It is the anniversary of Sivas Massacre and there is a digital archive now to memoralize the victims

A tribute to the victims. Here is the archive.   The Sivas massacre, also known as the Madimak massacre, refers to the events of July 2, 1993, at the Hotel Madimak in Sivas, Turkey[1]. The victims, who had gathered in the hotel for the Pir Sultan Abdal festival, were mostly Alevi intellectuals, and 37 people … Read more

Tuzluçayır, Ankara under fire. Clashes after Alevite youth protests a controversial Cemevi #DirenTuzluçayır ?

In case the embedded code does not work, here is the link: http://storify.com/sakaerka/tuzlucay-r-ankara-under-fire-clashes-after-alevite A link for live streaming right now: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ankaraeylemvakti   [View the story “Tuzluçayır, Ankara under fire. Clashes after Alevite youth protests a controversial Cemevi ” on Storify]

Today’s attack on women: Keep Pregrant women out of sight… A social fabric roundup- #DirenHamile

Pregnant women?s presence in public is ?disgraceful,? says Turkish lawyer Turkish lawyer said that it was immoral for pregnant women with huge bellies to reveal themselves in public #direnhamile (#resistpregnant) Reacting upon advocate Inançer?s remarks ?Women shouldn?t wonder in streets while pregnant?, scores of women in Istanbul and Ankara are preparing to put pillows in their … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: New wave of arrests over #OccupyGezi ,Swedish Journalist to Apply to ECHR on Turkey, RedHack identified as cyberterrorist..

  15 detained over Gezi protests 15 people were detained for allegedly harming private property and use Molotov cocktails while attending the Gezi protests. Democracy and rights Peninsula On-line When protests erupted in Turkey‘s Taksim Square against the government’s redevelopment plans, US Secretary of State John Kerry was among the top figures who criticised the … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Turkey to Pay 330,000 Euros for Extrajudicial Killings

Turkey to Pay 330,000 Euros for Extrajudicial Killings ECHR reached a verdict on the case where 5 people ages between 13 and 24 were killed by soldiers, ordering Turkey to pay a sum of 330,000 euros to applicant families.   Alevis and their religious rights I knew two of them rather closely in person. Behçet … Read more

Citizens commemorate Sivas Massacre.. An #OccupyTurkey roundup

Sivas massacre – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivas_massacre? The Sivas massacre (Turkish: Sivas Katliamı, Madımak Katliamı) refers to the events of July 2, 1993 which resulted in the killing of 37 people, mostly Alevi   More rallies expected tonight in İstanbul and other cities… via @sirsureyyaonder via @140Journos @alidogalli The police barricades the Madımak Hotel … Read more

Recep İvedik vs. PSY’s Gentleman… A social fabric roundup from Turkey

The Irresistible Attraction of the Turkish Yokel from The Istanbulian by Emre Kızılkaya Turkish yokels probably have some kind of personal magnetism, as global superstars seem to keep copying them.   Firstly, it was reported that Borat could be a plagiarized character, derived from the real-life Mahir Cagri.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASO_zypdnsQ   Minorities seen as threat by … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Turkish PM on the verge of hate speech towards Alevis… French student detained in Turkey finally released…

Turkish PM calls Alevi cemevi a ‘freak’ from Hurriyet Daily News An Alevi cemevi standing next to a cemetery in Istanbul is a “freak,” according to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.   ?The State is Responsible for Unlicensed Alevi Houses of Worship? from Bianet :: English Alevi Elder Muharrem Ercan questioned how their community … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Police chief accused of torture and rape promoted…

Police Defends Promotion of Staff Member Accused of Torture, Rape from Bianet :: English The Turkish Police Headquarters issued a public statement in defense of their controversial decision to promote Sedat Selim Ay, the newly appointed deputy director of the Istanbul Anti-Terror Police Department who had been convicted of charges of rape and torture. Controversial … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: ’80 coup trial roundup; Turkey on religious rights and more…

Military Coup Case Begins with Victims’ Cry for Justice Two generals didn’t attend the first sitting of the case but relatives of the victims and rights’ activist were there. They all demanded the investigation to be enlarged and the trial to be founded on “crimes against humanity”. Cabinet intervenes in historic ?80 coup trial The … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Medya Association protests the shut down of Özgür Gündem and a Human Rights in Turkey roundups

 My dear readers, i have been so busy with some academic and personal stuff that I could not produce my usual roundups. Now, I am working on it by offering the latest news: Shut down of Özgür Gündem and I will retrace the older news… To shut down a newspaper is a decision against freedom … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: 4 jailed journalists released, Sivas massacre case dropped due to statute of limitations, Şafak Pavey as “woman of courage”

işte mutluluğun resmi! ahmet, yonca ve mina şık… twitter.com/altinsaray/sta? — Cem Altınsaray (@altinsaray) March 12, 2012 İşte fotoğraf budur. Nedim Şener’in ilk işi kızını okula götürmek oldu… twitter.com/erenguler/stat? — Eren Güler (@erenguler) March 13, 2012   Court releases arrested scribes after 375 days from Hurriyet Daily News Journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener were released … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Turkish authorities finally act on Pozantı Prison case/ Threats towards Alevi citizens in Adıyaman and more…

Turkey probes mistreatment in juvenile prison Turkey’s justice minister says 200 inmates will be moved from a juvenile prison following allegations of mistreatment by prison officials there and sexual abuse by fellow inmates. Alevi citizens concerned with mark on their doors from Hurriyet Daily News The doors of a number of houses belonging to members … Read more

EFD Rights Watch: Two Students Under Custody Since 2009…with no evidence…

Two Students Under Custody Since 2009, Despite Lack of Evidence Two university students, who were arrested during a demonstration will remain in prison as the the prosecution fail to show any evidence for allegations against them. Another student, who had been a symbol of freedom of expression violations against the youth, is condemned to 20 … Read more

Toward elections: YSK backs off, Kurdish candidates reinstated.

  Kurds Renew Movement for Civil Rights in Turkey from NYT > Turkey by By LANDON THOMAS JR. Turkey?s Kurds have begun a fresh push to achieve true freedom of representation and the right to be educated in their mother tongue.   What got into the High Election Board? by Fréderike Geerdink Now, the Kurdish … Read more