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Istanbul: Dink friends protest to demand fair trial

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A Turkish civic group identifying itself as Friends of Hrant Dink on Monday held a protest outside the Istanbul Chaglayan Justice Palace to demand a fair trial over the Turkish –Armenian journalist’s assassination.  

Dink, the  editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian daily Ago, was gunned down outside his office in the city’s Shishli district on January 19, 2007. The trial against his assassin, ultra-nationalist Ogun Samast (who was 16 at the time), has been dragging on for almost 10 years.

In a statement, the group blamed the Turkish state for collaborating with the perpetrators, Agos reports.
They activist said they no longer expect a fair trial against the backdrop of the continuing violence and abuses in Turkey. Meantime, they expressed determination to continue their “campaign for justice”.

 

Jewish Groups Protest Azerbaijan’s Hanukkah Party

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A protest organized by human rights group Freedom Now was held outside a Hannakuh party hosted by Ilham Aliyev’s Azerbaijani regime at Trump International Hotel on Dec. 14, 2016 (Photo: Video Screenshot)

WASHINGTON—A protest organized by human rights group Freedom Now was held on December 14 outside a Hannakuh party hosted by Ilham Aliyev’s Azerbaijani regime at Trump International Hotel – to “highlight the continued repression of civil society and independent voices in Azerbaijan.”

The controversial party – which has been sharply criticized in both the Jewish American and Israeli press – was co-hosted by the Embassy of Azerbaijan, Washington, D.C. and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to celebrate “religious freedom and diversity.”

“We strongly condemn Azerbaijan’s egregious violations of human rights,” said Freedom Now founder Jared Genser. “Hanukkah is the story of good triumphing over evil and the rededication of the Holy Temple. If Jewish leaders attend this celebration, they should take the opportunity to perform the mitzvah rabah (great deed) of pidyon shivuyim (redemption of captives) and urge Ambassador Elin Suleymanov to have his government release its political prisoners.” Earlier this week, Genser had an op-ed in The Forward entitled “A Hanukkah Freedom Party With Human Rights Violators” about this event.

“Activists who protest the government’s religion policy are often arrested and given lengthy prison terms based on false charges. Azerbaijan’s lack of respect for religious freedom has prompted the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to categorize it as a Tier 2 country, indicating serious violations,” read Freedom Now’s press statement on the protest. “Other countries in this category include Afghanistan, Cuba, Russia, and Turkey.”

Source: asbarez

Thousands protest over Cairo church bombing

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Thousands of Egyptians have taken to the streets in the capital Cairo, protesting against the government after a bombing attack on the city’s Coptic Cathedral killed many worshipers.

The protesters marched on the streets and hundreds of them gathered near the targeted Coptic Cathedral in the Abbasia district of Cairo on Sunday.

They demanded justice for the victims of the attack, which occurred during Sunday mass and killed at least 25 people, among them women and children.

Prime Minister Sherif Ismail arrived at the site of the attack shortly after it took place. Angry protesters started hurling insults at him, accusing officials of negligence.

One protester said there had been no security at the gate of the Church, and that security staffers “were all having breakfast inside their van” when the bombing occurred.

Police moved in to contain the crowd as Ismail visited the site.

The protesters shouted “leave, leave, leave” as high-ranking security officials escorted Minister of Interior Major Magdy Ibrahim along a road. Police and armored vehicles were deployed to the scene.

“As long as Egyptian blood is cheap, down with any president,” and “The people demand the fall of the regime,” the protesters chanted.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has condemned the attack and promised justice. He has also declared three days of mourning.

“Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country’s Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation,” the Egyptian president said after the attack.

Exiled Muslim Brotherhood officials also condemned the bombing on the Coptic church. Church officials have said they would not allow the bombing to trigger sectarian turmoil.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 90 million.

The last major attack on a church in Egypt took place in Alexandria weeks before the start of a 2011 uprising and killed at least 21 people.

Thousands take to Athens’ streets in protest to Obama visit

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Greek riot policemen clash with protesters during a demonstration against the visit of US President Barack Obama, in Athens, Greece, November 15, 2016.

Greek riot policemen clash with protesters during a demonstration against the visit of US President Barack Obama, in Athens, Greece, November 15, 2016.

Violent clashes have broken out between Greek police and demonstrators protesting US President Barack Obama’s visit to Athens.

Riot police used teargas to disperse the around-7,000-strong crowd of protesters who had taken to the streets in central Athens on Tuesday.

The protesters had initially planned to march towards the US embassy, but clashes with police disrupted the march.

All manners of protest had been banned in the city over Obama’s trip, with police parking buses along the US president’s route.

The protests turned violent after demonstrators attempted to break through police cordons around the Greek parliament and US embassy.

Petrol bombs were also thrown towards police officers in the city’s northern districts. 

According to reports, over 5,000 police forces have been stationed in the city to disrupt the protesters.

RT quoted Greek journalist Aris Chatzistefanou as saying that the demonstration was being held against the US’s policies which are “creating tensions” with other countries across the globe, especially with Russia and China.

“While the Greek government is trying to present the visit of Obama as a visit of a peacemaker, thousands of demonstrators came onto the streets to protest US policy in [such] parts of the world from Latin America to Middle East, Afghanistan and Syria,” he added.

Terrorist State of Turkey Massive Protests break out as Erdogan suspends 100s of NGOs

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massaive-protest-ngoProtests have erupted in Istanbul after Turkey suspended the activities of 370 non-governmental groups, including human rights and children’s organizations, as part of its post-coup crackdown.

“The organizations are not shut down, they are being suspended. There is strong evidence that they are linked to terrorist organizations,” said Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus on Saturday.

According to the country’s Interior Ministry, 153 of the NGOs had ties to the US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for the mid-July failed coup. Ankara says some 190 of them had ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), eight to Daesh, and 19 to the banned Revolutionary People’s Liberation Army-Front.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU and the US. A shaky ceasefire between the PKK and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015, and attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.

Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out operations against PKK positions in the country’s troubled southeastern border region as well as Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and northern Syria.

The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey since 1984.  The conflict has left more than 40,000 people dead.

“Turkey has to fight terrorism on so many different fronts. We are trying to clear the state institutions from Gulenists. At the same time we are fighting against Kurdish militants and Islamic State,” added Kurtulmus.

The Progressive Lawyers’ Association, which was among the halted NGOs, said it would “take a stand against any unlawful intervention on legal firms.”

“It’s impossible for us to find the closure or activity cessation of organizations without court rulings democratic,” it added.

Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Kurdish protesters in Germany have held a demonstration in protest against what they call Ankara’s crackdown on dissent.

The July 15 coup in Turkey began when a faction of the military declared it was in control of the country and the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was no more in charge.

Tanks, helicopters, and soldiers clashed with police and people on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul. Between 200 and 300 people were killed on all sides in the attempted coup d’état.

Emergency decrees have since extended the period of police detention without judicial review from four to 30 days and allowed the authorities to deny detainees access to lawyers for up to five days. The government in Ankara has launched a sweeping crackdown on those believed to have played a role in the failed coup. It has arrested over 35,000 people and sacked over 100,000 others over their suspected links with Gulen, who has rejected the accusation.

Kurds Armenian in France against “Erdogan barbarism” with the support of Jean-Luc Mélenchon

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kurd-armenian-protes-parisPending the condemnation by Europe of the dictatorial regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and as a result of security measures taken by the Turkish power under the complacent gaze of the West losing values and at the spoliation of fatal memory, which struck the deputies of the pro-Kurdish opposition party HDP, including its leader Selahattin Demirtas, demonstrations of support for the Kurdish people were held in several French cities which have joined the Franco-Armenian Movement and also Charjoum Nor the Seround, Place de la Republique in Paris.

In front of thousands of demonstrators gathered Republic Square, as Berivan Firat, host of the Democratic Council of Kurds in France, called on organizations and citizens concerned about the respect of human rights, to condemn Turkey to Erdogan drifts for which he is responsible in his country in the grip of terror and destabilization by undemocratic actions, inspired by the worst dictatorships.

Chanting “Erdogan assassin! “” Erdogan out! “The demonstrators headed to the Place du Chatelet to attend the intervention of the leader of the Left Front Jean-Luc Mélenchon who gave his full support to the struggle of the Kurdish people (see video).

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry wrote: “France and Turkey are linked by common values that underpin their relationship and result in particular in the accession of our country to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Also, the arrest of several members of HDP party raises serious concern. France calls on Turkey to respect the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, including democratic pluralism and freedom of expression and of the press. “

For information, November 3, the Belgian courts rejected the terrorism allegations of the Turkish state against the Kurds.

Armenian MP Garo Paylan of Turkey joins picket in support of opposition newspaper

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garo-protestIstanbul-Armenian Garo Paylan, a member of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and member of the Turkish Parliament, joined the ongoing protest outside the office of the opposition Cumhuriyet daily of Turkey.

Paylan informed in his Facebook and Twitter accounts that he is participating in this demonstration in support of Cumhuriyet.

He also urged all democratic forces not to remain silent.

By the order of Turkish authorities, the prosecutor’s office detained the chief editor and several journalists of this newspaper, and on charges of collaborating with terrorists.

 

IRAQ: Thousands protest outside Turkish embassy in Baghdad demand troops withdraw

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turkey-out-of-iraq-protestBAGHDAD,— Thousands of Iraqis gathered outside the Turkish embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday to protest that country‘s continued military presence north of Mosul, despite demands by the government for Ankara‘s soldiers to leave.

The followers of Sadrist Movement led by the powerful Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr staged the demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Baghdad, demanding Turkey to withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Protesters carried Iraqi flags and demanded that the Turks withdraw from Bashiqa base, in line with repeated requests by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

“Out out, you occupier,” was one of the slogans being chanted, according to witnesses.

Muqtada al-Sadr, a hardline Shiite cleric, is one of those calling for the demonstrations against the troops‘ presence. The fact they are inside Iraq has caused tensions between Baghdad and Ankara just as Iraq has started a campaign for Mosul, the country‘s second city, from Islamic State.

The Turkish troop presence in the region of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul has stirred tension with Baghdad. Iraq says they are in “blatant violation” of Iraqi sovereignty and had demanded their withdrawal. Turkey says the troops were invited by Iraqi forces and has ignored the calls.

On October 11, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to “know your place,” and said that he is “not on my level.”

There are 800 Turkish troops deployed in the Mosul and Shaqlawa regions, the move that sparked a crisis between Ankara and Baghdad. Turkey sent a contingent of an additional 150 forces and 25 tanks in December 2015 to bolster its military presence in the Bashiqa camp, an area that has seen recent fighting.

Iraqi leaders said in December 2015 that hundreds of new Turkish troops had arrived without their knowledge or approval, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.

According to reports on Sunday, Turkish state have sent reinforcements, which are to participate in Mosul operation, to Bashiqa through Duhok.

Local sources in Duhok city in Iraqi Kurdistan informed Firat News Agency agency that 1,200 more Turkish soldiers, 8 tanks and several armored vehicles were deployed to Bashiqa region on Saturday night.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Oct. 12, that Turkish troops will remain in the Bashiqa military camp in northern Iraq until Islamic State militants have been driven from the nearby city of Mosul.

Tuskih Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Tuesday that Turkey’s air force has been involved in coalition air strikes on the Iraqi city of Mosul, part of the U.S.-backed operation to flush out Islamic State.

Germany: Far-right anti-Erdogan protest allowed to go ahead in Cologne on day of demonstrations

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turkish-protest-germanyA court in Münster has given permission for a far-right protest against Turkish President Erdogan to take place on Sunday in Cologne. Erdogan supporters will also be taking to the streets of the western German city.

A spokesman for the Higher Administrative Court in Münster confirmed on Saturday that it had rejected an appeal by Cologne police to ban an anti-Erdogan demonstration called by the far-right political party Pro NRW for Sunday.

The court upheld an earlier decision by a Cologne court to allow the demonstration to go ahead, despite police fears that violent members of the HoGeSa (Hooligans Against Salafists) group could join in the protest.

The demonstration is to take place under the motto “No tributes to Erdogan in Germany: Stop the Islamist autocrat from the Bosporus” in response to a planned rally by up to 30,000 Erdogan supporters in the city on the same day.

No Erdogan live presentation

The Münster court, which is responsible for administrative disputes, also rejected an appeal by the organizers of the pro-Erdogan demonstration to be allowed to show the Turkish president live on a large screen during the event.

Police have voiced fears that such a presentation could cause participants to become over-excited.

Police in Cologne are planning to deploy 2,300 officers and have six water cannon on hand in case violence does break out at any of the demonstrations planned in the city on Sunday, which also include rallies by leftists and youth organizations affiliated with German parties.

Erdogan critics ‘targeted’

In comments carried in the Saturday edition of the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” newspaper, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on participants in the pro-Erdogan demonstration to display moderation.

Steinmeier said it was “not permissible” to bring domestic political tensions from Turkey to Germany or to intimidate people with different political views.

The leader of the Greens, Cem Özdemir, also criticized alleged attempts at intimidation ahead of the demonstration, telling newspapers of the Funke media group that critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan among Germany’s Turkish community were being targeted.

Özdemir said that demonstrations for or against Turkish leaders had to take place “on the basis of the [German] legal system.”

“An atmosphere of fear must not be created,” he said.

Turkey in turmoil

Sunday’s demonstrations come as Erdogan continues with purges of the army, judiciary, the education system and the media following a failed coup on July 15.

Critics of the president fear that he might be using the coup as an excuse to increase his already tight political grip on the country.

Some three million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, making it the world’s largest Turkish diaspora.

tj/jlw (AFP, dpa)

Armenian Protesters, Police Clash At Hostage Standoff Scene Video

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Demonstrators sympathetic to an armed opposition group holding hostages pelted a heavy cordon of riot police with rocks, after which the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

Demonstrators sympathetic to an armed opposition group holding hostages pelted a heavy cordon of riot police with rocks, after which the police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

By RFE/RL’s Armenian Service

July 20, 2016

YEREVAN — Hundreds of Armenian protesters sympathetic to an armed opposition group holding hostages at a district police headquarters in Yerevan clashed with police on July 20 after their demand to provide food to the gunmen went unheeded by authorities.

Demonstrators pelted a heavy cordon of riot police with rocks, after which police used stun grenades to disperse the crowd. A group of officers reportedly detached from the rest and chased some demonstrators.

An RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent at the scene reported seeing blood stains on the asphalt. One elderly man with blood on his face said he had been struck by police batons, and at least three ambulances were seen speeding to the scene.

The gunmen took over the Erebuni police station at dawn on July 17, killing one police officer and wounding six other people, and prompting a standoff with police.They continue to hold four police officers hostage.

The gunmen are demanding the release of Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, who was arrested last month on charges of illegal acquisition and possession of weapons.

They also want President Serzh Sarkisian to step down.

Authorities have rejected the group’s demands and say negotiations are underway with the gunmen for their surrender.

Armenia’s deputy police chief, Samvel Hovhannisian, told RFE/RL that “numerous” police officers have been injured in the July 20 clashes near the police station.

LIVE FEED: Clashes At Yerevan Police Station

Meanwhile, tensions were also reported in another part of the besieged area.

Nikol Pashinian, an opposition lawmaker who has been acting as a mediator in negotiations between police and the armed group on issues such as food, returned to the scene on July 20 and tried to pacify the situation by talking with both police and protesters.

The Founding Parliament is sharply critical of the way the government has dealt with the long-running conflict in Azerbaijan’s breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory that both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim.

The group frequently stages street protests in Yerevan demanding Sarkisian’s resignation.