The Baha’i Institute of Higher Education (BIHE) in Iran has been declared an “illegal” organization by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
ISNA cites the ministry’s announcement that “the online university BIHE has not received any ministry permits for operation, and all its activities are illegal.”
The ministry also maintained that all diplomas and degrees issued by this institution “lack legal validity.”
Iranian security forces had previously shut down science and research facilities at the Baha’i Open University in Tehran and arrested a number of its staff in several cities.
The international Baha’i community reports that at least 30 Baha’is were arrested on May 22 in Tehran, Karaj, Esfahan and Shiraz in.
Iran’s Baha’i community established the Baha’i Open University in 1987 to offer higher education to Baha’is, who face discrimination under the Islamic Republic system.
While Baha’ism was founded in Iran and Baha’is form the largest religious minority there, the government does not recognize it as a legitimate religion. Baha’is are denied access to higher education and discriminated against in all walks of life.
In March, a number of Iranian Baha’is were arrested in Bam, Kerman and Tehran, charged with “promoting their projects under the guise of educational and cultural programs in daycares.”
Seven Baha’i community leaders, who had already been incarcerated for two years, were recently sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of espionage.
Source: http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/100092.html

political prisoner Arjang Davoudi was sentenced to additional 10 years jail time by Iranian Government

On Tuesday, June 1, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi was taken to the 10th branch of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj from the isolated hall 12 Cellblock 4 in Gohardasht (Rajayi Shahr) Prison, where it was announced to him that he had been sentenced to an addition 10 years and 8 months of prison after years of trials and being kept in an undetermined condition in prison.
He was also told in court that new charges will be brought against him for [crimes he committed] during his years in prison and that he will be transferred to the 1st branch of the Bandar Abbas Revolutionary Court for a trial.
This is while, political prisoner Arjang Davoudi lives in Tehran and was arrested in Tehran and according to the law, has to be tried in Tehran. It is still not clear for his family and lawyer why he is to be tried in Bandar Abbas.

According to reports, on the verge of the appointment of a UN Special Rapporteur for Iran and the Rapporteur’s trip to Iran in the future to investigate the violations of human rights in Iran, Iran officials intend to send resistant political prisoners to distant locations where the Special Rapporteur would not have access to them. (Human Rights and Democracy Activists in Iran – Jun. 5, 2011)

source:  http://www.freedomessenger.com/archives/28721

Iran government is forcing Kurdish villagers to take up arms against Kurdish Freedom Fighters

MERIWAN, East Kurdistan, -- Iranian regime has increasing putting pressure on the Kurdish villagers to leave their current jobs and enlist in the pro-state local militias known as “Besij”.
According to our local correspondence, the chief of armed forces of Meriwan city colonel Mehdidost had attended the village of Duplure located at the middle of East and South of Kurdistan.
It is reported that colonel Mehdidost had threatened the locals and told them that if they work on the borders and get killed by their forces, they bodies will not be returned to their families.
He commanded the villagers to leave their current jobs and enlist in Besij and take up arms against the Kurdish resistance movement led by the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK).
These kinds of threatening of the locals have terrified the villagers and the workers who toil on the borders making living for their families.
It should be pointed that tens of Kurdish workers are killed by the Iranian militaries that guard the pseudo-borders of Kurdistan.
Iranian regime has systematically kept the Kurdish population in poverty and never gave a slightest though to create jobs in Kurdistan. By keeping the Kurds in poverty they seek to manage to control the Kurds.
Prevalence of unemployment in Kurdistan has forced many people to work on the border regions smuggling goods into the country.
Many people who sought to make living for their families have been tapped in the ambushes of the Iranian forces and killed by their gunfire.

source: http://www.welat.eu/english/kurdistan/1250-iran-forces-villagers-to-take-up-arms-against-pjak