Les murs tombent... petite #métaliste...
#murs #barrières_frontalières #destruction #walls_don't_work #les_murs_tombent #frontières
ping @mobileborders @reka @isskein
Les murs tombent... petite #métaliste...
#murs #barrières_frontalières #destruction #walls_don't_work #les_murs_tombent #frontières
ping @mobileborders @reka @isskein
Portion of US border wall in California falls over in high winds and lands on Mexican side
La #Slovénie érige de nouvelles barrières à sa frontière avec la #Croatie
« Par exemple, en ce moment, avec l’hiver et les forts courants, les rivages sont boueux, poreux, alors, les terrains bougent, la clôture s’effondre. Les migrants qui veulent passer n’ont même pas besoin de se fatiguer, ils ont juste à l’#enjamber », continue Marco en riant. « Il y a des endroits où des sillons se sont creusés. Ils peuvent aussi passer sous la barrière ! »
Έπεσε ο φράχτης του Έβρου : Ο Σαμαράς τον έχτιζε, η φύση τον παρέσυρε
Πολλαπλές καταστροφές έχει προκαλέσει η κακοκαιρία που πλήττει τη βόρεια Ελλάδα τις τελευταίες ημέρες.
Μεταξύ άλλων, τα ορμητικά νερά του ποταμού Έβρου που εισχωρούν στην ελληνική πλευρά από τη Βουλγαρία, προκάλεσαν την καταστροφή περίπου 100 μέτρων από τον φράχτη που είχαν κατασκευάσει οι προηγούμενες κυβερνήσεις για την αποτροπή των μεταναστών.
Η ροή των υδάτων είναι συνεχώς αυξανόμενη μετά την απόφαση των βουλγαρικών αρχών να ανοίξουν το φράγμα του Ιβαήλογκρατς, προκειμένου εκτονωθούν πλημμυρικά φαινόμενα στη γειτονική χώρα.
Την Τετάρτη θα είναι η κρισιμότερη μέρα οπότε αναμένεται να κορυφωθεί η ροή, μέσα στην κοίτη του ποταμού Άρδα, δεδομένου ότι χρειάζονται περί τις 12 ώρες για την μετακίνηση όλου του όγκου των υδάτων από τη Βουλγαρία προς την Ελλάδα.
Αποκλεισμένο συνεχίζει να είναι το τμήμα της Εθνικής Οδού, που οδηγεί στα Ελληνοβουλγαρικά σύνορα, λόγω της υπερχείλισης του νερού που κάλυψε το οδόστρωμα, ενώ δεν λειτουργεί και το τελωνείο στις Καστανιές.
Σε ό,τι αφορά πάντως τον φράχτη, ο νέος αναπληρωτής υπουργός Δημόσιας Τάξης, Γιάννης Πανούσης, δήλωσε πως πρέπει να παραμείνει παρά το γεγονός ότι προεκλογικά ο ΣΥΡΙΖΑ ήταν κατά της κατασκευής και « ύπαρξης του ».
Αναλυτικά ο Γιάννης Πανούσης δήλωσε :
« Ο φράχτης στον Έβρο δούλεψε αλλά δεν έλυσε το πρόβλημα της παράνομης μετανάστευσης » και υπογράμμισε ότι είναι υποχρέωση της χώρας να περιφρουρεί τα σύνορα. Ωστόσο, σημείωσε : « αν μπει, περάσει τα σύνορα, ένας άνθρωπος, θα έχει στέγη, τροφή, νοσοκομειακής περίθαλψη. Θα είναι ανθρώπινες οι συνθήκες, αυτό είναι πολιτισμός ».
▻https://www.news247.gr/koinonia/epese-o-frachtis-toy-evroy-o-samaras-ton-echtize-i-fysi-ton-paresyre.6325470
Duncan en parle ici :
►https://www.e-flux.com/architecture/at-the-border/325751/weaponizing-a-river
#Evros #Grèce #Turquie
WATCH: Viral video claims to show ‘Trump’s border wall’ COLLAPSE under the wrath of Hurricane Hanna
►https://seenthis.net/messages/870189
Part of Israel Seperation Wall collapsed in Al Ram town N of Jerusalem City.
Palestinian bulldozers are demolishing the smart-technology barrier at the #Gaza border.
Drownings of Turkey’s Purge
–-> 31 Turkish citizens drowned in the Aegean sea while seeking to escape the ongoing post-coup crackdown in Turkey.
Thousands of people have fled Turkey over the past three years due to a massive witch-hunt launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against its critics such as academics, Kurdish politicians and especially the real or imagined sympathizers of the Gülen group, in the wake of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The gov’t accuses the group of masterminding the failed coup while the group denies any involvement.
More than 500,000 people have been investigate and some 96,000 including academics, judges, doctors, teachers, lawyers, students, policemen and many from different backgrounds have been put in pre-trial detention over Gulen links July 2016.
Many try to escape Turkey via illegal ways as the government cancelled their passports. Purge-victim Turks often cross Evros river to escape from the snowballing persecution. Around 14,000 people crossed the Evros frontier from January through September of 2018, a Wall Street Journal said, underlining that around half of those crossing the Evros river were Turkish citizens.
ping @isskein
Turkey stops 300,000 irregular migrants en route to EU so far this year
Turkey has prevented some 269,059 irregular migrants, the highest ever, from crossing into Europe in the first eight and a half months of this year.
The country is located in between European and African continents and is often used as a junction point to enter the European countries.
Each year thousands of illegal migrants, many of them fleeing war, hunger and poverty back in their home countries, take a dangerous route to cross into Europe for a better life.
Some of the migrants reach Turkey on foot before eventually taking a dangerous journey across the Aegean to reach the Greek islands. People have lost their lives trying to make the journey of “hope” while many of them were rescued by Turkish security forces.
Turkey continues to fight against irregular migration, particularly in the northwestern province of Edirne and the Aegean Sea.
According to the migration authority’s most recent data, the authorities have intercepted some 269,059 irregular migrants between the period of Jan. 1 and Sept. 12. The number is expected to rise until the end of the year. Last year Turkey intercepted 268,003 illegal migrants. The number was 146,485 in 2015, 174,466 in 2016 and 175,752 in 2017 – meaning the number has almost doubled over the last three years.
In all, Turkey stopped more than 1,530,677 illegal migrants in the last 15 years.
The majority of the irregular migrants captured this were Afghans, some 117,437. They were followed by 43,204 Pakistanis and 29,796 Syrians.
The country’s Thrace region has become a hot spot for irregular migrants.
In Edirne, one of Turkey’s westernmost provinces, 73,978 irregular migrants have been captured this year. It is also worth mentioning that the number of terrorists captured in Edirne has increased by 70% compared to the last year. In the Aegean Sea, on the other hand, 31,642 migrants were captured. Meanwhile, 28 irregular migrants were killed in the sea while trying to reach Europe.
Last year, 25,398 irregular migrants were captured in the Aegean while 65 lost their lives.
▻https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/2019/09/18/turkey-stops-300000-irregular-migrants-en-route-to-eu-so-far-this-year
#Turquie #EU #frontières #externalisation #asile #migrations #accord_UE-Turquie #réfugiés #Evros #îles #Mer_Egée #visualisation #infographie
#métaliste autour de la Création de zones frontalières (au lieu de lignes de frontière) en vue de refoulements
Je viens de lire dans un compte-rendu de réunion qui a eu lieu à Milan en juin 2019, ce commentaire, sur la situation à la #frontière italo-slovène :
Gianfranco Schiavone :
«Quello che sicuramente dovrebbe diventare una questione delicata é l’annunciato avvio delle pattuglie italo slovene in frontiera con l’obiettivo dichiarato alla stampa di bloccare gli arrivi. Con riammissione senza formalita’ delle persone irregolari intercettate nella fascia dei 5 km dalla frontiera . Queste sono le dichiarazioni pubbliche di questi giorni»
Une #zone_frontalière de #5_km dans laquelle ont lieu des #refoulements directs.
#Italie #Slovénie #frontière_sud-alpine #migrations #réfugiés #asile #frontière_mobile #bande_frontalière #frontières_mobiles #zone_frontalière #zones_frontalières #zone-frontière
Ceci me rappelle d’autres cas, en Europe et ailleurs, dans lesquels des procédures semblables (la frontière n’est plus une #ligne, mais une #zone) ont été mises en place, j’essaie de les mettre sur ce fil de discussion.
Si quelqu’un a d’autres cas à signaler, les contributions sont bienvenues...
ping @reka @simplicissimus @karine4 @isskein
#Ceuta et #Melilla, #devoluciones_en_caliente qui ont lieu dans la zone située entre les différentes barrières frontalières :
►https://asile.ch/chronique/espagne-zoom-sur-ceuta-et-melilla
La fameuse « #excision_territoriale » en #Australie :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/416996
A la frontière entre franco-italienne :
Dans un amendement, l’élu a proposé « une zone limitée aux communes limitrophes ou une bande de 10 kms par rapport à la frontière. » Le gouvernement en a accepté le principe, mais « le délimitera de manière précise par décret pour coller à la réalité du terrain. »
►http://alpesdusud.alpes1.com/news/locales/67705/alpes-du-sud-refus-d-entree-pour-les-migrants-vers-une-evolution-
#France #Italie #frontière_sud-alpine
Enfant, je vivais en zone frontalière, une bande de 800 m de part et d’autre de la frontière qui avait pour principale caractéristique d’être totalement détaxée.
Les temps changent…
L’article 10 de la loi renforçant la sécurité intérieure et la lutte contre le terrorisme modifie l’article 78-2 du Code de procédure pénale relatif aux contrôles d’identités. Il permet ainsi des contrôles aux frontières pour une durée de douze heures consécutives (contre six auparavant). Il les élargit « aux abords » de 373 gares et dans un rayon de dix kilomètres des ports et aéroports au nombre des points de passage frontaliers. Bien au-delà des simples frontières de l’Hexagone, c’est une partie importante du territoire français qui est ainsi couvert, dont des villes entières comme Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, etc.
source, p.25 : ►https://www.lacimade.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/La_Cimade_Schengen_Frontieres.pdf
#France
Frontière entre #Italie et #Slovénie :
This month saw the introduction of joint Slovenian and Italian police patrols on their mutual border, raising concerns about the retrenchment of national boundaries contra the Schengen Agreement. The collaboration between authorities, due to be implemented until the end of September, mobilises four joint operations per week, with respective police forces able to enter 10km into the territory of their neighboring state in order to apprehend migrants. Mixed operations by member states signifies a growing trend towards the securitization of the EU’s internal borders, and in this case a tightening of controls on the departure point from the West Balkan route.
The patrols aim at stemming the transit of migrants from the western Slovenian regions of #Goriška and #Obalno-kraška, into the eastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. Given the extensive pushback apparatus being employed by Slovenian and Croatian officials, arrival in Italy has often been the first place where persons-in-transit can apply for international protection without the threat of summary removal. However, these developments in cross border patrols highlight a growing effort on the part of the Italian government to prevent people seeking sanctuary on its territory.
(p.15-16)
►https://www.borderviolence.eu/wp-content/uploads/July-2019-Final-Report.pdf
–—
While the exact number of persons arriving via the Slovenian-Italian border is unknown, there has been a sharp rise since April (►http://www.regioni.it/dalleregioni/2020/11/09/friuli-venezia-giulia-immigrazione-fedriga-ripensare-politiche-di-controllo-) of people entering Italy from the Balkan route. Not only in Trieste, but also around the province of #Udine, arrivals have increased compared to last year. In Udine, around 100 people (►https://www.ansa.it/friuliveneziagiulia/notizie/2020/11/30/migranti-oltre-cento-persone-rintracciate-nelludinese_9fdae48d-8174-4ea1-b221-8) were identified in one day. This has been met with a huge rise in chain pushbacks, initiated by Italian authorities via readmissions to Slovenia. From January to October 2020, 1321 people (►https://www.rainews.it/tgr/fvg/articoli/2020/11/fvg-massimiliano-fedriga-migranti-arrivi-emergenza-98da1880-455e-4c59-9dc9-6) have been returned via the informal readmissions agreement , representing a fivefold increase when compared with the statistics from 2019.
But instead of dealing with this deficit in adherence to international asylum law, in recent months Italian authorities have only sought to adapt border controls to apprehend more people. Border checks are now focusing on trucks, cars and smaller border crossings (►https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu4es3xXVc8&feature=youtu.be
), rather than focusing solely on the military patrols of the forested area. This fits into a strategy of heightened control, pioneered by the Governor of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region Massimiliano Fedriga who hopes to deploy more detection equipment at the border. The aim is to choke off any onward transit beyond the first 10km of Italian territory, and therefore apply the fast tracked process of readmission to the maximum number of new arrivals.
Kuster Backs Bill To Reduce 100-Mile Zone for Border Patrol Checkpoints
Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster is cosponsoring legislation to reduce border zones from 100 to 25 miles from the border (▻https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/3852?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22border+zone%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1), within which U.S. Customs and Border Patrol can set up immigration checkpoints.
Congressman Peter Welch of Vermont is the prime sponsor of the legislation.
Kuster was stopped at one such immigration checkpoint in June of this year. The checkpoint, on I-93 in Woodstock, around 90 miles from the border, resulted in 29 tickets for alleged immigration violations.
The violations were for legal visitors who did not have appropriate paperwork on them, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
According to a map from CityLabs, the entire state of New Hampshire falls within a border zone (which includes coastal borders).
“I think it has a chilling effect,” says Kuster. “It’s not the free and open America that we know.”
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy introduced a similar bill to the Senate.
▻https://www.nhpr.org/post/kuster-backs-bill-reduce-100-mile-zone-border-patrol-checkpoints#stream/0
#USA #Etats-Unis
Inside the Massive U.S. ’Border Zone’
All of Michigan, D.C., and a large chunk of Pennsylvania are part of the area where Border Patrol has expanded search and seizure rights. Here’s what it means to live or travel there.
▻https://cdn.citylab.com/media/img/citylab/2018/05/03_Esri_Map/940.png?mod=1548686763
►https://www.citylab.com/equity/2018/05/who-lives-in-border-patrols-100-mile-zone-probably-you-mapped/558275
#cartographie #visualisation
#100-Mile_Zone
déjà signalé sur seenthis par @reka en 2018 :
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/727225
En #Hongrie, les pushbacks, largement pratiqués depuis des années, ont été légalisés en mars 2017 par de nouvelles dispositions permettant aux forces de l’ordre de refouler automatiquement toute personne interpellée sur le territoire hongrois et considérée en situation irrégulière. Ces personnes sont ramenées jusqu’à la clôture et renvoyées de l’autre côté. Si elles manifestent leur volonté de demander l’asile, on leur signifie qu’elles doivent repartir en Serbie et passer par les zones de transit. Pourtant, se trouvant géographiquement et juridiquement en Hongrie (le mur étant situé à 1,5 mètre à l’intérieur du tracé officiel de la frontière), les autorités ont l’obligation de prendre en compte ces demandes d’asile en vertu des conventions européennes et des textes internationaux dont la Hongrie est signataire.
Tiré du rapport de La Cimade (2018), pp.37-38 :
►https://www.lacimade.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/La_Cimade_Schengen_Frontieres.pdf
Le zone di transito e di frontiera – commento dell’ASGI al decreto del Ministero dell’Interno del 5 agosto 2019
Il 7 settembre 2009 sulla Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 210 (►https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2019/09/07/19A05525/sg) è stato pubblicato il decreto del Ministero dell’Interno del 5 agosto 2019 che individua le zone di transito e di frontiera dove potrà trovare applicazione la procedura accelerata per l’esame nel merito delle domande di protezione internazionale e istituisce due nuove sezioni delle Commissioni territoriali , come previsto dall’art. 28 bis co. 1 quater del D.lgs. n. 25/2008, introdotto dal d.l. n. 113/2018.
Le zone di frontiera o di transito sono individuate in quelle esistenti nelle seguenti province:
–Trieste e Gorizia;
–Crotone, Cosenza, Matera, Taranto, Lecce e Brindisi;
–Caltanissetta, Ragusa, Siracusa, Catania, Messina;
–Trapani, Agrigento;
–Città metropolitana di Cagliari e Sud Sardegna.
Il decreto ministeriale istituisce altresì due nuove sezioni , Matera e Ragusa, le quali operano rispettivamente nella commissione territoriale per il riconoscimento dello status di rifugiato di Bari, per la zona di frontiera di Matera, e nella commissione territoriale di Siracusa, per la zona di frontiera di Ragusa.
Nel commento qui pubblicato ASGI sottolinea come le nuove disposizioni paiono contrastare con le norme dell’Unione Europea perché si riferiscono in modo assolutamente generico alle “zone di transito o di frontiera individuate in quelle esistenti nelle province” e non ad aree delimitate, quali ad esempio i porti o le aree aeroportuali o altri luoghi coincidenti con frontiere fisiche con Paesi terzi non appartenenti all’Unione europea.
ASGI evidenzia come “l’applicazione delle procedure accelerate alle domande presentate nelle zone individuate nel decreto ministeriale comporta una restrizione dell’effettivo esercizio dei diritti di cui ogni straniero è titolare allorché manifesta la volontà di presentare la domanda di asilo e una conseguente contrazione del diritto di difesa, in ragione del dimezzamento dei termini di impugnazione e dell’assenza di un effetto sospensivo automatico derivante dalla proposizione del ricorso previsti, in modo differente per le varie ipotesi specifiche, dall’art. 35 bis D. Lgs. 25/08”.
A tal fine ASGI ricorda che:
– ai cittadini di Paesi terzi o apolidi tenuti in centri di trattenimento o presenti ai valichi di frontiera, comprese le zone di transito alla frontiere esterne, che desiderino presentare una domanda di protezione internazionale, gli Stati membri devono garantire l’informazione, anche sull’accesso procedura per il riconoscimento della protezione internazionale, adeguati servizi di interpretariato,
nonché l’effettivo accesso a tali aree alle organizzazioni e alle persone che prestano consulenza e assistenza ai richiedenti asilo (art. 8 Direttiva 2013/32/UE);
– gli Stati membri devono provvedere affinché l’avvocato o altro consulente legale che assiste o rappresenta un richiedente possa accedere alle aree chiuse, quali i centri di trattenimento e le zone di transito (art. 23 par. 2) e analoga possibilità deve essere garantita all’UNHCR (art. 29, par. 1);
– ai sensi dell’art. 46 par. 1 il richiedente ha diritto a un ricorso effettivo dinanzi a un giudice anche nel caso in cui la decisione sulla domanda di protezione internazionale venga presa in frontiera o nelle zone di transito.
E’ evidente, conclude ASGI nel commento al Decreto, che vi sia il rischio che lo straniero espulso o respinto e che abbia presentato domanda di protezione internazionale dopo l’espulsione o il respingimento in una zona di frontiera tra quelle indicate nel nuovo decreto ministeriale si veda esaminata la sua domanda in modo sommario mentre è trattenuto in condizioni e luoghi imprecisati e inaccessibili di fatto a difensori e organizzazioni di tutela dei diritti.
Occorre invece ribadire che la presentazione della domanda di protezione internazionale in frontiera riguarderà spesso persone rese ulteriormente vulnerabili dalle condizioni traumatiche del viaggio ed alle quali andrà perciò in ogni caso garantito un esame adeguato della domanda di protezione internazionale e l’applicazione delle garanzie e dei diritti previsti a tutela dei richiedenti protezione internazionale dalle disposizioni nazionali e dell’Unione Europea.
▻https://www.asgi.it/asilo-e-protezione-internazionale/asilo-zone-transito-frontiera
La loi renforçant la lutte contre le terrorisme étend à nouveau les contrôles d’identités frontaliers
Avant l’entrée en vigueur de la loi du 30 octobre 2017, les #contrôles_frontaliers étaient autorisés dans les espaces publics des #gares, #ports et #aéroports ouverts au trafic international (désignés par un arrêté ministériel) et dans une zone située entre la frontière terrestre et une ligne tracée de 20 kilomètres en deçà. Le législateur avait étendu les zones frontalières, notamment dans les territoires ultra-marins (où la convention de Schengen n’est pourtant pas applicable).
►https://www.editions-legislatives.fr/actualite/la-loi-renforcant-la-lutte-contre-le-terrorisme-etend-a-nouvea
#France #20_km #20_kilomètres #espace_public #gares_internationales
The Grand Chamber Judgment in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary: Immigration Detention and how the Ground beneath our Feet Continues to Erode
The ECtHR has been for a long time criticized for its approach to immigration detention that diverts from the generally applicable principles to deprivation of liberty in other contexts. As Cathryn Costello has observed in her article Immigration Detention: The Ground beneath our Feet, a major weakness in the Court’s approach has been the failure to scrutinize the necessity of immigration detention under Article 5(1)(f) of the ECHR. The Grand Chamber judgment in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary delivered on 21 November 2019 has further eroded the protection extended to asylum-seekers under the Convention to the point that restrictions imposed upon asylum-seekers might not even be qualified as deprivation of liberty worthy of the protection of Article 5. The Grand Chamber overruled on this point the unanimously adopted Chamber judgment that found that the holding of asylum-seekers in the ‘transit zone’ between Hungary and Serbia actually amounts to deprivation of liberty.
In this blog, I will briefly describe the facts of the case, the findings of the Grand Chamber under Article 3 ECHR that was also invoked by the applicants and then I will focus on the reasoning as to the applicability of Article 5.
The case concerned two Bangladeshi nationals who transited through Greece, the Republic of Northern Macedonia (as it is now known) and Serbia before reaching Hungary, where they immediately applied for asylum. They found themselves in the transit zone on the land border between Hungary and Serbia, where they were held for 23 days pending the examination of their asylum applications. The applications were rejected on the same day on the ground that the applicants had transited through Serbia that, according to Hungary, was a safe third country. The rejections were confirmed on appeal, an order for their expulsion was issued, the applicants were escorted out of the transit zone and they crossed back into Serbia.
Procedural Breach of Article 3 ECHR
The Grand Chamber established that Hungary ‘failed to discharge its procedural obligation under Article 3 of the Convention to assess the risks of treatment contrary to that provision before removing the applicants from Hungary’ to Serbia (para 163). No finding was made on the issue as to whether Hungary was substantively in breach of the right not to be subjected to refoulement given the conditions in Serbia and the deficiencies in the Serbian asylum procedures that might lead to chain refoulement. This omission follows a trend in the Court’s reasoning that can be described as a procedural turn: focus on the quality of the national decision making processes rather than on the substantive accuracy of the decisions taken at national level.[1] This omission, however, had important consequences for the application of Article 5 to the applicants’ case, the most controversial aspect in the Grand Chamber’s reasoning.
The Chamber’s reasoning under Article 5 ECHR
On this aspect, the Grand Chamber departed from the Chamber’s conclusion that the applicants were deprived of their liberty. The fundamental question here is whether ‘the stay’ (Hungary used the term ‘accommodation’) of asylum-seekers in the ‘transit zone’ with an exit door open to Serbia, but closed to Hungary, amounts to deprivation of liberty (i.e. detention) in the sense of Article 5 ECHR. Asylum seekers in the transit zone were denied access to the Hungarian territory,[2] but they could leave to Serbia. This creates a complex intertwinement between deprivation of liberty (Article 5(1)(f)) normally understood as not allowing somebody to leave a place, on the one hand, and not allowing somebody to enter a place. Entering a State can be very relevant from the perspective of the obligation upon this State not to refoule, which necessitates a procedure for determining whether there is a risk of refoulement.
In its judgment from 14 March 2017 the Chamber unanimously answered in positive: by holding them in the transit zone, Hungary deprived the applicants from their liberty, which was in violation of Article 5(1)(f) since this measures had no legal basis in the national law. The Chamber clarified that‘[t]he mere fact that it was possible for them to leave voluntarily returning to Serbia which never consented to their readmission cannot rule out an infringement of the right to liberty.’ (para 55). In this way the Chamber reaffirmed the reasoning in Amuur v France where the Court observed ‘[…] this possibility [to leave voluntary the country] becomes theoretical if no other country offering protection comparable to the protection they expect to find in the country where they are seeking asylum is inclined or prepared to take them in.’ (para 48) It follows that although the transit zone at the French airport was, as France argued, “open to the outside”, the applicants were still considered as having been detained since this ‘outside’ did not offer a level of protection comparable to the one in France.
The Chamber followed this reasoning from Amuur v France in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary, which led to the recognition that ‘[…] the applicants could not have left the transit zone in the direction of Serbia without unwanted and grave consequences, that is, without forfeiting their asylum claims and running the risk of refoulement’ (para 55). The Chamber also added that ‘To hold otherwise would void the protection afforded by Article 5 of the Convention by compelling the applicants to choose between liberty and the pursuit of a procedure ultimately aimed to shelter them from the risk of exposure to treatment in breach of Article 3 of the Convention.’ (para 56)
The ‘practical and realistic’ approach of the Grand Chamber under Article 5 ECHR
The Grand Chamber in its reasoning broke precisely this linkage between the applicability of Article 5 (the qualification of a treatment as deprivation of liberty) and Article 3 (protection from refoulement). The Grand Chamber performed the following important moves to achieve this. First, it stated that ‘its approach should be practical and realistic, having regard to the present-day conditions and challenges’, which implied that States were not only entitled to control their borders, but also ‘to take measures against foreigners circumventing restrictions on immigration.’ (para 213). With Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary the Court has thus added another nuance to its well-established point of departure in cases dealing with migrants. This point of departure has been that States are entitled, subject to their treaty obligations, to control their borders. The new addition introduced with Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary and also repeated in Z.A. and Others v Russia, a Grand Chamber judgment issued on the same day, concerns States’ right to prevent ‘foreigners circumventing restrictions on immigration’. This addition, however, does not seem appropriate given that the applicants themselves in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary never circumvented any immigration control restrictions. They applied immediately for asylum.
This ‘practical and realistic approach’ also implied an endorsement of the representation of the situation as one of ‘crisis’:[3] ‘the Court observes that the Hungarian authorities were in conditions of a mass influx of asylum-seekers and migrants at the border, which necessitated rapidly putting in place measures to deal with what was clearly a crisis situation.’ (para 228) In the same paragraph, the Grand Chamber went on to almost praise Hungary for having processed the applicants’ claims so fast event though it was ‘a crisis’: ‘Despite the ensuring very significant difficulties, the applicants’ asylum claims and their judicial appeals were examined within three weeks and two days.’ It appears as if the Grand Chamber at this stage had already forgotten its findings made earlier in the judgment under Article 3 that the national procedure for examining the applicants’ claims was deficient. This ultimately gave the basis for the Grand Chamber to find a violation of Article 3.
The distinction based on how asylum-seekers arrive and the type of border they find themselves at
The second move performed by the Grand Chamber implied the introduction of a distinction between ‘staying at airport transit zones’ (para 214) and at reception centers located on islands (para 216), on the one hand, and a transit zone located on the land border between two Council of Europe Member States (para 219). This meant, as the Court reasoned, that the applicants did not have to take a plane to leave the zone, they could simply walk out of the zone. In other words, it was practically possible for them to do it on their own and they did not need anybody’s help. As the Court continued to reason in para 236, ‘Indeed, unlike the case of Amuur, where the French courts described the applicants’ confinement as an “arbitrary deprivation of liberty”, in the present case the Hungarian authorities were apparently convinced that the applicants could realistically leave in the direction of Serbia [emphasis added].’ This quotation also begs the comment as to why what the national authorities were or were not convinced about actually mattered. In addition, the reference in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary as to how the national authorities had qualified the situation is also bizarre given that ‘deprivation of liberty’ is an autonomous concept under the Convention. On this point, the two dissenting judges, Judge Bianku and Judge Vućinić criticized the majority by highlighting that ‘the Court has reiterated on many occasions that it does not consider itself bound by the domestic courts’ legal conclusions as to the existence of a deprivation of liberty.’
Narrowing down the importance of Amuur v France
The third move performed by the Court is playing down the importance of and narrowing the relevance of Amuur v France. In Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary the Grand Chamber reiterated (para 239) the most significant pronouncement from Amuur: the possibility to leave the zone ‘becomes theoretical if no other country offering protection comparable to the protection they expect to find in the country where they are seeking asylum is included to take them in.’ It then noted that this reasoning ‘must be read in close relation to the factual and legal context in that case.’ This meant that in contrast to the situation in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary, in Amuur the applicants could not leave ‘without authorization to board an airplane and without diplomatic assurance concerning their only possible destination, Syria, a country “not bound by the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.’ (para 240) On this point Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary can be also distinguished from Z.A. and Others v Russia, where the Grand Chamber observed that ‘[…] unlike in land border transit zones, in this particular case leaving the Sheremetyevo airport transit zone would have required planning, contacting aviation companies, purchasing tickets and possibly applying for a visa depending on the destination.’ (para 154) For the applicants in Ilias and Ahmed ‘it was practically possible […] to walk to the border and cross into Serbia, a country bound by the Geneva Convention.’ (para 241). The Grand Chamber acknowledged that the applicants feared of the deficiencies in the Serbian asylum procedure and the related risk of removal to the Republic of North Macedonia or Greece. (para 242) However, what seems to be crucial is that their fears were not related to ‘direct threat to their life or health’ (para 242). It follows that the possibility to leave for a place will not preclude the qualification of the situation as one of detention, only if this place poses a direct threat to life or health.
As noted by the two dissenting judges, it did not seem to matter for the majority that the applicants could not enter Serbia lawfully. In this way, the majority’s reasoning under Article 5 appears to endorse a situation where people are just pushed out of the border without some formal procedures with elementary guarantees.
Read as a whole the Grand Chamber judgment in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary is inconsistent: it contains two findings that are difficult to square together. The Court concluded that since the applicants would not be exposed to a direct risk in Serbia, they were not detained in Hungary. At the same time, Hungary violated Article 3 of the Convention since it did not conduct a proper assessment of the risks that the applicants could face if they were to return to Serbia.
Overall weakening of the protection of Article 5 ECHR
One final comment is due. In Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary, the Grand Chamber summarized the following factors for determining whether ‘confinement of foreigners in airport transit zones and reception centers’ can be defined as deprivation of liberty: ‘i) the applicants’ individual situation and their choices, ii) the applicable legal regime of the respective country and its purpose, iii) the relevant duration, especially in the light of the purpose and the procedural protection enjoyed by applicants pending the events, and iv) the nature and degree of the actual restrictions imposed on or experienced by the applicants.’ (para 217) (see also Z.A. and Others v Russia, para 145) Among these criteria particular attention needs to be directed to the applicable legal regime and the availability of procedural protection. In principle, Article 5, if found applicable, offers certain guarantees (e.g. statutory basis for the deprivation of liberty, access to proceedings for challenging the lawfulness of the detention). The Court seems to have inserted such considerations at the definitional stage of its analysis. For example, in Z.A. and Others v Russia, the Grand Chamber when it examined whether the confinement of the applicants in the airport transit zone amounted to deprivation of liberty, noted that they were left ‘in a legal limbo without any possibility of challenging the measure restricting their liberty’ (para 146). This played a role for the Grand Chamber to conclude that the applicants in Z.A. and Others v Russia were indeed deprived of liberty and Article 5 was thus found applicable. In contrast, the Grand Chamber in Ilias and Ahmed v Hungary observed that certain procedural guarantees applied to the applicants’ case (para 226), which also played a role for the final conclusion that Article 5 was not applicable. In sum, instead of scrutinizing the national legal regime and the access to procedural guarantees as part of the substantive analysis under Article 5, where a single deficiency leads to a finding of a violation (i.e. it is sufficient to find a violation of Article 5 if there is no strictly defined statutory basis for the applicants’ detention), the Court has muddled these criteria together with other factors and made them pertinent for the definitional analysis. This ultimately weakens the roles of these criteria and creates uncertainty.
[1] See V Stoyanova, ‘How Exception must “Very Exceptional” Be? Non-refoulement, Socio-Economic Deprivation and Paposhvili v Belgium’ (2017) International Journal of Refugee Law 29(4) 580.
[2] See B Nagy, ‘From Reluctance to Total Denial: Asylum Policy in Hungary 2015-2018’ in V Stoyanova and E Karageorgiou (eds) The New Asylum and Transit Countries in Europe during and in the Aftermath of the 2015/2016 Crisis (Brill 2019) 17.
[3] Boldizsar Nagy has argued that this representation made by the Hungarian government is a lie. See B Nagy, Restricting access to asylum and contempt of courts: illiberals at work in Hungary, ▻https://eumigrationlawblog.eu/restricting-access-to-asylum-and-contempt-of-courts-illiberals-at
▻https://strasbourgobservers.com/2019/12/23/the-grand-chamber-judgment-in-ilias-and-ahmed-v-hungary-immigra
#justice #CEDH #Hongrie #CourEDH
Entre la #Pologne et la #Biélorussie :
Si cette famille a pu être aidée, c’est aussi parce qu’elle a réussi à dépasser la zone de l’état d’urgence : une bande de 3 km tracée par la Pologne tout du long de sa frontière avec la Biélorussie, formellement interdite d’accès aux organisations comme aux journalistes.
Le long de la frontière, les migrants se retrouvent donc seuls entre les gardes-frontières polonais et biélorusses. Côté polonais, ils sont ramenés manu militari en Biélorussie… En Biélorussie, ils sont également refoulés : depuis octobre, le pays refuse de laisser entrer les migrants déjà passés côté européen. « La seule chance de sortir de la Pologne, c’est d’entrer en Biélorussie. La seule chance de sortir de la Biélorussie, c’est d’entrer en Pologne. C’est comme un ping-pong », confie Nelson (pseudonyme), un migrant originaire de la République démocratique du Congo qui a contacté notre rédaction.
►https://seenthis.net/messages/948199
et plus précisément ici :
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/948199#message948201
–-
Et l’article de Médiapart :
Entre la Pologne et le Belarus, les migrants abandonnés dans une #zone_de_non-droit
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/948199#message948202
« À titre de mesures compensatoires à l’entrée en vigueur de la convention de Schengen – qui, du reste, n’était pas encore applicable –, la loi du 10 août 1993 instaure les contrôles dits frontaliers : la police, la gendarmerie et la douane peuvent vérifier l’identité de toute personne, pour s’assurer qu’elle respecte les obligations liées à la détention d’un titre de circulation ou de séjour, dans la zone frontalière et dans les zones publiques des ports, aéroports et gares ouvertes au trafic international. La zone frontalière est une bande de terre, large de 20 km, longeant la frontière terrestre ; les ports, gares ou autres aérogares visés figurent sur une longue liste fixée par un arrêté ministériel. »
(Ferré 2018 : 16)
–-
« Il suffit de passer quelques heures à la gare de Menton pour le constater. Pour les personnes présumées étrangères, la liberté d’aller et de venir dans les espaces placés sous surveillance est restreinte. Elle a encore été réduite avec la loi du 30 octobre 2017 renforçant la sécurité intérieure et la lutte contre le terrorisme qui modifie, une fois de plus, le texte de loi sur les contrôles d’identité en étendant les zones frontalières autour de certains ports et aéroports qui constituent des points de passage frontaliers au sens du code frontières Schengen, soit « tout point de passage autorisé par les autorités compétentes pour le franchissement des frontières extérieures ». Dans ces nouvelles zones, la police pourra procéder à des opérations de contrôle sans avoir besoin de motiver son intervention. La loi de 2017 a également prévu que les contrôles frontaliers puissent s’effectuer « aux abords des gares » et non plus seulement dans les zones publiques de ces lieux. La formulation souffre, c’est peu de le dire, d’un manque de précision qui donne plus de latitude encore aux forces de l’ordre. »
(Ferré 2018 : 19)
source : Nathalie Ferré, « La France s’enferme à double tour », Plein Droit, 2018, n°116.
#Pyrénées, frontière #Espagne-#France, témoignage d’une personne ayant acheté un terrain en zone frontalière :
« En ce moment, on croise plein de voitures de forces de l’ordre, ce qui est étonnant en plein hiver car il n’y a personne. Il y a aussi des barrages de police réguliers car ils savent que des gens se font prendre sur la route », raconte Camille Rosa, cofondatrice d’une cantine solidaire à Perpignan. « On a acheté avec des copains un petit terrain vers Cerbère. Un jour, des gendarmes sont venus fouiller notre camion alors que mes enfants faisaient la sieste à l’intérieur. J’ai tenté de m’interposer, mais ils m’ont dit que sur la #zone_frontalière, ils avaient une #commission_rogatoire_permanente », poursuit-elle.
Abus de pouvoir, je pense. Mais un camion est un véhicule…
▻https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGIARTI000037399447/2022-02-27/?isSuggest=true
#France :
Le contrôle d’identité « Schengen » permet de vérifier le respect des obligations liées aux titres et documents d’identité et de voyage. Il peut avoir lieu dans une zone située à moins de #20_kilomètres de la frontière terrestre séparant la France d’un pays limitrophe (Allemagne, Belgique, Espagne, Italie, Luxembourg et Suisse). Si le contrôle a lieu sur l’autoroute ou dans un train, la zone s’étend jusqu’au 1er péage ou l’arrêt après les 20 kilomètres. Le contrôle peut être effectué dans un port, un aéroport ou une gare et ses abords accessible au public et ouverte au trafic international. Le contrôle ne peut pas être pratiqué plus de 12 heures consécutives dans un même lieu et ne peut pas être systématique.
Depuis la loi n° 2017-1510 du 30 octobre 2017 renforçant la sécurité intérieure, des contrôles d’identité peuvent également être effectués dans un rayon de #10_kilomètres autour de certains #ports et #aéroports sur le territoire.
C’est ce dernier contrôle qui concerne majoritairement les personnes se présentant à la frontière francoitalienne, mais certaines situations suivies par les militants locaux laissent penser que d’autres types de contrôles ont pu servir pour justifier les arrestations de personnes au-delà de la bande des 20 kilomètres ou des zones transfrontalières.
Rapport de l’Anafé, Persona non grata, 2019 : ►http://www.anafe.org/spip.php?article520
–—
Rapport CNCDH 2018, p.7 :
« la préfète des Hautes-Alpes a expliqué que la zone permettant de procéder à des refus d’entrée avait été définie par son prédécesseur mais qu’elle ne correspondait pas nécessairement à la bande des 20 kms14. Selon la PAF, les refus d’entrée peuvent être prononcés dès lors que l’étranger est contrôlé sur le territoire des communes de Montgenèvre et Nevache, et donc jusqu’à l’entrée de Briançon. »
Il convient de rappeler que des contrôles aléatoires, hors du cadre dérogatoire prévu en cas de rétablissement des frontières, peuvent être opérés, conformément à l’article 78-2 du code de procédure pénale, dans une zone comprise entre la frontière terrestre de la France avec les Etats de l’espace et une ligne tracée à 20 kilomètres en deçà, ainsi que dans les zones accessibles au public des ports, aéroports et gares ferroviaires ou routières ouverts au trafic international et désignés par arrêté et aux abords de ces gares. Ces contrôles sont toutefois strictement encadrés, notamment par la jurisprudence de la Cour de justice de l’Union européenne. Les personnes interpellées sur ce fondement peuvent faire l’objet d’une procédure de réadmission. En revanche, lorsque les contrôles aux frontières intérieures sont rétablis, les autorités françaises peuvent refuser l’entrée aux étrangers ne remplissant pas les conditions d’entrée sur le territoire aux frontières terrestres et leur notifier une décision de non-admission. Ces étrangers sont considérés comme n’étant pas entrés sur le territoire
▻https://www.cncdh.fr/fr/publications/avis-sur-la-situation-des-migrants-la-frontiere-franco-italienne
100-MILE BORDER ENFORCEMENT ZONE
Et à qui appartiennent les #îlots dans la région de l’#Evros ?
Dans ce fil de discussion :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/968374
et plus précisément ici :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/968374#message969971
No man’s land: three people seeking asylum stuck in Cyprus’s #buffer_zone
Novembre 2022 :
Le maintien en zone d’attente des rescapés de l’Ocean Viking dans la zone portuaire militaire de #Toulon et dans un #centre_de_vacances de la #presqu’île de #Giens à #Hyères :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/979556
Sur le #Bibby_Stockholm barge at #Portland Port :
“Since the vessel is positioned below the mean low water mark, it did not require planning permission”
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/1000870#message1011761
voir aussi :
“The circumstances at Portland Port are very different because where the barge is to be positioned is below the mean low water mark. This means that the barge is outside of our planning control and there is no requirement for planning permission from the council.”
►https://news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/2023/07/18/leaders-comments-on-the-home-office-barge
#UK #Angleterre
The ‘Border’ under EU Law
The first argument made by the Catania Tribunal regards the correct initiation of a border procedure. According to the judge, the procedure was not applied „at the border“, as understood by EU law (Art. 43 Directive 2013/32). Indeed, the applicants arrived and made their asylum application in Lampedusa (province of Agrigento) but the detention was ordered several days later in Pozzallo (Ragusa province) when the applicants were no longer „at the border.“ Because the border procedure (involving detention) was utilized at a later stage and in a different place, it was not appropriately initiated.
In support of the Catania Tribunal’s conclusion, we should recall that Article 43 the Procedures Directive requires a spatial and temporal link between the border crossing and the activation of the border procedure (►https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32013L0032). Although the Directive does not define the terms „border“ or „transit zone“, it clearly distinguishes these areas from other „locations in the proximity of the border or transit zone“ (Article 43(3)), where applicants can be exceptionally accommodated but never detained. The distinction between the border and other places in its vicinity suggests that the procedure provided for in Art. 43 can only be applied in narrow and well-defined areas or in pre-identified transit zones (such as the Hungarian transit zones examined by the Court in FMS and Commission v Hungary).
Other EU law instruments support this narrow interpretation of the “border” concept. Regulation 1931/2006 defines a „border area“ as a delimited space within 30 km from the Member State’s border. In the Affum case, the Court also called for a narrow interpretation of the spatial concept of „border.“ There, the Court clarified that the Return Directive allows Member States to apply a simplified return procedure at their external borders in order to „ensure that third-country nationals do not enter [their] territory“ (a purpose which resonates with that of Art. 8(3)(c) Reception Directive). However, such a procedure can only be applied if there is a „direct temporal and spatial link with the crossing of the border“, i.e. „at the time of the irregular crossing of the border or near that border after it has been crossed“ (par. 72).
By contrast, under the Italian accelerated procedure, the border has blurred contours. The new procedure, relying on the “#fiction_of_non-entry” (►https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2020/654201/EPRS_STU(2020)654201_EN.pdf), can be carried out not only „at“ the border and in transit zones or in areas territorially „close“ to the border, but in entire provinces in southern and northern Italy. This far exceeds the narrow definition of border or border area derived from EU law.
►https://seenthis.net/messages/1018938#message1023987
#fiction_de_non-entrée
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Ce terme est empruntée d’une vieille loi des Etats-Unis, The Immigration Act 1891 :
“The Immigration Act 1891 was the first to expressly mention detention, as it made provision for officers to ’inspect all such aliens’ or ’to orcier a temporary removal of such aliens for examination at a de ignated time and place, and then and there detain them until a thorough inspection is made’. The Act alsa created the very important provision that came to be known as the ’entry fiction’. According to this, a removal to shore for examination ’shall not be considered a landing during the pendency of such examination’. This was a criticallegal (and constitutional) innovation because it meant that th ose incarcerated must be treated as if they were not there. This was both an attempt to treat the place of detention as if it were sim ply an extension ofbeing held on board ship, but also something more serious. The concept of being physically detained within the territorial land-mass of the United States but not being considered legally present was radical. It suggested a kind of limbo - with the detention centre constituting perhaps an extra-legal space- putting immigrants beyond the reach of constitutional norms, pending a final executive decision to land or deport them.”
source : Daniel Wilsher, Immigration detention : law, history, politics, 2012, p. 13
Dans le film Green Border, on voit bien la mise en place d’une bande frontalière (#zone_interdite / #état_d'urgence) où les activistes n’ont pas le droit d’entrer et les réfugiés sont instrumentalisés par la #Pologne et la #Biélorussie :
Autour du nouveau #pacte (#Pacte_européen_sur_la_migration_et_l’asile)
3) Introduzione del concetto di “finzione del non ingresso”
Il patto introduce il concetto di “finzione giuridica di non ingresso”, secondo il quale le zone di frontiera sono considerate come non parte del territorio degli Stati membri. Questo interessa in particolare l’Italia, la Grecia e la Spagna per gli sbarchi della rotta mediterranea, mentre sono più articolati “i confini” per la rotta balcanica. Durante le 12 settimane di attesa per l’esito della richiesta di asilo, le persone sono considerate legalmente “non presenti nel territorio dell’UE”, nonostante esse fisicamente lo siano (in centri di detenzione ai confini), non avranno un patrocinio legale gratuito per la pratica amministrativa e tempi brevissimi per il ricorso in caso di un primo diniego (e in quel caso rischiano anche di essere espulse durante l’attesa della decisione che li riguarda). In assenza di accordi con i paesi di origine (come nella maggioranza dei casi), le espulsioni avverranno verso i paesi di partenza.
Tale concetto creadelle pericolose “zone grigie” in cui le persone in movimento, trattenute per la procedura accelerata di frontiera, non potranno muoversi sul territorio né tantomeno accedere a un supporto esterno. Tutto questo in spregio del diritto internazionale e della tutela della persona che, sulla carta, l’UE si propone(va) di difendere.
Legal fiction of non-entry in EU asylum policy
The fiction of ’#non-entry' is a claim that states use in border management to deny the legal arrival of third-country nationals on their territory, regardless of their physical presence, until granted entry by a border or immigration officer. It is usually applied in transit zones at international airports between arrival gates and passport control, signifying that the persons who have arrived have not yet entered the territory of the destination country. Although physically present, they are not considered to have legally entered the country’s official territory until they have undergone the necessary clearance. In the EU, all Member States make use of the fiction of non-entry in transit zones at ports of entry, but usually in a non-asylum context. In 2018, Germany was one of the first Member States to extend this concept to include land crossings. Since the mass arrival of asylum-seekers in 2015-2016, other Member States too have increasingly looked into ways of using this claim to inhibit asylum-seekers’ entry to their territory and thereby avoid the obligation under international law to provide them with certain protection and aid. This, however, may lead to a risk of refoulement, as the fiction of non-entry limits asylum-seekers’ movement and access to rights and procedures, including the asylum procedure. This is a revised edition of a briefing published in March 2024.
►https://seenthis.net/messages/1050973
#fiction_légale #legal_fiction #non-entrée #aéroports #territoire #géographie #zones_frontalières #zones_de_transit #présence_physique
Pour archivage... un #rapport de Migreurop sur les « #frontières assassines » de l’Europe... c’était 2009, et on parlait notamment dans ce rapport des #push-back (#refoulements) dans la région de l’#Evros :
Je le partage aujourd’hui car ce qui est raconté ici, donc autour de 2009, se répète dans l’Evros autour des années 2012-2013 (j’en avais parlé sur @visionscarto : ►https://visionscarto.net/a-kumkapi-avant-de-passer-la-frontiere) et on en reparle aujourd’hui, v. notamment : ►https://seenthis.net/messages/710720
#asile #migrations #réfugiés #Grèce #Turquie
Migrants tortured by Greek police, illegally pushed back to Turkey
30.05.2019
english: ▻https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2019/05/30/migrants-tortured-by-greek-police-illegally-pushed-back-to-turkey
greek:
▻https://infonewstime.wordpress.com/2019/06/01/μας-πυροβόλησαν-με-πλαστικές-σφαίρε
merci @kaparia, je copie-colle le texte de l’article et sauvegarde les images ici: ►https://seenthis.net/messages/710720
Au cas où...
Le #Racist_Violence_Recording_Network (#RVRN), un réseau qui recense les violences racistes en Grèce auquel participe 46 ONG et associations de la société civile, vient de présenter son #rapport annuel pour 2018. (le rapport est accessible en anglais en cliquant ici:▻http://rvrn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RVRN_report_2018en.pdf
On y constate une recrudescence inquiétante de violences racistes dont la grande majorité des victimes sont des réfugiés et des migrants. Parmi les 117 incidents répertoriés, 74 ont eu pour cible des migrants et des réfugiés. Le rapport constate un renforcement de l’action des groupes organisés d’#extrême_droite qui se revendiquent comme tels et dont les attaques sont souvent planifiées d’avance. Un scénario typique est celui de la #poursuite_en_voiture des réfugiés sortant ou rentrant à un camp par un groupe d’individus qui les attaquent à coup des pieds et de barres, en visant surtout les parties visibles du corps et le visage, afin d’y provoquer des marques dans un but d’#intimidation.
Particulièrement alarmant est le fait que les #violences_racistes de la part de #forces_de_l’ordre ont plus que doublé l’année dernière, et notamment à #Lesbos, au port de #Patras et à la frontière gréco-turque terrestre en #Thrace. On dénombre 22 incidents racistes dont les auteurs sont des policiers au lieu de 10 pour 2017, et ce ne sont que les incidents qui ont été dénoncés tandis que plusieurs autres sont sans doute passés sous silence.
–-> message reçu de Vicky Skoumbi via la mailing-list Migreurop
#rapport #Grèce #violence #racisme #xénophobie #migrations #asile #réfugiés #Evros #violences_policières #statistiques #chiffres #2018 #homophobie #attaques_racistes
Bizarre... je n’en trouve pas trace sur seenthis.
Pourtant, c’est bien quelque chose que j’aurais dû mettre ici...
Alors, je le fais maintenant...
Synopsis :
Une recherche amorcée en 2009 sur les politiques migratoires européennes à la frontière gréco-turque par #Laurence_Pillant a conduit à la découverte des lieux d’enfermement abandonnés.
Une tentative de témoigner des traces et de la mémoire de ces lieux a donné lieu au film Blue Sky from Pain et l’exposition #Archéologie d’une Frontière.
#ghost-town #géographie_du_vide #asile #migrations #réfugiés #frontières #Grèce #court-métrage #film #Stephanos_Mangriotis #traces #ruines
Trailer :
▻https://vimeo.com/176722506
J’ai pensé à ce film quand, ce matin Haydée Sabéran signalait cela sur twitter :
►https://twitter.com/HaydeeSaberan/status/1101877949639393281
Que j’ai du coup ajouté à ce fil de discussion sur #Calais :
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/662068#message764307
So
So you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell
Blue skies from pain
Crossing a Red Line: How EU Countries Undermine the Right to Liberty by Expanding the Use of Detention of Asylum Seekers upon Entry
This week the Hungarian Helsinki Committee, in conjunction with ECRE and a number of European project partners, launched their report “Crossing a Red Line: How EU Countries Undermine the Right to Liberty by Expanding the Use of Detention of Asylum Seekers upon Entry.” By examining four case studies; Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and Italy, this research explores how asylum seekers’ rights to liberty are undermined upon entry, with a specific focus on de facto detention.
“Crossing a Red Line” explains that while there has been a significant decrease in asylum applications in Bulgaria, Hungary and Italy, the use of detention upon entry has been increasing since 2015 and continues to do so. Practises of de facto detention- which indicates the deprivation of an individual’s liberty without the requirement of a detention order- are widespread and specific to country context. Hot spots, transit zones, pre- removal centres, border zones at which migrants have been ‘pushed- back’ and boats- including search and rescue vessels- have all become spaces in which people can be detained. In other cases “protective detention” results in unaccompanied children having their freedom of movement restricted.
With no procedural guarantees and no opportunity to seek judicial review, the only possibility for release from de facto detention is to leave to another country.
The Hungarian Helsinki Committee argue that the increasing trend of using of detention measures for asylum seekers upon entry “is motivated by a range of different practical, political, and legal considerations”. In some cases it has been advocated as a mechanism to deal with unprecedented pressure on processing systems, in others it has become an important means to gain political support for governments that frames migration as a security issue. In the case of Greece and Italy, the increased rate of detention of asylum seekers at the border has also been the product of EU- level policy, namely the need to meet the requirements of the EU-Turkey statement and Dublin system.
The report further questions these motivations; “Why do Member States prefer to use de facto detention despite the existence of a dedicated legal framework? Is it for the purpose of administrative convenience? In order to avoid procedural safeguards? In order to satisfy public appeal and communication needs?
The report states that there is no evidence that the use of detention reduces the rate of arrivals to the countries in question, rather it serves as a deterrent only so far as pressure is moved from one entry point to the next. In the example of Hungary, the traumatic experience of being detained in ‘transit zones’ contributes to the fact that beneficiaries of international protection frequently leave the country within a few days of their release, to apply for asylum again in another EU country. The use of de facto detention therefore contributes to secondary movements across Europe and is inevitably is counter- productive to refugee integration.
As ECRE’s previous policy note, “Taking liberties: detention and asylum law reform” found; “The damage caused by detention adds to an already heavy process of adjustment and takes significant time and effort to remedy” (▻https://www.ecre.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Policy-Note-14.pdf).
Le rapport en pdf:
▻https://www.helsinki.hu/wp-content/uploads/crossing_a_red_line.pdf
#frontières_extérieures #UE #EU #asile #migrations #détention #rétention #camps #Bulgarie #Grèce #Italie #Hongrie #Fylakio #Evros #base_de_données #database #statistiques #chiffres
#Giles_Duley, survivre pour mieux photographier les victimes de la guerre
Invité par le Centre international de déminage humanitaire à l’occasion d’une conférence sur les mines à l’ONU, à Genève, le photographe britannique, triple amputé, a survécu par miracle à un engin explosif improvisé en Afghanistan. Ce tragique épisode a décuplé son empathie pour les sujets qu’il photographie et renforcé une vocation
« Tu es un dur, tu vas vivre, buddy. » Le 7 février 2011, au cœur de l’Afghanistan. Dans l’hélicoptère qui l’emmène d’urgence à l’Hôpital des Nations unies à Kandahar, des soldats américains s’évertuent à maintenir Giles Duley en vie. Incorporé dans la 101e Division aéroportée de l’armée américaine pour photographier l’impact humanitaire de la guerre sur les civils, il vient de sauter sur une mine improvisée. Deux jambes et un bras arrachés. Transféré à Birmingham en Angleterre, il passe 46 jours aux soins intensifs. Il survit. Un miracle. Il subit 37 opérations en un an avant de pouvoir quitter l’hôpital.
Façonner ma vie future
Invité par le Centre international de déminage humanitaire (GICHD) à Genève à l’occasion de la 22e Conférence internationale de Mine Action réunissant plus de 300 responsables nationaux et onusiens au Palais des Nations jusqu’à vendredi, ce Britannique de 47 ans n’est pas du genre à s’apitoyer sur son sort. A l’ONU, mardi matin, équipé de ses deux prothèses, il lâchera devant un parterre plutôt rangé : « Si je n’avais plus été capable de faire de la photo, j’aurais préféré mourir en Afghanistan. »
« J’ai d’emblée perdu mes ressources financières, ma maison, ma fiancée, poursuit Giles Duley. J’ai vécu dans une petite chambre où même ma chaise roulante ne rentrait pas. Tout le monde voulait façonner ma vie future. A moi qui avais été un sportif (boxe et athlétisme), on m’avait dit, un an après l’Afghanistan, que j’allais pouvoir désormais m’intéresser aux Jeux paralympiques de Londres de 2012. » Une remarque offensante pour lui qui voit le handicap comme l’incapacité de faire ce que l’on veut faire.
« Or aujourd’hui, je fais ce que j’aime. Je suis un meilleur photographe qu’avant. » Dans son appartement de Hastings faisant face à la mer, ce Londonien s’en fait un point d’honneur : son appartement n’est pas aménagé spécialement pour lui. Il rappelle qu’il y a quelque temps, il posait vêtu de noir, avec les amputations visibles, sur un tronc blanc pour un autoportrait, prouvant qu’il acceptait son nouveau physique. « Au British Museum, explique-t-il, il y a bien des statues en partie abîmées qu’on continue de trouver belles. »
Pour la seule année 2018, Giles Duley, exemple de résilience, a voyagé dans 14 pays. Avec la photo comme raison d’être, de vivre. Pour documenter les horreurs réelles de la guerre : « Je ne suis pas un reporter de guerre. Je suis anti-guerre. Je ne photographie jamais des soldats au combat. » Son empathie pour les sujets qu’il photographie est décuplée. En 2015, le Haut-Commissariat de l’ONU pour les réfugiés (HCR) lui confie un mandat pour raconter la crise des migrants de Syrie en lui donnant pour seule directive : « Suis ton cœur. » Une manière de bien cerner le personnage.
A Lesbos, l’arrivée de migrants épuisés le touche profondément. Il le confesse au Temps : « Je n’ai pas que des blessures. Mes souffrances physiques et émotionnelles sont quotidiennes. Mais c’est précisément cela qui me connecte aux gens. » Giles Duley n’a plus la même palette de possibilités qu’auparavant. Mais il s’en accommode : « Les limites que je peux éprouver me forcent à davantage de créativité. » D’ailleurs, ajoute-t-il, « les meilleures photos ne sont pas celles qu’on prend, mais celles qu’on nous donne ».
Une vérité, pas la vérité
Quand, en 2014, il rencontre Khouloud dans un camp de réfugiés dans la vallée de la Bekaa au Liban, il est touché par cette Syrienne, atteinte par un sniper à la colonne vertébrale et alitée dans une tente de fortune depuis plusieurs mois. Un cliché la montre en compagnie de son mari, « une scène d’amour » davantage qu’une scène dramatique dans un camp de réfugiés, relève-t-il. Deux ans après sa première rencontre, il constate que Khouloud est toujours dans la même tente. La situation l’insupporte. Il lance une campagne de financement participatif pour lui venir en aide. Un jour, il recevra de Khouloud, médicalement traitée aux Pays-Bas, un message disant « Vous m’avez redonné ma vie. »
Giles Duley reste honnête. Ses photos ne représentent pas la réalité, mais une réalité qu’il a choisie. Préférant le noir et blanc, il aime utiliser un drap blanc comme seul arrière-fond pour effacer tout contexte : « Si je photographie une personne dans un camp de réfugiés, on va se limiter à la voir comme une réfugiée. Or elle est bien autre chose. Elle n’est pas née réfugiée. »
La puissance de l’esprit
Aujourd’hui directeur de sa fondation Legacy of War, Giles Duley estime être « l’homme le plus chanceux du monde » à voir les milliers de mutilés qui croupissent dans des conditions de vie inacceptables. Dans une interview avec Giles Duley, Melissa Fleming, directrice de la communication au HCR, le relève : « Au cours de toute ma vie, je n’ai jamais rencontré une personne aussi forte, ayant été si proche de la mort et capable de recourir à la puissance de son esprit et de sa volonté pour surmonter » l’adversité.
La vocation de Giles n’était toutefois pas une évidence. Des cinq frère et sœurs, il est le plus « difficile ». Les études ne le branchent pas, au contraire du sport. Il décroche une bourse d’études aux Etats-Unis pour la boxe, mais un accident de voiture met fin à ses espoirs. Il se lance dans la photo de groupes de rock (Oasis, Marilyn Manson, Lenny Kravitz, etc.) et de mode. Mais un jour, face à une jeune actrice en pleurs dans un hôtel londonien, il réalise que la photo de mode ne le rend plus heureux. Il abandonne, travaille dans un bar, cédant brièvement à la dépression et à l’alcool.
A 30 ans, une nouvelle vocation
Mais comme une bouée de sauvetage, il se souvient d’un cadeau laissé par son parrain à peine décédé quand il avait 18 ans : un appareil photo Olympus et Unreasonable Behaviour, l’ouvrage autobiographique de la légende de la photo Don McCullin. Les images du Vietnam et du Biafra le bouleversent. A 30 ans, il identifie sa nouvelle vocation : raconter par l’image l’histoire personnelle des victimes oubliées du cynisme humain à travers la planète. Pour leur donner la chance d’une nouvelle vie. Malgré les douleurs qui ne le lâchent jamais. Ou peut-être à cause d’elles.
▻https://www.letemps.ch/monde/giles-duley-survivre-mieux-photographier-victimes-guerre
#photographie #victimes_de_guerre #handicap #autonomie
ping @albertocampiphoto @philippe_de_jonckheere
A five-year photographic project exploring the long-term effects of conflict globally. Stories and images by Giles Duley.
Et des photos de #Lesbos, #Grèce.
Photos de 2016.
This is Europe, This is Now : Lesvos to Berlin, 2015 – Part 1
▻http://legacyofwar.com/2433-2
Et la deuxième partie :
Une #carte sur le #parcours_migratoire, probablement dessinée par des volontaires :
Et la barrière frontalière de l’#Evros :
Et #Fylakio :
Access to protection in Europe Borders and entry in to the territory
#accès_au_territoire #asile #migrations #réfugiés #frontières #frontière_sud-alpine #Europe #fermeture_des_frontières #rapport #push-back #refoulement #Schengen #accords_bilatéraux #renvois #expulsions #Slovénie #Croatie #France #Autriche #contrôles_systématiques_aux_frontières #Allemagne #Danemark #Suède #Norvège #Espagne #Suisse #Hongrie #Côme #Italie #Pologne #Roumanie #Serbie #Bulgarie #Turquie #Evros #Portugal
Petite #métaliste sur les #patrouilles #anti-migrants en Europe (pour l’instant, #Europe_centrale) :
... sur le modèle des #minutemen nord-américains...
▻https://seenthis.net/tag/minutemen
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/282991
#USA #Etats-Unis
#asile #migrations #réfugiés #xénophobie #racisme #patrouilles #chasse_aux_migrants #anti-réfugiés #milices #milices_privées #extrême_droite #néo-nazis #extrême-droite #néonazis
cc @isskein @marty @albertocampiphoto @mathieup @reka
Dans la région de l’#Evros, en #Grèce :
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/828209#message833066
Dans les #Alpes, le groupe #Defend_Europe (#génération_identitaire)
–-> il faut un peu chercher dans ces fils de discussion sur le Briançonnais :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/733721
#France
08/07: 19 travellers at Turkish-Greek landborder, pushed-back to Turkey
Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 8th of July 2018
Case name: 2018_07_08-AEG406
Situation: 19 travellers at Turkish-Greek landborder, pushed-back to Turkey
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Aegean Sea
Summary of the Case:
On Sunday, 8th of July, at 11:14pm CEST, we were alerted to a group of travellers stuck near #Tichero, Greece, close to the Turkish landborder. The group consisted of 19 people, among them a 1-year-old child, a pregnant lady and a man that had a broken leg. At 12:11pm we managed to establish contact to the travellers. They were afraid of being pushed-back to Turkey by the police and asked for medical aid and the possibility to seek asylum in Greece. We asked them for a list of their names and birth dates in order to alert UNHCR. At 1:02am we received the list. We couldn’t get back in contact until 1:47am. The group decided not to move further and to wait until the morning for the UNHCR office to open so they could call there.
At 8:30am we called UNHCR and asked for assistance. At 8:45am we also called the local police station but the operator refused to speak to us in English. We told the group to call 112 themselves for assistance. Until 9:30am we couldn’t reach any local police station. At 9:50am we sent an email to the local authorities and UNHCR to inform them about the people. Afterwards we continuously tried again to get in touch with the authorities and the group, but couldn’t establish a connection any more. At 2pm we reached the police in Alexandropolis. They informed us that they were searching since one hour but hadn’t found the travellers. During the afternoon, we couldn’t get any news and didn’t reach the travellers anymore. At 6:53pm the police informed us that they had not found the group yet. The next day at 11:02am we were informed by a contact person that the group had been found and that they had been allegedly violently pushed-back to Turkey. At 12:45am we managed to reach the group itself. They told us that the police had found them at 5:00pm the day before and put them in „a prison“. At 10:00pm the police had told the group that they were being moved to a camp to apply for international protection. However, the police instead brought them back to the river and handed them to officers discribed as „military“, who forced them onto a boat and across Evros border river back to Turkey. The police officers before had confiscated personal belongings of the refugees, including mobile phones, money, passports and the food for the baby.
▻http://watchthemed.net/reports/view/943
#Evros #Grèce #frontières #Turquie #push-back #refoulement #asile #migrations #réfugiés
WSJ: Turks fleeing Erdogan fuel new influx of refugees to Greece
Thousands of Turks flee Turkey due to a massive witch-hunt launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against the Kurds and the Gülen Group in the wake of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
Around 14,000 people crossed the Evros frontier from January through September of this year, more than double the number for the whole of last year, according to the Greek police. Around half of them were Turkish citizens, according to estimates from Frontex, the European Union’s border agency. Many are judges, military personnel, civil servants or business people who have fallen under Turkish authorities’ suspicion, had their passports canceled and chosen an illegal route out.
Nearly 4,000 Turks have applied for asylum in Greece so far this year. But most Turkish arrivals don’t register their presence in Greece, planning instead to head deeper into Europe and further from Turkey.
About 30 Turks have been arriving on a daily basis since the failed coup, according to Kathimerini, there were zero arrivals from Turkey in 2015. However, thousands of Turkish citizens have started claiming asylum in Greece since “Erdogan stepped up his crackdown against his opponents since the failed coup attempt.”
The Wall Street Journal interviewed some of the purge-victim families in Greece:
“In the dead of night, Yunuz Cagar and his wife Cansu gave their baby some herbal tea to help her sleep, donned backpacks and followed smugglers on a muddy path along the Evros river, evading fences and border guards until they reached Greece.
Mr. Cagar, a 29-year-old court clerk, was living a quiet life with his family in a provincial town near Istanbul until Turkey’s crackdown after a failed military coup in 2016 turned their world upside down. Judges, colleagues and friends were arrested. He lost his job and had to move the family into his parents’ attic. Mr. Cagar was arrested and spent four months in prison. His crime, he says, was downloading a messaging app, an act he says the state treated as evidence of supporting terrorism.
The flow of asylum seekers crossing the Greek-Turkish border along the Evros river is rising for the first time since the peak of Europe’s migration crisis in 2015. This time, though, the increase is mainly due to Turks fleeing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his dragnet against real or imagined followers of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey accuses Mr. Gulen, an ex-ally turned enemy of Mr. Erdogan, of orchestrating the coup attempt.
“We didn’t say goodbye to anyone before leaving,” said Mr. Cagar, who is now in Athens trying to find some way to get to Germany. His wife and child already made it there with the help of smugglers who have demanded a hefty price. “We began our journey with €13,000 ($14,700) and I have €1,500 left,” he said.
Ahmed, a 30-year-old former F-16 pilot in the Turkish air force, spends his days talking to smugglers and trying to find a way out. “My dream is Canada, but the reality is Omonoia,” he said, referring to the gritty square in downtown Athens where migrants and smugglers mingle.
A few months after the coup attempt, Ahmed said, he was dismissed, accused of Gulenist links, arrested and beaten, after another officer denounced him. He said he has no connections with Mr. Gulen’s network. He was released pending trial, but decided to flee when a prison term appeared unavoidable.
Yilmaz Bilir, his wife Ozlem and their four children were on vacation when the coup attempt happened. Mr. Bilir, who worked at the information-technology department of Turkey’s foreign ministry, found out months later that he was suspected of Gulenist links, which he denies. The family went into hiding, staying with relatives and friends. Mr. Bilir was arrested when he briefly visited his own home and neighbors called the police. When he was released pending trial, the family decided to leave Turkey.
Mr. Bilir made it to Germany using a forged passport and has applied for asylum there. His wife and children have applied to join him.
Mrs. Bilir, stuck for now in Athens, remembers how happy the family was when they crossed the river Evros one summer night. “It was an endless walk, but we were happy, because we were away together,” she said. “I was so stressed in Turkey that I couldn’t sleep well for months, but that first night in detention in Greece, I finally slept.”
After the coup, Meral Budak was suspended from her job as a teacher. Her husband was a journalist at Zaman, a major Turkish newspaper linked to Mr. Gulen’s movement. He had a valid U.S. visa and was able to travel to Canada, where he now works as an Uber driver. His 18-year-old son joined him a few months later.
Mrs. Budak and the couple’s 15-year-old son Ali remained in Turkey and soon had their passports revoked. They went into hiding for a year. “The most traumatic memory was when I burned hundreds of books,” she said. “Even my children’s school books could be considered evidence, since the publishing companies were funded by Gulen.”
On Jan. 1 of this year, Mrs. Budak and Ali undertook the long walk across the Evros and into Greece, where they now wait to join the rest of the family in Canada.
“When I was walking through Greek villages, I realized my life was never going to be the same,” Mrs. Budak said. “I was walking into the unknown.”
Read the full report on: ▻https://www.wsj.com/articles/turks-fleeing-erdogan-fuel-new-influx-of-refugees-to-greece-1543672801
▻https://turkeypurge.com/wsj-turks-fleeing-erdogan-fuel-new-influx-of-refugees-to-greece
#réfugiés_turcs
Fourth migrant found dead near border, Greek ’pushback’ suspected
Bodies of migrants keep piling up on Turkey’s border with Greece, while Greece denies it is involved in illegal “pushback” practices. Villagers in Adasarhanlı, where the body of another migrant was found earlier this week, alerted authorities after they discovered a body in a rice field, a short distance from the Turkish-Greek border, late Wednesday. The man is believed to be an illegal migrant forced to walk back to Turkey in freezing temperatures by Greek police as part of their controversial pushback practice.
An initial investigation shows the man froze to death three days ago, and there were lesions on his body stemming from prolonged exposure to water.
İbrahim Dalkıran, the leader of the village, said they have seen a large number of migrants recently in the area, and many took shelter, in wet clothes or half naked, in Adasarhanlı. “This is a humanitarian situation. Greece sends back migrants almost every three or four days. Some arrive injured, and we call a doctor. It is sad to see them in such a state,” Dalkıran told reporters.
Olga Gerovasili, Greece’s minister for citizen protection whose ministry oversees border security, has denied previous allegations of pushback and told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Greece is not involved in such incidents. Yet, figures provided to AA by Turkish security sources show many illegal migrants were forced to go back to Turkey by Greek officials, with some 2,490 migrants being pushed back in November alone. The agency reports that some 300 of them were subjected to mistreatment by Greek security forces, ranging from beatings to being forced to go back half naked to the Turkish side of the border.
Three bodies, believed to be Afghan or Pakistani migrants, were found in three villages in Edirne, the Turkish province that borders Greece. More than 70,000 illegal migrants were intercepted in Edirne between January and November, a high number compared to the 47,731 stopped last year as they tried to cross into Greece despite an increase in pushback reports.
Under international laws and conventions, Greece is obliged to register any illegal migrants entering its territory; yet, this is not the case for some migrants. Security sources say that accounts of migrants interviewed by Turkish migration authority staff and social workers show that they are forced to return to Turkey, where they arrived from their homelands with the hope of reaching Europe.
Pırıl Erçoban, a coordinator for the Association for Solidarity with Refugees (Mülteci-Der), says pushback constitutes a serious crime. She said it was “sad and unacceptable” that three migrants died, the number of deaths illustrates a serious problem. “It sheds light on the fact that pushback is being applied. It is still a crime to send those people back, even if they can make it back to Turkey alive,” Erçoban told AA. She says pushback was also taking place on migrant sea journeys, but has stopped, although the practice has continued on land. “Both Greece and Bulgaria are involved in this practice. Our figures show some 11,000 [illegal migrants] entered Turkey from Greece and Bulgaria, though not all of them were forced; we believe a substantial portion of returns are the result of pushback,” she said, adding returns were mostly via Greece. Erçoban said taking legal action to help migrants forced to return was difficult, as they could not reach the victims. “There should be administrative and criminal sanctions, and the culprits should be found. Turkey should take steps against pushback if [Greece] adopted it as a state policy. We hear that they are being beaten with iron bars and sent back without their clothes. This is a crime,” she added.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of migrants flee civil conflict or economic hardship in their home countries in hope of reaching Europe. Edirne is a primary migration route. Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management data reveals that most of the migrants come from Pakistan, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The numbers increase in late summer and autumn before dropping in the winter months.
Temperatures hover near minus zero degrees Celsius in Edirne and other provinces at the border, which also saw heavy rainfall last week. Migrants usually take boats on the Meriç River, while some try to swim across to the other side. Early yesterday, police stopped 17 Pakistani migrants who were walking on train tracks near the border.
▻https://www.dailysabah.com/investigations/2018/12/07/fourth-migrant-found-dead-near-border-greek-pushback-suspected/amp?__twitter_impression=true
#mourir_aux_frontières #décès #morts
Greece accused of migrant ’pushbacks’ at Turkey border
Hundreds of migrants including children and families have been illegally returned from Greece to Turkey despite Greek authorities being repeatedly warned about the practice, three non-governmental organizations said Wednesday.
Migrants being forced back over the border, in violation of international law, has become the “new normality” at the border crossing with Turkey in Greece’s northeast Evros region, the three Greek organizations said.
The testimonies of 39 people who attempted to cross the border to Europe, collected in detention centers near the border since the spring, were published in a report by the Greek Council for Refugees, ARSIS and HumanRights360.
In their testimonies, the migrants describe being intercepted and detained by people wearing police or military uniforms, sometimes with a hood covering their face, who then forced them onto a boat to cross the Evros River back to Turkey.
Some migrants described being physically abused or robbed by the individuals, who mostly spoke Greek.
The report “constitutes evidence of the practice of pushbacks being used extensively and not decreasing, regardless of the silence and denial by the responsible public bodies and authorities,” the NGOs said.
The “particularly wide-spread practice” leaves the “state exposed and posing a threat for the rule of law in the country,” they added.
The Greek office of the U.N. refugee agency also said it had recorded a “significant number of testimonies on informal forced returns” through the Evros border.
“On many occasions, we have addressed those concerns to the Greek authorities requesting the investigation of incidents,” the UNHCR office said.
“The state’s response so far to these practices has not produced the results required for an effective access to asylum.”
Greek authorities have denied involvement in the migrant returns and have announced investigations into potential militia action, without result so far.
The flow of migrants across the Greek-Turkish land border has almost tripled this year, according to Greece’s migration ministry, with 14,000 people intercepted so far compared to 5,400 in 2017.
Greece: Violent Pushbacks at Turkey Border
Greek law enforcement officers at the land border with Turkey in the northeastern Evros region routinely summarily return asylum seekers and migrants, Human Rights Watch said today. The officers in some cases use violence and often confiscate and destroy the migrants’ belongings.
“People who have not committed a crime are detained, beaten, and thrown out of Greece without any consideration for their rights or safety,” said Todor Gardos, Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The Greek authorities should immediately investigate the repeated allegations of illegal pushbacks.”
Human Rights Watch interviewed 26 asylum seekers and other migrants in Greece in May, and in October and November in Turkey. They are from Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, and include families traveling with children. They described 24 incidents of pushbacks across the Evros River from Greece to Turkey.
Most incidents took place between April and November. All of those interviewed reported hostile or violent behavior by Greek police and unidentified forces wearing uniforms and masks without recognizable insignia. Twelve said police or these unidentified forces accompanying the police stripped them of their possessions, including their money and personal identification, which were often destroyed. Seven said police or unidentified forces took their clothes or shoes and forced them back to Turkey in their underwear, sometimes at night in freezing temperatures.
Abuse included beatings with hands and batons, kicking, and, in one case, the use of what appeared to be a stun gun. In another case, a Moroccan man said a masked man dragged him by his hair, forced him to kneel on the ground, held a knife to his throat, and subjected him to a mock execution. Others pushed back include a pregnant 19-year-old woman from Afrin, Syria, and a woman from Afghanistan who said Greek authorities took away her two young children’s shoes.
Increasing numbers of migrants, including asylum seekers, have attempted to cross the Evros River, which forms a natural border between Greece and Turkey, since April. By the end of September, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had registered 13,784 arrivals by land, a nearly fourfold increase over the same period last year.
In early June, Turkey unilaterally suspended all returns under a bilateral readmission agreement, stopping coordinated returns over the land border. In a July letter to Human Rights Watch, Hellenic Police Director Georgios Kossioris acknowledged an “acute problem” related to new arrivals and migrants arrested in the region, causing the overcrowding in some facilities, and inhumane conditions in police stations and registration and identification centers Human Rights Watch had documented.
Accounts gathered by Human Rights Watch are consistent with the findings of other nongovernmental groups, intergovernmental agencies, and media reports. UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, has raised similar concerns. In a June report, the Council of Europe’s (CoE) Committee for the Prevention of Torture said it has received “several consistent and credible allegations of pushbacks by boat from Greece to Turkey at the Evros River border by masked Greek police and border guards or (para-)military commandos.” In November, the CoE human rights commissioner called on Greece to investigate allegations, in light of information pointing to “an established practice.”
Human Rights Watch wrote to the head of border protection of the Hellenic Police on December 6, 2018, informing them of its findings. In his reply, Police Director Kossioris categorically denied that Hellenic Police carry out forced summary returns. He said all procedures for the detention and identification of migrants entering Greece were carried out in line with relevant legislation, and that they “thoroughly investigate” any incidents of misconduct or violation of migrants’ and asylum seekers’ rights. Greek authorities have consistently denied pushback practices, including a high-ranking Greek police official in a June meeting with Human Rights Watch. For a decade, Human Rights Watch has documented systematic pushbacks by Greek law enforcement officials at its land border with Turkey.
Greek authorities should promptly investigate in a transparent, thorough, and impartial manner repeated allegations that Greek police and border guards are involved in collective and extrajudicial expulsions at the Evros region. Authorities should investigate allegations of violence and excessive use of force. Any officer engaged in such illegal acts, as well as their commanding officers, should be subject to disciplinary sanction and, as appropriate, criminal prosecution. Anyone seeking international protection should have the opportunity to apply for asylum, and returns should follow a procedure that provides access to effective remedies and safeguards against refoulement – return to a country where they are likely to face persecution, and ill-treatment.
The European Commission, which provides financial support to the Greek government for migration control, including in the Evros region, should urge Greece to end all summary returns of asylum seekers to Turkey, press the authorities to investigate allegations of violence, and open legal proceedings against Greece for violating European Union laws.
“Despite government denials, it appears that Greece is intentionally, and with complete impunity, closing the door on many people who seek to reach the European Union through the Evros border,” Gardos said. “Greece should cease forced summary returns immediately and treat everyone with dignity and respect for their basic rights.”
For detailed accounts from asylum seekers and migrants, please see below. Please note that all names have been changed.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 26 people from Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Pakistan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, including seven women, two of whom were pregnant at the time they were summarily returned to Turkey across the Evros River. In seven cases, families were pushed back, including children.
In Greece, Human Rights Watch interviewed people who managed to re-enter Greek territory following a pushback, in the Fylakio pre-removal detention center and in the Fylakio reception and identification center, as well as in the Diavata camp for asylum seekers in Thessaloniki. In Turkey, those interviewed were in the Edirne removal center and in urban locations in Istanbul.
All names of interviewees have been changed to protect their privacy and security. Interviews were carried out privately and confidentially, in the interviewees’ first language, or a language they spoke fluently, through interpreters. Interviewees shared their accounts voluntarily, and without remuneration, and have consented to Human Rights Watch collecting and publishing their accounts.
Pushbacks in Evros
The 24 incidents described demonstrate a pattern that points to an established and well-coordinated practice of pushbacks. Most of the incidents share three key features: initial capture by local police patrols, detention in police stations or informal locations close to the border with Turkey, and handover from identifiable law enforcement bodies to unidentifiable paramilitaries who would carry out the pushback to Turkey across the Evros River, at times violently. In nine cases, migrants said uniformed police physically mistreated them before or during the pushback.
The accounts suggest close and consistent coordination between police with unidentified, often masked, men who may or may not be law enforcement officers. In a May interview with Human Rights Watch, Second Lieutenant Sofia Lazopoulou at the border police station of Neo Cheimonio said that police officers wearing dark blue uniforms were in charge of services at the police station and that those who wear military camouflage uniforms were patrolling officers, in charge of prevention and deterrence of irregular migrants crossing into Greece.
Interviewees said that people who looked like police officers or soldiers, as well as some of the unidentified masked men, carried equipment such as handguns, handcuffs, radios, spray cans, and batons, while others carried tactical gear such as armored gloves, binoculars, and knives and military grade weapons, such as rifles.
The repeated nature of the pushbacks and the fact that those officers who conduct them were clearly on official duty, indicates that commanding officers knew, or ought to have known, what was happening.
Ferhat G., a Syrian Kurdish man in his forties, said two police officers detained him, his wife, and three children, ages 12, 15, and 19, at an abandoned train station on September 19. They were held in a large caged area in the backyard of a police station with dozens of other people for five hours. Ferhat could not say where the train station or police station were:
We were all put in a van, 60 to 70 people. Commandos all in black, wearing face masks, drove us back to the river. We were very afraid… I saw other people there, mainly youths with just shorts, no other clothes. Our blood froze out of fear. When they opened the van, we started going out. “Stand in one line, one-by-one,” they said and hit someone. Ten by 10, they put us in a small boat, driven by a Greek soldier. I cried because of the humiliation.
The modus operandi was largely replicated, with some variations, in the other cases Human Rights Watch documented.
Capture
Twenty-one of those interviewed said local police patrols detained them in towns and villages near the border or in open farmland. Two said that the police took them off a bus or a train shortly after its departure. Three said they could not identify the men who detained them and took them directly back to the border. People said they were then transported in police cars, pick-up trucks, white vans without windows or signs, or larger trucks painted in green or camouflage that appeared to be military trucks.
Karim L., 25, from Morocco, said that police officers removed him from a train to Alexandropouli on November 8. Shortly after its scheduled departure from Orestiada, at 12:37 p.m., police officers began asking passengers who looked foreign to show their passports and took Karim and five or six others off the train. The police took him to a nearby police station and kept him there for two nights. Then four men wearing police uniforms and black masks took him to the border in a van. He said they subjected him to physical violence and a mock execution, then pushed him back to Turkey. He was not photographed, fingerprinted, or given any paper to read or sign, or otherwise informed of the reasons for his arrest. He said that other people, including families with children, were also detained in the station’s three cells.
Mahsa N., an Afghan woman, said uniformed police officers removed her, her husband, their three children, ages 5, 9, and 11, and two unrelated Afghan men from a bus 15 minutes after it left Alexandropouli in mid-September, during their third attempt to enter Greece. They were pushed back to Turkey the same day, with the police who had detained them taking them all the way to the Evros River, where others were already being held so they could be returned on a boat.
Dila E., a 25-year-old Syrian woman, described her experience shortly after crossing the Evros River in late April. She said she was with seven other people, including four children, when masked men she could not identify pushed them back to Turkey as they were walking in a small town near the border:
They came with a car and took us. They put us in a white van. You couldn’t see anything from the inside. They took us directly to the river and made us cross the river with a rubber boat. They took everyone’s mobile phones, set of clothes, and even the money from some.
Malik N., a 26-year-old Moroccan man, said uniformed police stopped him along with three other men on November 13 near a gas station in Didymoteicho, a town two kilometers from the border. He said that one of the policemen made a phone call, and a white van arrived 15 minutes later. Two men he could not identify took him and two of his group to a location that he described as barracks: “They put us in the car, which was very well made, dark inside, and without seats. There were no signs on it. … There was a terrible smell [in the barracks], and officials had their masks on… There were 30 people there.”
Masked men took him to the border the next evening:
After the masked people came, they started to shout at us, and hit us one by one with batons at the door. There were around eight people outside the barracks, each with a thick plastic baton. They would hit you as you walked to the car. They would shout “Fuck Islam.” They put 30 of us in the van. [There were] no chairs. I felt like I was suffocating, there was no air. When we arrived at the river, they ordered people to strip to shorts only. They took my phones, my money, €1,500, and my glasses, and broke them.
Sardar T., 18, from Afghanistan, said that uniformed police caught him and the group of people he was traveling with at the Didymoteicho bus station on April 23. He said the police came with a white van but later brought a big car, similar to a military truck with green camouflage. Human Rights Watch researchers saw a vehicle matching Sardar’s description parked in the yard of the border police station of Neo Cheimonio, as well as numerous white vans, without police signs. Sardar said that the officers who pushed them back to Turkey were wearing police uniforms and that masks concealed their faces except for their eyes.
Detention
Thirteen of those interviewed reported that they were detained in formal and informal locations close to the border, for periods ranging from a few hours to five days. Five said they were taken to a police station, while eight described buildings on the outskirts of nearby villages and towns, or on farmland that they said were used as drop-off points for detained migrants. None of the interviewees, even those held at police stations, were duly identified and registered, and their detention appears to have been arbitrary and incommunicado.
A few dozen to one hundred people were detained at a time, without food, water, and sanitation, and then taken to the Evros River and returned to Turkey. Interviewees described the rooms in the unidentified buildings as “prison-like” and “like a storage room,” with a few mattresses and a single, filthy toilet. They said women and families with children were either held together with unrelated men, or sometimes in adjacent rooms.
Mahsa, the Afghan woman who was summarily returned to Turkey three times, said she and her family were kept for five days, along with unrelated men who were also detained, in a dark room with no beds or heat before the second pushback, in late August. They were not given any food. Their belongings, including winter coats for her young children, and a cherished backpack and doll, were never returned. Up to 10 guards, wearing belts with what appeared to be handguns, batons, and pepper spray, would check on people and lock the door but not provide any information. She saw guards beating men staying in the same room: “They had a blue uniform with writing on it in Greek on the back, with big letters. They called us dirt.”
Azadeh B., a 22-year-old Afghan woman traveling with her husband and two children, ages 2 and 4, said they were pushed back twice from Greece – and had spent five days in detention before being returned the second time, in early October. She said they were taken to a room in a structure located in the middle of farmland:
We could not see or hear anything. We were not asked to sign anything or told anything. The guards closed the door and locked it. When families asked for water, they filled dirty bottles and threw them inside the room through the door. They took everything from us, even the Quran. We asked them to give back our kids’ shoes, but they didn’t. They do this because they don’t want us to come back. If it’s something of value, they keep it, something they don’t like, they put it in the bin.
She said only the children were given some biscuits while detained in a room that was about 40 square meters and shared by about 80 people whom she believed were also all migrants.
Hassan I., a Tunisian man in his thirties, said that before being violently pushed back along with four friends in early August, they spent a day in detention. He said the location resembled a military base because they saw military vehicles, including trucks and tanks, parked near the room in which they were held. It was a 15-minute drive from the town of Orestiada, where they had been stopped and picked up in the morning by two police officers in blue uniforms in a civilian car.
The policemen drove them to the location, where guards violently pushed them against a wall, searched them, and hit them. “First, they asked for phones, then for money,” Hassan said. They were shouting ‘malaka’ [a Greek insult meaning ‘asshole’]. I was shocked. I felt humiliated. When we tried to ask for anything, like our sim cards, memory cards, they hit us immediately.” Hassan and his friends were put in a room that looked like a storage room. In an adjacent room, they could hear the voices of families with children. Hassan estimated that by 9 p.m., when they were taken to the border in trucks, about 80 men were in his room of about 24 square meters, in which there were only a few chairs, a toilet, and a water tap.
Zara Z., 19 and four-months pregnant, from Afrin, Syria, said that in mid-May, men wearing camouflage uniforms stopped her and her husband and detained them overnight in a room without bedding or furniture, together with other migrant families, and without any food or water. The next day they were transferred in a van to the Evros River, put on a boat, and pushed back to Turkey.
Pushbacks across the Evros River
All those interviewed said they were transported to the border with Turkey in groups of 60 to 80, in military trucks or unmarked vans. In all but three cases, the agents wore face masks, black pants, or camouflage, making it impossible to recognize or identify them. In the three other cases, interviewees said police in regular blue and camouflage uniforms transported them to the river. Ten out of 26 interviewees said they were physically abused or witnessed others being ill-treated during the pushback operation.
Karim, a 25-year-old Moroccan man, said Greek police handed him over to masked men wearing police uniforms after they caught him in Greece on November 10 and that he was violently pushed back to Turkey. After ordering him to take off his clothes and shoes, two of the masked officers kicked him to the ground and hit him with a baton, then one of them subjected him to a mock execution. They dragged him by his hair and forced him to kneel on the ground, while the masked officer held a knife to his throat and said in broken English, “Whoever returns to Greece, they will die.” Karim said he could not sleep at night and was experiencing recurrent nightmares.
Hassan, the Tunisian who was pushed back with his four friends on August 10 or 11, said that masked men wearing black clothes ill-treated them after taking them to the border in a truck. One of the men used a stun gun on Hassan’s lower back, causing burns that were still visible over two months later. He provided video footage of the group’s injuries, which he said was recorded the day after the incident and was first posted on social media on August 12, showing several bruises he said resulted from blows to their upper and lower backs and limbs. “Next time I will see you,” one of the masked men told him in English, “I will kill you.” At the time of the interview, Hassan had been sleeping in parks in Istanbul, after all his belongings were confiscated in Greece.
Amir B., a Tunisian man in his twenties, was pushed back to Turkey at the end of September after entering Greece and hiding for six days. He said he was returned from near Alexandropouli to the border in one of two military trucks, which together took around 80 people to the border, including about 30 women and a few children. Amir said masked men pushed people around as they got off the trucks, and then pushed them toward the river, ordering them to remain silent. The agents then split the group into smaller groups of 10 and ordered them to take off their shoes. Women had to give up their coats, while some men had to strip to underwear. Amir’s jeans, where he also kept his money, were set on fire. When a black pick-up truck arrived with a small boat, the guards checked the other side of the river with binoculars, and then used the small boat to take the groups of 10 in turn across the water.
►https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/12/18/greece-violent-pushbacks-turkey-border
#vidéo:
Greek Authorities Beat, Push Back Migrants into Turkey
El oscuro secreto de la frontera oriental de Europa
Grecia deporta ilegalmente a los refugiados que llegan a su territorio, en algunos casos incluso secuestrándolos lejos de la frontera, según denuncian ONG y Acnur.
Firas debería estar en Grecia. Es más, oficialmente, según los registros del Gobierno heleno y del Alto Comisionado de Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados (ACNUR), reside en Grecia. Pero no. Este sirio, de 17 años, malvive amedrentado, sin dinero y sin papeles en un pequeño apartamento de Estambul que comparte con otros refugiados, después de haber sido deportado ilegalmente por la policía griega a Turquía en tres ocasiones. Una práctica prohibida por las leyes internacionales, pero que, según las organizaciones de derechos humanos, se está convirtiendo en “sistemática” a medida que la ruta migratoria de entrada a la Unión Europea se desvía hacia la frontera del río Evros. Acnur ha recabado unos 300 casos de devoluciones en caliente de personas que intentan llegar a la UE desde Turquía solo en 2018.
“En los últimos años hemos recabado un número significante de casos de pushback [término en inglés para referirse a esta práctica ilegal]”, explica Margaritis Petritzikis, representante de Acnur en el campo de detención de Fylakio, en Grecia, junto al Evros. “Los testimonios describen a quienes practican las detenciones vistiendo uniformes de diferentes colores, muchas veces sin distintivos, y con la cara cubierta, por lo que no sabemos a qué cuerpo pertenecen. La jurisdicción del control fronterizo es de la policía griega, pero el área que rodea el río es zona militarizada”, añade Petritzikis.
Los detenidos aseguran que, una vez detenidos y antes de ser devueltos en barcas al otro lado de la frontera, son llevados a almacenes, instalaciones militares o comisarías de policía, transportados con furgonetas sin identificar, supuestamente de las fuerzas de seguridad, según los testimonios recogidos en informes de diversas ONG, entre ellas Human Rights Watch y el Greek Council for Refugees (GCR).
El Evros, también llamado Maritsa, hace de barrera natural a lo largo de 194 de los 206 kilómetros de frontera terrestre entre Turquía y Grecia; el resto lo cubre una valla levantada en 2012. Para aquellos migrantes y refugiados que, desde suelo turco, sueñan con alcanzar territorio europeo, son apenas 100 o 200 metros que cubrir en un bote hinchable, un trayecto mucho más corto que el que separa la costa turca de las islas griegas del mar Egeo. Además, aquí no está vigente el acuerdo firmado entre la UE y Turquía en 2016, que permite la devolución de aquellos migrantes llegados de manera irregular por vía marítima. En la zona del Evros regía otro acuerdo bilateral de devolución firmado entre Turquía y Grecia, aunque Ankara lo canceló el pasado año. Por ello, en los últimos años, se ha incrementado el número de llegadas a través de esta ruta (en 2018 fueron 18.014, un 35% del total de refugiados y migrantes que arribaron a Grecia, según los datos de Acnur). La mayor parte de los que llegan son sirios, afganos y turcos.
Sus aguas aparentemente tranquilas son un espejismo engañoso. Es un río caudaloso, de habituales inundaciones y fuertes corrientes: durante el pasado año, medio centenar de personas murieron en esta ruta, la mayoría ahogadas o por hipotermia. “El río es pequeño, pero peligroso. Sobre todo porque los botes son para cinco personas y cruzamos 30 a la vez”, explica un joven bangladesí detenido en el campo de Fylakio.
Un residente de Edirne, en la orilla turca del río, explica que las tarifas que exigen los traficantes por pasar al otro lado van de 1.000 a 5.000 euros. Aquellos que pagan más “reciben un servicio vip”, y en la orilla griega les esperan otros traficantes que los llevan en coche hasta Salónica o Atenas: “A estos no los suele detener nunca la policía”. A los que no disponen de ese dinero, después de superar el peligro de las aguas les aguarda una nueva barrera.
Práctica ilegal
Dos y media de la madrugada. Se escuchan pasos entre la maleza, en la zona boscosa que rodea el Evros. Hay cuchicheos. Los pasos se detienen al escuchar el vehículo en el que viaja este periodista. Poco después, se alejan.
Anteriormente, en cuanto veían a cualquier persona en la orilla griega, los refugiados se identificaban como tales y pedían que se avisase a la policía. Sabían que habían llegado a territorio seguro. Ya no. Entre los refugiados es sabido que, si son apresados en esta zona, corren el riesgo de ser devueltos al otro lado. Las devoluciones en caliente están prohibidas por la ley: la normativa exige que sean primero identificados y, si es el caso, se les permita presentar una petición de asilo. Firas (que no es su nombre real) cuenta que pasó por ello dos veces durante el año pasado. En la primera ocasión, durante el verano, explica que fue detenido nada más cruzar el río, llevado a una comisaría y devuelto a Turquía al cabo de unas seis horas. “En la comisaría nos pegaron a todos los hombres, nos quitaron nuestras pertenencias y destrozaron los móviles”, asegura.
La segunda fue aún peor: una vez capturados, Firas explica que los agentes de policía llamaron a otros agentes con uniforme militar y la cara cubierta y les propinaron una paliza. Esta vez les quitaron hasta la ropa y los devolvieron a Turquía en calzoncillos. Su historia es similar a las decenas de testimonios recabados por diferentes ONG, que consideran que puede haber un patrón de actuación de las fuerzas de seguridad helenas.
En algunos casos no se trata ni siquiera de devoluciones «en caliente», es decir, al ser detenidos en el borde mismo de la frontera, sino desde bastante más adentro en el territorio griego y pasado bastante tiempo desde que los refugiados entraron al país. A. A., un sirio que residía en Alemania de manera legal, llegó en agosto de 2017 a la ciudad griega de Alejandrópolis para encontrarse con su mujer, que había cruzado recientemente la frontera. Pero, según manifestó al GCR, fue detenido por agentes de la policía que, haciendo caso omiso a sus documentos, lo encapucharon y lo enviaron a Turquía en un bote junto a otros refugiados.
Similar es el caso de Firas. La tercera vez que intentó cruzar a Grecia, a mediados de noviembre, explica que lo logró. Y fue enviado al centro de detención de Fylakio. A inicios de enero, salió de él con los documentos que lo acreditaban como solicitante de asilo. Tomó un autobús hacia Salónica, pero cuenta que, cuando llevaba 15 minutos de viaje, la policía le ordenó bajar junto a otros cinco sirios. “Tenía los papeles de la policía griega y de Acnur, pero los destrozaron delante de mí”, relata. “Nos llevaron a un calabozo y agentes con pasamontañas nos desnudaron y nos pegaron. No nos dieron agua ni comida. El segundo día, vinieron otros agentes y nos pegaron con tubos de cañería. Luego nos llevaron al río junto a varias familias con niños y nos devolvieron a Turquía”.
La respuesta del Gobierno griego es siempre la misma: “No existen estas prácticas”. Así lo han dicho públicamente los ministerios de Orden Público y Migraciones ante las quejas formales de ACNUR y el Consejo de Europa. La comandancia regional en Tracia de la policía griega, preguntada por la situación, redirigió a este periodista al comisario de Orestíada, Pascalis Siritudis, quien respondió al teléfono —un día después de haberse negado a recibirlo— con gran enfado: "La policía griega respeta siempre la ley y las normas internacionales. No olvide que esta es la frontera de la Unión Europea, no solo de Grecia”. Desde el Ministerio de Orden Público, la contestación fue similar: «La policía griega cumple con los derechos humanos».
Hay varias investigaciones en marcha. Una, sobre la devolución de varios turcos en mayo de 2017, ha alcanzado el Tribunal Supremo de Grecia. También el Defensor del Pueblo y la Fiscalía de Orestíada han iniciado un proceso judicial tras la denuncia de un ciudadano sudanés deportado ilegalmente a Turquía. Pero, hasta ahora, nadie ha sido condenado. Dimitris Koros, abogado del GCR, admite que es difícil armar estos casos: “La mayoría de los refugiados devueltos no tienen tiempo ni medios para iniciar un proceso judicial y, además, es casi imposible identificar a quienes participan en las devoluciones ya que van con la cara cubierta y sin identificaciones, y se suelen producir de noche”.
Entretanto Firas continúa en Estambul, temeroso de que un día lo detengan las autoridades turcas y lo deporten a la misma Siria de la que escapó huyendo de la guerra. Y se sigue preguntando por qué lo echaron de Grecia si tenía derecho a quedarse. “Me sorprendió mucho el nivel de brutalidad que emplearon conmigo. Siempre habíamos escuchado que la Unión Europea era un lugar donde no había violencia y se respetaban los derechos humanos”, se queja.
▻https://elpais.com/internacional/2019/03/03/actualidad/1551607634_105978.html
Turkish computer science student missing in Evros following failed attempt to escape to Greece
21-year-old university student #Mahir_Mete_Kul has been missing since the boat he used to cross Evros river between Greece and Turkey capsized on March 24.
A computer science student at Istanbul’s Beykent University, Kul spent 10 months in prison on charges of membership to the leftist group, Liseli Dev-Genc, and was released 5 months ago with judicial control, media reported. As the court in charge put an overseas travel ban on his passport, Kul embarked on the risky journey to escape Turkey the same way thousands of others have tried over the past two years: crossing the Evros river along Turkey-Greece border in a bid to seek asylum abroad.
“My son was a pretty young university student. They sent him up to prison. Following his release, they prevented him from going back to the school. As he had a travel ban on his passport, he chose this way [to escape],” Mahir’s mother Araz Kul spoke to Gazete Karinca. Five months ago, the mother left Turkey to Greece due to political reasons too, media said.
Thousands of people have fled Turkey due to a massive witch-hunt launched by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government against all kinds of opposition.
More than 510,000 people have been detained and some 100,000 including academics, judges, doctors, teachers, lawyers, students, policemen and many from different backgrounds have been put in pre-trial detention since last summer.
Many tried to escape Turkey via illegal ways as the government cancelled their passports like thousands of others.
L’appel de la mère :
▻https://twitter.com/TurkeyPurge/status/1110989355445678080
▻https://twitter.com/TurkeyPurge/status/1110990512381530113
À la frontière gréco-turque. Empêcher les migrants d’entrer en Europe, sauver ceux qui y parviennent
Je copie-colle ici la partie dédiée à la région de l’Evros :
L’Evros, région délaissée par les garde-frontières
La gare de Marasia semble aussi abandonnée que le village éponyme. Derrière un panneau jaune et rouge signalant le passage de trains à vapeurs, un cours d’eau ruisselle dans le calme. L’Evros, large d’une dizaine de mètres à peine à cet endroit, est la plus longue rivière des Balkans, prenant sa source en Bulgarie pour se jeter dans la mer Égée, près d’Alexandroupoli. Depuis l’accord entre l’Union européenne et la Turquie et la fermeture de la route des Balkans, la pression migratoire sur la Grèce, qui se concentrait ces dernières années sur les îles en mer Égée, se déporte vers l’Evros, frontière naturelle entre la Grèce et la Turquie. “Aujourd’hui, le problème n’est plus à la barrière mais dans la rivière”, atteste Paschalis Siritoudis, le directeur de la police du département d’Orestiada.
Un effet de vases communicants
Cette affluence ne l’inquiète pas plus que ça. “De plus en plus de migrants arrivent ces dernières années mais c’est un vieux problème auquel la région est confrontée depuis une vingtaine d’années. Avant la construction de la barrière avec la Turquie (celle-ci longe la frontière sur 12 kilomètres dans une zone militarisée, NdlR), 30 000 migrants passaient chaque année. En 2012, nous avons lancé une opération de surveillance à la frontière, du personnel a été recruté. Les années suivantes, ce nombre est tombé entre 1 000 et 3 000 personnes. En 2018, environ 7 000 ont franchi la frontière. Ces chiffres, même s’ils sont moindres, montrent qu’il y a toujours un problème migratoire ici. Mais le flux est sous contrôle, il n’y a aucune comparaison possible avec la situation avant 2012”, martèle le colonel, d’une voix tonitruante.
Les chiffres du Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies (UNHCR) vont bien au-delà de ceux du directorat de police : en 2018, 18 014 personnes sont entrées en Grèce via l’Evros. Presque trois fois plus de personnes (dont une majorité de ressortissants turcs) que l’année précédente.
Dès qu’une porte se ferme dans la région d’Evros, une fenêtre s’ouvre ailleurs. Et vice-versa. Quand, en juillet 2012, l’opération Aspida (“bouclier” en grec) est lancée, le nombre d’entrées à la frontière gréco-turque chute de manière vertigineuse. La première semaine du mois d’août, 2 000 migrants y sont appréhendés. Quelques mois plus tard, en octobre, moins de 10 personnes sont arrêtées par semaine.
Les autorités compétentes et Frontex se félicitent du succès de cette opération. Les réjouissances sont cependant de courte durée : face au renforcement des contrôles à la frontière terrestre, les départs en mer se multiplient. “Immédiatement après le déploiement de l’opération Aspida, le nombre de détections de traversées illégales a augmenté, à la fois à la frontière maritime entre la Grèce et la Turquie et à la frontière terrestre avec la Bulgarie”, reconnaît Frontex dans son rapport annuel 2012, d’où sont issus les chiffres précités.
Sur les 206 km de frontière fluviale entre la Grèce et la Turquie, seuls 12,5 kms sont terrestres et forment ce qu’on appelle le triangle de Karaağaç. C’est sur ce territoire qu’est érigée la barrière. (en rouge sur la carte)
“Les barrières et les murs sont des solutions court-termistes à des mesures qui ne règlent pas le problème. L’Union européenne ne finane et ne financera pas cette barrière. Ça ne sert à rien.”
Cecilia Malmström, ex-Commissaire européenne aux Affaires intérieures, février 2011.
“Le problème n’est plus à la barrière mais dans la rivière” Paschalis Siritoudis, directeur de la police du département d’Orestiada
Sept ans plus tard, l’opération Aspida est toujours en cours et semble faire la fierté de Paschalis Siritoudis. “Elle est connue dans toute la Grèce, dans toute l’Europe même ! Elle est effectuée avec le support de Frontex”, se félicite-t-il.
Les officiers de Frontex déployés près d’Orestiada en 2010 (surtout pour identifier les migrants) pour prêter main forte aux Grecs sont partis. Aujourd’hui, l’agence européenne n’est que peu impliquée dans la région : quelques agents travaillent aux check-points et patrouillent avec des policiers et des militaires le long de la barrière de barbelés. “Nous avons parlé avec les autorités grecques pour augmenter notre présence mais la décision leur revient. Nous sommes prêts à intervenir s’ils en ressentent le besoin”, explique Eva Moncure, porte-parole de l’agence.
À entendre Paschalis Siritoudis, ce n’est pas le cas. “Les officiers grecs qui effectuent l’enregistrement des migrants irréguliers, prennent leurs empreintes digitales et font le débriefing sont plus expérimentés que quiconque en Europe. Ils ont eu affaire à des dizaines de milliers de migrants et leur expertise est reconnue par tous”, s’exclame-t-il, assis derrière son bureau dans le commissariat d’Orestiada.
De son côté, Frontex fait grand cas de ses compétences. “L’agence mutualise les ressources et fait appel aux États membres pour lui fournir du personnel. Il y a donc un turn-over important dans toutes les missions. Au fil des ans, nous avons toutefois développé une expertise, notamment au niveau de l’examen des documents. Avec quel genre de papiers voyagent les migrants ? Sont-ils faux ? Sont-ils vrais ? Où ont-ils été fabriqués ?”, explique Eva Moncure.
Soumise à la bonne volonté des États membres, Frontex insiste pour pouvoir déployer ses guest officers. Ne serait-ce que pour partager les informations recueillies aux frontières avec une floppée d’institutions. Du point de vue de l’agence, plus celles-ci circulent, mieux les frontières sont protégées. Ainsi, depuis 2016, date du dernier élargissement du mandat de l’agence, Frontex est habilitée à mener des interviews sur le trafic d’êtres humains et à partager les informations récoltées avec Europol. “Nous n’enquêtons pas. Nous ne faisons que récolter des informations et les transmettons à qui de droit. Comme nous sommes en première ligne, nous pouvons obtenir ces informations plus aisément”, indique Eva Moncure. “Quand on parle de Frontex, tout le monde parle toujours des migrants mais personne ne parle des trafiquants d’êtres humains. Pour résumer, notre boulot est de surveiller les frontières, de venir en aide aux migrants s’ils sont en danger et de les renvoyer dans leur pays s’ils n’ont pas le droit d’asile en Europe. Un autre volet important, c’est de recueillir des informations sur les passeurs, les routes qu’ils utilisent, les connexions qu’ils ont, etc. Il ne faut pas oublier que les personnes qui font monter les migrants dans des bateaux ou qui leur font traverser une rivière ne sont pas des enfants de chœur. Le trafic d’êtres humains rapporte énormément d’argent, bien plus que le trafic de drogues. Le problème, c’est que pour l’instant, la justice arrête les petites mains pendant que les chefs des réseaux se la coulent douce à Dubaï en comptant leurs billets”, poursuit-elle.
Pour rappel, les officiers ont un pouvoir exécutif lorsqu’ils sont impliqués dans l’enregistrement des migrants : prise d’empreintes digitales, screening (pour établir nationalité des migrants) et vérification des documents d’identité. En outre, ils ne peuvent délivrer de décisions relatives à l’asile puisqu’il s’agit d’un pouvoir régalien.
Renvoyés en Turquie sur des bateaux
Dans la région d’Evros, contrairement aux îles grecques, les agents de Frontex ne sont pas en contact avec les migrants et donc pas habilités à collecter des informations sur le trafic d’êtres humains. Laissé entre les mains des autorités grecques, l’enregistrement (et partant, le screening et l’interview) des migrants qui parviennent à entrer dans l’espace Schengen n’y semble pas garanti.
À ce sujet, deux rapports, publiés en décembre 2018 - l’un par Humans Rights Watch et l’autre par le Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), Human Rights 360 et l’Association for the Social Support of Youth - sont glaçants. Confiscation de biens (“ils jettent nos téléphones dans la rivière”, “ils ont confisqué le lait artificiel pour notre bébé”, “il a déchiré mon certificat de naissance devant moi”) et de vêtements, privation de nourriture et parfois d’eau, fouilles corporelles, violences physiques et verbales… Comble du comble : les migrants seraient reconduits de l’autre côté de la rivière Evros dans des embarcations pneumatiques.
Ces documents font état d’une pratique courante près de la rivière : le push-back, c’est-à-dire le refoulement des personnes qui franchissent la frontière. Ces expulsions collectives (et illégales) obéissent à un modus operandi bien rôdé, à lire les nombreux témoignages récoltés par ces ONG. “La plupart des incidents partagent trois caractéristiques principales : arrestation par une patrouille de police locale, détention dans des commissariats ou des emplacements informels (entrepôts, gares abandonnées, etc.) proches de la frontière avec la Turquie et remise des migrants par les forces de l’ordre à du personnel non-identifié (dont le visage serait le plus souvent caché par une cagoule, NdlR) qui procède au push-back via la rivière Evros, parfois de manière violente”, décrit Human Rights Watch. Certaines personnes interrogées ont subi plusieurs push-backs avant d’être finalement enregistrées selon la procédure légale.
Les migrants ne sont pas photographiés, leurs empreintes digitales ne sont pas prises et les raisons de leur arrestation ne leur sont pas expliquées. Sans enregistrement, leur présence dans l’espace Schengen n’est pas attestée et il est donc impossible d’introduire une demande d’asile. Il est en revanche possible d’assurer qu’ils n’ont jamais un pied sur le sol européen.
Ces allégations sont remontées jusqu’au Commissaire aux droits de l’homme du Conseil de l’Europe et au Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture qui les ont jugées crédibles. Après une visite en Grèce en avril 2018, le Commissaire a par ailleurs souligné l’absence d’enquêtes sur ce genre de pratiques de la part des autorités grecques.
Des bateaux et des chaussures d’enfants
À Marasia, derrière le panneau jaune et rouge signalant le passage de trains à vapeur, un chemin de terre longe une forêt, qui borde l’Evros. Avec l’arrivée du printemps, des fleurs jaunes tapissent ses berges.
Il ne faut pas marcher bien loin pour découvrir les traces d’un spectacle qui suscite malaise et interrogations. À cent mètres de la gare, une paire de rames a été abandonnée.
Un peu plus loin, au bord de l’eau, un bateau gris et bleu est recouvert de feuilles mortes. L’inscription “Excursion 5” est écrite dessus en lettres capitales. Cinquante mètres après, un autre bateau jaune et vert se confond avec la couleur des fleurs.
De retour sur le chemin de terre, des taches de couleur attirent le regard. Ce sont des chaussures. En daim, celles d’un adulte, à côté d’un soutien-gorge et d’un jeans délavé. À côté, deux paires de basket appartiennent à des enfants. Les plus petites, bleues, sont une pointure 26. Leur ancien propriétaire doit avoir entre trois et cinq ans. Que lui est-il arrivé ? A-t-il été reconduit en Turquie ? Ses compagnons de route ont-ils été interrogés sur le trafic d’êtres humains dont ils ont été victimes ?
Confronté aux accusations de push-backs menés dans la région, le chef de la police élude d’abord la question et jure que les migrants interceptés sont pris en charge. Avant de finir par admettre que “nous avons reçu des informations sur les push-backs de la part des ONG”.
Pas suffisamment pour enquêter, comme recommandé par le Commissaire européen aux droits de l’homme et le Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture.
Οργανωμένο σχέδιο ανομίας στον Έβρο καταγγέλλει η « Καμπάνια για το Άσυλο »
Την κατεπείγουσα διερεύνηση των συνεχιζόμενων καταγγελιών για τις άτυπες επιχειρήσεις επαναπροώθησης προσφύγων στον Έβρο και τον έλεγχο των εμπλεκομένων ζητούν από τους υπουργούς Προστασίας του Πολίτη, Όλγα Γεροβασίλη, Μεταναστευτικής Πολιτικής, Δημήτρη Βίτσα, και Δικαιοσύνης, Μιχάλη Καλογήρου, δέκα οργανώσεις που συμμετέχουν στην « Καμπάνια για το Άσυλο ».
Σημειώνουν ότι οι υπουργοί είναι υπόλογοι για κάθε καθυστέρηση, η οποία εντείνει την πεποίθηση ότι τα σύνορα στον Έβρο αποτελούν ένα πεδίο εκτός δικαίου και εκτός νόμου και έναν τόπο μαρτυρίου για τους πρόσφυγες.
Υπογραμμίζουν ότι ο συστηματικός τρόπος και οι ομοιότητες της κακομεταχείρισης παραπέμπουν σε οργανωμένο σχέδιο αποτροπής, στο πλαίσιο του οποίου αναπτύσσονται γενικευμένες πρακτικές, οι οποίες έγιναν πιο εκτεταμένες, συστηματικές και σκληρές μετά την υπογραφή της ευρωτουρκικής συμφωνίας το Μάρτιο του 2016. Και αναφέρουν ότι οι πρακτικές αυτές εμπίπτουν στην αρμοδιότητα της ποινικής δικαιοσύνης και στοιχειοθετούν κατά περίπτωση κακουργήματα (βασανισμός, ληστεία, έκθεση ζωής σε κίνδυνο...).
Οι οργανώσεις (ΑΡΣΙΣ, Δίκτυο Κοινωνικής Υποστήριξης Προσφύγων και Μεταναστών, ΕΠΣΕ, Ελληνικό Φόρουμ Προσφύγων, Κίνηση για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα – Αλληλεγγύη στους Πρόσφυγες Σάμος, Κόσμος χωρίς Πολέμους και Βία, ΛΑΘΡΑ, PRAKSIS, Πρωτοβουλία για τα Δικαιώματα των Κρατουμένων, Υποστήριξη Προσφύγων στο Αιγαίο) κάνουν λόγο για επιδεικτική βαρβαρότητα ένστολων ή μη στην περιοχή και παράνομες ενέργειες οι οποίες αποτελούν αντικείμενο συγκεκριμένων οδηγιών και εντολών. Σημειώνουν ότι το οργανωμένο σχέδιο περιλαμβάνει επίσης τη συγκάλυψη και νομιμοποίηση των εγκληματικών μεθόδων που χρησιμοποιούνται.
Ολόκληρη η ανακοίνωση της « Καμπάνιας για το Άσυλο » έχει ως εξής :
Απαξίωση της ανθρώπινης ζωής και της νομιμότητας οι επαναπροωθήσεις στον Έβρο
Αθήνα, 2 Μαΐου 2019
Τα σύνορα της χώρας στον Έβρο τείνουν να καταστούν ένας εκτός δικαίου και εκτός νόμου τόπος μαρτυρίου για τους πρόσφυγες που επιχειρούν απελπισμένα να περάσουν στο ευρωπαϊκό έδαφος, στιγματίζοντας τη χώρα μας και τους υπευθύνους για τη διαχείρισή τους.
Ενώ παρακολουθούμε τους αυξανόμενους πνιγμούς στα σύνορα, οι καταγγελίες προσφύγων για βάρβαρες πρακτικές επαναπροώθησης συνεχίζονται. Εκτός από τον αποτροπιασμό που προκαλούν, δείχνουν επίσης ότι η άσκηση βίας και οι συστηματικές παραβιάσεις δεν αποτελούν μεμονωμένες ατομικές επιλογές, αλλά γενικευμένες πρακτικές που αναπτύσσονται στα πλαίσια ενός σχεδίου αποτροπής και προσπάθειας ενίσχυσης του « μηνύματος » αποθάρρυνσης, που « πρέπει να σταλεί » για την ανάσχεση των προσφυγικών ρευμάτων.
Όσα εκτενώς καταγράφονται στην κοινή έκθεση του Ελληνικού Συμβούλιου για τους Πρόσφυγες, της ΑΡΣΙΣ και της HumanRights360, που δημοσιεύτηκε πρόσφατα (1), δεν αφήνουν αμφιβολία για την αλήθεια των καταγγελλόμενων. Ο συστηματικός τρόπος και οι ομοιότητες της κακομεταχείρισης παραπέμπουν σε ένα οργανωμένο σχέδιο, η εφαρμογή του οποίου επιτρέπει -αν δεν προτρέπει- παράνομες συμπεριφορές. Οι περίπολοι ενόπλων με ή χωρίς αστυνομικές και στρατιωτικές στολές, μάσκες ή κουκούλες, που μιλούν εκτός από τα ελληνικά και άλλη ευρωπαϊκή γλώσσα (συχνά αναφερόμενη η γερμανική), που δρουν με επιδεικτική βαρβαρότητα ακόμα και μπροστά σε μικρά παιδιά και οικογένειες, βία και κακοποιήσεις, αφαίρεση προσωπικών ειδών και χρημάτων, ρούχων κατά περίπτωση και συχνά υποδημάτων, αφαίρεση ή καταστροφή κινητών τηλεφώνων (για να μην καταγράφεται η παράνομη δράση), μεταφορά σε εγκαταλειμμένες αποθήκες που χρησιμεύουν ως άτυπα κρατητήρια χωρίς τροφή και νερό και χρήση φουσκωτών για την επαναπροώθηση στην Τουρκία, παραπέμπουν σε εκτέλεση συγκεκριμένων οδηγιών και εντολών, που εφαρμόζονται επιλεκτικά σε εφαρμογή προαποφασισμένου σχεδίου, που περιλαμβάνει και τη συγκάλυψη -και κατά συνέπεια νομιμοποίηση- των εγκληματικών μεθόδων που χρησιμοποιούνται κατ’ αυτές.
Η Καμπάνια για την Πρόσβαση στο Άσυλο καταγγέλλει για ακόμα μια φορά την εφαρμογή των πρακτικών άτυπης επαναπροώθησης που έχουν επεκταθεί και καταστεί σκληρότερες και συστηματικότερες μετά την Κοινή Δήλωση αρχηγών κρατών και κυβερνήσεων ΕΕ-Τουρκίας της 18ης Μαρτίου 2016 και επισημαίνει ότι δεν αποτελούν μόνο σοβαρή παραβίαση των διεθνών υποχρεώσεων της χώρας, αλλά εμπίπτουν στην αρμοδιότητα της ποινικής δικαιοσύνης και στοιχειοθετούν κατά περίπτωση κακουργήματα (βασανισμοί, ληστείες, έκθεση σε κίνδυνο ζωής κ.ά.)
Ζητάμε να δοθούν απαντήσεις από τις αρχές :
Ποια σώματα ενεργούν στα σύνορα για την αποτροπή παράτυπων εισόδων.
Υπάρχει πλαίσιο συγκεκριμένων εντολών για την περίπτωση εντοπισμού, σύλληψης και μεταχείρισης των παράτυπα εισερχόμενων και έλεγχος για τον τρόπο εφαρμογής του από τις περιπόλους ;
Υπάρχει υποχρέωση καταγραφής των περιπόλων που ενεργούν κατά μήκος του Έβρου και υποχρεωτική αναφορά σχετικά με την πορεία που ακολουθούν καθώς και τις ενέργειες τους ;
Ελέγχεται από την εκάστοτε προϊσταμένη αρχή η νομιμότητα των ενεργειών αυτών των περιπόλων και η τήρηση των υποχρεώσεων που επιβάλει το διεθνές δίκαιο για την προστασία των προσφύγων ;
Η Καμπάνια για την Πρόσβαση στο Άσυλο επισημαίνει ότι τα αρμόδια και εμπλεκόμενα Υπουργεία (Προστασίας του Πολίτη, Άμυνας και Μεταναστευτικής Πολιτικής) αλλά και ο Υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης οφείλουν να προβούν με διαδικασίες κατεπείγοντος στη διερεύνηση των καταγγελιών και τον έλεγχο των εμπλεκόμενων σε επιχειρήσεις αποτροπής και είναι υπόλογοι για κάθε καθυστέρηση, καθώς οι συνεχιζόμενες παραβιάσεις, όσο εκφεύγουν από κάθε μορφής έλεγχο, λογοδοσία και τιμωρία, επιβεβαιώνουν την πεποίθηση ότι ο Έβρος είναι ένα εκτεταμένο πεδίο εκτός δικαίου και εκτός νόμου όπου οι πρόσφυγες είτε σπρώχνονται στο θάνατο είτε στα χέρια εγκληματικών οργανώσεων, όπου μπορεί να αναπτύσσεται ανεμπόδιστα το οργανωμένο έγκλημα και όπου η ανθρώπινη ζωή είναι εξαιρετικά φτηνή ακόμη και γι’ αυτούς που είναι υπεύθυνοι να την προστατεύουν.
▻https://www.efsyn.gr/node/193572
Reçu via la mailing-list Migreurop avec ce commentaire :
10 ONG et associations solidaires somment les Ministres de l’ordre public, de la Politique Migratoire et de la Justice d’ouvrir en toute urgence une enquête concernant les dénonciations répétées d’opérations illégales de refoulement de réfugiés à Evros (frontière fluviale gréco-turque au Nord de la Grèce) ; elles réclament aussi que tous les agents de l’état impliqués dans des telles actions fassent l’objet d’un contrôle.
Les dix ONG qui font partie de celles ayant lancé la Campagne pour l’accès à l’asile (▻http://asylum-campaign.blogspot.com) font remarquer que les ministres seront tenus pour responsable de tout empêchement ou retard dans l’enquête, qui renforcerait la conviction que la frontière d’Evros est une zone de non-droit et un haut-lieu de torture pour les réfugiés (tortures, mauvais traitements, vols avec violence, mise en danger de la vie d’autrui).
Elles soulignent que le mode opératoire quasi-identique de plusieurs opérations de refoulement et les ressemblances dans les mauvais traitements subis par les réfugiés renvoient à un plan organisé et concerté de dissuasion, dans le cadre duquel se déploient de pratiques généralisées qui sont devenus plus fréquentes, plus systématiques et encore plus dures après l’accord UE-Turquie en mars 2016.
Les organisations Arsis , Réseau de soutien social de réfugiés et de migrants (Diktyo) Observatoire grec pour les accords d’Helsinki (Greek Helsinki Monitor ), Forum grec des réfugiés (Greek Forum of Refugees), Mouvement pour les Droits de l’Homme-Solidarité avec les Réfugiés Samos, Monde sans guerres et violence , « LATHRA » -Comité de Solidarité avec les Réfugiés de Chios, PRAKSIS , Initiative pour les droits de détenus ,
Soutien aux Réfugiés en Egée (Refugees Support Aegean) parlent de brutalité ostentatoire de la part des policiers et de groupes paramilitaires et d’actions illégales qui ne pourraient être que le fruit de consignes précises et d’ ordres venant d’en haut. Pour les ONG, le recouvrement et la légalisation implicite de méthodes criminelles employées est partie intégrante du plan organisé de push-back.
“We were beaten and pushed back by masked men at Turkish-Greek border” – Turkish journalist and asylum seeker
A group of Turkish political asylum seekers claims that, following their attempt to cross the Turkish border via Evros River in the northeast of Greece on Friday evening, they were pushed back after being beaten by masked men with batons.
Tugba Ozkan, a journalist in the group, told IPA News on the phone that the group of 15 people fleeing persecution in Turkey crossed the Turkish-Greek border on Friday at 9 pm near Soufli, a town at Evros Regional Unit.
When they stepped on Greek soil, however, she said a group of masked men beat them and pushed them back across the river to Turkish land, where a post-coup crackdown has persecuted tens of thousands of Turkish nationals since the abortive coup in 2016.
A family of four from the group, including two children, disappeared after the alleged push-back. Turkish soldiers reportedly arrested the four Turkish nationals, Alpay Akinci (42), Meral Akinci (40), Okan Selim Akinci (11), and Ayse Hilal Akinci (8).
Trying to hide from Turkish security officers, 11 people, including Ozkan, were attempting to cross the border for the second time.
“Masked men beat us with batons. We are in a very dire situation. We are afraid to be pushed back again. We need help,” a desperate Ozkan said in dismay.
The group of asylum seekers managed to cross the Evros safely in their second attempt, she said, and the group was attempting to hide when two Greek police cars found them.
Greek Police detained the group at around 2 pm on Saturday near the border and took them into custody, according to the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), a non-governmental organization defending human rights and fighting against illegal push-backs in the region.
The group applied for asylum in Greece and are expected to be released in a few days after the official registration is done, according to GCR lawyers.
Push-back: Infamous buzzword of immigration debate glossary
The practice that notoriously became known as “push-back,” can be defined as ‘the use of force to stop asylum seekers at borders and to return them to the country from which they came.’
According to official numbers of the United Nations, thousands of asylum seekers and refugees from various nations cross the Turkish-Greek border illegally every year in an attempt to reach Europe to take refuge.
Many reported push-back incidents have occurred in recent years, but no accurate figures have been revealed yet.
One of those incidents was the case of Murat Capan, a Turkish journalist who worked for the critical Nokta magazine. According to the narrative of Hellenic League for Human Rights, Capan and a Turkish family with three children crossed the Evros river in May 2017, escaping persecution.
The Greek police took them into custody where they asked to apply for asylum. Subsequently, they were taken to a UN facility in a van.
According to the information put forth by Hellenic League, the van met with a car along the road and five masked men dressed in camouflage bound the hands of the Turkish nationals. Two of the masked men then escorted them back to the Turkish side of the border where they were handed over to Turkish soldiers.
Turkish authorities had already sentenced Capan in absentia to twenty-two and a half years in prison. Following the push-back incident, the security forces sent Capan to prison to serve his term.
Another incident included 6 Turkish asylum seekers and took place in September 2018. Two Turkish families entered Greece via Evros and as reported by a Turkish journalist in exile, Cevheri Guven, their presence in Greece can be backed by solid evidence.
One family had their two kids with them and took their photo on a roadside cafe in Alexandroupolis.
Guven shares the location and picture of the coffee where the photo above had been taken to display that the families were indeed in Greece.
The families were escorted back to Turkey after appealing for asylum by the Greek police and thrown into the water by the Turkish side, according to Guven. Turkish gendarmerie caught them after hours of walking along the road and 3 adults out of 4 in the group faced arrest.
The cases of Capan and the Yildiz family crystalize the consequences of the push-back practice, which is a widespread method apparently enforced by Greek security forces working alongside Greece’s border with Turkey, according to the work of several NGOs.
Greek NGOs, including GCR, HumanRights360, and ARSIS, released a report on the push-back practice in December 2018.
The report, dubbed “The new normality: Continuous push-backs of third-country nationals on the Evros river,” includes testimonies of 39 people who tried to cross the Evros river to enter Greece, but who were pushed back to Turkey, often violently.
The report of the NGOs concludes that “the practice of push-backs constitutes a particularly wide-spread practice, often employing violence in the process.”
GCR, HumanRights360, and ARSIS have urged authorities to take action against the practice, which they label as “a threat to the rule of law” in Greece.
According to a 2012 ruling of the European Court of Human Rights, push-back policy breaches international law, including the Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
International laws are clear on peoples’ rights to seek protection from persecution in other countries, and the latter is obliged to process these requests in order to avoid the risk of endangering people who have a legitimate claim to protection.
▻https://ipa.news/2019/04/28/we-were-beaten-and-pushed-back-by-masked-men-at-turkish-greek-border-turkish-j
Three Kurdish children drown as more refugees try to make their way into Greece
THREE KURDISH have perished while trying to cross from Turkey into Greece when the boat they were in capsized.
The children were from the Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil and drowned in Maritsa River.
“In the early hours of today, around 3 am, a boat carrying thirteen immigrants who wanted to cross from Turkey to Greece through the Evros River overturned and two children drowned. One child died due to the cold weather,” said Ari Jalal, a representative of Federation of Iraqi Refugees in Kurdistan, in an interview with Kurdish Rudaw.
Jalal further said the body of one child is yet to be found. “The search continues. We are in contact with the consulates of Iraq, Turkey and Greece after the tragic boat incident. The other immigrants were rescued by Greek police,” Jalal said.
Turkey is used as a key and main route by thousands of refugees who want to cross into Europe through Greece, especially since 2011, when the Syrian civil war began.
According to Greece police, the number of migrants registered and arrested after crossing the border was 3,543 by last October, an 82% increase over the same month in the preceding year.
The new normality: Continuous push-backs of third country nationals on the Evros river
The Greek Council for Refugees, ARSIS-Association for the Social Support of Youth and HumanRights360 publish this report containing 39 testimonies of people who attempted to enter Greece from the Evros border with Turkey, in order to draw the attention of the responsible authorities and public bodies to the frequent practice of push-backs that take place in violation of national, EU law and international law.
The frequency and repeated nature of the testimonies that come to our attention by people in detention centres, under protective custody, and in reception and identification centres, constitutes evidence of the practice of pushbacks being used extensively and not decreasing, regardless of the silence and denial by the responsible public bodies and authorities, and despite reports and complaints denouncements that have come to light in the recent past.
The testimonies that follow substantiate a continuous and uninterrupted use of the illegal practice of push-backs. They also reveal an even more alarming array of practices and patterns calling for further investigation; it is particularly alarming that the persons involved in implementing the practice of push-backs speak Greek, as well as other languages, while reportedly wearing either police or military clothing. In short, we observe that the practice of push-backs constitutes a particularly wide-spread practice, often employing violence in the process, leaving the State exposed and posing a threat for the rule of law in the country.
Τhe organizations signing this report urge the competent authorities to investigate the incidents described, and to refrain from engaging in any similar action that violates Greek, EU law, and International law.
►https://www.gcr.gr/en/news/press-releases-announcements/item/1028-the-new-normality-continuous-push-backs-of-third-country-nationals-on-the-e
Pour télécharger le #rapport:
Απάντηση Γεροβασίλη για τις επαναπροωθήσεις
Επιστολή στον επικεφαλής της Υπατης Αρμοστείας στην Ελλάδα, Φιλίπ Λεκλέρκ, έστειλε η Όλγα Γεροβασίλη απαντώντας στη δική του στην όποια, όπως αναφέρει υπουργός Προστασίας του Πολίτη, « παρατίθενται περιγραφές και μαρτυρίες μεταναστών για περιστατικά και πρακτικές προσώπων, που φέρονται να ανήκουν σε Σώματα Ασφαλείας, στην περιοχή του Έβρου.
»Συγκεκριμένα, οι αναφορές αφορούν σε άτυπες αναγκαστικές επιστροφές στην Τουρκία, χωρίς την τήρηση των νόμιμων διαδικασιών, σε περιστατικά βίας και σοβαρών παραβιάσεων των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων, καθώς και σε περιστατικά σύμφωνα με τα οποία δεν επετράπη η πρόσβαση προσφύγων και μεταναστών στο μηχανισμό του ασύλου.
Η κ. Γεροβασίλη υποστηρίζει πως « οι καταγγελλόμενες συμπεριφορές και πρακτικές ουδόλως υφίστανται ως επιχειρησιακή δραστηριότητα και πρακτική του προσωπικού των Υπηρεσιών Συνοριακής Φύλαξης, το οποίο κυρίως εμπλέκεται σε δράσεις για την αντιμετώπιση του φαινομένου της παράνομης μετανάστευσης στα ελληνοτουρκικά σύνορα. Από την διερεύνηση των μέχρι σήμερα καταγγελλομένων περιστατικών και από τις εσωτερικές έρευνες που έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί από τις αρμόδιες Υπηρεσίες, προκύπτει το συμπέρασμα ότι αυτά δεν δύνανται να επιβεβαιωθούν ».
Ισχυρίζεται δε ότι « η εμπειρία, ο επαγγελματισμός και το ήθος του αστυνομικού προσωπικού των Υπηρεσιών Συνοριακής Φύλαξης, δεν αφήνουν ουδεμία αμφιβολία ότι το έργο της διαχείρισης συνόρων επιτελείται με υψηλό αίσθημα ευθύνης και ανθρωπισμού. Προς επίρρωση αυτού, σημειώνεται ότι, στον ποταμό Έβρο έχουν λάβει χώρα, πολλές φορές υπό άκρως αντίξοες συνθήκες, επιχειρήσεις διάσωσης μεταναστών που κινδύνευαν από πνιγμό, από το αστυνομικό προσωπικό, το οποίο και με κίνδυνο της ζωής του επιδιώκει την προστασία της ζωής των μεταναστών όταν εγκλωβίζονται σε επικίνδυνα σημεία του ποταμού Έβρου, αποσπώντας θετικά σχόλια από την κοινή γνώμη.
Επίσης, η υπουργός σημειώνει πως « οι Έλληνες αστυνομικοί που πραγματοποιούν εθνικές επιχειρησιακές δράσεις επιτήρησης συνόρων στην περιοχή του Έβρου, τα τελευταία έτη, υποστηρίζονται από Φιλοξενούμενους Αξιωματούχους διαφόρων ειδικοτήτων, στο πλαίσιο Κοινών Επιχειρήσεων του Frontex που υλοποιούνται στην περιοχή. Ο εν λόγω Ευρωπαϊκός Οργανισμός ενισχύει την επίγνωση της κατάστασης και την επιχειρησιακή ανταπόκριση στα ελληνοτουρκικά χερσαία σύνορα. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, ουδέποτε έγινε αναφορά από ξένους Φιλοξενούμενους Αξιωματούχους του Frontex, περιστατικού παράτυπης επαναπροώθησης ή παραβίασης δικαιώματος μεταναστών, με εμπλοκή ελλήνων αστυνομικών ».
Στην επιστολή επισημαίνεται πως « τόσο σε κεντρικό όσο και σε περιφερειακό επίπεδο, το αστυνομικό προσωπικό λαμβάνει ειδικότερες οδηγίες και διαταγές, ενώ παρακολουθεί και εκπαιδευτικά προγράμματα, σχετικά με την προστασία των θεμελιωδών δικαιωμάτων των μεταναστών, με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στις ευάλωτες ομάδες. Οι οδηγίες εστιάζουν στην προστασία της ανθρώπινης ζωής και αξιοπρέπειας, την αποφυγή των διακρίσεων, την νόμιμη χρήση βίας και την αρχή της μη-επαναπροώθησης. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, το αστυνομικό προσωπικό εποπτεύεται και αξιολογείται σε μόνιμη βάση, από την ιεραρχία του σώματος.
Τέλος, η κ. Γεροβασίλη υπενθυμίζει ότι « η Ελλάδα έχει διαχειρισθεί αποτελεσματικά, από το 2015 μέχρι και σήμερα, περισσότερους από 1.350.000 πρόσφυγες/μετανάστες, έχοντας ως γνώμονα την προστασία της ανθρώπινης ζωής και αξιοπρέπειας. Ειδικότερα, επισημαίνεται πώς, κατά το πρώτο 4μηνο του 2019 στην περιοχή δικαιοδοσίας των Δ.Α. Ορεστιάδας και Αλεξανδρούπολης έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί 3.130 συλλήψεις υπηκόων τρίτων χωρών, γεγονός που έρχεται σε αντίθεση με τις καταγγελίες περί επαναπροωθήσεων. Επιπλέον και κατά το συγκεκριμένο χρονικό διάστημα που αναφέρεται στις καταγγελίες (25-29.04.2019), πραγματοποιήθηκαν στην συγκεκριμένη περιοχή 101 συλλήψεις υπηκόων τρίτων χωρών ».
▻https://www.efsyn.gr/node/193868
Traduction de Vicky Skoumbi via la mailing-list Migreurop :
La ministre grecque de Protection du Citoyen (euphémisme pour l’Ordre Public) Olga Gerovassili a démenti les accusations de refoulements illégaux à Evros –frontière nord-est de la Grèce avec la Turquie. En réponse à la lettre que lui avait adressée Philippe Leclerc, représentant de l’UNHCR en Grèce, où celui-ci évoque des témoignages des migrants concernant des mauvais traitements et des refoulements effectués par des forces de sécurité de la région d’Evros, la ministre a tout nié en bloc.
Philippe Leclerc faisait état des témoignages qui dénoncent d’une part des renvois forcés vers la Turquie, sans que les procédures légales soient respectées, et d’autre part des violences et des violations graves des droits humains, ainsi que des cas où on a interdit aux réfugiés et aux migrants l’accès au mécanisme de l’asile.
Mme Gerovassili soutient que « les comportements et les pratiques dénoncées ne font nullement partie des modes opératoires et des pratiques du personnel de la Garde-Frontière, qui est surtout impliqué à des actions de contrôle du phénomène d’immigration illégale aux frontières gréco-turques. L’investigation des incidents dénoncés jusqu’à aujourd’hui et les enquêtes internes réalisées par les services compétents ont conduit à la conclusion que ces incidents ne peuvent pas être confirmés ».
La ministre prétend que « l’expérience, le professionnalisme et l’éthos du personnel policier de la Garde-Frontière, ne laissent aucun doute sur le fait qu’ils opèrent avec un très haut sens de responsabilité et d’humanisme. Pour corroborer ce fait, elle souligne le fait qu’à Evros des opérations de sauvetage ont eu lieu plusieurs fois sous de conditions extrêmement dangereuses : les policiers opèrent au péril de leur propre vie pour la protection de la vie des migrants, lorsque ceux-ci sont bloqués à des endroits dangereux du fleuve Evros.
La ministre ajoute que les officiers de Frontex qui sont impliqués dans des opérations conjointes avec les policiers grecs n’ont jamais dénoncé des cas de refoulement illégal ou de violation de droit de migrants de la part des agents grecs.
Dans la lettre que la ministre a adressée à Philippe Leclerc, il est dit que le personnel policier agit sous des consignes et ordres spécifiques, tandis qu’il est souvent amené à suivre des programmes de formation spécifiques à la protection des droits fondamentaux de migrants. D’après la ministre, les consignes données mettent en avant la nécessité de protéger la vie et la dignité humaine, d’éviter toute discrimination, de s’en tenir à l’usage légal de la violence et au principe du non-refoulement. « Dans ce cadre, les agents de police sont contrôlés et évalués en continu, par leurs supérieurs hiérarchiques », dit la ministre.
Enfin Mme Gerovassili met en avant le fait que 3.130 arrestations de ressortissants de pays tiers ont été effectuées pendant les quatre premiers mois de 2019 dans les régions d’Orestiada et d’Alexandroupolis- proches d’Evros- ce qui, d’après la ministre, contredit les accusations de refoulements illégaux. « Qui plus est, pendant la période précise où les faits dénoncés auraient pu avoir lieu (25-29.04.2019), 101 arrestations de ressortissants de pays tiers ont eu lieu dans cette région ».
Avec ce commentaire :
N’en déplaise à la ministre, les faits sont têtus et aucun démenti ne saurait entamer la crédibilité de rapports des ONG et des témoignages comme ceux par ex. rapportés par le Conseil Grec pour les Réfugiés
▻https://www.gcr.gr/en/news/press-releases-announcements/item/1067-gcr-and-cear-publish-a-joint-video-documenting-the-harsh-reality-of-pushbac
Εvros Pushbacks
The Greek Council for Refugees and CEAR (Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado), with the support of the Municipality of Madrid, publish together a video on pushbacks in Evros, today, March 20, three years since the implementation of the EU-Turkey Joint Statement, of which the consequences are obvious in Greece’s northern border, as well as on the Eastern Aegean islands. The shattering testimonies of people who attempted to enter Greece from the Turkish border and were violently pushed back to Turkey, without ever being given the opportunity to apply for asylum, reveal the systematic nature of the pushbacks practice, in direct violation of Greek, EU and international law.
▻https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAyuOlohOss
Le #cimetière :
Ces migrants mystérieusement refoulés de Grèce en Turquie
C’est un sujet qui, régulièrement, vient mettre en porte-à-faux les autorités grecques : l’accueil des migrants qui traversent le fleuve Evros. Frontière entre la Turquie et la Grèce, ce fleuve sert de point d’entrée en Europe pour les migrants venus d’Asie, d’Afrique ou tout simplement de Turquie.
Et si la traversée du fleuve n’est pas insurmontable, en revanche, les conditions d’accueil sont sujettes à critique par les ONG et même par les migrants.
L’équipe d’euronews à Athènes en a rencontrés. Ils racontent comment les policiers grecs ont pour habitude de les refouler, sans ménagement.
Mikail est turc, demandeur d’asile en Grèce. Il explique qu’il a traversé le fleuve avec un groupe de 11 personnes. Lorsqu’ils sont arrivés sur le sol grec, des policiers les ont arrêtés. « Les types portaient des tenues militaires, raconte-t-il. Et ils avaient des matraques. On aurait dit qu’ils partaient en guerre. Nous, on a essayé de comprendre pourquoi ils se comportaient ainsi. Ils nous ont simplement dit : "On va vous renvoyer chez vous". »
« Mes enfants étaient à côté de moi, ajoute Gulay, réfugiée turque_. Ils m’ont dit : "Maman, y vont nous tuer ?" Je leur ai dit : "Non, ils ne vont pas nous tuer. Ils veulent juste nous renvoyer en Turquie"._ »
Le groupe de ces 11 migrants parviendra malgré tout à rester en Grèce. D’autres n’ont pas eu cette chance.
Le 4 mai, trois personnes, deux hommes et une jeune femme, ont traversé le fleuve. Craignant d’être refoulés, ils ont prévenu un proche vivant déjà en Grèce ainsi qu’un avocat. Ils ont envoyé une photo prise dans la ville de #Nea_Vyssa.
►https://twitter.com/zubeyirkoculu/status/1124764045024821249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=httpsIls ont ensuite été emmenés dans un commissariat de police à Neo Xeimonio. Et là, on a perdu leur trace. On a appris plus tard qu’ils avaient été renvoyés en Turquie, et qu’ils étaient désormais emprisonnés dans la ville turque d’Edirne.
Ishan, le frère de la jeune femme raconte qu’il est allé au commissariat de police pour savoir ce qui était advenue de sa sœur. « Je leur ai dit : "je sais que ma sœur a été arrêtée et qu’elle était ici". Ils m’ont juste dit : "On n’est au courant de rien". »
« Nous avons sollicité les autorités grecques pour en savoir davantage sur cette affaire, ajoute Michalis Arampatzoglou, journaliste d’euronews . Le ministère de la Protection civile a dit n’avoir aucune information sur cet incident. Pour autant, des cas comme celui-là, il y en a de plus en plus. Les avocats des victimes comptent engager des poursuites judiciaires, pour que enquêtes soient menées et que la lumière soit faite. »
▻https://fr.euronews.com/2019/05/16/ces-migrants-mysterieusement-refoules-de-grece-en-turquie
Je copie-colle ici le thread twitter:
Breaking: 3 Turkish nationals, Kamil Y, Ayse E, Talip N, have crossed the Turkish-Greek border through Evros on May 4 at 5 am, they were taken into custody at #Xeimonio police station. A family member and a lawyer in the region, however, were told by the Police they are absent.
Ms. Ayse E. sent her location at Xeimonio before they were detained, she also shared a video urging Greek authorities to stop any possible push-back.
We are Turkish political asylum seekers. We fled persecution back in Turkey and crossed Evros on May 4 at 5 am. We are hiding near Nea Vyssa in fear of push-back. We urge the United Nations and Greek authorities to protect us from being pushed back."
The latest live location Ms. Ayse shared with me was from #Xeimonia Police station which proves 3 Turkish asylum seekers taken into custody. The Greek police currently inform their lawyer that there are no such persons in the custody which might mean another push-back on the way.
’Masked men beat us with batons’: Greece accused of violent asylum seeker pushbacks
Scores of Turkish asylum seekers have been pushed back — sometimes violently — from Greece in the last three weeks, lawyers and family members told Euronews.
Witnesses claim various groups of masked men in military uniform, as well as those in plain clothes collaborating with the police, used physical force against those who resisted.
There have been 82 people from Turkey, including children, that have sought political asylum in neighbouring Greece and been sent back since April 23.
Around half have been detained or arrested by Turkish authorities upon their return to their home country on terrorism charges.
They have been linked to the Gulen Movement, which Ankara blames for the failed 2016 coup, or the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), who have been involved in an armed struggle with the Turkish state over independence.
The European Commission has urged Greece to follow up on the allegations that Euronews has detailed in this article.
’Violently pushed back’
“We are Turkish political asylum seekers,” began Ayse Erdogan in a video she sent to a family member.
“We fled persecution in Turkey and crossed [at] Evros on May 4, at 5 am. We are hiding near Nea Vyssa [on the Greek-Turkey land border] in fear of a push back. We urge the United Nations and Greek authorities to protect us from being pushed back.”
Ayse, who had crossed the border with friends Kamil and Talip, was picked up by Greek police and taken into custody at a police station in the village of Nea Cheimonio. Hours later, Ayse would be part of a group of migrants that were allegedly violently pushed back to Turkey by Greek police.
Nea Cheimonio was the last place that Ayse’s family was able to pick up a location signal from her phone.
The same day, accompanied by a lawyer, Ayse’s twin brother, Ihsan Erdogan, who is a registered asylum seeker in Greece, went to the police station in Nea Cheimonio, based on her last location information. He was told his sister and her friends had never been held there.
On May 5, Ihsan received a phone call from a family member saying his sister had been imprisoned by a court in the northwestern province of Edirne, over the border in Turkey.
The relative had spoken to Ayse, who said her Turkish group, along with a number of Syrians, had been handed over to a group of masked men soon after they left the police station in Nea Cheimonio. Greek police, she claimed, seized their belongings including her phone.
Ihsan rues that his sister was seemingly sent back just before he arrived in Nea Cheimonio. “I urge Greek authorities not to send others like my sister back to prison,” he told Euronews.
’Masked men beat us with batons’
Freshly-graduated as a mathematics teacher, Ayse had spent 28 months in prison over alleged affiliation with the Gulen Movement, an organisation Turkish authorities have outlawed.
Hundreds of people were arrested in the aftermath of the failed putsch in 2016 and accused of links to US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Ayse was not the only political asylum seeker allegedly sent back to Turkey in what appears to be a violation of international asylum law.
On April 26 this year, at Soufli, a border town near Evros River, a group of 11 people — including three children, a pregnant woman and another one that was disabled — was sent back by masked men after being beaten violently, according to a journalist in the group.
“Masked men beat us with batons,” said Tugba Ozkan, who is 28 and pregnant. "We are in a very dire situation. We are afraid to be pushed back again. We need help.
“I had forgotten about my pregnancy,” she added. “I tried to stop Greek police by moving ahead but they pushed me, too. It was unbelievable and unforgettable to see my husband beaten in front of my eyes.”
No acknowledgement from Athens
According to the account of the group, the police cooperated with a group of masked men who forced them to return to Turkey. The group managed to cross the border again the next day, only to be detained officially and come face-to-face with a police officer who had pushed them back at Soufli. They were released under the protection of a UNHCR officer on April 30.
Greek NGOs published reports last year with testimonies from people from various nationalities who were allegedly sent back to Turkey via Evros after being beaten by masked men.
The UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe urged Greek authorities to investigate those reports.
The claims of violent push back operations at Evros river, however, have never ended. None have been officially acknowledged by Athens.
Greece police declined to comment after requests by Euronews regarding the latest push back allegations.
A European Commission spokesman, speaking to Euronews, said that they were aware of the recent push back claims.
“The Commission expects that the Greek authorities will follow up on the specific allegations and will continue to closely monitor the situation,” he said.
▻https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/11/masked-men-beat-us-with-batons-greece-accused-of-violent-asylum-seeker-pus
Migrants tortured by Greek police, illegally pushed back to Turkey
Three migrants allegedly tortured by Greek security forces and illegally pushed back to neighboring Turkey were found by Turkish border units and are being provided medical treatment in northwestern Edirne province.
Iraqi national Ibrahim Khidir (35) and Egyptian nationals Hassan Mahmoud (18) and Ahmed Samir (26) were found in a rural area, half-naked and exhausted with deep marks from plastic bullets and battering on their bodies. They were taken under protection by soldiers, who gave first aid to the migrants before handing them over to the provincial migration management directorate.
The migrants told reporters that they crossed into Greece with a group of seven other illegal migrants after making arrangements with human smugglers in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district. They were held by the Greek police at the coach station in the border district of Didymoteicho while trying to travel to Thessaloniki. They were then taken to a local police station, where they spent two days along with 35 other illegal migrants and were denied any food.
The migrants said they were divided into groups of 10 and boarded boats with two Greek police officers accompanying each and six officers watching guard. They were pushed back to Turkey through the Maritsa River (Meriç in Turkish, or Evros in Greek) forming the border with Greece.
The violence that began at the police station, which included battering with truncheons, shooting with plastic bullets and electroshocks, continued at the riverside and on the boats.
Khidir told reporters that Greek security forces captured him in Didymoteicho and tortured him with electroshocks, rear-handcuffing and plastic bullets fired at his body. His clothes and money were taken when he was detained.
Turkish soldiers treated them very well and took care that they received treatment, according Khidir.
Mahmoud and Samir also said that they were pushed back to Turkey after being stripped of their clothes and beaten up.
Under international laws and conventions, Greece is obliged to register any illegal migrants entering its territory; yet, this is not the case for thousands of migrants were forcibly returned to Turkey especially since the beginning of refugee influx into Europe in 2015. Security sources say that accounts of migrants interviewed by Turkish migration authority staff and social workers show that they were subjected to torture, theft and other human rights abuses. Several migrants were also found frozen to death after being left in desolate areas.
Similar incidents have also taken place on the Aegean, in which migrants and Turkish locals accused the Greek coast guard of deflating their boats or re-routing them back to Turkish territorial waters.
Turkey and the European Union signed a deal in 2016 to curb illegal immigration through the dangerous Aegean Sea route from Turkey to Greece. Under the deal, Greece sends back migrants held in the Aegean islands they crossed to from nearby Turkish shores and in return, EU countries receive a number of Syrian migrants legally. The deal, reinforced with an escalated crackdown on human smugglers and more patrols in the Aegean, significantly decreased the number of illegal crossings.
Bulgarian border authorities were also accused of abuses targeting migrants and pushing them back to Turkey in several incidents.
However, some desperate migrants still take the route across the better-policed land border between Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria, especially in winter months when a safe journey through the Aegean is nearly impossible aboard dinghies.
▻https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2019/05/30/migrants-tortured-by-greek-police-illegally-pushed-back-to-turkey/amp
#torture
(article en grec) ’’Des soldats dénoncent une chasse aux migrants menée par l’armée grecque sur l’Evros, à la frontière gréco-turque" ▻https://omniatv.com/853445901
Greece continues to push asylum seekers back to Turkey
Greek border forces along the Evros River pushed 59 migrants back into Turkey on Friday morning, signaling the continuation of a policy that started before the arrival of the new government.
The pushback was reported by Zübeyir Koçulu, an Athens-based Turkish journalist who tweeted, “It seems nothing has changed on the Evros regarding pushbacks following a recent government change in Greece.”
A total of 59 asylum seekers, nine of them Turkish and the remainder Afghans, Syrians and Somalis, were illegally sent back to Turkey, according to Koçulu.
“The Greek police collected the group soon after their arrival and held them in custody at the Tychero police station for four hours,” he said. “After seizing their phones, security officers pushed the 59 people through the river near Soufli by force, perpetrating violence, according to witnesses.”
He further claimed that Turkish political asylum seekers in the group were detained by Turkish security forces soon after the pushback. Three children in the group were delivered to their relatives.
The Evros River, which forms most of the land border between the two countries, was one of the main routes used by Turkish asylum seekers fleeing government persecution as well as migrants of other nationalities until a series of violent pushback operations a few months ago stopped the flow.
“Ironically, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the new PM of Greece, fled with his parents into exile in Turkey when he was a year old in 1968 during the Greek junta,” Koçulu said. “He knows what it is to be a migrant from his own experience.”
▻https://www.turkishminute.com/2019/07/21/greece-continues-to-push-asylum-seekers-back-to-turkey
What is happening on the Greece-Turkey border?
While migrant camps on the Aegean islands have reached breaking point, and with Turkey threatening to ’open the gates’, migrants continue to arrive in Greece in the hundreds every week. Most come by sea, but in recent months, growing numbers have crossed via the land route across the Evros River. Many claim they are subjected to violent and illegal treatment by authorities at the border.
Since the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants smuggled by lorry into the UK, there have been many more reports of migrants stowing away in trucks and vans. The latest group of 41 people hiding in a truck crossing from Turkey into northern Greece were reportedly mostly Afghan men between the ages of 20 and 30. Some reports said they were in danger of suffocation when they were discovered.
On the Greek-Turkish border, smugglers are regularly caught transporting migrants in minibuses or trucks. There are mixed reports about how many people cross via this border. According to the UN migration agency, IOM, the number has risen steadily in recent months – from 255 arrivals in May to 1,233 in September.
While the focus remains on the overcrowded migrant camps on the Aegean islands, which have seen a much bigger surge in arrivals during the same period, there has been less attention given to what is happening on the land border.
’Brutal treatment’
There have been reports of violence and illegal activities by some Greek authorities against migrants crossing the Evros river since as early as mid-2017. These have included claims that migrants have been arrested, beaten up, robbed, detained, and forcibly returned or “pushed back” into Turkey.
Dorothee Vakalis from Naomi, a refugee aid organization in Thessaloniki, says migrants continue to be subjected to “brutal treatment” by authorities at the border. “Everything gets taken away from them, phones, money, sometimes clothing as well. They are sent back to the other side practically naked,” she said on German radio on Tuesday. “We hear from relatives about families with small children, pregnant women being pushed back,” Vakalis said.
Beaten by masked men
According to an account of a case in April reported in Euronews, men wearing masks beat several migrants with batons before sending them back. In the group was a 28-year-old pregnant woman, Tugba Ozkan. “I had forgotten about my pregnancy,” Ozkan told Euronews. “I tried to stop Greek police by moving ahead but they pushed me, too. It was unbelievable and unforgettable to see my husband beaten in front of my eyes.”
InfoMigrants was also in contact last year with a Kurdish couple who said they were locked in a small dark room with many others before being taken by masked commandos back across the border into Turkey.
It is not clear who is carrying out the push backs, because they often wear masks and cannot be easily identified. The Hellenic League for Human Rights (HLHR) and Human Rights Watch describe them as paramilitaries. Eyewitnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch said people who “looked like police officers or soldiers, as well as some unidentified masked men, carried handguns, handcuffs, radios, spray cans, and batons,” and others carried gear such as “armored gloves, binoculars and knives and military-grade weapons such as rifles.”
The HLHR has suggested that the Greek police are either unaware of the existence of these paramilitaries or they turn a blind eye to them. According to Human Rights Watch, accounts suggest "close and consistent coordination “between police and unidentified men.” ..."Commanding officers knew, or ought to have known, what was happening," HRW’s report claims.
Calls for investigation
The Greek Refugee Council and other NGOs published a report in 2018 containing testimonies from people who said they had been beaten, sometimes by masked men, and sent back to Turkey. The UNHCR and the European Human Rights Commissioner have called on Greece to investigate the claims. Late last year another report by Human Rights Watch also based on testimonies of migrants, said that violent push backs were continuing.
https://scd.infomigrants.net/media/resize/my_image_big/8d7c307a8510580a5b6709893a7b1b10f65f849f.jpeg Turkey has also urged Greece to stop the practice of push backs. The Turkish foreign ministry recently claimed that a total of 25,404 irregular migrants were pushed back to Turkey in the first month of this year, according to the IPA news service. Turkey says it has evidence that the push backs are occurring and has invited the Greek government to “work on correcting the policy.” Greece has not acknowledged that violent push backs are occurring.
According to some of the testimonies in the report by the Greek Refugee Council, Turkey is also responsible for carrying out push backs of Syrian and Iraqi single men.
I believe these illegal push backs are not even known about or discussed in Europe or in Germany.
_ Dorothee Vakalis, humanitarian worker with ’Naomi’ in Thessaloniki
The European Commission spokesperson Natasha Bertaud has confirmed that the Commission contacted Greek authorities about reports of alleged push backs earlier this year. “The Commission expects that Greek authorities will follow up on the specific allegations and will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Bertaud said.
Legal returns and illegal push backs
The Evros River runs along 194 km of the 206 km of land border between the EU and Turkey. This border is not covered by the so-called EU-Turkey Statement, the agreement signed between Turkey and Europe in 2016 which allows the return to Turkey of Syrian migrants who arrive irregularly in Greece by sea.
The land border was covered by a separate bilateral migrant readmission deal between Turkey and Greece. Turkey canceled that agreement last June because Greece refused to hand over several Turkish officers who escaped to Greece after Turkey‘s failed military coup in 2016.
Push backs are prohibited by Greek and EU law, as well as international treaties and agreements, including the Geneva Convention on Refugees, which guarantees the right to seek protection. They go against the principle of non-refoulement, which means the forcible return of a person to a country where they are liable to be subject to persecution.
▻https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/20626/what-is-happening-on-the-greece-turkey-border
#statistiques #chiffres
Griechenland soll 60.000 Migranten illegal abgeschoben haben
Menschenrechtler und die Türkei beschuldigen Griechenland, Migranten und Flüchtlinge illegal abzuschieben. Türkische Dokumente, die dem SPIEGEL vorliegen, sollen die Anschuldigungen belegen.
Am 3. November 2019 greift die die türkische Polizei 252 Migranten in der Nähe des Grenzübergangs Kapikule auf. Danach wird sie einen brisanten Aktenvermerk anfertigen: Die Migranten hätten es über die Grenze nach Griechenland geschafft, schreiben die türkischen Beamten später in ihrem Bericht. Aber dann seien sie gegen ihren Willen zurückgebracht worden, ohne Chance auf einen Asylantrag.
„Push-Backs“ nennen sich diese illegalen Rückführungen von Migranten und Flüchtlingen. Sie sind nach europäischem und internationalem Recht verboten. Dieses schreibt den Staaten vor, potenziellen Asylbewerbern den Zugang zu einem effektiven Asylverfahren zu gewähren.
Seit Jahren beschuldigen Menschenrechtsorganisationen und Anwälte griechische Behörden, Migranten am Grenzfluss Evros illegal in die Türkei abzuschieben. Der SPIEGEL hat nun türkische Dokumente erhalten, darunter auch die Aufzeichnungen der Polizisten über den Vorfall am 3. November. Diese legen nahe, dass Griechenland im großen Stil illegale Push-Backs an der Grenze zur Türkei durchführt.
Harte Anschuldigungen gegen Griechenland
In der Migrationspolitik liegen die Türkei und Griechenland schon lange im Clinch, Anfang November erreichte der Konflikt zwischen den Erzrivalen einen neuen Höhepunkt: Das türkische Außenministerium beschuldigte die griechischen Behörden, Flüchtlinge verhaftet, sie geschlagen, ihre Kleider geraubt, Habseligkeiten beschlagnahmt und sie dann in die Türkei zurückgeschickt zu haben. „Wir haben Fotos und Dokumente“, fügte das Ministerium hinzu.
Der griechische Premierminister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reagierte knapp. „Diejenigen, die die Flüchtlingskrise ausgenutzt haben, indem sie die Verfolgten als Spielball für ihre eigenen geopolitischen Ziele benutzt haben, sollten vorsichtiger sein, wenn sie sich auf Griechenland beziehen.“
Mehr als 58.000 Push-Backs in einem Jahr
Das türkische Material umfasst Fallberichte und Interviewprotokolle. Zudem Fotos, die angeblich Migranten zeigen sollen, die von griechischen Behörden misshandelt wurden. Dazu enthält es bisher unveröffentlichte Daten, die vom türkischen Innenministerium zusammengestellt wurden.
Diesen Daten zufolge hat Griechenland in den zwölf Monaten vor dem 1. November 2019 insgesamt 58.283 Migranten zurückgeschafft. Die meisten registrierten Fälle betrafen pakistanische Staatsangehörige (16.435), gefolgt von Afghanen, Somaliern, Bangladeschern und Algeriern. Dazu kommen mehr als 4.500 Syrer.
Dem Dokument nach lag die Zahl der gemeldeten Push-Backs allein im Oktober bei mehr als 6.500. Ein endgültiger Beweis sind die Dokumente nicht, die Anschuldigungen der Migranten lassen sich nicht unabhängig verifizieren. Und Griechenland bestreitet die Vorwürfe. Allerdings stimmen sie mit ähnlichen Berichten von Menschenrechtsorganisationen überein. Die Menge der Zeugenaussagen verschärft die Zweifel an den griechischen Unschuldsbeteuerungen.
Die am 3. November festgenommenen Asylbewerber wurden nach türkischen Angaben später von der türkischen Polizei befragt und in ein Abschiebezentrum in Edirne gebracht, die Stadt liegt etwa 10 Kilometer von der Grenze entfernt. Alle bis auf die Syrer würden in ihre Herkunftsländer zurückgeschickt, erklärte ein türkischer Beamter. Die Syrer würden an den türkischen Ort zurückgebracht, an dem sie sich zuerst registriert hätten.
Beraubt, eingesperrt, zurückgebracht: Die Geschichte eines Syrers
Einer der acht Syrer, die am 3. November von der türkischen Polizei verhaftet worden sind, gibt an, mit seiner Frau vier Jahre zuvor aus Aleppo geflohen zu sein. So geht es aus der Abschrift des Interviews hervor. Zunächst habe der studierte Jurist demnach als Kassierer in Istanbul gearbeitet. Dann habe er „aus wirtschaftlichen Gründen“ beschlossen, nach Griechenland zu gehen.
Mit einem Schmuggler überquerte der Syrer die Grenze, in der griechischen Stadt Alexandroupolis schließlich stellten er und seine Frau sich der Polizei, um Asyl zu beantragen. Stattdessen seien allerdings ihre Besitztümer beschlagnahmt, sie selbst in eine Zelle gesteckt worden. Laut Interviewabschrift wurden die beiden Syrer zwei Tage später von der griechischen Polizei zusammen mit anderen Migranten zurückgebracht.
14 Polizisten sollen die Gruppe zum Fluss Evros begleitet haben, auf 150 Kilometern markiert er die natürliche Grenze zwischen den beiden Ländern. Anschließend hätten zwei Polizisten das Paar in einem Boot zurück auf die türkische Seite befördert.
Griechisch-türkisches Grenzgebiet
In letzter Zeit würden vermehrt Migranten zurückgebracht, nachdem sie mit Booten den Evros überquert hätten, heißt es in dem Bericht der türkischen Behörden. So gibt der Gouverneur von Edirne in einem Schreiben vom 29. Oktober an das türkische Innenministerium an, dass zwischen Anfang Januar und Ende September insgesamt 91.681 illegale Migranten in seiner Provinz aufgegriffen worden seien.
Dies sei ein dramatischer Anstieg im Vergleich zu den knapp 30.000 Festgenommenen im Jahr 2016. Laut türkischen Behörden gaben mehr als 55 Prozent der festgenommenen Migranten an, es nach Griechenland geschafft zu haben, aber trotzdem zurückgebracht worden zu sein.
Die Zahl spiegelt den erhöhten Druck an den Außengrenzen Europas wider. Seit dem Frühsommer steigt die Zahl der Migranten, die auf den griechischen Inseln in der Ägäis ankommen. In den vergangenen Monaten versuchen auch wieder deutlich mehr Migranten, den Evros auf illegalem Weg zu überqueren. Nach den Daten des UNHCR kamen 2018 über den Evros mehr als 18.000 Migranten in die EU - ein Anstieg von 173 Prozent gegenüber 2017.
Die Überquerung des reißenden Grenzflusses ist gefährlich, immer wieder endet sie tödlich. Die Route hat aber auch Vorteile: Wer es unerkannt über den Fluss schafft, wird nicht wie auf den griechischen Ägäis-Inseln unter unmenschlichen Bedingungen in ein Lager gepfercht. Zudem liegt die Region viel näher an der Balkan-Route, die von Nordgriechenland nach Mittel- und Nordeuropa führt und wieder verstärkt genutzt wird.
Die griechischen Behörden weisen die türkischen Vorwürfe zurück. Es gebe keine Push-Backs, teilte ein Sprecher des griechischen Ministeriums für Bürgerschutz auf Anfrage mit. Bisher haben griechische Behörden nur wenige der Beschwerden überprüft - und fanden demnach keine Beweise für Fehlverhalten.
Nicht nur türkische Behörden sprechen allerdings von systematischen illegalen Abschiebungen: Menschenrechtler werfen Griechenland und anderen europäischen Staaten an der Außengrenze schon seit Jahren Push-Backs vor und dokumentieren diese. Auch in der griechischen und internationalen Presse wird immer wieder über einzelne Vorfälle berichtet (lesen Sie hier einen SPIEGEL-Bericht). Der Europarat spricht von „glaubwürdigen Anschuldigungen“, und auch das Flüchtlingshilfswerk der Uno zeigte sich bereits besorgt.
Die Menschenrechtskommissarin des Europarates, Dunja Mijatovic, erklärte auf SPIEGEL-Anfrage, dass in den letzten Jahren sowohl in der Türkei als auch in Griechenland illegale Abschiebungen dokumentiert worden seien - und mahnte eine menschlichere Migrationspolitik an.
▻https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/griechenland-soll-zehntausende-migranten-illegal-in-die-tuerkei-abgeschoben-
#renvois #expulsions #réfugiés #asile #migrations #Turquie #Grèce #push-back #refoulement #refoulements
Greece illegally deported 60,000 migrants to Turkey: report
Greece illegally deported 60,000 migrants to Turkey, documents released by Turkey reportedly show. The process involves returning asylum seekers without assessing their status.
Greece illegally deported about 60,000 migrants to Turkey between 2017 and 2018, according to a report on the online news portal of weekly German magazine Spiegel, published on Wednesday evening.
Turkey is accusing Greece of not properly dealing with the asylum status of migrants. Instead, Turkish Interior Ministry files claim that Greece illegally transported 58,283 people to Turkey in the 12 month period leading up to November 1, 2018.
Greece is disputing the accusations, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsokasis saying Ankara was playing games: “Those people who have used the refugee crisis to their own ends should be more careful when dealing with Greece.”
A Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman told German news agency dpa that Athens had denied similar accusations “many times” already.
This so-called “push back” of asylum seekers is illegal under European and international law. The state is obliged to assess the asylum status of new migrants rather than sending them to another country.
Where were the migrants from?
According to the Turkish documents, the largest proportion of migrants sent away from Greece were Pakistani, with large numbers from Somalia, Algeria and Bangladesh. 4,500 were Syrians.
Turkish officials said they sent back most of the people back to their countries of origin except for the Syrians, who were sent back to the Turkish town where they originally registered as refugees.
The governor of the Turkish-Greek border region of Edirne reported that over 90,000 migrants were arrested between January and September 2019, a big increase from the 30,000 arrested in the same region in 2016.
▻https://www.dw.com/en/greece-illegally-deported-60000-migrants-to-turkey-report/a-51234698?maca=en-Twitter-sharing
Thousands of ’illegal’ Syrians and other migrants ejected from Istanbul
Turkey says it has expelled nearly 50,000 migrants from Istanbul, including more than 6,000 Syrians. The government says the migrants were in the city illegally and will be made to leave Turkey.
The Istanbul governor’s office said on Friday that 42,888 “illegal” migrants had been arrested and sent to repatriation centers, to be removed later from Turkey. It said 6,416 Syrians had been placed in “temporary refugee centers.”
A campaign from July through to the end of October was aimed at reducing the number of unregistered refugees in Turkey’s biggest city. The country hosts about 3.6 million Syrians — more than any other country.
Syrians who are registered in Turkey are given “temporary protection”, as the Turkish government does not offer them formal refugee status. Under the system, the Syrians have to stay in the province to which they were initially assigned, and can only visit other cities with short-term passes.
In July, officials said that 547,000 Syrians were officially registered in Istanbul, and that no new registrations were being accepted. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said at the time that the aim was to expel 80,000 undocumented migrants by the end of the year.
•••• ➤ Watch: Syrian refugees not ready to go home
Public sentiment in Turkey towards Syrian refugees has worsened in recent years. The Turkish government wants to settle some of them in an area it now controls in northeast Syria, after it launched an offensive last month against the Kurdish YPG militia.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch last month published reports saying Turkey was forcibly sending Syrian refugees to northern Syria. Turkey’s foreign ministry called the claims in the reports “false and imaginary.”
▻https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/20903/thousands-of-illegal-syrians-and-other-migrants-ejected-from-istanbul
Refugees ‘tortured and beaten by Greek soldiers’ before being sent back to Turkey
Bruised and bandaged, a group of refugees show off the injuries they claim were caused by Greek soldiers. One says he was blindfolded and burnt with a cigarette while another said his foot ended up broken in several places. A third migrant claims the authorities confiscated his money and clothes while others say they have been hit over the head with sticks. Their allegations form part of a growing number of complaints made against Greek soldiers at the border with Turkey. In the past year, hundreds of people claim to have been tortured and abused before being physically pushed back over the border.
https://i2.wp.com/metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PRI_1010869571.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=768%2C511&ssl=1#.jpg https://i0.wp.com/metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PRI_96610513.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=768%2C512&ssl=1#.jpg Under international law, Greece is obliged to register any illegal immigrant that enters its territory. But Turkey claims they forcibly reject them and this year alone they allege Greece returned some 25,404 undocumented migrants. That figure has not been independently verified but there are allegations of severe abuse, which includes withholding food and water. Musaddiq Javed from Pakistan was one of 30 men who entered Greece last week on foot. He said the group were arrested as they walked towards #Xanthi but the police handed them over to Greek soldiers who allegedly ripped the Turkish liras they found on them. He recalled: ‘The soldiers brought me in a room and blindfolded me. They then burned my hand with a cigarette and kicked my feet.’
Muhammad Nainiya from Morocco added: ‘They brought us near a river and put us on a boat and hit our heads with sticks.’ He said they were made to walk back into Turkey and eventually reached a village where local residents gave them clothes. Muhammed added: ‘The doctor told me that I had three broken bones on my foot and that it would need surgery. I had the surgery and stayed in the hospital for a week.’ The men are now staying at a refugee centre in Turkey after receiving medical treatment while the Greek authorities have yet to comment on the claims.
Greece is struggling with the number of refugees on both the mainland and the islands. It has camps on five Aegean islands (Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros) with an official capacity of 6,178 people. Two days ago it was holding 35,590 men, women and children in unsanitary and dangerous conditions. The Greek government has pledged a crackdown and plans to convert the refugee camps into detention centres. Human rights groups say it would make it easier for Greece to detain asylum seekers for longer and scrap protections for already vulnerable people. Turkey and the EU signed a refugee deal in March 2016 which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea. People arriving by boat to the Greek islands were to be returned to Turkey in exchange for EU nations to take Syrian refugees from Turkey.
▻https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/26/refugees-tortured-beaten-greek-soldiers-sent-back-turkey-11223565/?ito=article.desktop.share.top.twitter
Illegal push-backs in Evros. Evidence of human rights abuses at the Greece/Turkey border
Résumé ici:
Mobile Info Team have published a new report on pushbacks from Greece to Turkey in the Evros region. They have been gathering data since August 2018 and have brought together 27 testimonies from people who have experienced this illegal practice.
The procedure is similar in all cases. Firstly, arrest and capture by Greek police inside Greek territory, then detention and confiscation of personal property, followed by coordinated handoffs/transfers to authorities and finally, collective expulsion across the Evros River in small boats.
The violent practices of Greek police are of critical concern. Established legal procedures stipulate that Greek police would meet asylum seekers on Greek land, escort them to police stations, take their personal data and register their requests for asylum. Their reported actions however ranged from complicit handovers to unidentified ‘commando’ groups, to perpetrating acts of violence and theft themselves.
Many of the testimonies are deeply disturbing, although all pushbacks are illegal regardless of whether an individual or group is subjected to violence. Often people reported the deprivation of food and water, theft of property, detention in dirty and cramped spaces, unprovoked violent beatings and even electric shocks.
▻https://medium.com/are-you-syrious/ays-daily-digest-27-11-19-evros-pushbacks-report-human-rights-abuses-at-gree
Έξι Μετανάστες Πέθαναν Από το Κρύο στον Έβρο
Μια νέα θανάσιμη διαδρομή ανησυχεί τις Αρχές, ενώ οι ροές στον Έβρο αυξάνονται.
Έξι μετανάστες βρέθηκαν νεκροί από το κρύο στον Έβρο, σε διάστημα 48 ωρών. Είναι η πρώτη φορά που καταγράφεται αντίστοιχος αριθμός θανάτων από υποθερμία, σε τόσο μικρό διάστημα. Επιπλέον, τα σημεία όπου εντοπίστηκαν τα τέσσερα από τα έξι θύματα, μαρτυρά ότι οι άνθρωποι που περνούν τον Έβρο και κατευθύνονται προς την ενδοχώρα επιλέγουν μια νέα διαδρομή, που ακολουθεί παράλληλα τα ελληνο-βουλγαρικά σύνορα και αποδεικνύεται θανάσιμη λόγω του άγριου εδάφους και των εξαιρετικά χαμηλών θερμοκρασιών.
Το VICE πληροφορείται ότι οι έξι νεκροί μετανάστες βρέθηκαν στη διάρκεια του Σαββατοκύριακου, σε διαφορετικά σημεία. Πρόκειται για τέσσερις άντρες και δύο γυναίκες. Δεν υπάρχει κανένα στοιχείο για την ταυτότητά τους, καθώς δεν είχαν έγγραφα. Οι δύο γυναίκες είναι αφρικανικής καταγωγής, ενώ η ηλικία των θυμάτων εκτιμάται μεταξύ 18 και 30 ετών.
Τα δύο πρώτα θύματα βρέθηκαν κοντά στο ποτάμι, σε χωράφι έξω από το χωριό Γεμιστή. Οι υπόλοιποι τέσσερις άνθρωποι, όμως, εντοπίστηκαν πολύ μακριά από τον Έβρο. Πιο ειδικά, δύο στο 17ο χιλιόμετρο της επαρχιακής οδού Μεγάλου Δέρειου-Σαπών και δύο έξω από το χωριό Κόρυμβος. Οι Αρχές προσπαθούν να διαπιστώσουν αν οι τέσσερις νεκροί στον ορεινό όγκο ήταν στην ίδια ομάδα που είχε περάσει τον Έβρο.
Οι τελευταίοι θάνατοι, αλλά και μαρτυρίες ανθρώπων που κατάφεραν να φθάσουν στη Θεσσαλονίκη, αποκαλύπτουν ότι υπάρχει μια νέα διαδρομή μεταναστών. Προσπαθώντας να αποφύγουν την Εγνατία Οδό και τους ελέγχους της Αστυνομίας, οι μετανάστες περνούν το ποτάμι και κατευθύνονται στον ορεινό όγκο πίσω από το Σουφλί. Έπειτα, περπατούν κατά μήκος των ελληνο-βουλγαρικών συνόρων, ακολουθώντας χωμάτινους δρόμους και τις οδηγίες διακινητών που λαμβάνουν μέσω στιγμάτων στο GPS. Εκτός από τις οδηγίες, δεν έχει διαπιστωθεί φυσική παρουσία διακινητών κατά μήκος της διαδρομής, αναφέρουν πηγές.
Οι μετανάστες θέλουν να φθάσουν στην Κομοτηνή και από εκεί να πάρουν το λεωφορείο για τη Θεσσαλονίκη. Το ταξίδι με τα πόδια από τον Έβρο ως την Κομοτηνή, μπορεί να διαρκέσει ως και επτά μέρες, ανάλογα με τις καιρικές συνθήκες. Η απότομη αλλαγή του καιρού και η σφοδρή κακοκαιρία που έπληξε την περιοχή, φαίνεται ότι ευθύνονται για τους μαζικούς θανάτους των τελευταίων ημερών, σε συνδυασμό με το γεγονός ότι στο βουνό δεν υπάρχουν σημάδια για να ακολουθήσουν.
Όσοι μετανάστες επιλέγουν την παραπάνω διαδρομή, επιθυμούν να συνεχίσουν βόρεια προς την Ευρώπη, χωρίς να καταγραφούν στην Ελλάδα. Υπάρχει κάτι ακόμη. Άνθρωποι που περπάτησαν κατά μήκος των ελληνο-βουλγαρικών συνόρων ανέφεραν ότι έπεσαν θύματα ληστείας από αγνώστους, που φορούσαν ρούχα παραλλαγής, όπως περιέγραψαν. Σε μια περίπτωση, τους άρπαξαν χρήματα και κινητά. Σε μια δεύτερη, γυναίκα από το Ιράν ανέφερε ότι τους άφησαν να συνεχίσουν, επειδή εκείνη τους μίλησε στα τούρκικα, στοιχείο που δείχνει πιθανή εμπλοκή ατόμων από τα μειονοτικά χωριά.
Όλα αυτά συμβαίνουν, ενώ οι ροές στον Έβρο αυξάνονται και η κυβέρνηση σχεδιάζει να λάβει επιπλέον μέτρα για την ανάσχεσή τους, μεταξύ αυτών την επέκταση του φράχτη που υπάρχει από το 2012 στο μοναδικό χερσαίο τμήμα των συνόρων. Ο φράχτης έχει μήκος 12 χιλιόμετρα και εκ του αποτελέσματος απλώς μετάφερε τα περάσματα προς τα νότια, σε άλλα σημεία του ποταμού. Στον σχεδιασμό της κυβέρνησης περιλαμβάνεται επίσης η δημιουργία μιας δεύτερης ζώνης ελέγχου στην Εγνατία Οδό, καθώς και η ανάπτυξη των ηλεκτρονικών μέσων με τα οποία ελέγχονται τα περάσματα στον Έβρο.
▻https://www.vice.com/gr/article/a355mk/e3i-metanastes-pagwsan-kai-pe8anan-apo-to-krio-ston-ebro
–----------
Source : un tweet de Bruno Tersago :
Bodies of 6 #refugees/#migrants found near #Evros river (border #Greece/#Turkey). Aged between 18 and 30. Apparently frozen to death.
▻https://twitter.com/BrunoTersago/status/1204405077936627717
Six migrants retrouvés morts de froid à la frontière gréco-turque
Six migrants ont été retrouvés morts de froid ces derniers jours dans la région de l’Evros, à la frontière entre la Grèce et la Turquie, a annoncé mardi Pavlos Pavlidis, le médecin légiste de l’hôpital d’Alexandroupoli en charge des autopsies.
Les six migrants, deux femmes africaines et quatre hommes dont les âges étaient évalués de 18 à 30 ans, sont morts d’hypothermie entre jeudi et dimanche derniers, a précisé à la presse le médecin légiste. Aucun document d’identité n’a été retrouvé sur ces migrants, rendant le processus d’identification complexe. La région frontalière de l’Evros séparant la Grèce de la Turquie est un lieu de passage privilégié par les passeurs depuis la signature de l’accord UE-Turquie en 2016 et le renforcement des patrouilles navales en mer Égée.
Malgré un mur de 12 km de long à la frontière gréco-turque, les trafiquants ont trouvé des points de passage pour les migrants, situés au sud des barbelés. Le gouvernement grec a annoncé en novembre l’embauche de 400 gardes-frontières dans la région de l’Evros et le renforcement de la surveillance à la frontière avec des radars infrarouges. La traversée de la rivière est particulièrement dangereuse. De nombreux migrants ont été retrouvés noyés ces dernières années. Des réseaux de passeurs entassent également souvent des dizaines de migrants dans des voitures, conduites à grande vitesse pour échapper aux contrôles policiers, entraînant des accidents fréquents.
Début novembre, quarante-et-un migrants ont été découverts vivants, cachés dans un camion frigorifique intercepté sur une autoroute du nord de la Grèce. Pour la première fois depuis 2016, la Grèce est redevenue cette année la principale porte d’entrée des demandeurs d’asile en Europe. Le flux migratoire via les îles de la mer Egée face à la Turquie reste le plus important avec plus de 55000 arrivées en 2019 selon le HCR, l’Agence des Nations unies pour les réfugiés. Mais les arrivées via la frontière terrestre avec la Turquie sont en augmentation depuis 2018. En 2019, plus de 14000 personnes ont emprunté ce chemin périlleux selon le HCR.
▻https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/six-migrants-retrouves-morts-de-froid-a-la-frontiere-greco-turque-20191210
Statement: Four Push-Back Operations at the Greek-Turkish Land Border Witnessed by the Alarm Phone
The Alarm Phone witnessed four illegal push-back operations at the Greek-Turkish land border over the course of ten days.
CASE 1: The first case occurred on Saturday the 30th of June 2018. In the early morning, we had been informed about a group of people along the Turkish-Greek land border that was in need of support. Five of them were from Syria, five from Sierra Leone, six men, two women, and two children. We contacted the travellers, received their GPS position, and notified the police to their whereabouts, as the travellers had asked us to do. The police confirmed to us that they would search for them. Hours later, in the early afternoon, one of the members of the group told us that she was on her way back to Istanbul. She informed us about what had happened to them: At around 9am local time, they had been found by Greek officers in blue & black uniforms. Their belongings was taken away, and at least 5 of them were forced back to Turkey. They had not taken any pictures as their phones had been taken away. Our contact person had been able to hide her phone. They were kept in confinement for about one hour and treated badly, “like dogs” she said, before being forced onto a boat that returned them illegally to Turkey.
CASE 2: On Thursday the 5th of July, the second push-back operation was observed by the Alarm Phone. We had received a distress call from a group of Syrian, Iraqi, Yemeni and Sudanese migrants who had crossed into Greece seeking international protection. The group was found by the Greek police. The police handed the group to Greek officers who did not hesitate to use violence and intimidation. They were beaten, robbed, and forced onto a boat that returned them to Turkish territory.
CASE 3: In the night of 5th-6th of July 2018, a group of 12 people from Syria and Iraq, including two women, one of whom was elderly, two children (six and eleven years old), and eight men, was reportedly apprehended on Greek soil near Mikrochori in Evros region and pushed back to Turkey. It remains unclear what happened to them upon return to Turkey.
CASE 4: In the night of 9th-10th of July 2018, 19 people from Syria and Iraq, including a one-year-old child, a pregnant woman and a man with a broken leg, were reportedly pushed-back from Greece to Turkey at the land border in Evros. They arrived on 9th July and had sent a SOS-call to the Alarm Phone. The first GPS coordinates received showed their position near Filakto. The group said they had sick kids with them and they were very hungry. A second set of GPS coordinates sent showed them at a position near Provatonas. Communications with the group broke down in the afternoon and only in the late morning of the next day, the group answered again – now from Turkey. They reported that ‘the police’ had found them around 5pm on the 9th of July. They brought them to a place the migrants described as ‘a prison’. At 10pm, the officers allegedly wearing blue trousers and camouflage sweaters, told the group that they would be moved to a camp so that they could apply for international protection. However, instead, they brought them back to the river. There, according to one testimony, the men of the group were beaten. Their belongings such as phones, money, passports and the food for the infant were taken away. They were then put onto a boat at the river and were threatened not to come back to Greece again.
Reacting to our questions concerning cases 3 and 4, the Greek police stated that they had not found anyone at the positions we had provided them with.
The Alarm Phone, when receiving distress calls from groups in the Evros border region who report to have persons among them with special needs, such as pregnant women, people with disabilities, toddlers and infants, elderly or sick, informs the respective authorities (Greek and /or Turkish) upon request of the people in need. In these four cases, GPS positions shared with us showed clearly locations on Greek soil. Despite this fact and despite many requests for assistance made toward the responsible authorities, the people ended up back in Turkey. Instead of getting access to protection in Greece as requested in their calls for help and their claims to asylum, they were returned to a place where they stated they would be in danger.
The Alarm Phone is very concerned about repeated testimonies of illegal push-backs at the Greek-Turkish land border. We demand respect for the people’s human rights and dignity, as well as for the international law, which is clearly beached in such push-back operations.
▻https://alarmphone.org/en/2018/07/06/four-push-back-operations-at-the-greek-turkish-land-border-witnessed-by-
The Turkish Woman Who Fled Her Country only To Get Sent Back
#Ayşe_Erdoğan was persecuted in Turkey as an alleged follower of the Gülen movement. The young teacher fled to Greece to seek refuge. This is how she wound up back in a Turkish prison.
As Ayşe Erdoğan reached for her mobile phone to film herself, she was already aware of the risk she was facing. She had managed to cross over into Greece from Turkey, meaning she had made it to Europe. But she still wasn’t home free.
On the morning of May 4, 2019, Erdoğan, a 28-year-old math teacher from Turkey, hid near the Greek village of Nea Vyssa. Accompanied by two Turkish traveling companions, she had succeeded in crossing the Evros, a wild river that forms a natural border between the two countries but whose current is so strong that it often sweeps migrants away to their deaths.
Erdoğan, who bears no relation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had been sentenced to more than six years in prison in Turkey. Authorities there had accused her of belonging to the sect of the Islamist cleric Fethullah Gülen, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. Erdoğan was allowed to leave prison until the start of her appeal, but only under the condition that she remain in Turkey.
Shortly after her release, she fled. She traveled to the north to reach Europe, just as thousands of other Turks who are persecuted as Gülen supporters have done.
Erdoğan wanted to file an application for political asylum. The Turkish national wanted to exercise the right the European Union grants to every individual who reaches European soil — at least in theory.
“We are Turkish political asylum-seekers,” Erdoğan said in one video she recorded on her phone. “We fled persecution back in Turkey. We are hiding near Nea Vyssa in fear of pushback.” She sent the videos to her brother Ihsan, who was already in Athens. A journalist later posted the video on Twitter, and the Greek daily Kathimerini also reported on her case.
Using WhatsApp, Erdoğan sent her location to her brother. She also sent emails to Greek human rights lawyers and the head of the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. “If we push back to Turkey, our life will be in danger,” she wrote.
That same day, Erdoğan was taken back across the Evros. Turkish border officials apprehended her and the two Turkish nationals traveling with her the next morning at 8:10 a.m. and put them in jail. A court convicted Erdoğan the next day for violating the terms of her parole by leaving the country.
For the first time, Forensic Architecture, a research agency based at Goldsmiths College at the University of London, has reconstructed the precise events in the hours leading up to Erdoğan’s capture. DER SPIEGEL also interviewed the brother and Ayşe Erdoğan’s lawyers in addition to reviewing Turkish court documents.
The data and documents lead to just one conclusion: Ayşe Erdoğan had made it to Greece and was in the hands of Greek authorities before she was returned to Turkey. These were presumably Greek border guards or police. Erdoğan herself claims to have been picked up at a Greek police station by masked men.
Responding to a request for comment from DER SPIEGEL, the Greek police stated that they "always comply with Greek and European law in the performance of their duties.” Officials would not comment on the specific case in question. Back in December, DER SPIEGEL and Forensic Architecture analyzed videos showing how the illegal pushbacks along the Evros apparently take place: Masked men speaking with Greek accents are seen taking people who have fled to Greece across to the Turkish side of the Evros in motorized dinghies. Refugees who claim they were pushed back also say they were abused and that their mobile phones were rendered unusable.
All available evidence suggests that the Greek authorities are carrying out systematic pushbacks. DER SPIEGEL has previously reported on Turkish documents which suggest that Greece is illegally deporting tens of thousands of migrants and refugees. Following the revelations, the European Commission demanded an investigation into the accusations, though this has yet to happen.
The only person who has followed up on the pushback allegations is the Greek ombudsman, the agency responsible for independently monitoring the country’s authorities. The agency opened a general investigation into the issue in June 2017. It is now investigating more than half a dozen cases, including the videos published by DER SPIEGEL.
However, the Greek authorities have expressed little interest in the videos. A police spokesman told DER SPIEGEL in January: “There won’t be any investigation because there are no pushbacks on the Evros.”
But Ayşe Erdoğan’s case suggests it is very likely that this statement isn’t true. It underscores suspicions that Greek border officials are deporting even Turkish asylum-seekers without granting them any asylum procedures, even though these people are the subject of political persecution in their home country.
The pushbacks violate international law, European Union law as well as Greek law, since every refugee has the right to fair asylum proceedings. Moreover, those who apply for asylum cannot be sent back to countries where they could be in danger or threatened with persecution. That, however, appears to be exactly what happened to Erdoğan.
The fact that Erdoğan repeatedly shared her location with her brother on WhatsApp and took a selfie together with the two people accompanying her in the village center of Nea Vyssa has been helpful in the effort to reconstruct events. A government building can be seen in the photo, including its logo. Another lawyer, Nikolaos Ouzounidis, met with the group in Nea Vyssa and also took a photo of them.
In collaboration with the Greek NGO HumanRights360, Forensic Architecture analyzed the photos, videos, WhatsApp messages, emails, court files and police reports. Among other steps, the agency compared the photos to images from Google Earth. This made it possible to verify that Erdoğan had, in fact, entered Greece before her arrest.
There is no doubt that Ayşe and the two accompanying her had been in Nea Vyssa that day. “I saw them with my own eyes,” said Ouzounidis.
Erdoğan contacted the police station in Nea Vyssa, near the Turkish border, to apply for asylum. But Greek police brought them to a police station in Neo Cheimonio, a town 18 kilometers (11 miles) south of Nea Vyssa. This is evidenced in Erdoğan’s WhatsApp locations and her testimony in court, which has been obtained by DER SPIEGEL.
Ouzounidis tried to speak to Erdoğan at the police station twice — first on his own and later with her brother, Ihsan, who had come from Athens. Both times, police informed the lawyer that no one with that name was being held at the station. Officially, at least, there was never any arrest or charges filed.
At 6:53 p.m., Erdoğan once again shared her location with her brother on WhatsApp, with the pin pointing to the police station. It would be the last message that Ayşe Erdoğan would send from Greece.
“I thought Ayşe was safe,” said Ihsan Erdoğan. “But they just brushed us off at the police station.” Ihsan found out the next day from his parents that his sister had been deported to Turkey and arrested there.
The Turkish court documents provide details about how Erdoğan experienced her pushback. They describe how masked men put them in a car and took them back to the Evros River. "They put us in a car, took us to Meriç river (Eds. note: as the Evros is known in Turkey) again, put us in an inflatable boat, and took us back to the Turkish banks. Thus, we weren’t able to apply for asylum.”
Turkish police officers apprehended Erdoğan the next morning. A court in the province of Edirne convicted her the following morning on charges of illegally fleeing the country. The court transcript states that, “The accused violated the rules of her parole and left the country via illegal routes but was deported and returned to Turkey.”
As part of her defense, Erdoğan claimed that she had felt isolated after her release from prison, that she was no longer able to find work and that even her friends weren’t speaking to her anymore. She told the court that she regretted having fled. “I am the victim,” Erdoğan said, according to the court transcript.
Her brother Ihsan also denied to DER SPIEGEL that he or Ayşe were members of the Gülen sect.
Turkish President Erdoğan has blamed the Gülen movement for the attempted coup in July 2016. In response, the Turkish state ordered the arrest of tens of thousands of Gülen supporters.
Gülen, who has lived in exile in the United States since the 1990s, has denied the accusations. In public, he presents himself as a modern reformer of moderate Islam. His followers run schools, universities, media organizations, hospitals and foundations in more than 100 countries.
But people who have left the community have described it as a secret society. “Infiltrating state agencies, maximizing political influence and gaining control of the state is seen as the goal by all those who have been interviewed,” reads one document from Germany’s Foreign Ministry.
Tens of thousands of the Islamist movement’s followers have found refuge in European countries in recent years. More than 10,000 Turks have applied for asylum in Greece alone since 2016.
But it’s not clear how many of those applications have been approved. The Greek authorities don’t want to publish that kind of information out of fear of provoking Turkish President Erdoğan, with whom the Greek government already has a tense relationship.
However, Greek bureaucratic sources say that most of the Turkish refugees who apply for it are granted asylum in Greece. That had also been Ayşe Erdoğan’s hope. Instead, she now finds herself locked up by the Turkish government in a prison in the Gebze province near Istanbul.
Greece has already thrown out a lawsuit submitted by her lawyers. Erdoğan’s attorney, Maria Papamina of the Greek Council for Refugees, says that all the prosecutor did was obtain assurances from the Greek police that Ayşe Erdoğan had never been registered there.
She claims that evidence of the pushback wasn’t even taken into consideration. Papamina says she wants to appeal the case and take it right up to Greece’s highest court if she has to — and even further up to the European Court of Human Rights, if need be.
But the only likely real chance Ayşe Erdoğan would have of getting released from prison would be through her appeal to Turkey’s highest court, but her chances are slim. There’s much to suggest that Ayşe Erdoğan will spend years in a Turkish prison.
▻https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/the-turkish-woman-who-fled-her-country-only-to-get-sent-back-a-fd2989c7-0439
Taking Hard Line, Greece Turns Back Migrants by Abandoning Them at Sea
https://seenthis.net/messages/871942
–-> référence aussi aux refoulements dans l’Evros
Soutien aux réfugiés en #Grèce : octroi d’une #aide_d'urgence de 180 millions d’euros
La Commission européenne a annoncé aujourd’hui l’octroi d’un nouveau #financement de 180 millions d’euros pour des projets d’aide en Grèce, visant notamment à étendre le programme phare d’« #aide_d'urgence_à_l'intégration_à_l'hébergement » (#ESTIA) destiné à aider les réfugiés à trouver un #logement en zone urbaine et à l’extérieur des camps ainsi qu’à leur fournir une aide régulière en espèces.
Ce financement intervient alors que le commissaire chargé de l’aide humanitaire et de la gestion des crises, Christos Stylianides, rencontrait aujourd’hui le Premier ministre grec, Alexis Tsipras, à Athènes.
Le programme ESTIA, lancé en juillet 2017 avec le Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés (HCR), est la plus grande opération d’aide menée par l’UE dans le pays, en cohérence avec la politique du gouvernement grec visant à sortir les réfugiés des camps. Jusqu’à présent, il a permis de créer plus de 23 000 places d’hébergement urbain et de mettre en place un système d’assistance pécuniaire en espèces pour plus de 41 000 réfugiés et demandeurs d’asile.
« Les programmes humanitaires que nous avons déployés en Grèce en faveur des réfugiés témoignent clairement de la solidarité européenne. Nous restons fermement déterminés à aider les réfugiés en Grèce à mener une vie plus sûre, plus normale et plus digne ainsi qu’à faciliter leur intégration dans l’économie locale et dans la société. Grâce à notre programme ESTIA, nous parvenons à améliorer concrètement la vie des gens. Je souhaite tout particulièrement rendre hommage aux citoyens et aux maires grecs qui ont accueilli des réfugiés dans leur municipalité en leur manifestant une grande attention et de l’empathie » a déclaré M. Christos Stylianides, commissaire chargé de l’aide humanitaire et de la gestion des crises.
Six autres contrats ont été signés avec le Conseil danois pour les réfugiés, l’Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Médecins du Monde, la Croix-Rouge espagnole ainsi que les ONG grecques METAdrasi et Smile of the Child, pour répondre aux besoins humanitaires urgents en Grèce, notamment en matière d’abris, de soins de santé primaires, d’aide psychosociale, d’amélioration des conditions d’hygiène, d’éducation informelle et de services d’interprétation pour les soins de santé et la protection.
Constituée de divers financements, l’aide globale mise à la disposition de la Grèce par la Commission européenne pour l’aider à gérer la situation humanitaire, la migration et les frontières extérieures dépasse 1,5 milliard d’euros.
▻http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-2604_fr.htm
#Europe #UE #EU #aide #hébergement #aide_financière
Migration : Commission steps up emergency assistance to Spain and Greece
The European Commission has awarded an additional €45.6 million in emergency assistance to support Spain and Greece respond to the migratory challenges they face.
In view of increased arrivals, Spain will receive €25.6 million to improve the reception capacity for arrivals at its southern coast and in Ceuta and Melilla as well as to help increase returns. Another €20 million has been awarded to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve reception conditions in Greece, notably on the island of Lesvos.
Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship said: “The Commission continues to deliver on its commitment to support Member States under pressure. Spain has seen arrival figures increase during the past year and we need to step up our support to help manage the numbers and return those who have no right to stay. And while the EU-Turkey Statement has greatly contributed to lowering the number of arrivals in Greece, the country is still facing significant migratory pressure, in particular on the islands. Over €1 billion has now been awarded in emergency assistance to help Member States manage migration.”
With the new funding decisions an important milestone has been reached: In total, the Commission has now mobilised over €1 billion in emergency assistance to help manage migration under the current financial framework (2014-2020) – support that has gone to the Member States most affected such as Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Sweden and now also Spain.
Spain
€24.8 million has been awarded to the Ministry of Employment and Social Security and the Spanish Red Cross for a project aimed at providing healthcare, food, and shelter to migrants arriving on the southern coast of Spain and in Ceuta and Melilla.
A further €720,000 has been awarded to the Ministry of Interior to help improve the quality of return facilities and infrastructure for return transfers.
The emergency funding awarded to Spain comes on top of €692 million allocated to Spain for migration, border and security management under national programmes for the period 2014-2020.
Greece
The additional €20 million awarded to the UNHCR will be used to help manage the reception facilities in the island of Lesvos, support local community projects and provide further emergency accommodation on the islands.
It will also go towards stepping up measures for the protection of children, non-formal education and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.
This funding decision comes on top of more than €1.6 billion of funding support awarded by the Commission since 2015 to address migration challenges in Greece.
▻http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-4342_en.htm
#Espagne
Migration: Commission increases emergency assistance for Spain to €30 million [Updated on 3/8/2018 at 13:01]
Yesterday, the Commission awarded an additional €3 million in emergency assistance under the #Internal_Security_Fund (#ISF) to support Spain in responding to the recent migratory pressure. The assistance will mainly support the costs linked to the deployment of extra staff from the Guardia Civil to the southern borders of Spain. This support brings to €30 million the emergency funding awarded to Spain since July to help the country address migratory challenges. This financial assistance comes on top of €691.7 million allocated to Spain under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) national programme 2014-2020. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tel.: +32 299 63444)
Avramopoulos in Spain to announce further EU support to tackle migration
As Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos headed to Madrid, the European Commission announced Friday (3 August) a further €3 million in emergency aid to support Spanish border guards in curbing irregular migration.
The new cash comes from the Internal Security Fund and aims to help cover the costs linked to the deployment of extra staff in the southern borders of Spain.
In July this year, the EU executive awarded €24.8 million to the Ministry of Employment and Social Security and the Spanish Red Cross to enhance reception capabilities, health assistance, food and shelter for migrants arriving through the Western Mediterranean route.
A further €720,000 went to the Ministry of Interior to help improve the quality of return and transfer facilities in the south of Spain, Ceuta and Melilla.
This financial assistance comes on top of €691.7 million allocated to Spain under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund since 2014.
▻https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/avramopoulos-in-spain-to-announce-further-eu-support-to-tackle-migration/?_ga=2.232982942.1049233813.1533558974-1514184901.1489527159
Migration : Commission provides €24.1 million to the International Organisation for Migration to provide support, help and education for migrant children in Greece
The European Commission has awarded €24.1 million in emergency assistance under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to support Greece in responding to migratory challenges. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will receive the funding to help ensure that migrant children can be immediately placed in a protective environment and receive education. It will notably support child-adequate accommodation, medical and psychological support, interpretation and cultural mediation as well as food provision for up to 1,200 unaccompanied minors in the Greek islands and in the mainland and facilitate formal education by providing transport and school kits. In addition, the funding will help assist migrants registered for assisted voluntary return and reintegration programmes. Today’s funding decision comes on top of more than €1.6 billion of funding support awarded by the Commission since 2015 to address migration challenges in Greece. Under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF), Greece has now been awarded €482.2 million in emergency funding, in addition to €561 million already awarded under these funds for the Greek national programme 2014-2020.
v. aussi :
EC provides 43.7 million euros to increase migrant reception capacity in mainland Greece
The European Commission has awarded an additional 43.7 million euros in emergency assistance to the International Organization for Migration (#IOM) to support Greece in responding to migratory challenges, the EU’s executive body said Wednesday.
The grant, which comes from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, is designed to support the provision of emergency shelter for up to 6,000 asylum seekers and refugees by rapidly establishing places in temporary accommodation facilities, the Commission said.
“The funding aims to provide dignified accommodation as well as basic assistance and protection services to the most vulnerable migrants in Greece, especially in view of the upcoming winter months and the need to decongest reception facilities on the Greek islands,” it said.
The Commission has awarded more than 1.6 billion euros in funding since 2015 to address migratory challenges in Greece.
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/234665/article/ekathimerini/news/ec-provides-437-million-euros-to-increase-migrant-reception-capacity-i
#OIM
Migration et #frontières : la Commission octroie 305 millions d’euros supplémentaires aux États membres sous pression
Cette semaine, la Commission européenne a débloqué une enveloppe supplémentaire de 305 millions d’euros d’aide d’urgence afin de soutenir la #Grèce, l’#Italie, #Chypre et la #Croatie dans le domaine de la gestion des migrations et des frontières.
Ces moyens financiers soutiendront les efforts déployés pour accroître les capacités d’#accueil, protéger les victimes de la traite des êtres humains et renforcer les capacités de surveillance et de #gestion_des_frontières.
M. Dimitris Avramopoulos, commissaire pour la migration, les affaires intérieures et la citoyenneté, a déclaré à cette occasion : « La Commission est résolue à continuer de soutenir les États membres soumis à une #pression_migratoire. Les 305 millions d’euros supplémentaires attribués cette semaine à plusieurs pays permettront de répondre à des besoins urgents, en faisant en sorte que les nouveaux migrants arrivés dans ces pays soient hébergés convenablement et reçoivent de la #nourriture et de l’#eau, que la #sûreté et la #sécurité des personnes les plus vulnérables soient garanties et que les #contrôles_aux_frontières soient renforcés, si nécessaire. »
Ce #financement_d'urgence, qui sera accordé au titre du Fonds « Asile, migration et intégration » (#AMIF) et du #Fonds_pour_la_sécurité_intérieure (#FSI) de la Commission, constitue une partie des 10,8 milliards d’euros déjà mobilisés par la Commission en faveur de la gestion des migrations et des frontières et de la sécurité intérieure pour la période 2014-2020.
Grèce
La Commission débloque 289 millions d’euros pour soutenir la gestion des migrations en Grèce. Cette enveloppe sera répartie comme suit :
Hébergements locatifs et allocations : 190 millions d’euros seront versés au Haut-Commissariat des Nations unies pour les réfugiés (#HCR) pour permettre la poursuite du programme #ESTIA (#aide_d'urgence_à_l'intégration_et_à_l'hébergement). Ce programme fournit des #logements en location permettant d’accueillir jusqu’à 25 000 demandeurs d’asile et réfugiés et distribue des #allocations mensuelles en espèces pour un maximum de 70 000 personnes. Le HCR recevra également un autre montant de 5 millions d’euros afin d’augmenter encore la capacité d’#accueil dans les nouveaux #centres_d'accueil ouverts en Grèce continentale, en mettant à disposition et en distribuant 400 conteneurs préfabriqués.
Conditions d’accueil : 61 millions d’euros iront à l’Organisation internationale pour les migrations (#OIM) et au Fonds international de secours à l’enfance des Nations unies (#UNICEF), pour permettre la poursuite des programmes d’appui sur le terrain dans les centres d’accueil en Grèce continentale. Ces programmes englobent l’#accès_aux_soins de santé et à l’#éducation non formelle, la création de zones de sécurité spécifiques pour les #mineurs_non_accompagnés, ainsi que des formations destinées au personnel opérationnel.
Recherche et sauvetage : 33 millions d’euros destinés aux garde-côtes grecs permettront de couvrir une partie des frais de fonctionnement afférents aux activités de connaissance de la situation maritime en mer Égée et contribueront à assurer des débarquements sûrs et une prise en charge efficiente des migrants à la suite d’opérations de recherche et sauvetage.
Adaptation aux conditions hivernales : l’OIM recevra, pour soutenir ses préparatifs, 357 000 euros supplémentaires afin de fournir des couvertures, des vestes d’hiver et des kits d’hivernage dans les infrastructures d’accueil sur les îles grecques et dans la région de l’Évros.
La Commission a mis plus de 2 milliards d’euros à la disposition de la Grèce pour la gestion des migrations, dont près de 1,5 milliard d’euros à titre d’aide financière d’urgence (voir la fiche d’information pour en savoir plus).
Italie
La Commission octroie 5,3 millions d’euros d’aide financière d’urgence aux autorités italiennes pour contribuer à protéger les victimes de la traite des êtres humains dans le contexte migratoire. Dans le cadre d’un projet pilote mené dans des centres d’hébergement de demandeurs d’asile dans la région du Piémont, le financement servira à identifier les victimes de la traite des êtres humains et à les encourager à recourir aux possibilités d’assistance à leur disposition.
Depuis le début de la crise migratoire, la Commission a mis à disposition près de 950 millions d’euros pour soutenir la gestion des migrations et des frontières en Italie. Ce financement comprend un montant de plus de 225 millions d’euros d’aide d’urgence et 724 millions d’euros déjà alloués à l’Italie au titre de ses programmes nationaux relevant du Fonds « Asile, migration et intégration » et du Fonds pour la sécurité intérieure 2014-2020 (voir la fiche d’information pour en savoir plus).
Chypre
La Commission accorde 3,1 millions d’euros à Chypre pour que ce pays renforce sa capacité d’accueil et transforme le centre d’urgence temporaire « #Pournaras » en un centre de premier accueil à part entière. Grâce à ce financement, le centre deviendra un centre de formalités universel pouvant fonctionner 24 heures sur 24 et 7 jours sur 7. Les services assurés sur place comprendront l’examen médical, l’#enregistrement, le relevé des #empreintes_digitales, le #filtrage, la fourniture d’informations et la possibilité de présenter une demande d’asile.
L’aide d’urgence s’inscrit dans le cadre des efforts déployés par la Commission pour renforcer l’appui à la gestion des migrations en faveur de Chypre, après l’augmentation considérable du nombre d’arrivées que ce pays a connue au cours de l’année 2018. Ce nouveau financement vient s’ajouter à près de 40 millions d’euros alloués à la gestion des migrations pour la période 2014-2020, et à près de 1 million d’euros d’aide d’urgence alloué en 2014 pour les questions migratoires. Le Bureau européen d’appui en matière d’asile déploie actuellement 29 agents chargés de dossiers afin d’aider Chypre à résorber l’arriéré de demandes d’asile consécutif à l’augmentation des arrivées au cours des dernières années.
Croatie
La Commission accorde 6,8 millions d’euros à la Croatie pour aider ce pays à renforcer la gestion des frontières extérieures de l’UE, dans le strict respect des règles de l’UE. Cette enveloppe permettra de renforcer la surveillance des frontières et les capacités des services répressifs, en couvrant les coûts opérationnels (indemnités journalières, compensation des heures supplémentaires et équipements) de dix postes de police des frontières. Un mécanisme de suivi sera mis en place afin de faire en sorte que toutes les mesures appliquées aux frontières extérieures de l’UE soient proportionnées et respectent pleinement les droits fondamentaux et la législation de l’Union en matière d’asile.
Le montant octroyé aujourd’hui porte l’aide d’urgence totale en faveur de la gestion des migrations et des frontières allouée à la Croatie par la Commission à près de 23,2 millions d’euros. Cette somme s’ajoute à près de 108 millions d’euros alloués à la Croatie au titre des programmes nationaux relevant du Fonds « Asile, migration et intégration » et du Fonds pour la sécurité intérieure 2014-2020.
Contexte
Le soutien opérationnel et financier de l’Union joue un rôle déterminant pour aider les États membres à relever les défis migratoires depuis 2015.
Le soutien de l’UE a également pris la forme d’une aide financière sans précédent accordée au titre du budget de l’UE à des partenaires – non seulement des autorités nationales, mais aussi des organisations internationales et des organisations non gouvernementales. En plus des dotations initiales pour la période 2014-2020 s’élevant à 6,9 milliards d’euros pour le Fonds « Asile, migration et intégration » (AMIF) et le Fonds pour la sécurité intérieure (#FSI_frontières_et_police), un montant supplémentaire de 3,9 milliards d’euros a été mobilisé en faveur de la gestion des migrations et des frontières et de la sécurité intérieure, pour atteindre 10,8 milliards d’euros.
En outre, tirant les leçons de l’expérience, et compte tenu du fait que la gestion des migrations et des frontières demeurera un défi à l’avenir, la Commission a également proposé d’augmenter fortement les financements en la matière au titre du prochain budget de l’UE pour la période 2021-2027.
▻http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6884_fr.htm
#traite_d'êtres_humains #surveillance_des_frontières #santé #MNA #IOM #Evros #Fonds_Asile_migration_et_intégration #tri #catégorisation
On the edge of the EU, refugee flows flood the Evros River
A clampdown on Europe’s eastern borders and the Aegean Sea has forced migrants to seek different — and more dangerous — routes to the continent. Hunters and fishermen find their bodies, reports Anthee Carassava.
▻http://www.dw.com/en/on-the-edge-of-the-eu-refugee-flows-flood-the-evros-river/a-43068842?maca=en-Twitter-sharing
#Evros #asile #migrations #réfugiés #Grèce #frontières #Pavlos_Pavlidis #mourir_aux_frontières #morts #décès
Refugees increasingly entering Greece via land routes
Greek police detained 1,658 refugees and migrants in March after they crossed the border from Turkey by land.
▻https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/180413132840764.html
#parcours_migratoires #routes_migratoires #walls_dont'_work #murs #barrières_frontalières #frontières
Si jamais, pour mémoire, j’avais écrit cet article en 2012, paru dans @lacite et repris par @visionscarto :
Dans la région de l’Evros, un mur inutile sur la frontière greco-turque
L’Europe se déchire sur la « crise des migrants », et la Hongrie vient d’annoncer la fermeture de la frontière et l’édification d’une clôture de barbelés de 4 mètres de haut sur les 175 kilomètres de tracé frontalier avec la Serbie. Mais que se passe-t-il vraiment le long des frontières européennes ? Voyage en plusieurs étapes avec Alberto Campi et Cristina Del Biaggio, qui arpentent ces marges depuis 2012.
Aujourd’hui, le mur d’Evros, sur la frontière greco-turque. Considérée comme une passoire, les autorités grecques ont cherché à la « verrouiller » en construisant un « mur » sur un peu plus de 12 kilomètres, symbole du durcissement de la politique de surveillance et de restriction des flux migratoires vers l’Europe.
Hundreds of refugees, migrants cross into northern Greece
Police said Tuesday they detained 370 people the previous day who had crossed the Evros River, which forms a natural border between Greece and Turkey, and another 140 people on Sunday.
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/hundreds-of-refugees-migrants-cross-into-northern-greece/2018/04/17/e66d0738-4222-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html?noredirect=on
Erdogan crackdown, Syria war seen fueling migrant flows to Greece
Over the previous week, a record 1,500 migrants and asylum-seekers crossed the Evros River border, most of them Kurds from Syria and Iraq, as well as self-professed critics of the Erdogan regime. Most turn themselves into Greek authorities, waiting to be formally identified and transferred to reception centers.
Greek officials are concerned that arrivals via Evros will rise as dry weather has resulted in lower water levels in the river.
Another key factor, military and police sources have told Kathimerini, is that Turkish authorities appear less willing than before to stem inflows. They say that the ease with which traffickers and migrants are able to reach the Turkish side of the border – despite Erdogan’s decision to reinforce Turkey’s land border with thousands of pro-government military border guards – suggests that the authorities have either been ordered to turn a blind eye to widespread trespassing or are susceptible to bribes. Additionally, analysts say that the fact that the vast majority of migrants are Kurds from war-torn Afrin in Syria and from Iraq, whose presence in Turkey would be a headache for Erdogan, amplifies skepticism over the true motives of Turkish authorities.
“The Turks are doing in Evros what we did in Idomeni in the beginning [of the crisis],” a source said in reference to the now-defunct border camp on Greece’s frontier with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. “We simply facilitated the refugee flows so that they could move on to Europe through Skopje.”
Meanwhile, sources say that the channels of communication between Greek and Turkish border guards, which in the past facilitated the arrest of migrants and smugglers before the attempted crossing, have been clogged amid deteriorating bilateral ties. The arrest of two Greek soldiers in early March after they accidentally crossed into Turkish territory has made Greek patrols more restrained in their operations.
Greece plans to reinforce its border force with an additional 150 guards as of May 1.
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/227933/article/ekathimerini/news/erdogan-crackdown-syria-war-seen-fueling-migrant-flows-to-greece
Greece plans to reinforce its border force with an additional 150 guards as of May 1
Concern as rising numbers cross from Turkey to Greece via Evros
Over a thousand people have crossed the Evros river, marking the land border between Turkey and Greece, since March this year. Last week over one hundred people arrived each day and 340 people arrived on Tuesday alone. This has led to concerns from authorities and NGOs that an emergency situation is unfolding.
Many of the people crossing the border have ended up sleeping in the parks and squares of the city of Thessaloniki, waiting for a place in a camp. There are also reports of hundreds of people waiting outside police stations, to get arrested in order to gain temporary residence. The municipality has expressed concerns that the city may experience similar circumstance as the events of 2015, where thousands of people slept on the streets across Greece. Local and national migration authorities have scheduled a meeting for Saturday to discuss the situation. The Migration Policy Minister Dimitris Vitsas expressed his concerns about the increase of arrivals and announced his ministry has developed two plans to deal with the situation, which he will share privately with party leaders.
Arrivals have also been increasing on the Aegean islands, with arrivals on Lesvos almost four times the amount of last year. Minister Vitsas said “I’m not scared about the islands because we know what we have to do. What is really worrisome is the huge increase through Evros.” A concern also raised by the Head of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) in Greece, Ruben Cano: “This is not the route most people take to reach Greece – it’s a worrying development. The summer will see river levels drop which could also lead to a further rise in people braving the journey.”
The situation for refugees in Greece has been increasingly tense after incidents on Sunday, where a group of asylum seekers who had been occupying the central square in Mytillene, Lesvos to protest reception conditions and long asylum processing times, were attacked by over a hundred far right extremists. The attackers threw projectiles, including bricks and flares. The Mayor of Lesvos, Spyros Galinos, wrote to Minister Vitsas and the Citizen’s Protection Minister Nikos Toskas, saying, “Lack of action and poor management has resulted in nearly 10,000 asylum seekers being trapped in miserable conditions around a town of 27,000 residents and has created intense fear in the local community; a community that has lost its sense of security and after last night’s events its cohesion too.”
The state of affairs in Turkey following the failed coup-attempt of 2016, the humanitarian impact of the war in Syria and deteriorating diplomatic ties between Greece and Turkey are cited as reasons for the increase of crossings of mainly people of Kurdish descent from Syria and Iraq and Turkish nationals.
Grèce : de plus en plus de réfugiés arrivent par voie terrestre
La situation devient « intenable » dans la région de l’Evros, au nord-est de la Grèce. Selon le HCR, 2900 personnes ont pénétré dans le pays en avril par la frontière terrestre, 1650 en mars. Les autorités grecques s’inquiètent de cette hausse d’autant que de nombreux camps ont été fermés dans le nord du pays et que les capacités d’accueil y sont restreintes.
Greece reinforces land border with Turkey to stem flow of migrants
Athens rushes to counter fears of new crisis after arrival of nearly 3,000 people in April
►https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/29/greece-reinforces-land-border-with-turkey-to-stem-flow-of-migrants
’Grieken die migranten terugsturen is duistere, illegale praktijk’
In de nacht, buiten het zicht, langs de afgelegen rivieroever van de Evros gebeurt het: migranten die voet op Griekse bodem hebben gezet, worden weer in een bootje geladen en teruggevaren naar Turkije. Pushbacks. De grensrivier tussen Turkije en Griekenland is het middelpunt van een goed georganiseerd, illegaal gesleep met migranten.
▻https://nos.nl/artikel/2230095-grieken-die-migranten-terugsturen-is-duistere-illegale-praktijk.html
#refoulement #push-back
Le HCR demande à la Grèce d’améliorer la situation à Evros
Le HCR, l’Agence des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, demande au gouvernement grec d’améliorer de toute urgence les conditions de vie et les capacités d’accueil des réfugiés dans la région d’Evros, à la suite d’une récente augmentation des arrivées via la frontière terrestre avec la Turquie. Des centaines de personnes sont actuellement maintenues dans des centres de détention de la police.
Environ 2 900 personnes sont arrivées à Evros ce mois-ci, principalement des familles syriennes ou iraquiennes. Cela représente près de la moitié des arrivées enregistrées pour l’ensemble de l’année 2017. Selon les données recueillies par le HCR, les arrivées par voie terrestre ont dépassé le nombre d’arrivées par la mer au mois d’avril. Au moins huit personnes sont mortes depuis le début de l’année en tentant de traverser le fleuve Evros.
Cette augmentation des nouvelles arrivées met à rude épreuve l’unique centre d’accueil et d’identification d’Evros, situé à Fylakio. Ce centre a dépassé sa capacité maximale d’accueil de 240 personnes, dont 120 enfants non accompagnés ou séparés de leur famille.
Etant donné que le centre d’accueil et d’identification est submergé et qu’il peine à procéder à l’enregistrement et à l’identification des réfugiés, à fournir des services d’ordre médicaux, psychosociaux ou d’interprétation, les autorités ont placé des personnes, dont de nombreux enfants, dans des centres de détention de la police éparpillés dans la région et inadaptés à la situation, dans l’attente que des places se libèrent.
Certaines personnes sont maintenues depuis plus de trois mois dans des centres de détention de la police. Les conditions de vie y sont désastreuses et les services y sont limités au strict minimum. Lors d’une visite sur place, les équipes du HCR ont découvert des familles qui dormaient à même le sol dans les couloirs à côté des cellules. Dans un autre établissement, on comptait à peine un médecin et quatre infirmières pour plus de 500 personnes. Parmi les centaines de personnes maintenues dans ces conditions, on dénombre des femmes enceintes, de très jeunes enfants et des personnes qui ont besoin de soins médicaux ou d’une aide psycho-sociale.
Nous nous réjouissons de la décision qui a permis de libérer plus de 2 500 personnes détenues par les autorités mais nous sommes préoccupés par les conditions dans lesquelles ces libérations ont été réalisées, à savoir sans vérifier la vulnérabilité des personnes concernées et sans leur fournir suffisamment d’informations au sujet de l’asile ou de leurs autres options. Leur situation doit être examinée de toute urgence afin de leur permettre l’accès à des soins et aux procédures d’asile.
Nous saluons les efforts menés par la police et par le centre d’accueil et d’identification de Fylakio en vue de relever les défis auxquels ils sont confrontés mais, face à des ressources de plus en plus limitées, la situation est devenue intenable.
Le HCR suggère plusieurs mesures :
Accroître d’urgence la capacité d’accueil du centre de réception et d’identification, en y augmentant le nombre de places disponibles et en y améliorant les conditions de vie et les services ;
Identifier des lieux de transit ouverts, vers lesquels pourront être dirigées les personnes qui arrivent d’Evros et où l’enregistrement et l’identification pourront être réalisés ;
Mettre en place des équipes mobiles d’enregistrement et d’identification ;
Transférer immédiatement les familles en détention vers des abris sûrs et les guider vers les services dont elles ont besoin ;
Améliorer les conditions de vie dans les centres de la police, y compris pour des périodes de courte durée, en y assurant l’accès à des espaces communs et à des services élémentaires, notamment et en priorité des soins de santé ;
Augmenter les capacités d’enregistrement des autorités grecques compétentes afin de garantir l’accès aux procédures d’asile et l’enregistrement des demandes en temps opportun ;
Transférer rapidement les enfants non accompagnés vers des lieux sûrs et procéder rapidement à une évaluation de leur situation et des liens familiaux.
Le HCR continue de fournir son appui en matière de protection au centre d’accueil et d’identification de Fylakio, et reste en contact étroit et régulier avec le gouvernement grec afin de faire face à cette situation exceptionnelle. Le HCR continuera d’aider les autorités grecques en fournissant un soutien technique et matériel, notamment des couvertures, des vêtements, des articles d’hygiène, des lampes à énergie solaire et d’autres articles non alimentaires.
La rivière Evros, point de passage des clandestins entre la Turquie à la Grèce
Les migrants multiplient les tentatives pour passer le fleuve qui marque la frontière, en dépit de la pression exercée par les polices turque et grecque.
Rivière tumultueuse qui marque la frontière entre la Turquie et la Grèce, à 75 kilomètres de la ville d’Edirne, en Thrace orientale, l’Evros est l’une des portes d’entrée des migrants en Europe. Si les candidats au départ prennent moins souvent les bateaux pour rejoindre l’Union européenne via les îles grecques, ils optent toujours pour la traversée de la rivière Evros, réputée – à tort, car il existe des cas de noyades – moins dangereuse que celle de la mer Egée.
Ces passages de migrants redoublent après la décrue printanière du fleuve, comme en témoignent les sacs plastique, les vêtements abandonnés et les canots pneumatiques dégonflés qui jonchent ses berges. Ces tout derniers mois, le rythme s’est encore accéléré. Les autorités grecques faisaient état d’une moyenne de 44 arrivées par jour dans la zone en 2017. Elles sont passées à 62 en janvier et février 2018, puis à 200 les mois suivants. « En avril, nous avons enregistré 2 700 arrivées pour la région d’Evros », a déploré Dimitris Vitsas, le ministre de la politique migratoire, lors d’un débat parlementaire sur les réfugiés, mardi 24 avril.
« Chaque jour, je vois des réfugiés. Je les croise quotidiennement dans mes champs ou le long des sentiers qui mènent au village », confirme Erdogan Adali, le chef de l’administration du village d’#Akcadam, situé à 3 kilomètres du fleuve. « Ça me fend le cœur. Ils sont dans un état pitoyable, hagards, pieds nus, affamés. Je leur donnerais volontiers le gîte et le couvert, mais c’est un délit, je ne peux pas. Dès que je les vois, je suis obligé d’alerter les gendarmes qui viennent les chercher pour les ramener au centre de rétention d’Edirne », raconte l’agriculteur au visage buriné, dont les rizières et les champs de blé jouxtent le village.
Le reste... #paywall
▻https://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2018/06/05/la-riviere-evros-point-de-passage-des-clandestins-entre-la-turquie-a-la-grec
Greece: Asylum-Seeking Women Detained with Men. Urgently End Dangerous Detention Conditions
Greek authorities are routinely confining asylum-seeking women with unrelated men in the northern Evros region, at the land-border with Turkey, putting them at grave risk of sexual violence and harassment. Authorities should immediately stop holding asylum-seeking women and girls in closed facilities with unrelated men.
Human Rights Watch research in Northern Greece in late May 2018 found women and girls housed with unrelated men in sites for reception and/or detention of asylum seekers. Twelve women and two girls interviewed said they had been locked in cells or enclosures for weeks, and in one case for nearly five months, with men and boys they did not know. Four said they were the sole females confined with dozens of men, in some cases with at least one male partner or relative.
“Women and girls should not be confined with men who are complete strangers, even for a day,” said Hillary Margolis, women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “These women and girls came to Greece seeking security and protection, and instead they are living in fear.”
Five women said they had severe psychological distress as a result, including two who had suicidal thoughts. Other women and girls said they experienced sleeplessness, anxiety, and other emotional and psychological distress, in part due to fear of confinement with unrelated men.
The Greek government has not provided authorities in northern Greece with sufficient resources to respond to a surge in arrivals over the land border with Turkey in April. Officials who met with Human Rights Watch acknowledged that the increase led to a slowdown in reception and identification procedures, including registration of asylum claims, as well as overcrowding of and lengthier stays in reception and immigration detention facilities.
Pending completion of reception and identification procedures, newly-arrived irregular migrants and those seeking international protection are held in border police stations in the Evros region, in the Fylakio pre-removal detention center, run by the Hellenic Police, and/or in the Fylakio reception and identification center (RIC), run by the Ministry for Migration Policy. The Ministry and the Hellenic police granted Human Rights Watch access to these sites, and authorities at the pre-removal detention center and RIC helped identify female migrants in the facilities so that Human Rights Watch could approach them for interviews.
Eight women and one of the girls said they had been held in cells with unrelated men in Fylakio pre-removal detention center, including six women who were held with unrelated men at the time of the interviews. Five women and the two girls were housed with unrelated men in pre-fabricated containers and locked, fenced-off “sections” in the Fylakio RIC at the time of the interviews. Some said they were held with unrelated men in multiple facilities.
Two of the women said they had been at the pre-removal center in cells with their male partners and many unknown men for at least two weeks. “Maha,” a 38-year-old woman from Iraq, was visibly shaking as she described being the sole woman in a cell with about 60 men for over two weeks. Maha said she avoided drinking water due to fear of using the shared toilet inside the cell. She said that she was living almost exclusively inside an enclosure she and her partner created by hanging blankets around their bunkbed.
“I haven’t moved my legs for 23 days,” she said in tears, demonstrating how she cowered with her knees hugged to her chest all day. “If I had a way to kill myself, I would have.”
According to a police registry given to Human Rights Watch researchers, at the time of the interview she and her partner were held in a cell with 32 unrelated men. Maha was released days after her interview, but her partner remained in detention.
Some women and girls said they were housed with unrelated men at the RIC for weeks or months. “Suraya,” a woman in her twenties (nationality withheld) in the RIC with her four-year-old nephew while awaiting confirmation of their family links, spent nearly five months in a section she said housed only men and unaccompanied boys. She said a fellow asylum seeker sexually assaulted her. “He started touching me while I was sleeping,” Suraya said, adding that he left when she screamed, and she reported it to authorities. “I have asked [them] to take me to a safer place here, or to another camp, but nothing has happened,” she said.
Authorities at the pre-removal detention center said there is a separate designated cell for women traveling alone, but they also put families in that cell “if necessary,” such as during periods of overcrowding. The facility was under capacity when Human Rights Watch visited, but two single women said they were in a cell with unrelated families. Authorities in both the pre-removal detention center and the RIC acknowledged gaps in response at the facilities, which they attribute largely to a dearth of resources.
National and European law as well as international standards require that men and women be held separately in detention, including reception and immigration detention facilities, unless they are members of the same family and consent to being held together. They also call for separating unaccompanied children from adults, and separate accommodation for families. A 2016 order issued by the Headquarters of the Hellenic Police instructs police to separate women and children from unrelated men in closed facilities.
Greek authorities should ensure the safety and security of all asylum seekers, including by providing single women, single men, families, and unaccompanied children with separate accommodation, toilets and bathing facilities in all immigration detention sites and other closed facilities. Authorities should urgently fit all rooms, bathrooms, and containers in RICs with locking doors to facilitate security and privacy.
When necessary, authorities should urgently transfer single women, unaccompanied and separated children, and families including couples in immigration detention to accommodation or facilities that meet these standards. Authorities should also ensure that asylum seekers have a safe and confidential means to report sexual harassment or assault, and that such reports are promptly investigated, those responsible are appropriately punished, and immediate measures are taken to ensure victims’ safety and well-being.
“Women and girls in these sites are overcome by fear from being locked up with men who are complete strangers,” Margolis said. “Greek authorities need to put an urgent stop to this, and grant them the security, privacy and dignity they deserve.”
Accounts from asylum seekers in Fylakio pre-removal detention center and the reception and identification center (RIC) in Fylakio, Greece:
Fatima (all names have been changed), 24, from Algeria, who had been at the pre-removal center with her husband for 20 days: “For 20 days I have been the only woman [in our cell]. The others are all single men. I had difficulty at the beginning. I sleep at night covered in a blanket. One night a man [in the cell] came and lifted the blanket and was looking at me. When I go to take a bath, the men come and try to look over the wall…. I am very stressed…. I feel like I have reached the bottom. I feel like I am broken.”
Suha, 20, from Morocco, who had been in the Fylakio pre-removal detention center with her husband for two weeks. At the time of the interview, they were in a cell alone, but they had previously been in the same center for two weeks in a cell with mostly men: “There were two other girls and 60 to 70 men [in the cell] … I was fighting for myself every day … The worst time was when I would go to the toilet. All of them would follow me with their eyes, say things. Some men, when they see a woman they act like animals. They would call out to me, ‘Stand up, stop here, let us look at you, you’re beautiful.’ The toilets are mixed [for men and women.] The bath is the same. There is no lock on the door. If you sit, they can’t see you [over the wall]. But if you stand they can see you from the chest up. Imagine being a woman in those conditions.”
Samira, 18, from Syria, who had been in the RIC with her 15-year-old sister for three weeks: “Since I’ve been here I’m unable to eat. I’m very stressed. I can’t leave my sister, I have to take care of her…. I’m constantly afraid that someone will enter our container. I don’t sleep at night – I stay awake during the day and sleep in the morning… I only shower once every two weeks because I feel like people are watching me [in the bathroom] … I wake up every morning at 3 a.m. feeling scared and nervous.”
Nada, 16, from Syria, who had been in the RIC with her older brother and sister for nearly two months: “We’re the only family in our section, it’s all single men. The only women are me and my sister. Everyone is afraid here. There are more than 20 men [or unaccompanied boys] living in our section…. At first, we were 20 people in the [same] container, but they have all left. It was mixed men and women. We didn’t feel safe and couldn’t sleep. We stayed up all night…. We shared the toilet with strangers. I used to take my sister with me and ask her to wait at the door.”
Nadir, 21, from Syria, who had been in the RIC for 20 days with his 6-year-old niece, Abra, whose mother became separated from them during the crossing from Turkey to Greece: “We are in the same container with two families…. The doors don’t lock…. The families staying with us are Iraqi Kurds. We can’t communicate with them – how can we feel safe? It is not a question of nationality, it is just that they are strangers. I can’t leave [Abra] alone. If she wants to go outside, I go outside; if she wants to go to the toilet, I go with her. There are single men [or unaccompanied boys]. If you come at night around 10 p.m. you will hear the noises they make [yelling] and understand why we don’t feel safe.”
Abbas, 35, from Iran, who had arrived at the Fylakio pre-removal detention center with his wife, 36 the previous day: “When we reached here, [the police] said, ‘You have to be separated [from your wife].’ I said, ‘No, we can’t be separated, we are a couple.’ Then the police said, ‘If you don’t separate, you’ll both have to go to the room with all the men.’ My wife was shocked and started crying. She was really scared. I said, ‘Okay, let’s separate.’ I kissed her, said goodbye, and they put her in another room and me in the room with all the men.” Eventually, he said, the police brought his wife to a cell opposite his and then put them together in that cell, along with unrelated families.
Additional Information on Combined Detention of Women and Men
In interviews with twelve women and two girls from May 19 to 24, eight women and one girl said they had been held in cells with unrelated men in Fylakio pre-removal detention center, including six women who were held with unrelated men at the time of the interviews.
Women at the pre-removal center said that combined toilet and bathing stalls in cells they shared with men did not have floor-to-ceiling walls, and they were harassed by male cellmates while using them. One 24-year-old woman, in a cell with her husband and 20 single men, said men attempted to watch her over the wall while she used the toilet.
Six women and two girls told Human Rights Watch they were also housed with unrelated men at the RIC, sometimes for weeks or months, in pre-fabricated containers and “sections,” which are fenced-in, locked enclosures containing a courtyard and multiple containers housing migrants and asylum seekers. Five women and two girls were being held with unrelated men and/or boys at the time of their interviews at the Fylakio RIC.
Assignment to sections is based primarily on nationality. Awaiting confirmation of age, placement in designated accommodation, or establishment of family links to other asylum seekers can result in lengthy stays for unaccompanied or separated children and their non-immediate family members.
Two unrelated girls, ages 15 and 16, each said they had been in these sections in the RIC with unrelated adult men and/or boys for over three weeks; one said she and her 30-year-old sister had been the only females in a section with 20 men and/or boys for about 45 days. One 19-year-old pregnant woman who was there with her husband and in-laws said her container housed multiple unrelated families in one shared room.
Some women and girls, as well as a man with his 6-year-old niece, said they and their family members live in rooms inside containers shared with unrelated families including men or boys. In all cases, they said they share toilets and bathing facilities with men and/or boys, and that no containers or bedrooms have locking doors.
Detention of Migrants and Asylum Seekers in Greece
Under Greek law, authorities may restrict the movement of new arrivals for up to 25 days at a reception and identification center (RIC) and up to a total of six months in immigration detention, including at pre-removal centers. Unaccompanied and separated children may be held longer pending resolution of their cases and reunification with family members, particularly when age or family links are in question, or pending available space in designated sites with protected areas or shelters.
Upon arrival in the Evros region in northern Greece, where the land-border with Turkey is located, irregular migrants and those seeking international protection are held in border police stations, a pre-removal detention center, and/or a RIC, pending completion of reception and identification procedures. Following these procedures, new arrivals may be detained for processing or assessment of their asylum claim, or for deportation.
While the increase in arrivals in April temporarily strained asylum identification, registration, and accommodation services in Northern Greece and the Evros region, authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of asylum seekers throughout registration and identification processes. Increased arrivals do not justify the Greek government’s failure to protect women and girls, or to allow dangerous conditions to persist even after arrivals have decreased.
During Human Rights Watch visits to sites in the Thessaloniki area and in Evros, authorities said that arrivals had returned to a normal range over the previous two weeks. On May 19, authorities at Fylakio pre-removal detention center said the site has a capacity of 374 and was housing only 172 people. On May 21, authorities at the RIC, which has a capacity of 240, said it was housing 196. Nevertheless, Human Rights Watch found women and girls being held with unrelated men and boys.
On June 1, following an April ad hoc visit to Greece, the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment reported the detention of men, women, and children together in a single cell at the Fylakio pre-removal center, consistent with the Human Rights Watch findings in May.
Authorities said they give priority to members of “vulnerable” groups for registration, processing, and transfer to appropriate accommodation. Under Greek law this includes unaccompanied or separated children, people with disabilities, pregnant women and new mothers, single parents with minor children, and victims of sexual violence, torture or other severe psychological or physical trauma. The authorities acknowledged that unaccompanied or separated children – and sometimes their family members – may be accommodated for lengthy periods in the RIC due to limited spaces in designated “safe” facilities and lengthy processes for verifying family links.
The Greek government’s failure to accommodate men, women, and children separately in immigration detention is a longstanding problem, including in Evros. The European Court of Human Rights and multiple other international human rights bodies have criticized inhumane and degrading conditions in Greek immigration detention facilities, including failure to separate women and children from unrelated men. Human Rights Watch has previously documented violence, insecurity, sexual harassment, and unhygienic and unsanitary conditions in facilities for registration, identification, and processing of asylum seekers on the Greek islands, or “hotspots.” Human Rights Watch has also found women traveling alone housed with unrelated men in island hotspots.
Προσφυγικό : Διασχίζοντας τον Έβρο
Τον Απρίλιο σχεδόν 3.000 άτομα πέρασαν στην Ελλάδα μέσα από το ποτάμι…
▻https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=US4146e3yFY
Photo album euronews :
Source : ▻http://stopevroswall.blogspot.com/2018/05/blog-post_19.html
Greek Authorities’ Struggle to Identify Dead Evros Migrants
The worsening humanitarian situation on Greece’s land border with Turkey, is drawing international media attention.
As the local authorities also face the challenge of identifying the bodies they recover from the frontier river, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has already called on the Greek government to urgently improve conditions and expand reception capacity in the north east.
This follows a recent rise in arrivals in the Evros area across the land border with Turkey.
In one report, Britain’s BBC investigates how people fleeing from Iraq and Syria as well as other countries like Iran and Afghanistan, put themselves at risk while trying to cross the dangerous waters of the Evros.
The BBC dispatch covers the work of local people like Professor Pavlos Pavlidis of the Alexandroupoli State Hospital. A forensic surgeon, he has built up a huge database of photos, personal items and DNA samples taken from unidentified people who have perished while crossing into Greece.
Sometimes, his work allows for a victim to be identified: “It gives an answer, even if it is a sad answer,” he says.
▻http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/05/01/greek-authorities-struggle-to-identify-dead-evros-migrants
#cadavres #morts #identification #corps #décès #mourir_aux_frontières
Preliminary obse rvations made by the delegation of the Europea n Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) which visited Greece from 10 to 19 April 2018
Unprepared and overwhelmed: Greece’s resurgent river border with Turkey. When an old migration route became new again, the Evros region was caught on the back foot.
Locals in Evros are used to new faces. People have been quietly slipping across the river that forms a natural barrier for all but 12 kilometres of the tense, militarised border between Greece and Turkey since Greece joined the European Union in 1981.
But everyone on the Evros River was puzzled when a crush of hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers began crossing their sleepy riverine border every day in March. Six months later, arrivals have slowed but worries persist that the region is still poorly prepared for any new influx.
At the rush’s height in April, more than 3,600 crossed the river in one month, surpassing the total number of people arriving in Greece by sea for the first time since 2012. They came across the Evros on plastic dinghies, and once on Greek soil they were picked up by smugglers in cars or continued the journey by foot. The banks of the river were littered with discarded clothes, water bottles, food and medicine packages, and flotation devices, which remain there today.
Despite its history of migration, Evros, one of Greece’s poorest regions, was caught off guard. Hundreds of new arrivals were crammed into police stations, waiting for months to lodge their asylum claims. There were no NGOs to help out. Conditions were dismal, and services limited.
“We are all surprised with the rise in arrivals in Evros, and the lack of Greek preparation,” said Georgia Spyropoulou, an advocacy officer with the Hellenic League for Human Rights, from her office in Athens.
Greek officials say they were caught unawares too, with a local police commissioner telling the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR, in June that “it is necessary to be prepared in case there is an increase in arrivals again.” Still, local police insisted they were doing the best they could with the resources available to them.
No one is quite sure what prompted the flood of people in the first place. And plenty of of people are still making their way to Evros – 9,480 by the end of July, taking a gamble on a border that looks safe but can be deadly – 29 people have died this year during the crossing or shortly after.
Border police and barn doors
Before 2012, and before millions of people began landing on Europe’s beaches and drowning in the Mediterranean, Evros (known as the Meriç River in Turkish) was the main crossing point for those hoping to make it into Europe through Greece.
Amidst mounting pressure from other EU countries to further seal its borders (Austria’s interior minister famously said Greece was “open like a barn door”), Athens launched Operation Aspida (“Shield”) in 2012, deploying 1,800 more police officers and erecting a fence on the land portion of the border, adding to a 175-strong rapid border intervention team known as RABIT – set up in 2010 with the help of Frontex, the EU border agency.
Those who made it alive to the Greek banks of the Evros this year found a system wholly unprepared for their arrival.
The new measures worked, and by November 2012 migrant arrivals had dwindled to none – a remarkable decrease from 6,500 in August that year.
Athens denies reports of pushbacks of asylum seekers, but human rights watchdogs have documented collective expulsions in which people are forced back into Turkey after already crossing the river, and the UN has also raised concerns.
Despite the crackdown, the numbers began to creep up again slowly this March. And then the spring rush came.
Understaffed and unprepared
Those who made it alive to the Greek banks of the Evros this year found a system wholly unprepared for their arrival.
The procedure is supposed to be simple: new arrivals are brought to “pre-removal detention centres” run by the Hellenic police, where they wait for no more than seven days to be fingerprinted and have their asylum claims registered at the region’s one official Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) in the small village of Fylakio.
But it proved to be anything but.
The RIC was understaffed and overwhelmed by the numbers, causing the sorts of major delays in processing that have plagued the reception system on the Greek islands.
In a scathing review of Evros in the springtime, UNHCR criticised the detention of new arrivals in sub-standard police facilities. Human Rights Watch also found troubling conditions in May: women and girls were being held with unrelated men. One woman told the watchdog she was sexually assaulted by a fellow asylum seeker; her requests to be transferred to another location were ignored.
After asylum seekers’ claims are processed, they are moved to the RIC itself, which has a 240-person capacity.
Unlike on the Greek islands and its controversial policy of containment, people in Evros are allowed to move about the country. After applying for asylum, most head to other government- or UN-run camps elsewhere in the country. Still, even the RIC facility quickly became overrun as unaccompanied minors and those likely to have their asylum claims rejected had to stay on.
Improvements
When IRIN visited Fylakio in July, it found the RIC camp no longer overcrowded, and newly arrived asylum seekers expressed relief at being out of the pre-removal detention centre. “That was a very bad place,” one Turkish arrival said, declining to elaborate.
IRIN was not granted access to the nearby pre-removal detention centre. But despite Greek police releasing many migrants from police detention, a HRW report from July said conditions in Fylakio remained “inhumane”, describing “dark, dank cells, with overpowering odours in the corridors”, a lack of toilets and locked doors, and insufficient healthcare.
There have been some improvements for those out of their first detention, and NGOs have arrived to help: ARISIS, a Greek non-governmental organisation that provides social support for minors, had recently set up a makeshift office, and Médecins Sans Frontières has now established a permanent outpost in Fylakio.
But one RIC employee said they remain understaffed. “We have the experience and motivation to manage the situation,” but not the manpower, the employee said, asking to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Staff work in two shifts. When IRIN visited, the centre’s director was on sick leave, and there were still no doctors on staff, and only three nurses.
In one crowded container at the RIC centre, an Iraqi family was living alongside the body of a dog that had died the previous week – its body still hadn’t been removed, and the stench lingered. The mother was concerned for the health of her infant, who was in hospital. Because members of the family, including the mother, are minors, they are currently stuck in limbo, waiting at the RIC.
Communication remains a constant issue. There are no official, permanent translators and the overwhelming majority of the centre’s staff only speaks English or Greek.
“There are asylum seekers who are interpreting for other asylum seekers… [which is] completely inappropriate,” Eva Cosse, Western Europe researcher for HRW, told IRIN.
What’s next?
Months after the springtime surge at Evros, there is still confusion about what caused it – and if there’s any way to predict if the same thing might happen again. Everyone, it seems, has a theory.
“The waves of migration increase in populations when there are serious issues in the country of origin,” Nikolaos Menexidis, the barrel-chested police major general of Western Thrace, told IRIN from his headquarters in the town of Kommini. “When Turkey created the latest issues in Afrin, we saw a rise in numbers.”
It’s true that following Turkey’s assault on the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin – militias supported by Ankara took control in March – the majority of those recorded crossing in the spring were Syrian Kurds and Iraqis.
But that doesn’t explain the drop in other nationalities who have long used the river crossing, like asylum seekers from Pakistan, countered Dimitros Koros, a lawyer with the Greek Council of Refugees.
Some people may be driven by politics – Turks who had fled and made it to the RIC in Fylakio said they had been wrongly accused of terrorist activity at home or suspected of ties to the Gulen movement, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for the 2016 attempted coup in his country. Others may have just heard there was a chance to make it to Europe at the river.
Whatever the reason for the surge, migrants and asylum seekers people will likely continue to take their chances on the way to Greece. And Koros, the lawyer with the Greek Council for Refugees, worries that new arrivals will continue to struggle, as they move away from the squalid conditions at the border itself and into a wider region unequipped to help.
“Evros is not just the border,” he said. “Evros is here in Thessaloniki. They are here, homeless, without any provision of service.”
▻http://www.irinnews.org/news-feature/2018/09/27/unprepared-and-overwhelmed-greece-s-resurgent-river-border-turkey
An open secret: Refugee pushbacks across the Turkey-Greece border
On an eastern frontier of the European Union, people are whisked back to Turkey before they can claim asylum in Greece.
Linda, a 19-year-old Syrian and registered refugee, had just crossed from Turkey into Greece at the Evros River when men carrying guns appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. She wasn’t sure if they were police officers or soldiers, but they emerged from behind trees and wore dark uniforms that helped them blend into the night.
It was mid-May, and several hours earlier Linda had boarded a mini-bus in Istanbul with around 35 other people, including children and a pregnant woman, eager to enter European Union territory. The trip had been organised by smugglers, and the passengers ended up in a remote area close to the northwestern Turkish city of Edirne. At around three in the morning they boarded small boats that ferried them across the river.
Linda’s plan was to get into Greece, then make her way to Denmark, where her fiancé lives. Her crossing was part of a sharp uptick in traffic into the EU via the Evros (known as the Meriç in Turkish) this spring; 3,600 people are known to have crossed in April alone, compared to just over 1,000 in all of 2013.
But she didn’t make it more than a few steps into EU territory before she was stopped.
The men demanded that everyone in the group hand over their mobile phones. “Then they beat the men who were with us, put us in a boat, and sent us back to the Turkish side of the border,” Linda recalled when she spoke to IRIN recently in Istanbul.
Pushbacks like the one Linda experienced have been going on for years, documented by both human rights watchdogs and the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCR. They are also illegal under European and international law.
“The right to claim and enjoy asylum is a fundamental human right," Leo Dobbs, a UNHCR spokesman in Greece, told IRIN. Pushbacks at the Evros border, he added, are a “serious issue.”
According to a report released by the Greek Council for Refugees in February, before the spring rush, pushbacks have increased to the point of being “systematic” as the number of people crossing the Evros has grown slowly in the past two years.
The Evros River border between Turkey and Greece is one of the easternmost frontiers of the European Union. Until a fence went up on all but 12 kilometres of the Evros in 2012, it was the easiest and safest path for asylum seekers from the Middle East and elsewhere to reach Europe, and nearly 55,000 people crossed the border irregularly in 2011.
A controversial 2016 EU-Turkey deal that paved the way for asylum seekers to be returned from the Greek Islands to Turkey (which it deems safe under the terms of that agreement), does not apply to the Evros border. Instead, there is a separate, largely ineffective bilateral readmission agreement dating from 2002 that was suspended earlier this year.
Even under the terms of that agreement, pushbacks like the one Linda experienced violate European and international laws on refugee protection, which require states to allow asylum seekers to file for protection and prohibit sending them back to countries where they may face danger. While countries are allowed to protect their borders, they cannot legally return people who have already crossed without first evaluating their claims.
Pushbacks may be illegal, but they are an open secret. “It’s something that everybody knows,” said Dimitris Koros, a lawyer with the Greek Council for Refugees. Now, when an asylum seeker enters Greece from the land border, “the first thing you encounter is the possibility of being pushed back,” he added.
The Greek Ministry for Migration Policy did not respond to IRIN’s requests for comment, but the Greek government has repeatedly denied it is engaged in systematic pushbacks.
Human rights organisations say they have raised the issue of responsibility with the Greek government multiple times without receiving a response. “It’s a difficult thing… to say that the government instructs or gives orders to the policemen to do it,” Konstantinos Tsitselikis, a human rights law professor and former director of the Hellenic League for Human Rights said, “but they have the knowledge and they tolerate it at least.”
It’s unclear just how many people have been pushed back or who is responsible, because the area around the border is a closed military zone and there aren’t many NGOs working in the region.
Meanwhile on the Turkish side of the river, security forces regularly apprehend people attempting to cross and transfer them to government-run detention centres. But amidst a pervasive atmosphere of fear and silence, the treatment of asylum seekers and migrants after they are pushed back and detained largely remains a mystery.
A longstanding practice
According to Tsitselikis, pushbacks have been happening for decades.
“I used to do my military service in 1996-97 in the Evros border area,” he told IRIN. “Even then the Greek authorities were doing pushbacks every day.”
Although the border is technically a military zone, these days border police patrol the frontier as well as personnel from the EU border control agency, Frontex.
People who have been pushed back, including Linda, describe being met by security forces wearing different types of uniforms, but it’s tough to assign responsibility.
“Since it takes place outside of the public eye, we don’t really understand who is responsible,” Koros, from the Greek Council for Refugees, said.
When asked about the practice by IRIN, Nikolaos Menexidis, police major general of Western Thrace, the Greek region that borders Turkey, said Hellenic police always follow the proper procedures when dealing with migrants.
Menexidis said his forces have been working with Turkish police for the past six years on what he calls “technical issues.” They primarily exchange information on stopping smugglers on both sides of the border, he said.
After pushback
Linda’s ordeal did not end when she was pushed back into Turkey. The smugglers who brought her group to the border were gone and so was the bus. Without phones to call for help, the group was stuck. After waiting several hours, they tried to cross again.
This time they made it further, walking for five or six hours in Greek territory before they were stopped, taken to a detention centre, and placed in a room with people from many different countries.
After being held for several more hours, they were driven back to the border, the men were beaten again, and they were all forced back to the Turkish side of the river. By that point, the group was exhausted and thirsty. “For two days we didn’t drink water. When we saw the river we drank from it,” Linda said. “There were people who got sick because the water was dirty.”
A group of Turkish soldiers found them in the woods and brought them food, water, and milk for the children and pointed them in the direction of Edirne, where they arranged for taxis to bring them back to Istanbul.
In a way, Linda was lucky. Last December, the Greek Council for Refugees documented the case of a Pakistani man who died of hypothermia after being forcibly returned to Turkey. He had fallen into the cold water on the way back.
While the Evros is no more than a few metres wide, its current is deceptively strong and, according to records in Greece, at least 29 people this year have died while trying to cross the water or shortly after.
Some who are forced back to Turkey face serious punishment. Since a failed military coup in 2016, the Turkish government has jailed tens of thousands of opponents, leading to an increase in the number of Turks fleeing to Greece to seek asylum – nearly 2,000 in 2017 compared to just 180 the year before. The Hellenic League for Human Rights has documented two cases of Turks being pushed back from Greece at the Evros and later being imprisoned in Turkey, including journalist Murat Çapan, who is now serving a 22.5 year sentence for “participating in a terrorist organization and attempting to overthrow the constitution”.
Despite documentation, human rights advocates say they have struggled to bring attention to the issue of pushbacks, as EU and international policymakers focus on stemming Mediterranean crossings. There is little appetite in Europe at the moment for monitoring or changing policies that are keeping asylum seekers and migrants from entering the EU.
“Both the European Union and the Greek government... prefer not to open this discussion, especially in this political environment,” Tsitselikis said, referring to the rise of right-wing, anti-migration politics in Europe that is shaking the foundations of the EU.
Fear and silence
In early June, about a 10-minute drive from Edirne, hundreds of people in the parking lot of what the Turkish government calls a “migrant removal centre” huddled under tin pavilions that offered shade from the afternoon sun. This is where those caught on the Turkish side of the river are brought.
IRIN visited three times over the course of a week to try to gain access, but never received a response to our requests.
The centre is surrounded by a low wall topped with a chain-link fence and spools of razor wire. Each time IRIN visited, there were hundreds of people – mostly men, but also women and small children – in the parking lot and white vans passed in and out of the metal gate depositing more people. Two large charter buses idled in the parking lot with their doors open, seemingly waiting for people to board.
In close to a week spent at the border, there was no concrete evidence of what was happening inside the centre. There were hints and rumours, but no one wanted to speak on record – including Turkish organisations that work with asylum seekers – because of the sensitivity of the issue.
It is simply not clear how long people are kept in the centre, or what happens to them when they are removed. The Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management responded to IRIN’s requests for comment with links to online statistics and Turkish law on removals.
Several Syrian and Afghan asylum seekers that IRIN spoke to shared stories of being held in such centres for a period of time before being released inside Turkey and permitted to stay. Most of the people IRIN spoke to reported good treatment while inside.
But in 2015 and 2016, Amnesty International documented cases of Syrians detained while trying to migrate to Europe and being deported to Syria, according to Anna Shea, an Amnesty researcher working on refugee and migrant rights.
Amnesty has also recently documented a case of a Syrian asylum seeker stopped in Edirne being deported to Idlib, the rebel-held province in northwestern Syria where a ceasefire is so far holding off a government offensive but humanitarians warn conditions are still dire. It is unclear if the case is part of a larger trend.
In recent months, Turkey has deported large numbers of Afghans and Syrians, stopped after crossing Turkey’s southern and eastern borders, back to their respective countries.
But it is difficult to know if this practice has been extended to people who have tried to travel to Greece, given that the organisations working on migrant and refugee rights were unwilling to speak on the record, and the government declined to comment on the issue or allow access to detained migrants.
“The total stonewalling and lack of information and complete lack of transparency is cause for concern in and of itself,” said Shea, the Amnesty researcher. “I mean, what do they have to hide?”
Hidden practice
At a small village outside of Edirne, a man herding goats pointed to places where people crossed the nearby river, but there was no sign of anyone during the day. Crossings happened only at night, he said. And the Turkish army prohibited people from approaching the river after 7 pm.
The road leading from the village followed the winding course of the Evros, which was often blocked from view by thick stands of trees. The surrounding area was full of corn fields, rice paddies, and thick vegetation. Small dirt roads that shot off in the direction of the river were marked with red signs carrying a stencilled soldier – a warning that entry beyond that point was prohibited.
Not far away, in the city centre, everyone seemed shocked to learn that so many people had crossed the border this year. It was a problem that most locals assumed was already in the past, given that most of the frontier had been lined with barbed wire and cameras for the past six years.
But those who have tried and failed to cross the Evros know that the rural quiet harbours dangers the eye can’t see.
Linda has given up on seeing her fiancé anytime soon – a visa is likely to take years – and she isn’t planning on trying to cross the border again. “I started being afraid because of the things I saw,” she said.
Grèce : le mystère des trois migrantes retrouvées égorgées
Les corps des trois femmes avaient été découverts le 10 octobre par un agriculteur dans un champ près du fleuve Evros.
Trois migrantes retrouvées mortes début octobre près du fleuve Evros à la frontière gréco-turque au nord de la Grèce ont été identifiées. Selon la police, il s’agit d’une mère et ses deux filles. Elles ont été égorgées après avoir été entravées.
Le mode d’exécution pose questions aux enquêteurs, qui privilégient la piste criminelle depuis la découverte des corps en octobre dernier. « Des femmes contraintes à s’agenouiller avant d’être égorgées, pourrait évoquer une action de type djihadiste, mais dans l’immédiat, la police n’exclut ni ne privilégie aucune piste », explique une source policière.
L’hypothèse d’une « punition » infligée par un réseau de passeurs a aussi été avancée par les médias grecs. L’affaire « est sans précédent dans les annales du pays, c’est un mystère », a relevé la même source policière.
Le fleuve Évros, cimetière des migrants anonymes
Ce fleuve boueux, aux courants dangereux et à la profondeur traîtresse, tue et recrache régulièrement des corps quasi impossibles à identifier.
Bloqué en Turquie, Mustafa a d’abord tenté d’atteindre la Bulgarie par la voie terrestre avec un groupe de migrants afghans. Mais une fois la frontière passée, la police bulgare les a interceptés avant de les renvoyer en Turquie, où ils ont été emprisonnés dans le centre de détention d’Edirne pendant trois mois. Quelques semaines après sa libération, au milieu de l’été 2014, Mustafa a demandé à sa famille restée en Afghanistan, d’envoyer de l’argent à un passeur qui avait promis de l’emmener en Bulgarie – mais cette fois-ci en passant par la Grèce.
Les cinq jeunes hommes de son nouveau groupe ont alors dû se cotiser pour financer le bateau gonflable qui leur servirait à franchir à deux reprises l’Évros, un fleuve de 480 kilomètres de long qui marque la frontière greco-turque, mais aussi une partie de la frontière entre la Grèce et la Bulgarie.
La route migratoire qui consiste à traverser l’Évros, fréquemment empruntée depuis les années 1990, est redevenue populaire après l’accord UE-Turquie signé en 2016 visant à limiter les arrivées de migrants dans les îles Grecques via la mer Méditerranée. Cette route a longtemps semblé préférable à emprunter la Méditerranée pour atteindre la Grèce. Mais ce fleuve boueux, aux courants dangereux et à la profondeur traîtresse, car variable, tue et recrache régulièrement des corps quasi impossibles à identifier.
C’est dans la région grecque de l’Évros que l’on trouve le plus grand nombre de corps de migrants non identifiés en Grèce. À cela s’ajoutent les corps retrouvés du côté turc de l’Évros, et aussi en Bulgarie. À Évros, les employés de la morgue de l’hôpital d’Alexandroúpoli, aidés par le Comité International de la Croix Rouge, tentent d’identifier les corps pour aider les familles qui recherchent un proche disparu.
Mais tout ça, Mustafa ne le sait pas. Le passeur a acheté un bateau « pour les petits bébés » et « à peine plus grand qu’un lit », se rappelle aujourd’hui Mustafa. En pleine nuit, le groupe trouve un coin où la végétation est assez dense pour les dissimuler. Puis, le passeur et les six Afghans gonflent et s’entassent sur la petite embarcation.
« Les courants étaient trop rapides pour nager, » explique Mustafa à VICE News. « On a eu peur de mourir [...], que le bateau coule et que des poissons, comme des piranhas, nous mangent. » Le groupe traverse finalement la frontière entre la Turquie et la Grèce, en 20 minutes. « On a ensuite récupéré le bateau, car le passeur a dit qu’on en aurait encore besoin, » raconte Mustafa, sa voix douce, mais anxieuse en harmonie avec son visage triste et enfantin.
En effet, après avoir marché environ deux jours, Mustafa se retrouve face à la même rivière, qu’il doit traverser pour atteindre la Bulgarie. Il fait noir et les branches sous l’eau percent l’embarcation de fortune. Rapidement, Mustafa se débarrasse de son sac à dos pour pouvoir nager. Il s’accroche à des branches, parvient à sortir de l’eau et retrouve le passeur et trois autres camarades. Mais deux des migrants, des jeunes qui n’avaient pas plus de 20 ans, ne sont pas là.
Objets retrouvés avec les corps de migrants et réfugiés à Évros. Morgue de l’hôpital général de l’université d’Alexandroúpolis, Grèce. Juillet 2017. (Photo de Stylianos Papardelas)
« Le bateau a coulé, on n’a pas vu ce qu’il s’est passé, mais ensuite, ils avaient disparu, » raconte doucement Mustafa. « On ne les a pas retrouvés. » Après trois jours de marche et une semaine passée au camp de Hamanli, Mustafa est emprisonné dans le centre de détention de Busmantsi près de Sofia. Puis, après encore des semaines de voyage, il atteindra Paris, où il n’a toujours pas réussi à obtenir l’asile et espère faire venir sa femme et ses trois enfants.
Les deux camarades de voyage de Mustafa ont sans doute rejoint les centaines de victimes de l’Évros, dont les corps, retenus au fond du fleuve par la boue et les branches, sont souvent retrouvés des mois, voire des années, après leur disparition.
Poppi Lazaridou, assistante à la morgue de l’hôpital général de l’université d’Alexandroúpolis, raconte l’histoire tragique d’une famille afghane. Grèce. Juillet 2017. (Vidéo produite par Christopher Nicholas/Fragkiska Megaloudi/CICR)
Selon les données communiquées par le CICR, 352 corps ont été découverts entre 2000 et 2017 dans la région de l’Évros, qui borde le fleuve du côté grec. Seuls 105 ont été identifiés. Entre janvier et mai 2017, 841 personnes ont été arrêtées à Évros en essayant de traverser la frontière (contre 1 638 pour la même période en 2016).
« Mais peut-être qu’il y a plus de corps que nous n’avons pas encore trouvés, » dit le docteur Pavlos Pavlidis, médecin légiste à l’hôpital général de l’université d’Alexandroúpoli (Grèce). De plus, ces chiffres n’incluent pas les corps retrouvés en Turquie et en Bulgarie. « Je pense que les chiffres [pour la Turquie] sont à peu près les mêmes que du côté grec, » ajoute-t-il, lors d’une interview réalisée par le CICR.
D’après Pavlidis, la première cause de décès des migrants dans la région, ce sont les noyades. Jusqu’en 2008, la deuxième cause de décès, c’était les mines, disséminées le long de la frontière et retirées cette année-là. Après les opérations de déminage, l’hypothermie a pris la seconde place sur la liste.
« Quand tu sors de la rivière et que tu es mouillé, tu t’assois dans tes habits trempés, et tu commences à te sentir endormi, et tu meurs d’hypothermie, » explique Pavlidis. « Ils sombrent en fait dans un sommeil profond, ils ne souffrent pas... Ils ne se réveillent jamais. »
Les passeurs ne laissent pas les migrants emporter leurs sacs sur les embarcations. Ils portent donc beaucoup de couches de vêtements sur eux, explique Pavlidis. Quand le bateau chavire, le poids attire les personnes vers le fond. « Il est impossible de survivre, mais en plus les corps restent sous l’eau et on ne peut pas les récupérer, » dit-il. « Nous avions un cas où la personne a été retrouvée portant quatre pantalons et sept chemises. »
Il y a quelques années, la plupart des victimes étaient principalement des hommes seuls fuyant l’Afghanistan, le Pakistan ou le Bangladesh, d’après les observations de Pavlidis. Mais depuis la guerre en Syrie, les familles syriennes ont rejoint le groupe. « Maintenant, on va avoir des enfants, des femmes, des grands-pères. » (Selon le CICR, le nombre de familles a récemment recommencé à diminuer.)
Les corps sont retrouvés par Frontex, la police, l’armée ou par des chasseurs et des pêcheurs, explique Pavlidis. Ils sont souvent dans un état de décomposition avancée, ou mangés par les poissons. Lorsqu’on lui ramène un corps, le médecin enregistre les habits et effets personnels. Ces objets, qu’il collecte depuis environ 15 ans, sont essentiels à la reconnaissance des corps.
Le docteur Pavlos Pavlidis, médecin légiste et pathologiste, montre et parle des objets retrouvés avec les corps de migrants et réfugiés, à la morgue de l’hôpital général de l’université d’Alexandroúpolis, Grèce. Juillet 2017. (Vidéo produite par Christopher Nicholas/Fragkiska Megaloudi/CICR)
Puis son équipe procède à une autopsie. Ils prélèvent ensuite un échantillon ADN et l’envoient au laboratoire de la police à Athènes. Si l’échantillon correspond à un profil existant, ils collaborent avec la Croix Rouge Internationale. Et, si quelqu’un recherche un proche qui a traversé l’Évros à cette période, ils poursuivent le processus d’identification.
Si aucune recherche n’est entamée, les corps quittent la morgue après trois à quatre mois, et sont enterrés dans l’un des trois cimetières musulmans des alentours. La position et le numéro de leur tombe sont archivés afin qu’ils puissent être retrouvés par des proches dans le futur.
« Nous avons plusieurs recherches fructueuses, mais pas tant que ça, car c’est un procédé très complexe et long, » explique Jan Bikker à VICE News. En tant que médecin légiste du CICR à Athènes, son travail consiste en partie à tenter de retrouver les familles des défunts si le gouvernement grec n’a pas réussi à le faire.
« Ce n’est pas toujours aussi simple que ça en a l’air : on retrouve des papiers d’identité, mais nous ne sommes jamais sûrs que ce soit la bonne personne, » dit-il. « En effet, les papiers peuvent être faux ou une personne peut être enregistrée sous différents noms, ou porter les papiers de quelqu’un d’autre.
L’équipe de Bikker aide aussi les familles ayant contacté le CICR à retrouver le corps de leurs proches et à produire un échantillon d’ADN pour procéder à l’identification. Cet échantillon est nécessaire à identifier un corps en trop mauvais état.
Ce travail est difficile pour plusieurs raisons : les familles peuvent vivre dans des zones de conflits ; être des personnes déplacées ; résider illégalement dans un pays ; ou risquer l’emprisonnement si leur gouvernent apprend que leur proche a quitté le pays.
« Normalement, nous collectons les informations descriptives qui pourraient nous donner une première piste. Une fois que nous avons une idée et une correspondance possible avec un corps, nous tentons de travailler avec [les proches des disparus] et les autorités pour obtenir l’ADN. »
Une fois le corps identifié, les familles décident, en fonction de leurs moyens, si elles souhaitent rapatrier le corps dans leur pays d’origine.
« Nous espérons qu’un cadre légal sera mis en place en Grèce [...] pour la centralisation des informations descriptives dans une base de données centrale avec toutes les informations sur les personnes disparues et les corps non identifiés, » explique Bikker.
Comme l’explique Fragkiska Megaloudi, chargée de communication au CICR à Athènes, l’identification des morts est de la responsabilité de l’État grec. Le CICR est la seule association aidant l’État grec pour le médico-légal et prend le relais pour les identifications difficiles.
L’association se charge aussi d’instruire les gardes côtiers grecs sur la manière de gérer dignement les corps, fournit du matériel à l’équipe du docteur Pavlidis, et améliore les cimetières accueillant les migrants et réfugiés.
« Nous aidons à améliorer et à marquer les tombes, comme ça, si nous trouvons la famille, ils peuvent revenir et trouver la tombe de la personne. Sinon ils ne peuvent pas tourner la page, » dit-elle.
« Nous reconstruisons de petites histoires autour de ces personnes, mais nous ne savons jamais qui elles étaient, leurs noms, ce qu’elles pensaient, leurs espoirs, leurs rêves... Et elles sont juste mortes ici » dit Megaloudi, émue. « C’est le côté le plus tragique de la crise migratoire. »
Des agriculteurs d’Évros racontent leurs rencontres avec des migrants et réfugiés de passage à Évros. Grèce. Juillet 2017.
▻https://www.vice.com/fr/article/d3qxbw/le-fleuve-vros-cimetire-des-migrants-anonymes-grece-turquie
Migrants: over 5,000 apprehended in Turkey in 7 days
Turkish authorities have apprehended over the past week a total of 5,371 migrants and refugees who were trying to illegally cross the borders with the European Union or to enter the country, the Turkish interior ministry has said. They included 389 who were intercepted at sea, it said.
The ministry also said that 136 suspected human traffickers were arrested.
Since a deal between the EU and Turkey two years ago, the number of migrants and refugees reaching EU countries, mainly Greece, from Turkey has sharply declined by a few thousands for a daily average of just a few dozens. (ANSAmed).
▻http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2018/03/12/migrants-over-5000-apprehended-in-turkey-in-7-days_b658086f-7528-453c-9653
#arrivées #statistiques #chiffres #accord_UE-Turquie #Turquie #Grèce
Ekathimerini: Nearly 2,000 migrants reached Aegean islands in March
Athens. Nearly 2,000 undocumented migrants reached the islands of the eastern Aegean last month, according to government figures, Ekathimerini reported.
Of the 1,968 migrants who crossed in smuggling boats from neighboring Turkey in March, 1,369 landed on Lesvos, 541 on Samos and 58 on Chios.
The arrivals were significantly higher than the 1,504 migrants who reached in the islands in January and the 997 in February.
The arrivals last month were also higher than those in March 2017 when 1,407 migrants reached the islands (336 to Lesvos, 824 to Chios and 247 to Samos).
In March 2016, at the peak of the crisis, 8,604 people reached the islands (3,277 to Lesvos, 3,614 to Chios and 1,713 to Samos).
▻http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/04/02/429049/ekathimerini-nearly-2000-migrants-reached-aegean-islands-in-march.html
More than 1,650 migrants crossed Greece’s northeastern border in March
More than 1,650 migrants crossed Greece’s Evros river that marks the country’s northeastern border with Turkey in March, despite the high water levels during winter, data from police arrests showed on Friday.
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/227622/article/ekathimerini/news/more-than-1650-migrants-crossed-greeces-northeastern-border-in-march
#Evros #Thrace #région_de_l'Evros
Encore une preuve, si nécessaire, que les #murs et #barrières_frontalières, ne marchent pas...
Les migrants, après avoir pris d’autres routes après la construction du mur (via la Bulgarie par exemple), sont retournés dans la région de l’Evros, cette fois-ci ils traversent la rivière, beaucoup plus dangereuse que le passage où le mur a été construit...
Reçu via la mailing-list Migreurop, message de Vicky Skoumbi
Les refoulements illégaux à #Evros (frontière gréco-turque) non seulement continuent mais leur nombre ne cesse d’augmenter.
Selon le nouveau rapport du Conseil grec pour les Réfugiés, cette pratique de refoulement à la frontière nord-est de la Grèce est sur le point de devenir systématique. Personne n’y échappe : mineurs, femmes enceintes, demandeurs d’asile dont la demande est en cours de traitement et même des syriens ayant obtenu le statut des réfugiés peuvent à tout moment se retrouver embarqués sur un zodiaque en route vers la côte turque du fleuve qui sépare les deux pays. Le Conseil Grec pour les réfugiés a recueilli des nouveaux témoignages de 18 réfugiés qui ont été victimes de plusieurs violations de leur droits ,allant des injures et de coups de matraques jusqu’à la soustraction des documents administratifs et des téléphones portables, l’enlèvement et la détention arbitraire en vue d’un refoulement vers la Turquie, le tout perpétré par la police grecque en étroite collaboration avec de groupes armés cagoulés. Ces dénonciations viennent confirmer de rapports similaires antérieurs d’Amnesty International et de l’ONG allemande ProAsyl ; ils campent un décor cauchemardesque d’anomie la plus complète à laquelle seraient soumis les demandeurs d’asile à la frontière d’Evros. Dans le collimateur de ces opérations secrètes de la police grecque se trouve tout étranger avec ou sans papiers qui croise le chemin des forces de l’ordre. Un Syrien dont la demande d’asile est en cours de traitement a été arrêté au moment où il se rendrait à son travail, tandis qu’une femme algérienne, enceinte de huit mois, a été refoulé de force vers la Turquie, manquant ainsi son rendez-vous fixé avec l’office grec d’asile. Source Efimerida tôn Syntaktôn
Ce #rapport est d’autant plus inquiétant qu’il est publié juste une dizaine de jours après la noyade de plusieurs personnes de nationalité turque, dont deux garçons de 3 et 5 ans dans les eaux glacées d’Evros. Il s’agissait d’une famille d’enseignants licenciés et poursuivis par le régime d’Erdogan.
La police grecque enlève et refoule nuitamment à la frontière, les réfugiés se noient et l’Europe est saine et sauve...
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/226012/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-council-for-refugees-warns-of-rise-in-pushbacks-in-evros
Greek Council for Refugees warns of rise in pushbacks in Evros
The Greek Council for Refugees has issued a 14-page report containing refugee testimonies of “systematic pushbacks” by Greek police in the country’s northeastern border with Turkey in the Evros region.
In a series of interviews, the victims – including families with children, pregnant women, and minors – describe beatings and inhuman treatment in the hands of the police in breach of international humanitarian law.
The organization warns of a rise in the number of pushbacks and urged Greek authorities to investigate the claims.
#Grèce #Turquie #frontières #refoulements #push-back #asile #migrations #réfugiés
Ici le lien vers le rapport, en grec :
▻http://gcr.gr/index.php/el/news/press-releases-announcements/item/790-anafores-gia-systimatikes-epanaproothiseis-ston-evro-apo-eksypiretoymenous-t
–-
ajouté à la métaliste sur les refoulements dans l’Evros :
►https://seenthis.net/messages/914147
Rapport qui date de 2013... mais qui montre une continuité de la pratique des push-backs :
#Frontex entre Grèce et Turquie : la Frontière du déni
Dernier #rapport en anglais et en grec du Conseil Grec pour les Réfugié-e-s publiant un certain nombre de témoignages attestant de refoulements à la frontière gréco-turque en particulier au niveau de la rivière #Evros.
Des refoulement ont également eu lieu de personnes en possession de documentations les autorisant á séjourner en UE, par ex. un réfugié en Allemagne souhaitant entrer en Grèce pour y accueillir son épouse et entamer avec elle les démarches de regroupement selon Dublin III.
Les détails sordides faisant état de traitements inhumains et dégradants, de la violence physique à l’intimidations, abondent, que ce soit envers des hommes, des femmes ou des enfants.
Ces témoignages attestent d’une tendance à l’arrestation par des personnes en noir, cagoulées, qui ne portent pas d’uniforme officiel de police. Les personnes interceptées sont transportées de force en bus vers des lieux de détention insalubres puis abandonnées à la frontière. Il est malheureusement évident que les entraves à la demande d’asile sont nombreuses.
Ces pratiques ne sont pas nouvelles. Elles font notamment écho à de nombreux rapports publiés depuis 2011/2012, notamment le rapport de la campagne Frontexit sur la frontière gréco-turque en 2014 (disponible en EN/FR/Turc et grec)
▻http://www.frontexit.org/index.php/fr/docs/58-rapport-frontex-greceturquie-frontiere-deni/file
#Poséidon #opération_Poséidon #Mer_Egée #cartographie et #visualisation (mais la version mise sur le site a des cartes en très mauvaise résolution) #identification #screening #frontières #Turquie #Lesbos #Corinthe
cc @i_s_
#jungle ». Durant plus d’un an, il a parlé avec des hommes et des femmes d’origine soudanaise, afghane, éthiopienne, érythréenne, mais aussi des habitants de Calais. Surtout, il a filmé ce que les médias mainstream ne montrent jamais : les violences policières, les injustices… et la force des réfugiés, leurs espoirs et leur capacité à rire de la situation, quoiqu’il arrive.
a rencontré les exilés à Calais pendant et après le démantèlement de la «
►https://vimeo.com/251551551?ref=fb-share
#film #Calais #migrations #asile #réfugiés #violence_policière #injustice #police #documentaire
pas encore regardé...
cc @isskein
Je viens de le regarder, c’est un très beau documentaire, ça vaut vraiment la peine de le diffuser, et de soutenir leur projet de « projection itinérante », pour celles et ceux qui peuvent le faire... Si jamais, pour une contribution c’est par ici : ▻https://www.leetchi.com/c/projets-de-arthur-levivier-29077721
« Regarde ailleurs » : le film qui renverse le discours médiatique sur les migrant・es
Le documentaire « Regarde ailleurs » revient sur l’histoire de la « jungle » de Calais, avant, pendant et après son démantèlement. Arthur Levivier trimballe une petite télévision cathodique à l’ancienne, sur laquelle il incruste des extraits édifiants de journaux télévisés. Une petit histoire du décalage entre discours médiatique et réalité observée sur le terrain.
▻https://radioparleur.net/2019/02/19/regarde-ailleurs-le-film
Calais, l’ex-#Centre_Jules_Ferry de l’ex-jungle
A mettre en lien avec cela, dans l’#Evros (#Grèce) :
▻https://seenthis.net/messages/764316
ping @reka
Greek police continues to illegally hand over Turkish asylum seekers to Turkey
On 2 June at 9am, a family of six, including an infant, and three men who wished to apply for international protection in Greece because of persecution in Turkey were handed over by Greek police to a group of masked gunmen. The refoulement was witnessed and the HLHR has in its disposal the license plate numbers of the Greek police van that transferred the asylum seekers. The new refoulement took place in #Evros by boat, near Didymoteicho, and involved Mustafa Can, his wife and their four children, as well as Yılmaz Erdoğan, Fethullah Çatal, and one more man, whose name is still not known.
▻https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/migrants-rights/greek-police-continues-to-illegally-hand-over-turkish-asylum-seekers
#push-back #refoulement #Turquie #Grèce #asile #migrations #réfugiés #Didimoticho
cc @i_s_
Greek Government Accused of Deporting Turkish Asylum Seekers
The Greek government denies that account, by the Hellenic League for Human Rights and the International Federation for Human Rights, which say that twice in the last few weeks, on May 24 and June 2, Turks fleeing persecution have been shipped back to their country.
▻https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/world/europe/turkey-greece-asylum-pushbacks.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur&_r=0
#réfugiés_turcs
Vu sur twitter avec ce commentaire :
#Greece Ombudsman launches own initiative inquiry about alleged #push-backs of Turkish asylum seekers from #Greece
▻https://www.synigoros.gr/resources/20170609-apof-ayt-ereyn-epanaprooth.pdf
UN agency concerned at alleged Greek pushbacks of Turks
ATHENS, Greece — The United Nations refugee agency expressed deep concern Thursday at reports that Turks seeking asylum in Greece have been forcibly returned to their country by Greek authorities.
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-agency-concerned-at-alleged-greek-pushbacks-of-turks/2017/06/08/2c527110-4c48-11e7-987c-42ab5745db2e_story.html?tid=ss_tw
BD | La fissure
▻http://asile.ch/2017/05/17/bd-la-fissure
Pendant trois années, Carlos Spottorno et Guillermo Abril ont sillonné les frontières de l’Europe. À partir des 25’000 photographies et 15 carnets de notes rapportés, ils ont composé une « bande dessinée » faite de photos.
#photographie #La_fissure #BD #asile #frontières #migrations #réfugiés #bande_dessinée #livre
#printemps_arabes #murs #barrières_frontalières #Melilla #Espagne #Maroc #concertinas #fil_barbelé #naufrage #mourir_en_mer #Méditerranée #11_octobre_2013 #Beni_Ensar #Evros #Grèce #Lesbos #Moria #empreintes_digitales #Bulgarie #Elkhovo #Frontex #Lesovo #Fonds_européens_pour_les_frontières_extérieures #gardes-frontière #Harmanli #camp_de_réfugiés #Lampedusa #Mare_nostrum #objets #Mineo #Pizzarotti #Italie #Sicile #logement #hébergement #sauvetage #Röszke #Asotthalom #Pologne #Ukraine #Hongrie #Tovarnik #Serbie #Croatie #Slovénie #fissure #Papradè #Lituanie #OTAN #NATO #Lettonie #Ukraine #Madyka #Kaliningrad #Russie #Szczurkowo #Finlande #Narva #Estonie #Ivangorad #Lac_Peïpour #Kuopio #Siilinjärvi #Ivalo #Alakourtti #Salla
Dans la BD :
« A notre connaissance, personne ne l’a jamais franchie ».
Croire qu’un mur est insurmontable, c’est une illusion...
Alberto et moi, on en a connu un, « Yuba » (prénom fictif), qui nous a dit l’avoir fait :
#Klaus_Rösler, directeur des opérations #Frontex, dans #La_fissure :
« Notre mission consiste à protéger les #frontières, donc c’est ce que nous faisons »
Emprunté en bibliothèque, La Fissure
Quelques images pour donner envie, ou pas, hélas…
Melilla
Hongrie
Croatie
Lituanie
Narva/Ivangorod
Golfe de Finlande
Finlande (dernière (double) page)
Reçu via FB:
#Turquie: Interdiction de quitter le territoire pour tout les enseignants-chercheurs.
#Turkey: all the academics are banned from leaving the territory.
#coup #universitaires #chercheurs #Turquie #coup_d'Etat #nettoyage #purge
Et une amie à ajouté :
nos collegues ont interdiction de quitter leur ville, pas seulement le pays
Turkey’s education board demands 1,577 university deans resign
Turkey’s High Education Board on Tuesday ordered the resignation of 1,577 deans at all universities, state broadcaster TRT reported, part of a wide-ranging purge of dozens of state institutions following a failed coup attempt.
▻http://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-security-universities-idUSI7N1A1000
#putsch
EUA Statement condemning the forced resignation of 1577 university deans
Following Friday’s coup attempt in Turkey the education sector, including the higher education sector, has been targeted, as have many other public sectors.
▻http://www.eua.be/activities-services/news/newsitem/2016/07/19/eua-statement-condemning-the-forced-resignation-of-1577-university-deans
#université #doyens
Turkey coup: Purge widens to education sector
More than 15,000 education staff in Turkey have been suspended after last week’s failed coup, as a purge of state officials widens still further.
La France et l’Europe doivent accueillir les universitaires turcs persécutés
Une chape de plomb s’abat sur la Turquie, en guise de réponse à la tentative de coup d’Etat du vendredi 15 juillet. Il est de notoriété publique que Recep Tayyip Erdogan rêve de se tailler une Constitution présidentialiste à la taille de son appétit de pouvoir, et d’être toujours à la tête de l’Etat en 2023 pour commémorer le centième anniversaire de la fondation de la République turque. Pour ce faire, les événements lui ouvrent une formidable fenêtre d’opportunité.
►http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2016/07/22/la-france-et-l-europe-doivent-accueillir-les-universitaires-turcs-persecutes
La France et l’Europe doivent accueillir les universitaires turcs persécutés
LE MONDE | 22.07.2016 à 11h58 | Par Jean-François Bayart et professeur à l’Institut des hautes études internationales et du développement de Genève
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Par Jean-François Bayart, professeur à l’Institut des hautes études internationales et du développement de Genève
Une chape de plomb s’abat sur la Turquie, en guise de réponse à la tentative de coup d’Etat du vendredi 15 juillet. Il est de notoriété publique que Recep Tayyip Erdogan rêve de se tailler une Constitution présidentialiste à la taille de son appétit de pouvoir, et d’être toujours à la tête de l’Etat en 2023 pour commémorer le centième anniversaire de la fondation de la République turque. Pour ce faire, les événements lui ouvrent une formidable fenêtre d’opportunité.
Et le président de la République a fort bien compris la leçon de son lointain prédécesseur. Mustafa Kemal avait instrumentalisé la révolte kurde et islamique de Cheikh Saïd, en 1925, pour instaurer un état d’exception et traîner devant les tribunaux tous ceux qui résistaient ou échappaient à son autorité. A commencer par les Jeunes-Turcs du Comité Union et Progrès (CUP), qui avaient préparé la guerre de libération dès 1916, avant qu’il ne la préempte pour son propre compte. De la même manière, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, qui impute à la néoconfrérie des fethullahci, avec laquelle il est en conflit depuis 2010, la responsabilité du coup de force du 15 juillet, ratisse large. Quand on veut noyer son chien… C’est ainsi que les arrestations parmi l’armée, la police, la magistrature se comptent par milliers, sous prétexte de défense de la « démocratie ».
Lire aussi : Turquie : la purge du président Erdogan s’étend à l’enseignement
La plupart d’entre eux ont fait des études dans nos facultés, écrivent notre langue, partagent nos valeurs et notre pensée
Là où la démesure de l’homme fort de la Turquie pointe son nez, c’est quand il s’en prend à l’enseignement supérieur et à l’éducation nationale. Certes, l’imam Fethullah Gülen, 75 ans, qui dirige la confrérie, a bâti sa stratégie d’influence – assez comparable à celle de l’Opus Dei – en créant de nombreux établissements scolaires et universitaires. Mais, en janvier, Recep Tayyip Erdogan avait déjà fait l’amalgame entre les « terroristes » du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) et les signataires d’une pétition en faveur de la reprise du processus de paix dans le Sud-Est du pays. Quand on veut noyer son chien, etc. Les universitaires étaient particulièrement visés, et des mesures administratives ou financières, des non-renouvellements de contrat, des licenciements, des instructions judiciaires furent décidés à l’encontre de centaines d’entre eux, à la demande explicite du chef de l’Etat, et au mépris de l’autonomie des universités autant que des libertés publiques.
Lire aussi : La Turquie dérogera à la Convention européenne des droits de l’homme
Les précédents de Gaulle et Pompidou
Désormais, la mise au pas des universitaires passe par l’allégation de leur connivence supposée avec l’« Etat parallèle » – la néoconfrérie Hizmet (Service) de Fethullah Gülen, dans la novlangue du parti au pouvoir. Le 19 juillet, recteurs et doyens ont été invités à démissionner. Les enseignants se sont vu ordonner de ne pas partir en congé et de ne pas quitter le territoire. Ceux d’entre eux qui sont à l’étranger, y compris dans le cadre de coopérations internationales du type Erasmus ou autres, sont rappelés en Turquie. Ces mesures ubuesques, qui discréditeront durablement le pays, ou plutôt son régime, sur la scène académique internationale, donnent une idée de la purge à laquelle va être soumis le système universitaire turc dans les prochaines semaines.
Lire aussi : Turquie : l’UE observe l’état d’urgence « avec inquiétude »
Jamais, depuis le coup d’Etat militaire de 1980, ce dernier n’a connu pareille tourmente. Les universités européennes vont examiner les contre-mesures appropriées, de nature à répondre au gouvernement turc sans pénaliser leurs collègues. Mais les gouvernements de l’UE, à commencer par le gouvernement français, doivent lancer un plan d’urgence pour accueillir les universitaires turcs persécutés et leur offrir l’asile scientifique. Le général de Gaulle l’avait fait après le coup d’Etat des colonels en Grèce, Georges Pompidou après celui de Pinochet au Chili. François Hollande doit le faire après le coup de force civil de Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Il s’agit, dans les meilleurs délais, de délivrer des titres de séjour, de créer des postes temporaires et de financer des programmes de recherche au bénéfice du nombre, sans nul doute important, d’universitaires turcs qui devront prendre le chemin de l’exil. Il s’agit aussi de faciliter l’accès à nos établissements des étudiants turcs, désormais privés d’universités dignes de ce nom. A l’échelle de l’Union européenne, le défi financier n’est pas considérable. Dans le contexte dramatique que nous vivons, cette hospitalité s’impose à l’égard d’enseignants-chercheurs qui, pour la plupart d’entre eux, ont fait leurs études dans nos facultés, écrivent dans nos langues, partagent nos valeurs et notre pensée, et à l’égard de leurs étudiants qui y aspirent.
Lire aussi : La dérive autoritaire s’accentue en Turquie
Jean-François Bayart et professeur à l’Institut des hautes études internationales et du développement de Genève
►http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2016/07/22/la-france-et-l-europe-doivent-accueillir-les-universitaires-turcs-persecutes
Finnish students wary of studying in Turkey
Finnish students are currently thinking twice before agreeing to study in Turkey under exchange programmes, according to Mikko Nupponen, the person in charge of Erasmus programme at the Centre for International Mobility (CIMO).
▻http://www.finlandtimes.fi/education/2016/07/24/28780/Finnish-students-wary-of-studying-in-Turkey
Turchia: Milano-#Bicocca aderisce alla dichiarazione dell’EUA
Il nostro Ateneo condivide la dichiarazione dell’EUA Immagine Link Esterno - European University Association, a condanna delle forzata estromissione di 1577 Alte Cariche delle Università turche e oltre 15.200 docenti sospesi, a forte sostegno di tutta la comunità accademica internazionale per sostenere i valori di democrazia, libertà, cultura e conoscenza.
▻http://www.unimib.it/open/news/Turchia_-Milano-Bicocca-aderisce-alla-dichiarazione-dellEUA/1707056504501609664
Opinion: Erdogan is draining Turkey’s brains with purge
Universities in Turkey are being systematically brought to heel. Hundreds of academics are being sacked. Soon the country will face a brain drain, with very serious consequences, DW’s Judith Hartl writes.
▻http://www.dw.com/en/opinion-erdogan-is-draining-turkeys-brains-with-purge/a-19424041
31 academics detained over failed coup attempt
A total of 31 academics from Istanbul University, including a number of professors, were detained as a part of the ongoing operations against members of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (#FETÖ), which the ruling Justice and Development Party (#AKP) says was behind the July 15 failed coup attempt. The operation, which was carried out in five different provinces, was based in Istanbul.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/31-academics-detained-over-failed-coup-attempt-.aspx?pageID=238&n
Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Jale Saraç tutuklandı
Fetullahçı Terör Örgütünün (FETÖ) darbe girişimiyle ilgili soruşturma kapsamında gözaltına alınan Dicle Üniversitesi Rektörü Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Jale Saraç tutuklandı.
Commentaire vu sur twitter, par rapport à cette news, que je ne comprends pas car écrite en turc :
Head of Dicle University, Diyarbakir arrested - first (I think) university in Turkey to teach in Kurdish...
Turkish academics abroad facing stark choices
President Erdogan has demanded researchers working abroad come home to Turkey. The scientific community in Germany is concerned and angry about the infringement on lecturers’ and students’ rights.
▻http://m.dw.com/en/turkish-academics-abroad-facing-stark-choices/a-19433047
Finnish universities circle wagons around Turkish academics
Universities say they may extend the contracts of Turkish researchers working at Finland while the situation in their homeland remains turbulent. Around 100 Turks are employed by Finnish universities.
▻http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnish_universities_circle_wagons_around_turkish_academics/9069189
Le università milanesi e la Turchia: Erasmus sospesi, docenti controllati
Gli studenti italiani rimpatriati ed è probabile che gli stranieri il prossimo anno non tornino: «Istanbul rischia di perdere la sua atmosfera internazionale». Per i docenti turchi c’è il divieto di espatrio; tanti presidi di facoltà sono stati rimossi fino al 5 agosto
▻http://milano.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/16_luglio_24/turchia-6f9241d2-517e-11e6-a1bb-4fa8da21b0a1.shtml
My Father, Academic, Arrested In Turkey Purge
As the massive crackdown on critics was in full-swing across Turkey, we did not rule out that our father could be the next victim. But it was unbearable, overwhelming grief when I saw my handcuffed father, an academic for 30 years, escorted to a prison.
Turquie : plus de 27.000 employés licenciés dans l’éducation
La Turquie a retiré le permis de travail de 27.424 employés du secteur de l’éducation dans le cadre des enquêtes visant le mouvement du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen accusé d’avoir fomenté la tentative du coup d’Etat du 15 juillet, a annoncé jeudi le ministre de l’Education Ismet Yilmaz. « Ce personnel ne sera plus autorisé à travailler dans les institutions d’éducation publique ou privée », a-t-il ajouté.
In University Purge, Turkey’s Erdogan Hits Secularists and Boosts Conservatives
Crackdown, which has snagged associates of imam Fethullah Gulen and others, is designed to remake country’s higher education in president’s image
2346 universitaires licenciés par décrets
▻http://www.kedistan.net/2016/09/02/2346-universitaires-licencies-decrets
Les intellectuels turcs contraints à fuir leur pays à cause des purges
Les intellectuels, professeurs d’école ou d’universités et les journalistes sont parmi les groupes les plus visés par les purges en Turquie. Ces personnes perdent leur emploi du jour au lendemain, parfois leur maison et même leur liberté. Du coup, tous ceux qui le peuvent quittent la Turquie.
▻http://www.rts.ch/play/radio/tout-un-monde/audio/les-intellectuels-turcs-contraints-a-fuir-leur-pays-a-cause-des-purges?id=802854
Turkey arrests 26 more academics, university staff over coup links
A total of 26 academics and university personnel from Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGÜ) have been arrested on coup charges.
Last week police detained 35 university staff members and academics from the university in simultaneous raids. An Eskişehir court arrested 26 of them on Friday while releasing the rest pending trial.
Among the arrestees are 11 professors and nine assistant professors, according to local media outlets.
In addition to numerous arrested academics, a total of 6,337 were purged from their positions by means of decrees issued after an abortive coup on July 15.
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/2016/12/31/turkey-arrests-26-academics-university-staff-coup-links
Turkish Prisons Are Filled With Professors — Like My Father
A Turkish professor who was my father’s colleague and frequently visited our house is now incapable of counting right amount of money to pay for a bottle of water at a prison canteen. He is traumatized as a result of days of harsh treatment during the interrogation. He is sharing a prison cell with my father, longtime friends, in western Turkey.
Turkey’s Boğaziçi University dismisses its first academic, bringing total to 7,317
#Noémi_Levy-Aksu, an assistant professor of history at Turkey’s prestigious Boğaziçi University, has been dismissed from her position, the GazeteDuvar.com news website reported on Thursday.
Turquie : de la #répression au #suicide
Un jeune assistant chercheur s’est jeté du 7e étage. Sa signature au bas d’une simple pétition pour la paix lui avait ôté tout avenir dans son pays. Les #universitaires ne sont pas les seuls ciblés. Les purges en cours signifient souvent une #mort_sociale.
En Turquie, deux enseignants en grève de la faim depuis 67 jours pour dénoncer les purges
Victimes des purges après le coup d’Etat manqué en Turquie, l’universitaire #Nuriye_Gülmen et l’instituteur #Semih_Özakça jeûnent, dans l’indifférence des autorités turques.
▻http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2017/05/14/en-turquie-deux-enseignants-en-greve-de-la-faim-pour-denoncer-les-purges_512
Turchia, quando il sapere è messo all’indice
Nel gennaio del 2016 poco più di mille accademici appartenenti a diversi atenei della Turchia hanno firmato e diffuso un appello dal titolo “Noi non saremo complici di questo massacro”. Il massacro cui si riferiva l’appello è quello provocato dal conflitto in atto tra le forze armate dello Stato e la guerriglia del Partito dei Lavoratori del Kurdistan (PKK). Un conflitto che si protrae da più di trent’anni e che, nonostante due anni di tregua nell’estate del 2016, è purtroppo ripartito, in un modo violento più che mai. Con quest’appello gli accademici invitavano lo Stato a interrompere le operazioni, sospendere il coprifuoco e tornare al tavolo delle trattative, interrotte pochi mesi prima.
▻http://caffedeigiornalisti.it/turchia-quando-il-sapere-e-messo-allindice
Turkey crowd taunts coup suspects at mass trial near Ankara
In the crackdown, police have arrested two teachers who are on hunger strike.
Nuriye Gulmen and Semih Ozakca reported their own arrest during the night in tweets. They are among more than 100,000 public servants sacked after the botched July 2016 military coup.
Ils ont apparemment twitté leur arrestation à partir de leur compte (en turc...) :
▻https://twitter.com/SemihOzakca
Two Turkish teachers on 75-day hunger strike detained by police
Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça have been on strike after losing their jobs in purge that followed coup attempt
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/22/two-turkish-educators-on-hunger-strike-detained-by-police
How to Liquidate a People? Academic Freedom in Turkey and Beyond.
▻http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14747731.2017.1325171
Turkey: Academics facing terror charges reach 90 days on hunger strike
Turkey’s authoritarian shift has been unmistakable this past year. Following the coup attempt in July 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s purge of state institutions has led to mass dismissals, including over 8,000 academics. Similarly, over 2,000 schools, dormitories and universities have now been shut down, causing great concern for Turkish education.
RIG Turquie #1 : la grande purge d’Erdogan : les universitaires
Deux profs victimes des purges au seuil de la mort
Nuriye Gülmen et Semih Özakça sont en grève de la faim depuis 104 jours.
La résistance des intellectuels turcs à l’étranger
Asli Erdogan, romancière turque accusée de propagande terroriste, n’est pas, et de loin, la seule intellectuelle turque à être victime des purges qui ont suivi le putsch manqué du 15 juillet 2016. Nombreux sont celles et ceux, chercheurs, universitaires, qui ont fui leur pays et qui, de l’étranger, organisent la résistance intellectuelle. Ils dénoncent la répression du président Erdogan et demandent la paix au Kurdistan. Il y a quelques jours, ils ont lancé un appel au boycott, pour mettre fin aux collaborations avec les universités turques jugées complices. Ces chercheurs demandent aux facultés du monde entier d’accueillir les intellectuels persécutés. En #Suisse, Daphné Gastaldi (@daphne) a rencontré deux académiciens à l’origine de ce combat.
▻http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20170623-turquie-intellectuels-resistance-erdogan-asli-accusee-propagande-terror
#exil #chercheurs #Université_de_genève #Cagla_Aykac #Engin_Sustam
Nuriye Gülmen et Semih Özakça vont mourir et ce silence est encore une torture.
Depuis deux jours que je suis rentré d’Istanbul, j’ai peur d’apprendre dans les journaux la nouvelle de leur mort. Après 110 jours de grève de la faim, emprisonnés depuis plus d’un mois en Turquie, Nuriye Gülmen et Semih Özakça vont mourir dans l’indifférence de l’Europe. Pour avoir refusé de se soumettre au terrorisme d’État, pour être devenus les éclaireurs d’une résistance populaire.
Nuriye et Semih sont dans un état de faiblesse irréversible, incapables de marcher ou de parler. Leurs cœurs vont cesser de battre et nous, peuples d’Europe, nous n’aurons rien fait pour empêcher qu’ils meurent d’avoir désobéi à un tyran.
#Aysen_Uysal, politiste en Turquie, empêchée de se rendre au 14e Congrès national de science politique à Montpellier
L’AFSP vient d’apprendre avec beaucoup d’émotion la suspension du passeport d’Aysen Uysal, professeure de science politique à l’Université Dokuz Eylül en Turquie. Aysen Uysal s’apprêtait à se rendre au congrès de l’Association Française de Science Politique dont elle est une habituée depuis le début des années 2000.
▻http://www.afsp.info/aysen-uysal-politiste-en-turquie-empechee-de-se-rendre-au-14e-congres-nationa
Turquie : deux enseignants en grève de la faim, symbole des purges
Nuriye Gülmen, une universitaire, et Semih Özakça, un enseignant, ont été limogés par des décrets-lois émis dans le cadre de l’état d’urgence instauré à la suite du putsch manqué du 15 juillet 2016, imputé à la confrérie du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen.
Par ailleurs, ils refusent d’être examinés par l’équipe médicale envoyée par l’administration pénitentiaire depuis qu’elle a menacé de les alimenter de force. Et les autorités ont refusé qu’ils choisissent leurs propres médecins, selon M. Kozagaçli.
“Academics for Peace” in Turkey: a case of criminalising dissent and critical thought via counterterrorism policy
On 11 January 2016, 1128 academics in Turkey and abroad signed a petition calling on Turkish authorities to cease state violence in mainly Kurdish populated areas of the country, which had been under curfew and an extended state of emergency. The petition received an immediate reaction from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who accused the signatories of treason and terrorist propaganda. He subsequently demanded that public prosecuters launch an investigation. Criminalisation of the petition has been exacerbated by disciplinary action by universities against many of the signatories. Many have suffered insults, arrest, detention or suspension as a result of the ensuing smear campaign. This massive crackdown on academic freedom has been masked by discourses of counterterrorism, which have also been deployed to criminalise dissent more generally in Turkey as a part of a process of rapid “democratic retrenchment” since 2013. This article is an attempt to put the criminalisation of academics within the larger framework of human rights violations, increasing curtailments of academic freedom and rising authoritarianism in Turkey. It argues that the prosecution of the signatories of the petition is an extension of an established tradition of targeting academic freedom in times of political crisis in Turkey but is also a product of growing authoritarianism under the ruling party and President Erdoğan. It shows that counterterrorism laws can be extended far beyond eliminating security threats by instrumentalising them to suppress dissent in a declining democracy.
▻http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17539153.2017.1326559?scroll=top&needAccess=true
Turkish educators on hunger strike taken to hospital by ‘force,’ lawyer says
Imprisoned educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça were taken to Ankara’s Sincan Prison Campus Hospital “by force” on the 143rd day of their hunger strikes early on July 29 although the authorities did not have their consent, the educators’ lawyer Ebru Timtik said.
Ozakça libéré, Gülmen reste en prison
Les proches des deux enseignants en grève de la faim ne masquent pas leur dépit après la décision rendue vendredi par la justice turque. L’inquiétude est grande pour l’état de santé de Nuriye Gülmen.
▻https://www.lecourrier.ch/153681/ozakca_libere_guelmen_reste_en_prison
Nuriye Gülmen libérée, Semih Özakça acquitté
L’enseignante en grève de la faim a pu retrouver les siens vendredi après six mois de détention, mais elle est condamnée à six ans et trois mois de prison.
▻https://www.lecourrier.ch/154794/nuriye_guelmen_liberee_semih_oezakca_acquitte
Turquie : l’Université et la recherche sacrifiées sur l’autel de la répression
Depuis la tentative de coup d’État de juillet 2016, les purges ont touché 148 000 fonctionnaires, dont près de 6000 à l’Université. Tous les établissements liés au mouvement Gülen ont été fermés, leurs enseignants limogés et souvent traînés en justice, tout comme beaucoup de signataires de l’Appel des universitaires pour la paix. Subsiste-t-il encore des espaces de liberté dans la recherche ? Une pensée critique peut-elle encore trouver refuge à l’Université ?
▻https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Turquie-l-Universite-et-la-recherche-sacrifiees-sur-l-autel-de-la
Fin de la grève de la faim de Nuriye Gülmen et Semih Ozakça, après 324 jours de grève de la faim
Turquie : résistance contre Erdogan
Ils sont les visages de la résistance en Turquie : les deux enseignants Nuriye Gülmen et Semih Ozakça ont annoncé vendredi qu’ils mettaient un terme à leur grève de la faim partielle entamée il y a près d’un an pour protester contre leur limogeage dans le cadre des purges lancées après le putsch manqué.
« Nous arrêtons aujourd’hui notre grève de la faim, à son 324e jour. Mais notre combat continue », a déclaré l’universitaire Nuriye Gülmen, qui apparaît amaigrie au côté de l’enseignant Semih Ozakça dans une vidéo diffusée par leurs soutiens sur Twitter. Comme plus de 150 000 fonctionnaires, les deux enseignants ont perdu leur travail lors des grandes purges orchestrées par le gouvernement après la tentative de coup d’État du 15 juillet 2016. Ils étaient accusés par les autorités d’appartenir au DHKP-C, un groupuscule d’extrême gauche classé « terroriste » par Ankara ainsi que Bruxelles et Washington.
Leur grève de la faim a fait des deux enseignants l’un des symboles des purges lancées par les autorités turques dans le cadre de l’état d’urgence instauré en Turquie après la tentative de coup d’Etat du 15 juillet 2016 contre le président Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
▻https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/079700-000-A/turquie-resistance-contre-erdogan
13 teachers detained over Gülen links in Turkey’s Samsun
At least 13 teachers were detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement in Turkey’s southern province of Samsun, media said Friday.
Police carried out operations in several locations in the Black Sea province of Samsun and detained all the suspects.
12 of the 13 teachers were earlier dismissed from their jobs over alleged affiliation with the Gulen movement, according to media.
Meanwhile, detention warrants were issued for another 70 teachers as part of a separate investigation into the Gulenists in the capital, Ankara, state-run Anadolu news agency said the same day.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/12-teachers-detained-gulen-links-turkeys-samsun
Turquie, les universitaires solidaires
Lorsque je prends contact avec elles, Asli et Gizem me préviennent : « si c’est pour raconter une nouvelle fois que nous sommes de pauvres universitaires en danger et muselés, ce n’est pas la peine ». Lassées du misérabilisme, ces deux universitaires veulent avant tout raconter comment la résistance s’organise en Turquie : « nous travaillons et luttons plus qu’auparavant, et nous n’abandonnons pas », précisent-elles. Au lendemain de la tentative du coup d’état du 15 juillet 2016, l’état d’urgence est proclamé. Le gouvernement turc émet alors des décrets lois qui ne sont pas encadrés par le pouvoir parlementaire. Un régime qui ne fait qu’aggraver les nombreuses pressions pesant déjà sur l’institution judiciaire ou sur les universitaires. Médecins, juges, procureurs, enseignants, policiers, plus de 100 000 fonctionnaires sont exclus. Dans le monde universitaire, une pétition pour la paix, lancée en janvier 2016 pour l’arrêt des violences dans le Sud-Est du pays, donne un prétexte au gouvernement pour étendre sa purge. Les signataires de la pétition subissent des pressions ; révocations, licenciements, mises à la retraite d’office… Plus de 450 perdent leurs postes. Au-delà de la perte de leur emploi, c’est leur place dans la société et leur liberté qui est atteinte, puisqu’une révocation par décret loi entraîne par exemple la confiscation du passeport et empêche donc toute sortie du territoire. Au total, plus de 5 000 universitaires et 60 000 enseignants (enseignements primaire, secondaire et supérieur confondus) ont été renvoyés ou interdits d’exercer à la suite d’un décret-loi. D’après les données fournies par les réseaux de solidarité étudiante, près de 450 étudiants sont actuellement en détention pour des raisons politiques.
Comme l’explique Asli et Gizem, les universitaires d’habitude peu enclins à l’action collective, ont été contraints de faire front commun et d’apprendre à lutter ensemble. Pour créer du savoir autrement, des académies solidaires sont créées dans tout le pays à l’initiative de quelques 200 universitaires. « L’objectif est de permettre à chacun de participer à la création du savoir et de pouvoir y accéder. Nous souhaitons également initier de nouvelles méthodes de travail en dépassant les clivages et divisions interdisciplinaires », expliquent-elles. Asli et Gizem sont elles-mêmes membres d’une des premières universités solidaires, l’« académie sans campus », qui travaille depuis le printemps 2016 et organise notamment des ateliers et des rencontres autour des questions de genres ou de l’histoire sociale du capitalisme, et vise à renouveler les méthodes d’apprentissage et de partage de savoir dans le monde. Pour pouvoir être étendu et prolongé, le mouvement fait appel à la solidarité afin par exemple de voir des bourses de recherche délivrées à certains enseignants, d’encadrer les mémoires et les thèses des étudiants dont les directeurs de thèse ou de mémoire ont perdu leur poste en Turquie, ou encore d’assurer un accès aux sources et ressources documentaires et bibliothécaires des universités étrangères.
24-year-old Boğaziçi University student arrested over Gülen links
A fourth-year international relations student at Istanbul’s Bogazici University, identified as M.N., was put in pretrial detention over his ties to the Gulen movement.
Milliyet newspaper reported Feb 15 that the 24-year-old student was detained after a police raid at his home, on Dec 6, 2017. While police seized his electronic devices including computer and cell phone, he was formally put in pretrial detention on Dec 13, after spending a week in police custody.
An indictment prepared subsequently seeks between 10 to 15 years in prison for M.N., also the president of the university’s student union, OTK between Nov 2014 to Dec 2017.
Owner of now-defunct Izmir University detained for funding intercultural dialog events
At least five businessmen were detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement in Izmir, according to media.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Feb 20 the detention warrants were issued for 7 people for having funding intercultural dialog events organized by the Izmir Cultural Dialog Center (IZDIM).
Several academics, bureaucrats and businessmen living abroad earlier travelled to Izmir as part of IZDIM events, Anadolu said.
While 5 of the suspects were detained, the remaining two were reported to be abroad.
Those detained include Ismail #Selim_Doğanata, the owner of the Izmir University and Fatih College.
Both the two schools as well as IZDIM were earlier shuttered over links to the Gulen movement.
Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the July 15, 2016 failed coup while the latter denies involvement.
Teacher with 25 years of experience working as hotel receptionist after dismissal
#Ismet_Sözen, an elementary school teacher until he was dismissed by a government decree issued under post-coup emergency rule in 2016, is now earning his keep by working as a night-shift receptionist at a hotel in Bursa province.
According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, Sözen was dismissed by the government decree, like some 40,000 other teachers.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/teacher-25-years-experience-working-hotel-receptionist-dismissal
History teacher, died of torture in police custody, reinstated to job 19 months after his death
#Gökhan_Açıkkollu, a history teacher who was tortured to death while in police custody in the wake of a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 over alleged membership in the Gülen movement, was found innocent one-and-a-half years later and “reinstated” to his job.
Leftist rights activist visits grave of teacher tortured to death after coup
Veli Saçılık, a sociologist and leftist human rights activist, has visited the grave of #Gökhan_Açıkkollu, a teacher who was tortured to death while in police custody in the wake of a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 over alleged membership in the Gülen group.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan University’s former rector sentenced to 4 years in jail
#Arif_Yilmaz, a medical professor and the former rector of the Recep Tayyip Erdogan University (RTEÜ), has been sentenced to 4 years and two months in jail.
Accused of links to the Gulen movement, Yilmaz spent 11 months in pretrial detention before being released on TL100,000 [$30,000] bail in July 2017.
Detention warrants issued for 300 teachers in a month in Ankara
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued detention warrants in the past month for 300 teachers who worked in schools owned by people close to the Gülen movement, the tr724 news website reported.
▻https://www.turkishminute.com/2018/03/11/detention-warrants-issued-for-300-teachers-in-a-month-in-ankara
Purged computer teacher commits suicide days after his release from prison
#Mehmet_Kosar, a father of two and a 38-year-old computer teacher in Mugla’s Fethiye who was dismissed from his job over links to the Gulen movement, has killed himself days after he was released from prison pending trial over connections to Gulenists.
Local media said that Kosar hanged himself to an iron bar attached to the ceiling of his bedroom. Kosar killed himself due to physiological problems, according to the same source.
La chasse aux intellectuels en Turquie
Le putsch raté de juillet 2016 a fourni au pouvoir turc l’occasion d’un gigantesque contre-coup d’État. Le régime de Tayyip Erdoğan, qui cherche à mettre au pas de vastes secteurs de la société civile, parviendra-t-il à gagner sa guerre culturelle contre l’université ?
►http://www.laviedesidees.fr/La-chasse-aux-intellectuels-en-Turquie.html
Meliksah University rector sentenced to 10 years in jail
#Mahmut_Dursun_Mat, a professor of mechanical engineering and the last rector of the now-defunct #Meliksah_University, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Erdoğan calls Boğaziçi University students involved in Afrin protests ’terrorists’
Turkey’s president on March 24 has criticized anti-war students at a top university, calling them terrorists following a fight there.
Speaking in the northern Black Sea province of Samsun, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that “communist, traitor youth” tried to mess up a student stand opened by “religious, nationalist, local youth” at the public Boshporus, or Boğaziçi, University.
Erdoğan announced an investigation and said “we won’t give these terrorist youth the right to study at these universities,” the Associated Press reported.
On March 19, a group of students opened a stand distributing sweets dubbed “Afrin delight” to commemorate fallen soldiers in Turkey’s cross-border operation in Syria. Another group protested against them, holding anti-war banners.
Turkey’s official Anadolu Agency said a fight broke out and 12 people were later detained.
Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 to clear People’s Protection Units (YPG) militants from Afrin. On March 18, the Turkish armed forces and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) declared full control over the city.
Turkey considers YPG to be the Syrian extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Four Turkish soldiers were killed on March 22 in eastern Turkey and Syria’s northwestern district of Afrin in two separate instances involving the YPG and the PKK, officials have said.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogan-calls-bosporus-university-students-involved-in-afrin-prot
Under pretrial detention for 20 months, academic Sedat Laciner says ‘miss my home, children, wife, friends, students and books’
Renowned Turkish academic and political scientist Prof. Dr. #Sedat_Laçiner, who was arrested in the wake of a military coup on July 15, 2016, has stated that “I respond to what is said about me, and I don’t run from either prosecution or debate. But the accusations must be a bit rational and fair. I got used to the lynching, but at least the accusations should make sense. Have a heart! I am also a human being.”
Turkish online news outlet T24 has published a letter sent by Professor Laçiner, who as of March 25 has been in prison for 610 days over alleged links to the Gülen movement, to veteran journalist Hasan Cemal, saying that he wants his previous life back.
Turkish couple, both teachers, under police custody in post-coup crackdown: report
H.B., a teacher of Turkish literature; and his wife S.B., a French teacher have been detained over their alleged ties to the Gulen movement, according to media.
Kronos online news portal reported Saturday that the Samsun-based couple is accused of membership to the Gulen movement, blamed for the July 15, 2016 failed coup by the Turkish government.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/turkish-couple-teachers-police-custody-post-coup-crackdown-report
2,500 schools, dormitories confiscated as 30,000 teachers dismissed during post-coup emergency rule: ministry
Turkish Education Ministry Undersecretary Yusuf Tekin on Sunday said they have completed a purge of Gülen movement members and institutions in his ministry, the DHA news agency reported.
“The fight against Fetö [a derogatory name used by the Turkish government for the Gülen movement] in the Education Ministry in accordance with a state of emergency declared following July 15 [coup attempt] has been completed. Some 2,500 schools, prep schools and dormitories linked with Fetö have been closed and confiscated and given to the service of the nation. About 30,000 Fetö-linked teachers and staff working for the ministry have been dismissed,” Tekin said during a visit to the Yusufeli district of Artvin province.
Tekin also said Gülen movement goals of infiltrating the curriculum and textbooks have been dealt with.
[VIDEO]Police detain 7 Bogaziçi students for participating in protest against Turkey’s Afrin operation
At least 7 student have been detained by police at İstanbul’s Boğaziçi University for participating in protests agains Turkey’s Afrin operation, the Dİken news portal reported.
Detentions came only a day after Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on Saturday that the government will “clean communist and terrorist students” out of Turkish universities.
Yet another 12 teachers detained in Turkey’s Bilecik
At least 12 teachers were detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement in Turkey’s southern province of Samsun, media said Wednesday.
Police carried out operations in several locations in Bilecik and detained all the suspects.
The teachers were earlier dismissed from their jobs over alleged affiliation with the Gulen movement, according to media.
Teacher couple detained while hiding from gov’t witch-hunt
A Samsun couple, both teachers with outstanding arrest warrants, was detained while hiding in a neighboring province of Amasya in bid to ditch the government’s post-coup witch-hunt against suspected Gulenists.
Media reported Wednesday that 36-year-old elementary school teacher, identified as S.K., and his wife, a 35-year-old Turkish literature teacher, were rounded up at an apartment in central Amasya where they have hidden to avoid arrest over their alleged ties to the Gulen movement.
Invitation à la conférence de presse
SUP-DDHT
Solidarité avec les Universitaires pour la Paix et défense des droits humains en Turquie
Le silence quasi absolu des dirigeants européens face aux violations des droits humains en Turquie permet au président Erdogan d’ intensifier ses actes de répression en définissant comme “terroristes” tous ceux qui ne cèdent pas et qui s’opposent à sa dérive autoritaire. Le 19 mars dernier, le régime a pris pour cibles les étudiants de l’Université de Bogazici, à Istanbul, qui disaient "NON” à la distribution de loukoums pour célébrer les massacres de l’invasion d’Afrin. Nous, membres du bureau de
Solidarité avec les Universitaires pour la Paix et défense des droits humains en Turquie (SUP-DDHT), serons Place de la Sorbonne, le 30 Mars 2018, à 14h30, pour dénoncer une répression qui menace nos valeurs démocratiques et nous appelons les enseignant.e.s et étudiant.e.s et leurs syndicats à nous rejoindre.
Répression à l’université Boğaziçi :
la guerre avance, la démocratie recule
En Turquie, la politique guerrière étouffe de plus en plus les libertés démocratiques. Le 19 mars, à Istanbul, une vingtaine d’étudiants de la prestigieuse université Boğaziçi ont distribué des loukoums (Turkish delight) pour célébrer la victoire militaire turque d’Afrin contre les populations kurdes en Syrie. En réponse, environ vingt-cinq étudiants ont organisé une contre-manifestation pacifique avec des banderoles comme : « le palais veut la guerre, le peuple veut la paix », ou « pas de loukoums pour les massacres de l’invasion ! ».
Le président de l’université Boğaziçi a dénoncé cette contre-manifestation comme une atteinte à la liberté d’expression des soutiens de la guerre. Le 24 mars, le président Erdoğan est allé plus loin : pour lui, ces « communistes » sont des « terroristes » et « des traîtres à la nation » ; et de menacer : « Nous n’allons pas donner le droit à ces jeunes terroristes d’étudier à l’université ! »
La plupart de ces étudiants ont été arrêtés à l’aube, chez eux ou dans les dortoirs universitaires, d’autres ensuite lors d’une manifestation de soutien. Au moment de leur arrestation et pendant leur détention, la police n’a pas hésité à recourir à la violence. Actuellement, onze sont toujours en prison.
Cette attaque contre la liberté d’expression au sein de l’université vient après beaucoup d’autres. Déjà, fin 2016, il y avait plus de 69 000 étudiants emprisonnés en Turquie. Les chiffres ont beaucoup augmenté depuis lors. Aujourd’hui, 262 procès sont en cours contre les Universitaires pour la paix (BAK). Trois condamnations (à 15 mois de prison avec sursis) sont déjà tombées. Et deux collègues sont en prison : Serdar Başçetin et Onur Hamzaoğlu.
En janvier 2016, ceux-ci avaient publié un texte contre la guerre intérieure sur le territoire de la Turquie : « nous ne serons pas complices de ce crime ! » Depuis, le régime a enclenché en janvier la guerre en Syrie ; il a annoncé le 25 mars que des opérations étaient engagées en Iraq, à Sinjar ; le même jour, la Grèce a exprimé son inquiétude devant l’expansionnisme de la Turquie.
En même temps que la guerre avance, la démocratie recule. Les élus d’opposition, les syndicalistes, les journalistes, les avocats, les universitaires, et tant d’autres qui expriment ou sont susceptibles d’exprimer des désaccords avec la politique du régime sont menacés. La répression contre les étudiants de l’université Boğaziçi marque une nouvelle étape : les universités internationalement les plus reconnues ont longtemps été épargnées. Ce n’est plus le cas aujourd’hui. Au nom de la lutte contre le « terrorisme », tout est permis pour le régime, et rien pour qui voudrait le contester – ni liberté d’expression, ni droit de manifester.
Notre association, Solidarité avec les universitaires pour la paix et défense des droits humains en Turquie (SUP-DDHT), conformément à sa mission, exprime sa solidarité avec les étudiants de l’université Boğaziçi : nous demandons aux autorités de respecter les libertés de pensée, d’expression et de manifestation qui fondent la légitimité universitaire, en Turquie comme partout dans le monde.
Nous condamnons les atteintes aux droits humains en Turquie dont cette répression n’est que l’exemple le plus récent. Nous alertons l’opinion publique sur les menaces que fait peser aujourd’hui cet expansionnisme, en Turquie et dans toute la région. Et nous interpellons le gouvernement français, mais aussi les responsables de l’Union européenne, à l’heure où celle-ci finance des opérations militaires de la Turquie pour rejeter les Syriens à ses frontières. Pour notre part, nous refusons d’être complices d’un régime autoritaire dont la politique met en danger et la paix et la démocratie.
Reçu via la mailing-list GeoTamTam
Teacher diagnosed with cancer after dismissal from job dies
#Ayşe_Çalışkan, a Sakarya teacher who was dismissed from her job in September 2016, died of stomach cancer on March 30.
A mother of two was diagnosed with cancer nearly a month after she was purged as part of the government’s post-coup crackdown.
She had a surgery in Istanbul in June 2017; since then her medical condition has only worse off.
27-year-old teacher infected with HIV virus while in prison: lawyer
A 27-year-old Turkish teacher who was earlier jailed as part of the government’s post-coup crackdown against the Gulen movement, was infected with HIV virus while he was in prison, according to his lawyer.
Lawyer Salih Koçak told Cumhuriyet newspaper on March 31 that his client, a teacher imprisoned over his alleged use of ByLock who wants to remain anonymous, was healthy when he was first arrested on Dec 9, 2016.
Spent 11 months in pretrial detention, the teacher was released in October 2017. During his time in prison, the teacher and 15 cellmates were taken to dentist for 4 times
“[After being released from prison, he got sick and] had a blood test in March. According to results from the Kocaeli University hospital, he was infected with HIV virus. That characteristic of this virus is that it hatches 6 months to 2 years after your body gets infected. If you count down the days, [it turns out] my client was in jail when he was infected,” the lawyer said.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/27-year-old-teacher-infected-hiv-virus-prison-lawyer
9 Bogaziçi students sent to prison for participating in protest against Turkey’s Afrin operation
9 Boğaziçi student have been arrested by an İstanbul court while 6 others released pending trial after participating in protests against Turkey’s Afrin operation, the T24 news portal reported.
On March 19, a group of students protested other students who had set up a stand at İstanbul’s Boğaziçi University campus to distribute Turkish delight in memory of Turkish soldiers killed during the Turkish military’s operation in Afrin, Syria. Police identified 17 of the protestors and detained 15 of them.
Detentions came only a day after Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on March 20 that the government will “clean communist and terrorist students” out of Turkish universities.
Turkish professor gets 15 months in prison for signing 2016 peace declaration
Professor #Füsun_Üstel, one of the academics who signed a peace declaration in early 2016 criticizing the Turkish government for its violation of human rights and civilian casualties among the predominantly Kurdish population of eastern Turkey, has been handed down a prison sentence of 15 months on terror propaganda charges.
Police seal off Furkan-affiliated student houses in Adana
Turkish authorities have begun to seal off the houses affiliated with the faith-based, government-critic Furkan foundation in Adana province.
Early on Friday morning, police teams reportedly raided the apartments that are reportedly belong to students affiliated with the foundation which has recently been targeted by the Turkish government due to its critical stance. Students were forcefully evacuated and the buildings were sealed off by the police.
An Adana court in early February appointed trustees to the management of the foundation, and arrested at least 21 people including Alparslan Kuytul, president of the foundation.
Students Protesting Massacre Occurred in University Campus Detained
The students who have protested a research fellow murdering four people at #Osmangazi_University have been detained in Eskişehir and Ankara.
Turkish court arrests 3 more Boğaziçi students, bringing total to 13
Three of four Boğaziçi University students who were detained for their views critical of Turkey’s operation in the Afrin region of Syria have been arrested by an Istanbul court, bringing the total number of students under arrest to 13, Gazete Duvar reported.
According to the report, one of the students was released on judicial probation.
An Istanbul court on Tuesday put nine students in pretrial detention on charges of disseminating terrorist propaganda after they protested a military offensive being conducted by Turkey in northern Syria.
A student who had protested their arrest was detained and arrested following the court decision.
‘Gülenist’ teacher extradited from Malaysia gets 18-year jail sentence on coup charges
A high criminal court in the Turkish capital of Ankara has handed down a jail sentence of 18 years to #Alaaddin_Duman, a teacher who was extradited from Malaysia to Turkey due to his links to the Gülen group in 2016, on terror charges.
Duman was given the jail sentence by the Ankara 15th High Criminal Court on Tuesday on charges of membership in a terrorist organization.
In the final hearing of his trial, Duman denied the terror charges and said he was self-employed in Malaysia and did not use the mobile phone application ByLock, which Turkish authorities say is the top communication tool among followers of the Gülen group.
Families of jailed #Boğaziçi students: Everything is a crime in Turkey
On March 19, a group of students protested other students who had set up a stand at İstanbul’s Boğaziçi University campus to distribute Turkish delight in memory of Turkish soldiers killed during the Turkish military’s operation in Afrin, Syria. Police identified 17 of the protestors and detained 15 of them.
So far, 13 Boğaziçi student have been sent to jail by an İstanbul court while 6 others released pending trial after participating in the protest.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/families-of-jailed-bogazici-students-everything-is-a-crime-in-turkey
Turkish academic gets 18 months in prison over ‘Gülen propaganda’
#Koray_Çalışkan, an associate professor who was put in house arrest on July 10 as part of an investigation into 20 university academics, has been sentenced to one year, six months and 22 days in prison for disseminating the propaganda of Gülen movement on social media.
According to the pro-government Sabah daily, the ruling was made by the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court.
Turkish petition for peace puts academic freedom on trial
“Police are on campus, they are arresting students from the dormitories, and they check IDs in the library - this is what’s happening.”
►https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2018/04/turkish-petition-for-peace-puts-academic-freedom-on-trial
Ankara prosecutor issues detention warrants for 48 teachers
Detention warrants were issued for a total of 48 teachers as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement, on Friday.
Police carried out operations in 11 provinces to detain the suspects upon the warrants issued by an Ankara prosecutor.
The suspected teachers used to work for the schools which were closed down by the government over Gulen links.
Turkish government accuses the movement of being behind the failed coup of 2016 while the latter denies involvement.
At least 34 teachers were rounded up at the time of writing.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/ankara-prosecutor-issues-detention-warrants-for-48-teachers
Report : Teacher dies in prison due to lack of medication
#Halime_Gülsu, who was arrested on Feb. 20, 2018 for allegedly helping the faith-based Gülen movement, died on Saturday in prison in Mersin province, reportedly due to deprivation of the medication she took for lupus erythematosus.
v. aussi : ▻http://turkeypurge.com/woman-with-sle-dies-in-mersin-prison-due-to-lack-of-medical-care-opposi
5822 ACADEMICS LOST THEIR JOBS SINCE JULY 15, 2016.
Since July 15, 2016 coup attempt, a total of 5822 academics were dismissed by gov’t decrees No. 672/673/674 issued on Sept. 1, 2016, No.675/676 issued on Oct. 29, 2016, No. 677/678 issued on Nov. 22, 2016, No.679/680/681 issued on Jan. 6, 2017, No.686/687 issued on Feb. 7, 2017, No.689 issued on April 29, No.692 issued on July 14, 2017, No.693/694 issued on August 25, 2017. Also, immediately after the failed putsch, the Turkish government passed a decree ordering the closure of 15 universities and 800 student dorms across Turkey. The shutting down of the universities has left 61,382 students in academic limbo.
#Academics_for_Peace Granted 2018 Courage to Think Defender Award
2018 Courage to Think Defender Award has been granted to Academics for Peace due to their extraordinary efforts to form solidarity at universities and encourage academic freedom, freedom of questioning and peaceful exchange of ideas.
[VIDEO] Dormitory manager, teacher wife jailed over Gulen links in Turkey’s Karabuk
A Karabuk couple, both educators who earlier lost their jobs in the face of the Turkish government’s post-coup crackdown, has been jailed pending trial over Gulen links.
Y.E., the manager of the now-defunct student dormitory that was closed over Gulen links, and his wife E.E., a teacher removed from her job over similar charges, have been arrested, media said Thursday.
Warrants issued for 93 prep school teachers, employees in Ankara
Detention warrants were issued for a total of 93 people as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement in Ankara, on Thursday.
The suspects consist of teachers and other staff who used to work at FEM Dersanesi, a prep schoold that the government earlier closed over its links to the Gulen movement.
Turkey’s post-coup crackdown leads to climate of fear, self-censorship in academia: HRW
A Turkish court has sentenced 64 academics and former staff members of the Denizli-based Pamukkale University to between 18 months and nine years in prison.
The Denizli 5th High Criminal Court held the final hearing on Friday of a trial stemming from an investigation into the Gülen movement’s alleged network within Pamukkale University. Sixty-four of 115 defendants were given prison sentences of between 18 months and eight years, nine months, mostly on charges of membership in the Gülen movement. Forty-eight of the suspects were acquitted of the charges, with the cases of the remaining three separated from the others.
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old teacher identified as A.Y.C. who was earlier dismissed from his job as part of the Turkish government’s post-coup crackdown has been detained along with his wife, D.C., while reportedly on their way to escape further persecution in Turkey.
The couple was picked up when gendarmes stopped the bus they took in an attempt to go to Greece in Tekirdag’s Malkara district, Turkish media reported. Arrest warrants were issued for the couple over their alleged ties to the Gülen movement six months ago, according to the media.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/turkeys-post-coup-crackdown-leads-to-climate-of-fear-self-censorship-in
#Rapport:
Turkey: Government Targeting Academics
Turkish court sentences 64 academics, university staff to prison over Gülen links
A Turkish court has sentenced 64 academics and former staff members of the Denizli-based Pamukkale University to between 18 months and nine years in prison.
The Denizli 5th High Criminal Court held the final hearing on Friday of a trial stemming from an investigation into the Gülen movement’s alleged network within Pamukkale University. Sixty-four of 115 defendants were given prison sentences of between 18 months and eight years, nine months, mostly on charges of membership in the Gülen movement. Forty-eight of the suspects were acquitted of the charges, with the cases of the remaining three separated from the others.
Meanwhile, a 31-year-old teacher identified as A.Y.C. who was earlier dismissed from his job as part of the Turkish government’s post-coup crackdown has been detained along with his wife, D.C., while reportedly on their way to escape further persecution in Turkey.
The couple was picked up when gendarmes stopped the bus they took in an attempt to go to Greece in Tekirdag’s Malkara district, Turkish media reported. Arrest warrants were issued for the couple over their alleged ties to the Gülen movement six months ago, according to the media.
Paralyzed teacher being held in Manisa prison for 22 months over coup charges
#İsa_Kara, a 54-year-old teacher who was fired from his job after a coup attempt in July 2016, has been held in a Manisa prison since October 2016 on coup charges even though he is partly paralyzed and suffers from a serious heart problem as well as other ailments.
According to an email sent to Turkeypurge.com editors on Monday, Mr. Kara had worked as a teacher in the Manisa province of Turkey for 34 years. He was fired from his job with a decree issued by the Turkish government on September 1, 2016. He was also arrested by a Manisa court later the same month and has been held in pre-trial detention since then.
Academic #Busra_Ersanli sentenced to 15 months in prison for signing 2016 peace petition
Turkish academic Büşra Ersanlı was sentenced to 1 years and 3 months in prison for signing signing a petition in 2016 criticizing the Turkish government for its violation of human rights and civilian casualties among the predominantly Kurdish population of eastern Turkey.
An Istanbul court convicted Ersanli on charges of making propaganda on behalf of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Tuesday.
Prof. Dr. Büşra Ersanlı Sentenced to 1 Year, 3 Months in Prison Without Deferment
Prof. Dr. Büşra Ersanlı, who has been tried for having signed the declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”, has been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison. The prison sentence of Ersanlı has not been deferred.
Turkish petition for peace puts academic freedom on trial
“Police are on campus, they are arresting students from the dormitories, and they check IDs in the library - this is what’s happening.”
►https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2018/04/turkish-petition-for-peace-puts-academic-freedom-on-trial
[VIDEO] 4 teachers, 4 children detained while fleeing from Turkish gov’t to Greece
A total of nine people including 4 children and 4 teachers were detained while they were reportedly on their way to escape to Greece.
Dogan news agency reported Saturday that the group was rounded up in a restricted military zone near #Evros river in #Edirne, a small province along Turkey’s Greek border.
Computer science professor given 6 years in jail over terror charges
A Kayseri court sentenced a computer science professor, identified as K.A.P., to 6 year and 3 months in prison over terror charges.
A former academic at the now-defunct Meliksah University, the professor was standing trial without arrest as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement
Media reported Tuesday that the evidence against him include his alleged use of ByLock mobile app and his money transactions at Bank Asya.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/computer-science-professor-given-6-years-in-jail-over-terror-charges
Turkish academic who signed peace petition set to go to prison for 15 months
A Turkish academic, who was given a 15-month jail sentence for signing a petition calling for peace in south-east Turkey, has had her sentence upheld and now faces prison. She is likely to be the first academic to be imprisoned for signing the petition.
Zübeyde Füsun Üstel’s 15-month jail sentence, originally imposed in April 2018 for signing a petition drafted by Academics for Peace, was upheld by the Turkish Court of Appeals on 25 February 2019. Üstel is a retired professor from Galatasaray University in Istanbul.
This decision by the appellate court means that she is in danger of being imprisoned very soon.
The peace petition — We Will Not Be a Party To This Crime — was initially signed by 1,128 academics and grew to 2,020 in the weeks after it was released in January 2016. Since then, the signatories have been subjected to a range of actions against them, including criminal and administrative investigations, detention, dismissals and revocation of their passports. As of December 2017, more than 400 academics have been dismissed and hundreds of PhD students have lost their scholarships.
Academics for Peace is an organisation of university professors and graduate students who drafted and launched the petition, which denounced the human rights violations committed by the government in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, demanded access to these areas for independent national and international observers, and called for a lasting peace to be secured.
“I think Professor Fusun Üstel’s case is a new illustration of the criminalisation of free speech in present-day Turkey,” said Noemi Levy-Aksu, a Turkish professor who lost her job for signing the petition.
Üstel was the first academic to refuse the legal provision the courts offer when prison sentences are less than two years. The provision involves suspending the pronouncement of judgment for a period of five years, during which the defendant is supposed to refrain from committing further “crimes”. Since what constitutes a crime in Turkey can be arbitrarily changed or determined by the political establishment, this provision aims to discipline defendants by placing them under supervision by the government. However, the advantage to the provision is that the suspect is left with no criminal record, barring their good behavior.
In her court hearing in April 2018, Üstel refused the offer of a suspension and was consequently sentenced to 15 months in prison. She appealed, but it was rejected on 25 February. She could become the first academic to be imprisoned since the trials began in December 2017. Nine other academics have refused the suspension provision and are waiting to appear before the court of appeals, according to the Academics for Peace website.
Following the confirmation of Üstel’s sentence, new initiatives have been started to raise awareness about her and all of the other Academics for Peace cases.
“An open letter has been endorsed by Academics for Peace-US and UK, academic and human rights organisations and more than 1500 academics from all around the world. Other initiatives are ongoing, especially in Germany, France, the US and the UK, where many academics from Turkey are now based,” said Levy-Aksu.
Investigations were opened by the government individually against each petition signatory on charges of “conducting propaganda for a terrorist organisation.” This is the charge professor Üstel is currently facing, as per the Article No. 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law No. 3713.
Some judges, including one dissenting judge in Üstel’s appeal case, believe the academics should not be tried under the anti-terror law on the charge of propagandizing for a terrorist organisation. Instead, they argue that Üstel’s and other cases should be considered as per the Article 301 of the Turkish penal code on the charge of “degrading the state of the republic of Turkey”.
“From the beginning, the trial of the Academics for Peace relied on very shaky grounds, both in terms of procedure and substance. The inconsistency of the decisions taken by the different courts show the arbitrariness of the process. Verdicts have been erratic and varied from 15 to 36 months imprisonment,” said Levy-Aksu.
Almost 600 of the signatories are currently undergoing trials on grounds of engagement in “propaganda for a terrorist organisation.”
Üstel published a series of articles in Turkey-based and international journals of social sciences. Her articles have mostly focused on the history of Turkey, nationalism and issues of identity.
Since its founding in 2012, Academics for Peace has organised different actions to highlight attacks on the Kurds in south-east Turkey, and to call for the Turkish government to change its policy towards the Kurds. In 2012 it issued a statement showing support for Kurdish prisoners’ demands for peace in Turkey. This statement was signed by 264 academics from over 50 universities.
Since January 2016 when they published the peace petition, the Academics for Peace case has remained a symbol of the ongoing crackdown on the right to protest and speak out against the government in Turkey.
“In the current circumstances this will highly depend on governmental policy. The other venue to challenge the decision is the European Court of Human Rights, before which several applications have already been brought,” said Levy-Aksu.
The Purge Begins In Turkey
On Saturday, Turkish soldiers and police—those who had remained loyal to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the uncertain hours of the previous day—were rounding up their enemies across the security services, reportedly arresting thousands. There will be thousands more. In the high-stakes world of Turkish politics—nominally democratic but played with authoritarian ferocity—justice for the losers will be swift and brutal.
▻http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-purge-begins-in-turkey
#Turquie #répression #coup2016 #purge
Turquie : putsch déjoué mais tensions persistantes, des vidéos montrent des lynchages de putschistes
Le gouvernement turc a annoncé samedi l’échec de la tentative de putsch qui a fait au moins 265 morts, mais des tensions persistaient comme en témoignaient l’appel lancé par le président Erdogan à la poursuite de la mobilisation de ses sympathisants et la quasi-fermeture d’une importante base aérienne.
▻http://www.lalibre.be/actu/international/turquie-putsch-dejoue-mais-tensions-persistantes-des-videos-montrent-des-lyn
Coup d’Etat raté en Turquie... à moins qu’il n’ait réussi !
Hier soir, lorsqu’on a appris le putsch en cours en Turquie, j’ai évoqué deux hypothèses sur Facebook. La première était un coup sérieux patronné par les Ricains pour se débarrasser d’un Erdogan devenu insupportable en raison de son soutien à Daesh, jamais démenti contrairement à ce que prétend la propagande, et du fait qu’il tire dans le dos des Kurdes, alliés de Washington sur le terrain.
▻http://www.olivier-delorme.com/odblog/index.php?2016%2F07%2F16%2F751-coup-d-etat-rate-en-turquie
Turquie : Erdogan sauvé du putsch par... l’armée
Si ses relations avec l’armée qu’il a maintes fois purgée ont souvent été compliquées, le président turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan a pu compter sur le soutien salvateur de son haut commandement contre la tentative de coup d’Etat menée par un groupe de soldats mutins.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-erdogan-sauve-du-putsch-par-larmee.afp.com.20160717.d
A photojournalist killed and media occupied in Turkey: democracy was targeted
#Mustafa_Cambaz, photojournalist for the Turkish daily Yeni Safak was killed by soldiers during the attempt coup in Turkey, last night, in the Cengelkoy neighborhood of Istanbul. Soldiers took control of the state broadcaster TRT, the private broadcasters CNN-Turk and Kanal D, and the daily newspaper Hurriyet.
▻http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2016/07/16/a-photojournalist-killed-and-media-occupied-in-turkey-democracy
Turquie. L’heure des purges a commencé
Au lendemain du coup d’Etat avorté, une violente répression s’abat sur les militaires et leurs soutiens présumés. Dans la ligne de mire d’Ankara, un homme, refugié aux Etats-Unis : Fetullah Gülen.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/turquie-lheure-des-purges-commence
«Erdogan wird jetzt noch autoritärer herrschen»
Der Putsch in der Türkei sei schlecht organisiert gewesen, sagt der Istanbuler Politologe Can Büyükbay. Der gescheiterte Umsturz könne dramatische Folgen haben.
▻http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/europa/erdogan-wird-jetzt-noch-autoritaerer-herrschen/story/13241180
Turchia, colpo di Stato sventato. Ora il colpo di grazia alle libertà?
Golpe militare in Turchia. Per anni è stato un binomio indissolubile, sembrava. Ancora nel 2007, quando si ritornava alle elezioni politiche, la stampa straniera, italiana inclusa, si era riversata per seguire il voto e paventava un colpo di Stato. Niente. Le continue vittorie elettorali dell’Akp, il partito di Erdogan, erano un segnale di stabilità e di un percorso democratico che pareva avesse annullato il pericolo di interventi militari che fino a pochi anni prima avevano caratterizzato la storia turca.
Coup d’état attempt: Turkey’s Reichstag fire?
We are witnessing the consolidation of a new form of authoritarianism with a populist streak.
▻https://cdn.opendemocracy.net/files/imagecache/article_xlarge/wysiwyg_imageupload/500209/PA-28094900.jpg
▻https://opendemocracy.net/ay-e-kad-o-lu/coup-d-tat-attempt-turkey-s-reichstag-fire
Attacks on #HDP Offices Following Coup Attempt in Turkey
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) offices have been attacked in three cities following the failed coup attempt in Turkey.
Aftermath of Turkey coup attempt will be bloody and repressive
Mob rule will shape country’s politics as attacks on anyone seen to oppose Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his party continue
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/16/aftermath-of-turkish-coup-attempt-will-be-bloody-and-repressive?CMP=fb_
En Turquie, un coup d’Etat avorté qui sert les ambitions d’Erdogan
« Purges massives », « début du grand nettoyage », « élimination de l’opposition » : la tentative de putsch d’une partie de l’armée turque risque de renforcer la dérive autoritaire du président Erdogan, s’inquiète la presse suisse de ce lundi. Ce coup d’Etat raté offre en effet une occasion inespérée au président turc de s’octroyer les pleins pouvoirs.
▻http://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/revue-de-presse_en-turquie--un-coup-d-etat-avort%C3%A9-qui-sert-les-ambitions-d-erdogan/42305466
Turquie : Erdogan purge l’appareil d’Etat
En Turquie, après le coup d’État militaire avorté du 15 juillet, au cours duquel au moins 308 personnes ont été tuées, le président Erdogan veut mettre la société au pas. Une purge immédiate et radicale a commencé dans l’armée, la justice, la police et la bureaucratie. Reportage à Istanbul.
►https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/180716/turquie-erdogan-purge-l-appareil-d-etat
L’attivista curdo: “Poi toccherà a noi”
“L’atmosfera nelle strade è davvero orribile adesso”, racconta a Radio Popolare da Istanbul Burak, un attivista curdo che aveva partecipato in prima file alle proteste di Gezi Park. “Le piazze sono piene di sostenitori di Erdogan che non sono affatto i sostenitori della democrazia descritti da molti giornali. Sono estremisti di destra, religiosi e violenti, che hanno anche attaccato quartieri aleviti e anche profughi siriani, nelle ultime ore”.
▻http://www.radiopopolare.it/2016/07/lattivista-curdo-poi-tocchera-a-noi
Failed coup attempt in Turkey: the victory of democracy?
Who was the aggressor and who the victim? Who was protecting whom? From whom?
►https://www.opendemocracy.net/zeynep-gambetti/failed-coup-attempt-in-turkey-victory-of-democracy
Ce que la tentative de coup d’État en Turquie va changer
Une tentative de coup d’État dramatique, menée par une partie de l’armée turque, a été déjouée. Elle a fait plus de 290 morts, 1 400 blessés et a conduit à 9 000 arrestations (dont 30 gouverneurs).
▻http://www.irinnews.org/fr/analyses/2016/07/18/ce-que-la-tentative-de-coup-d%E2%80%99%C3%A9tat-en-turquie-va-changer
Turkey: Protect Rights, Law After Coup Attempt
(Berlin) – The response of the Turkish government to an attempted coup will be a critical test of its commitment to defend democratic principles and human rights, including media freedom and respect for the rule of law.
▻https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/18/turkey-protect-rights-law-after-coup-attempt
« Le coup d’Etat en Turquie n’était pas contrôlé dès le début »
Le chercheur Jean-François Pérouse a vécu depuis Istanbul la tentative de coup d’État, et la pression qui a suivi. Il ne tient pas pour autant à « diaboliser » les « forces sociales » au sein de l’AKP, le parti du président turc, qui ne verseront pas si facilement, pense-t-il, dans la propagande en faveur d’un État autocratique.
►https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/180716/le-coup-detat-en-turquie-netait-pas-controle-des-le-debut
Universitaires interdits de voyage à l’étranger
Coup d’Etat en TurquieLe gouvernement continue à prendre des mesures après le putsch qui a secoué le pays, vendredi.
▻http://www.24heures.ch/monde/universitaires-interdits-voyage-etranger/story/19840548
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of July 17
Police detained Levent Kenez, editor of Meydan newspaper, and Meydan Responsible News Editor Gülizar Baki from the newspaper’s offices in Istanbul this evening, the news website T24 reported. Few details were immediately available, but Meydan is sympathetic to the Hizmet movement, which the Turkish government has blamed for orchestrating a failed July 15 coup attempt.
▻https://cpj.org/blog/2016/07/turkey-crackdown-chronicle.php
Turkey suspends European Convention on Human Rights in wake of coup
Turkey will temporarily suspend the European Convention on Human Rights after announcing a state of emergency following the attempted coup.
▻http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/turkey-coup-attempt-human-rights-president-erdogan-purge-turkish-mili
Turquie : l’UE suit « de très près » l’application de l’état d’urgence
L’Union européenne a déclaré suivre « de très près et avec inquiétude » l’application de l’état d’urgence décrété en Turquie à la suite du coup d’Etat manqué du 15 juillet, après lequel Ankara a lancé une gigantesque purge.
Turquie : les enjeux de « l’après-coup d’Etat »
Si la tentative de coup d’Etat du 15 juillet a surpris, les événements qui suivent son échec sont, à bien des égards, encore plus stupéfiants. Après la confusion et les violences qui ont marqué l’effondrement de l’intervention militaire, on s’attendait à ce que la répression ratisse large. Et de fait, outre 10 000 militaires, près de 3000 magistrats ont rapidement été arrêtés, parmi lesquels plusieurs dizaines de juges et de procureurs du Conseil d’Etat et de la Cour de cassation, sans oublier deux membres de la Cour constitutionnelle (une première dans toute l’histoire de la République !). Pourtant, on est en train de se rend compte que ces arrestations n’ont été que le début d’une immense purge qui est à l’œuvre pour transformer l’Etat et la société turcs. Une nouvelle ère politique s’ouvre donc en Turquie, et elle ne laisse pas d’inquiéter.
Quelques remarques après le coup d’état manqué de la nuit du 15 au 16 juillet 2016. Un coup d’état hors-sol ?
Alors que l’on recherche encore des membres du commando qui a tenté dans la nuit du 15 au 16 juillet de prendre d’assaut l’hôtel de Marmaris où ne se trouvait plus le président de la République, alors que des affrontements sporadiques se poursuivent (à Trabzon, 3 policiers tués le 19/07 vers 12h.), alors que le bilan exact, humain1 et matériel, n’est pas encore tout à fait connu, alors que les mises en garde à vue se poursuivent, alors que ceux qui ont vécu les événements à Ankara et Istanbul sont encore sous le choc et que l’AKP continue à demander à ses sympathisants de veiller chaque nuit en investissant les espaces publics, qu’il nous soit permis ici de synthétiser quelques-unes des analyses les plus éclairantes lues jusqu’alors2.
This is the biggest witch-hunt in Turkey’s history
Power’s always swung between mosques and military. But the brutality of this clampdown is at a new level – and I’ve been jailed before. We need Europe’s help
▻https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/22/biggest-witch-hunt-turkish-history-coup-erdogan-europe-help?CMP=Share_i
#chasse_aux_sorcières #coup #coup_d'Etat
Turkey: of coups and popular resistance
The construct of ‘the people’ thrives on and demands homogeneity of values and unity of purpose and banishes diversity and difference to the realm of the evil ‘other’.
▻https://www.opendemocracy.net/spyros-sofos/turkey-of-coups-and-popular-resistance
#résistance #populisme
Purges en Turquie: #Turkish_Airlines licencie 211 employés
Istanbul - La compagnie nationale turque Turkish Airlines a annoncé lundi le licenciement de 211 employés en raison de leurs liens allégués avec le prédicateur Fethullah Gülen, accusé par Ankara d’être l’instigateur du coup d’Etat manqué du 15 juillet.
▻http://www.romandie.com/news/Purges-en-Turquie-Turkish-Airlines-licencie-211-employes/723494.rom
Coup d’État avorté en Turquie : une victoire de la #démocratie ?
Selon #Zeynep_Gambetti, professeure associée de théorie politique à l’Université du Bosphore à Istanbul (1), « le coup d’État du 15 juillet risque d’ouvrir la voie à l’abolition du régime parlementaire en faveur d’un #régime_présidentiel, dépourvu de tout système de freins et de contre-pouvoirs sur l’exécutif. Voilà justement ce qu’Erdoğan voulait instaurer. » Texte original publié le 18 juillet 2016 sur OpenDemocracy.
▻https://blogs.mediapart.fr/les-invites-de-mediapart/blog/250716/coup-detat-avorte-en-turquie-une-victoire-de-la-democratie
Turkey: Rights Protections Missing From Emergency Decree. Orders to Purge Civil Servants, Judges; Close Groups Down
(Istanbul) – The first emergency decree under Turkey’s state of emergency is arbitrary, discriminatory, and unjustified as a response to the violent coup attempt or other public order concerns.
▻https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/07/26/turkey-rights-protections-missing-emergency-decree
Turquie : mandat d’arrêt contre 42 journalistes après le putsch raté (médias)
Des mandats d’arrêt ont été délivrés à l’encontre de 42 journalistes dans le cadre de la purge tous azimuts lancée après le putsch du 15 juillet en Turquie, ont annoncé lundi 25 juillet des chaînes de télévision. Parmi les journalistes se trouve Nazli Ilicak, figure de premier plan du monde des médias en Turquie, limogée du quotidien progouvernemental Sabah en 2013 pour avoir critiqué des ministres impliqués dans un scandale de corruption, ont rapporté NTV et CNN-Turk.
▻http://www.rfi.fr/contenu/ticker/turquie-mandat-arret-contre-42-journalistes-apres-le-putsch-rate-medias
Turquie : deux généraux de premier plan en garde à vue à #Dubaï
Deux généraux turcs de premier plan servant en Afghanistan ont été placés en garde à vue à Dubaï pour leur implication présumée dans le coup d’Etat raté du 15 juillet en Turquie, a annoncé mardi l’agence pro-gouvernementale Anadolu.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/la-turquie-poursuit-ses-putschistes-letranger.afp.com.2016072
#Nazli_Ilicak, l’affranchie arrêtée par Erdogan
L’éditorialiste libérale de 72 ans, un temps proche du Président turc, fait partie des 42 journalistes ciblés par la purge.
▻http://lesjours.fr/obsessions/la-charniere/ep25-nazli-ilicak/img/header.jpg
▻http://lesjours.fr/obsessions/la-charniere/ep25-nazli-ilicak
Turkish coup probe turns sights on journalists
Bulent Mumay found out he was on a list of 42 journalists facing arrest when a friend called him on Monday morning.
Turkey : detention Warrant for 42 Journalists
Custody order has been issued for 42 journalists including journalist Nazlı Ilıcak within the investigation into Gülen Community
▻http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Turkey/Turkey-detention-Warrant-for-42-Journalists
Turquie : 149 généraux et amiraux limogés après le putsch raté
Cent quarante-neuf généraux et amiraux ont été limogés de l’armée turque pour leur implication dans le coup d’Etat raté du 15 juillet, a annoncé mercredi soir un responsable turc.
« Ils ont été limogés pour leur complicité dans la tentative de coup d’Etat », a déclaré ce responsable, précisant qu’il s’agissait de 87 hauts gradés de l’armée de terre, 30 de l’armée de l’air et 32 de la marine.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-149-generaux-et-amiraux-limoges-apres-le-putsch-rate.
Erdoğan traque les collaborateurs de #Gülen dans tous les #Balkans
Après le putsch avorté en Turquie, les autorités d’Ankara se lancent à la « traque » de celui qui en est considéré comme le « cerveau », Fethullah Gülen et son réseau FETO. Le Président turc, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, est à la recherche des collaborateurs du mouvement Gülen en Albanie et en Bosnie-Herzégovine.
▻http://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/le-fil-de-l-info/erdogan-a-la-recherche-des-collaborateurs-de-gulen-en-albanie.htm
Turquie : mandats d’arrêt contre 100 employés d’un hôpital militaire d’Ankara
Des mandats d’arrêt ont été lancés contre 100 membres du personnel d’un hôpital militaire d’Ankara, dont des médecins, a annoncé mardi la télévision, deux semaines et demi après la tentative avortée de putsch en Turquie.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-mandats-darret-contre-100-employes-dun-hopital-milita
This powerful series of tweets says all you need to know about the state of Turkey’s democracy
Turkish president Recep Erdogan has ordered that at least 131 media outlets suspected of inciting or sympathizing with this month’s failed military coup be permanently shut down.
▻https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CotLBeMUEAIhbNs.jpg
▻http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/this-powerful-series-of-tweets-says-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-st
Journalists detained in Turkey since the coup attempt, 15 July
The EFJ and the IFJ listed 62 journalists and media owners detained since the coup attempt (15 July) in Turkey:
▻http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2016/07/29/journalists-detained-in-turkey-since-the-coup-attempt-15-july
#Türköne among 12 journalists arrested in escalating media crackdown
Mümtazer Türköne was arrested along with 11 more editors and columnists at the Zaman daily before it was forcefully seized by the government in March, due to allegedly being involved in the recent failed coup attempt, in the aftermath of which Turkish government’s crackdown on free media — among many other government bodies – has gained momentum.
Turkey : 100 Media Outlets Closed, 30 Journalists detained
A week before the recent coup attempt in Turkey a group of journalists launched a campaign to defend press freedom entitled “I am a journalist! Journalism is not a crime!”. Participating newspapers and online news portals issued a statement about press freedom and published banners saying “Did you know? Journalism is not a crime!”.
▻http://en.ejo.ch/media-politics/turkey-media-outlets-closed-journalists-arrested
US journalist detained in Turkey
A U.S. citizen has been detained for trying to enter Turkey illegally from Syria, the governor of the southern province of Hatay said on August 7.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-journalist-detained-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=102585&NewsC
#journalistes #journalisme #médias
Turkey – world leader in imprisoned journalists
The witchhunt launched in the wake of the 15 July coup attempt in Turkey continues to take a heavy toll on journalists. In the draconian state of emergency imposed after the abortive coup, the authorities have closed more than 100 media outlets critical of the government, placed 42 journalists in provisional detention and banned many others from travelling abroad.
▻https://rsf.org/en/news/turkey-world-leader-imprisoned-journalists
#Olivier_Bertrand (Les Jours) - Turquie - la répression contre la presse
Purges en Turquie: mandat d’arrêt contre #Hakan_Sukur, ex-star du foot
Un mandat d’arrêt a été émis en Turquie contre l’ex-star du football Hakan Sukur dans le cadre de la purge en cours contre les milieux proches du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen après le putsch avorté du mois dernier, a annoncé vendredi la presse.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/sites/ci_master/files/styles/image_original_765/public/afp/75cdd555ee297828223b30e25a938f7591b0e52e.jpg?itok=m4xBQdkC
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-mandat-darret-contre-une-ex-star-du-football-proche-d
#football
Turkey Calls for Schools to Destroy Books and Newspapers After Coup
The publications listed are said to have links to Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey blames for an attempted coup.
▻http://europe.newsweek.com/turkey-calls-destruction-gulen-publications-after-coup-490601
#livres
“La romancière #Asli_Erdogan a été arrêtée en Turquie, je suis inquiète pour elle”
Depuis un mois, on suspend, on arrête les gens par milliers en Turquie... Je revois une femme gracile, déterminée et passionnée, telle que je l’ai connue il y a une quinzaine d’années, telle que nous nous retrouvions, au gré de ses voyages, autour d’un thé à Paris, au Select, ce lieu prisé autrefois par les écrivains turcs et dont elle perpétue ainsi la tradition.
Turquie : le parquet ordonne la saisie des biens de 187 hommes d’affaires
Le parquet d’Istanbul a ordonné jeudi la saisie des biens de 187 hommes d’affaires recherchés et soupçonnés d’avoir des liens avec l’ex-imam Fethullah Gülen accusé d’être le cerveau du putsch avorté en Turquie, ont rapporté les médias locaux.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/la-purge-des-pro-gulen-sintensifie-dans-les-milieux-economiqu
Cartoonist Dogan Güzel Among Journalists Arrested In Turkey Press Purge
Cartoonist #Dogan_Güzel was among the journalists arrested in the government raid on the Kurdish newspaper Özgür Gündem in Istanbul on Tuesday. Photos show the cartoonist in a torn shirt in police custody. In 1999, Dogan Güzel was the first recipient of CRNI’s Courage in Political Cartooning award. At that time, he had just spent a year in jail for “drawing a cartoon that called the state ‘weak,’ and for publishing his cartoons in the Kurdish language.” Cartoonists Rights joins Reporters Without Borders in condemning the closure of the newspaper and calls for the release of the journalists.
▻http://i0.wp.com/cartoonistsrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ozgur-Gundem-after-raid.jpg?w=653
▻http://cartoonistsrights.org/cartoonist-dogan-guzel-among-journalists-arrested-in-turkey-press
200 Turkish journalists blacklisted from parliament
One of the most vital duties of a journalist — in any democracy — is to report on the day-to-day operations of a country’s parliament. Journalism schools devote much time to teaching the deciphering budgets and legal language, and how to report fairly on political divides and debates.
▻https://www.indexoncensorship.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/turkey-baydar.png
▻https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2016/08/200-turkish-journalists-blacklisted-from-parliament
Asli Erdogan : « La question kurde, c’est aujourd’hui l’enjeu numéro un en Turquie »
Dans le petit cercle des écrivains turcs, aux côtés d’Elif Shafak ou Ohran Pamuk, Asli Erdogan est l’écorchée vive, celle qui n’en a jamais fini de remuer la cendre et les conflits. Elle a sillonné le sud-est du pays, cette région kurde qui est le théâtre d’une véritable « guerre », et raconté le quotidien des prisons turques. Entretien.
▻https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/280910/asli-erdogan-la-question-kurde-cest-aujourdhui-lenjeu-numero-un-en-turq
2 308 journalistes ont perdu leur emploi depuis la tentative de putsch en Turquie
Selon le syndicat des journalistes lié à la Fédération DISK, 2 308 personnes ont perdu leur emploi depuis la tentative de putsch. Un décret-loi avait interdit 131 médias.
▻https://www.zamanfrance.fr/article/2-308-journalistes-ont-perdu-leur-emploi-tentative-putsch-en-turquie-232
Les foudres d’Erdogan s’abattent aussi sur les sympathisants de Gülen en Suisse
Depuis le putsch manqué, les disciples du mouvement de l’imam turc Fethullah Gülen en Suisse témoignent d’un climat de haine et de harcèlement. La campagne qui les vise est relayée par les antennes d’Ankara
▻https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/2016/08/18/foudres-derdogan-sabattent-sympathisants-gulen-suisse
Stop the press: Turkey’s crackdown on its media goes into overdrive
Since the attempted coup, the government has ordered more than a hundred outlets to close and arrested 48 journalists
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/29/stop-the-press-turkey-crackdown-journalists-overdrive-since-coup?CMP=tw
Erdogan vieta #Shakespeare nei teatri turchi
Gli attori sono l’ultima categoria presa di mira dal governo turco, che proibisce opere occidentali nella prossima stagione. Una situazione che riecheggia quella vissuta dall’Iran rivoluzionario, quando molti grandi interpreti, registi e commediografi furono costretti a lasciare il paese
▻http://www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2016/08/31/erdogan-teatri-turchia___1-v-146685-rubriche_c225.htm
#théâtre
Turkish linguist arrested on terror charges in #Özgür_Gündem probe
Turkish linguist and author Necmiye Alpay was arrested on Aug. 31 on terror charges as a part of an ongoing investigation into closed daily Özgür Gündem.
Turkey suspends 11,500 teachers as Erdogan declares largest operation against Kurds
Ankara has dismissed thousands of Kurdish teachers for alleged links to the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK). President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also announced a massive operation to cull the militants.
▻http://www.dw.com/en/turkey-suspends-11500-teachers-as-erdogan-declares-largest-operation-against-kurds/a-19537662
Turkey Uses Post-Coup Emergency Decree to Purge Mayors and Teachers
ISTANBUL — The Turkish government said on Friday that it was preparing to take over at least 28 municipal administrations nationwide, ousting elected mayors as part of an intensified crackdown against Kurdish insurgents.
#Mehmet_Altan (photo de gauche) qui vient d’être arrêté est né en 1953. C’est un économiste spécialiste des relations entre la Turquie et le FMI. Sa thèse soutenue à la Sorbonne portait sur les relations triangulaires entre la Turquie, l’URSS et les Etats-Unis. Il a enseigné ensuite dans le privé, et publié de nombreux articles, notamment pour le quotidien Cumhuriyet dont il a été correspondant à Paris. Ses articles et essais ont été réunis dans un livre intitulé La Fourmi volante et il est l’auteur de nombreux ouvrages, notamment sur l’AKP, sur la politique en Turquie, la vie dans le sud-est, l’islamisme en milieu urbain etc.
Il revient en Turquie en 1984 et travaille pour une firme privée avant de devenir assistant puis professeur à l’Université d’Istanbul. De 2006 à 2012 il écrit pour les quotidiens Sabah, et Star.
#Ahmet_Altan (photo de droite) qui vient d’être arrêté en même temps que son frère Mehmet (voir notice par ailleurs) est né en 1950. C’est un journaliste très renommé qui a été longtemps chorniqueur à Hürriyet, Günes, Milliyet, Yeni Yüzyıl. Il a été exclu de la rédaction de Milliyet pour ses positions à l’égard des Kurdes (on l’accusait de soutenir la création d’un Kurdistan).
Il est l’un des fondateurs et dirigeants du quotidien Taraf en 2007
En septembre 2008, il est inculpé d’insulte à la nation turque pour avoir reconnu le génocide des Arméniens. Il a ensuite participé à la Fondation Hrant Dink et a reçu le prix Hrant Dink de la paix en 2011.
Il a démissionné de Taraf en 2012, pour y revenir en 2015.
Il a eu également des ennuis avec la justice pour des articles concernant Atatürk, et le massacre de Roboski en 2012.
vu sur Facebook, le 10.09.2016
Enseignants suspendus, réprimés, aux limites de l’absurde
11 301 enseignants dont 9843 s’avèrent être des membre du syndicat enseignant #Egitim-Sen, viennent d’être suspendus lors d’un nouveau coup de balai dans l’éducation nationale. Les purges précédentes concernaient déjà au moins 28 000 employés dans ce ministère, depuis le coup d’État raté du 15 juillet. L’accusation, cette fois, désigne une complicité de terrorisme avec le PKK, sans toutefois le nommer.
►http://www.kedistan.net/2016/09/10/enseignants-suspendus-labsurde
Turquie : 28 maires relevés de leurs fonctions pour des liens présumés avec le PKK ou les gülenistes
La Turquie a relevé dimanche de leurs fonctions 28 maires soupçonnés d’être liés aux militants kurdes du Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK) ou à l’ex-prédicateur Gülen, accusé d’être à l’origine du putsch avorté de mi-juillet, a annoncé le ministre de l’Intérieur, Suleyman Soylu.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-28-maires-releves-de-leurs-fonctions-pour-des-liens-p
Turkey removes 28 mayors on terrorism charges
With authority vested by the state of emergency rule, the Turkish government removed 28 mayors on Sunday in the predominantly in Kurdish regions of the country, replacing them with trustees.
HDP calls for mass protests against removal of Kurdish mayors
A government decision to remove elected Kurdish mayors in Turkey’s Southeast has sparked an uproar across the region as People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chairperson Figen Yüksekdağ described the move as a coup against the will of the people, calling for mass protests against the decision.
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/2016/09/12/hdp-calls-mass-protests-removal-kurdish-mayors
82 arrested, 31 detained over coup charges on Sunday
A huge cleansing of Turkey’s state and other institutions is continuing as people from all walks of life find themselves being hunted down and taken into custody.
Turchia: liberate i fratelli Altan
Decine di intellettuali, tra i quali tre Nobel per la Letteratura, in una lettera di protesta chiedono il rilascio del giornalista #Ahmet_Altan e del fratello Mehmet, arrestati il 10 settembre
Turchia: a perdere è sempre il giornalismo
Il tentato golpe del 15 luglio, le ripercussioni sui media e giornalisti turchi. L’editoriale di uno dei giornalisti arrestati in quei giorni
▻http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Turchia/Turchia-a-perdere-e-sempre-il-giornalismo-173990
En anglais: ▻http://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Turkey/Journalism-in-Turkey-my-days-in-jail-after-the-coup-173990
Kurdish Prisoners Electrocuted, Hanged as Turkey Returns to ’Old Forms of Torture’
“We went to Şırnak and Nusaybin with an 18 person IHD delegation. We were told of the torture at detention centres. Those who were tortured said, ’old forms of torture are back. It’s as if they had hidden away old torture instruments used for electrocution and hanging and brought them out [to use on us]’. Our lawyer friends are following up on the issue. Life has turned into torture in the [Kurdish] region. People are living among ruins. Everything has been destroyed. The sound of gunfire and work machines dominate everything. Neighbourhoods are besieged by armored vehicles.”
▻http://www.kurdishquestion.com/article/3438-kurdish-prisoners-electrocuted-hanged-as-turkey-returns-to-039
Turchia, morto in carcere procuratore arrestato per il golpe. Seguiva inchiesta che coinvolgeva familiari di Erdogan
#Seyfettin_Yigit è stato trovato impiccato questa mattina nei bagni della prigione di Bursa. Era responsabile del processo per corruzione che riguardava anche l’Agenzia governativa per lo sviluppo abitativo. Il corpo è stato portato al dipartimento di medicina legale della città turca per l’autopsia, che dovrà verificare se si è trattato di omicidio o di suicidio. Convalidato il fermo per il numero due del partito filo-curdo
▻http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/09/16/turchia-morto-in-carcere-procuratore-arrestato-per-il-golpe-seguiva-inchiesta-che-coinvolgeva-familiari-di-erdogan/3038248
Turkey: #LGBT, state of emergency
After the failed coup in Turkey, the state of emergency exacerbates discrimination and attacks against the LGBT community
#Joost_Lagendijk, bloccato all’aeroporto di Istanbul
Impedito l’ingresso in Turchia all’ex europarlamentare verde, docente e editorialista per la stampa turca. Residente da anni a Istanbul e sposato con una giornalista turca
Putsch en Turquie : 87 membres des services de renseignement limogés
La Turquie a limogé 87 membres des services de renseignement turcs (MIT) pour des liens présumés avec la confrérie de l’ex-prédicateur, Fethullah Gülen, accusé d’avoir fomenté le putsch avorté de mi-juillet, a rapporté mardi l’agence de presse progouvernementale Anadolu.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/putsch-en-turquie-87-membres-des-services-de-renseignement-li
Turquie: l’#état_d'urgence va être prolongé
Le Conseil national de sécurité turc, dirigé par le président Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a estimé mercredi que l’état d’urgence instauré pour trois mois après la tentative de coup d’Etat du 15 juillet, et qui a entraîné à ce jour l’arrestation de 32.000 personnes, devait être prolongé.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-letat-durgence-va-etre-prolonge.afp.com.20160928.doc.
#Turquie. Partout dans le monde, l’empire #Gülen est sous pression
Depuis la tentative de coup d’État, le 15 juillet dernier, les purges se multiplient en Turquie. Principales cibles : les sympathisants du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen, désigné comme l’instigateur du putsch manqué. Une #répression qui s’étend hors des frontières turques.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/grand-format/turquie-partout-dans-le-monde-lempire-gulen-est-sous-pression
#cartographie #visualisation
Pro-Kurdish DBP’s Hani mayor arrested
#Abdurrahman_Zorlu, mayor of the Hani district of southeastern Diyarbakır province, was arrested on Friday on charges of membership in a terrorist organization, CNN Türk has reported.
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/2016/09/30/pro-kurdish-dbps-hani-mayor-arrested
Turkey suspends 12,800 police officers in coup plot probe
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-police-suspends-12801-personnel-over-alleged-links-to-gul
Après le coup d’État militaire raté, le coup d’État civil réussi d’Erdogan
Objectif : instaurer un nouveau système politique à sa mesure.
▻http://www.slate.fr/story/124959/coup-etat-militaire-erdogan
Turquie : plus de 35.000 arrestations depuis la tentative de coup d’Etat
Plus de 35.000 personnes ont été arrêtées en Turquie, et un total de 82.000 ont fait l’objet d’une enquête, depuis la tentative de coup d’Etat le 15 juillet, a annoncé le ministre de la Justice.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-plus-de-35000-arrestations-depuis-la-tentative-de-cou
107 Gazeteci Hapiste, Kapatılan Medyadan 2 Bin 500 İşsiz
Hapis gazetecilerin 71’i «Cemaat», 29’u Kürt Medyasından. 155 medya kapatıldı; 775 basın kartı, 49 pasaport iptal. 191 gazeteci 1 müebbet ve 2 bin 152 yıl hapis talebiyle yargılanıyor. 29 kişi Erdoğan «sanığı, mağduru, şüphelisi».
Internet shutdown in Turkey’s Southeast following mayor’s detention
A full internet shutdown lasting almost 12 hours has cut off Turkey’s Southeast regions, following protests against the detention of #Diyarbakir mayor and co-mayor Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı on terrorism charges.
▻https://turkeyblocks.org/2016/10/26/internet-shutdown-turkey-diyarbakir
« -Il faut sortir d’une lecture trop erdogano-centrée »
▻http://le1hebdo.fr/numero/127/il-faut-sortir-d-une-lecture-trop-erdogano-centre-1882.html
Era il 2011, davanti al tribunale di #Diyarbakır per uno dei tanti maxi processi contro militanti curdi, al presidio si avvicina un’attivista internazionale che mi chiede di tradurre la sua rabbia: “Perché gli impedite di difendersi nella loro lingua?”. Il poliziotto sorride e risponde sereno: “faremo come in Sri Lanka, li stermineremo tutti”.
Turquie : les deux maires de Diyarbakir en détention pour activités « terroristes »
Un tribunal turc a annoncé dimanche avoir placé en détention provisoire les deux maires de Diyarbakir, épicentre du sud-est à majorité kurde de la Turquie, accusés d’activités « terroristes » en lien avec le Parti des travailleurs du Kurdistan (PKK).
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-les-deux-maires-de-diyarbakir-en-detention-pour-activ
Turquie : nouvelle vague de purges suite à la tentative de coup d’État
Les purges se poursuivent, en Turquie, après la tentative de coup d’État avortée de juillet. Les autorités ont limogé 10 000 nouveaux fonctionnaires, selon deux décrets publiés samedi soir au Journal officiel.
▻http://www.france24.com/fr/20161030-turquie-erdogan-poursuit-purge-tentative-coup-etat-putsch-ankara-
Turquie : arrestation du rédacteur en chef du quotidien d’opposition « #Cumhuriyet »
Les logements de dirigeants et rédacteurs du journal ont également été visés par des perquisitions, ont annoncé, lundi 31 octobre, plusieurs médias turcs, dont le site Internet du journal visé.
►http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2016/10/31/turquie-arrestation-du-redacteur-en-chef-du-quotidien-d-opposition-cumhuriye
Turquie. Erdogan continue sa vague répressive
Depuis le coup d’État manqué de la mi-juillet, les arrestations d’intellectuels, de journalistes, et d’hommes politiques se multiplient en Turquie. Ce samedi, le président turc a annoncé deux nouveaux décrets visant la presse et les fonctionnaires.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/sites/ci_master/files/styles/image_original_1280/public/assets/images/rtx2r5ps.jpg?itok=VRmmzBq2
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/turquie-erdogan-continue-sa-vague-repressive
Turquie. Le journal “#Cumhuriyet”, symbole de la répression
“Je ne suis toujours pas en prison, mon frère” : Murat Yetkin résume en ces termes, sur le site du quotidien anglophone Hurriyet Daily News, “l’état d’esprit des journalistes en Turquie ces jours-ci”.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/sites/ci_master/files/styles/image_original_1280/public/assets/images/tjeerd_2016-11-01-5334.jpg?itok=NVo3g0yH
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/dessin/turquie-le-journal-cumhuriyet-symbole-de-la-repression
Turquie. L’inquiétude grandit sur le respect de l’Etat de droit
De nouveau des journalistes d’opposition mais aussi plusieurs députés pro-kurdes ont été arrêtés ces derniers 24 heures en Turquie.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/turquie-linquietude-grandit-sur-le-respect-de-letat-de-droit
Turquie : détention pour 9 membres du journal d’opposition Cumhuriyet
Un tribunal d’Istanbul a ordonné le placement en détention avant un procès de neuf membres du journal d’opposition Cumhuriyet, a annoncé samedi l’agence turque Dogan.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/sites/ci_master/files/styles/image_original_765/public/afp/1a31b742ca3943798a939fadc65a04e3f5fdf83e.jpg?itok=_CmZ5tQp
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-9-membres-du-principal-journal-dopposition-en-detenti
Arrest of #HDP deputies is constitutional necessity: Turkish deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister and spokesman Numan Kurtulmuş has slammed criticism of the arrests of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers, recalling the constitutional amendment lifting the impunity of MPs that came into force in June.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/early-election-in-turkey-is-unlikely-govt-spokesperson.aspx
#Albanie : Erdoğan à la chasse aux réseaux gülenistes
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accentue sa pression sur les autorités albanaises, sommées de faire la chasse aux réseaux gülenistes dans le pays. En ligne de mire, les écoles financées par l’imam.
▻http://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/le-fil-de-l-info/l-albanie-centre-du-gulenisme.html
Pro-Kurdish HDP deputy’s son tortured in custody, handcuffed to hospital bed
Muhammed Cihad Kaya, the son of a pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy who was detained by police at a press meeting in İstanbul, was tortured in custody and handcuffed to a bed in the hospital he was taken to for treatment, his mother has said.
Turchia: prosegue l’epurazione del governo. Arrestati dodici parlamentari
Nelle prime ore del 4 novembre sono stati presi in detenzione cautelare dodici parlamentari appartenenti al Partito Democratico dei Popoli (HDP). Nove di questi sono finiti in diversi centri di detenzione, gli altri tre, invece, sono stati lasciati liberi con la condizionale.
▻http://www.pressenza.com/it/2016/11/turchia-prosegue-lepurazione-del-governo-arrestati-dodici-parlamentari
Les autorités ordonnent la fermeture de 375 ONG
Les autorités turques ont ordonné le 22 novembre 2016 la fermeture permanente de 375 organisations non gouvernementales (ONG) au titre de l’état d’urgence.
▻https://www.amnesty.ch/fr/pays/europe-asie-centrale/turquie/docs/2016/les-autorites-ordonnent-la-fermeture-de-375-ong
3 more Kurdish mayors arrested on terror charges
Five local politicians from Turkey’s eastern province of Bitlis were arrested on terrorism charges on Friday.
Co-mayors of Bitlis and Güroymak imprisoned
BİTLİS – Bitlis Co-mayors Nevin Daşdemir and Hüseyin Olan and Güroymak Co-mayor M.Emin Özkan have been imprisoned.
VOA reporter detained in southeastern Turkey
#Khajijan_Farqin, a freelance reporter working for #Voice_of_America, was detained by Turkish police on Saturday in the predominantly Kurdish province of Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey, according to the VOA website.
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/696x428xBELGAIMAGE-97817016-696x428.jpg.pagespeed.ic.IKUgqNs9PD.jpg
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/2016/11/27/voa-reporter-detained-southeastern-turkey
WDR-Reporterin in der Türkei festgenommen
Die türkische Polizei hat die international renommierte Journalistin #Hatice_Kamer während der Recherche über ein Grubenunglück festgenommen. Dies bestätigte am Samstag (26.11.2016) ihre Familie dem WDR. Ihr soll fünf Tage lang kein rechtlicher Beistand zugestanden werden.
BBC Turkish reporter detained in Turkey
Hatice Kamer, a reporter working for the BBC Turkish service, was detained in Turkey’s Siirt province on Saturday at a police checkpoint while on her way to report on a landslide at a copper mine.
Solidarité avec les victimes du coup d’État de Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Les membres du groupe musical #Yorum ont d’abord vu leur local perquisitionné et leurs instruments de musique détruits.
Ils et elles ont alors enregistré la vidéo ci-dessous pour montrer que la musique peut survivre aux coups de crosses. Ce pied-de-nez au dictateur Erdoğan a valu à tous les membres de Yorum d’être arrêté(e)s. Ils et elles, comme des dizaines de milliers de militant(e)s politiques, de syndicalistes, de journalistes, d’avocat(e)s, d’intellectuel(le)s sont aujourd’hui en prison.
Solidarité avec les victimes du coup d’État de Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, avec tous/toutes les camarades turques et kurdes persécuté(e)s, détenu(e)s et torturé(e)s !
▻https://lignesdeforce.wordpress.com/2016/11/27/solidarite-avec-les-victimes-du-coup-detat-de-recep-tayyip-
#musique
Turkey’s prison population continues to rise
The number of prisoners stood at 177,262 by the year’s end, an 11.7 percent rise on 12 months earlier. These numbers do not account for the huge rise in inmates in the aftermath of Turkey’s failed military coup attempt of July 15.
Turquie : la #torture « répandue » dans les semaines après le putsch
Les autorités turques ont créé un environnement « propice à la torture » après la tentative de coup d’Etat en juillet, a affirmé vendredi un rapporteur spécial de l’ONU, ajoutant que les sévices étaient « répandus » juste après le putsch.
▻http://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1021648/turquie-la-torture-repandue-dans-les-semaines-apres-le-putsch.html
I knew I would be arrested 15 days before: Arrested #HDP co-chair
Arrested People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair #Selahattin_Demirtaş has said he knew he would be arrested 15 days before his arrest, during a visit from a committee of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) on Nov. 30.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/i-knew-i-would-be-arrested-15-days-before-arrested-hdp-co-chair-.
Three district mayors detained in Turkey’s southeast
The mayors of three districts of Turkey’s southeastern province of #Hakkari have been detained on Dec. 3, while searches were being conducted in the municipality buildings, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.
Municipal logo removed from Diyarbakır City Hall
The logo of the Diyarbakır Municipality was removed on Saturday from the facade of city hall following the arrest last month of elected Co-mayors Gultan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı.
Germany detains senior DKHP-C member wanted by Turkey
Germany has detained a suspected member of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) in Hamburg, officials said on Dec. 3.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/germany-detains-senior-dkhp-c-member-wanted-by-turkey.aspx
14 more academics jailed over alleged coup involvement
A total of 14 academics including professors, associate professors and research assistants from the İstanbul-based Yıldız Teknik University were arrested by a Turkish court on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation on the Gülen movement.
Arrestation de #Februniye_Akyol, seule maire syriaque du DBP
Le 17 novembre dernier, la co-maire de Mardin, Februniye Akyol a été destituée par le pouvoir central d’Ankara dans le cadre post-coup d’état du 15 juillet 2016. Son collègue, #Ahmet_Türk a été arrêté le 21 novembre pour des charges relevant du terrorisme sous le prisme habituel d’avoir des relations avec le PKK, il est actuellement incarcéré.
Demirtas Being Tortured in Prison: HDP Deputy
Visiting Demirtas in Edirne Maximum Security Prison yesterday alongside MPs Burcu Celik Ozkan and Erol Dora, Danis Bestas made a statement before the meeting.
51 academics from İstanbul University detained, Central Party leader on list
Turkish police on Friday detained 51 academics out of 87 at İstanbul University for whom warrants were issued over links to the Gülen movement.
Asie centrale. La Turquie pourchasse les adeptes de Gülen jusqu’au Turkménistan
Le régime de Gourbangouly Berdymoukhammedov n’a pas d’autre choix que d’obtempérer aux injonctions d’Ankara, sous peine de sombrer économiquement.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/article/asie-centrale-la-turquie-pourchasse-les-adeptes-de-gulen-jusq
Turkey silencing independent media: Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Dec. 15 accused Turkey of “silencing” independent media after the failed July 15 coup attempt.
In a report, the U.S.-based rights watchdog said Turkey’s assault on critical journalism began several years ago and had steadily sharpened since 2014, accelerating further since the attempted takeover.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-silencing-independent-media-human-rights-watch--.aspx?page
Turkish police beat human rights lawyer while under detention
Turkish human rights lawyer #Tugay_Bek, under detention for the past four days, was battered by police officers when he resisted efforts to handcuff him.
Ministry replaces HDP mayor in southern Turkish town with trustee
The Interior Ministry appointed a trustee to the #Akdeniz Municipality in the southern province of Mersin on Dec. 18, replacing detained co-mayor Yüksel Mutlu from the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Doğan News Agency has reported.
Turkey seeks 82.5-year in prison for Vice News journalists on terrorism charges
An indictment has been drawn up by a Diyarbakır prosecutor for two Vice News journalists who were arrested and released in Turkey in 2015, demanding a total of 82.5 years on charges of terrorism.
Police detain HDP MP #Pervin_Buldan in Istanbul
Police on Dec. 23 detained Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP and deputy parliamentary speaker Pervin Buldan in Istanbul, the party announced in its Twitter account.
▻http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/Default.aspx?pageID=517&nID=107656&NewsCatID=338
VIDEOS. Turquie : après la purge, la dictature ?
La Turquie, une dictature ? Pour certains des opposants au président, c’est incontestable. Dans ce pays aux portes de l’Europe, les libertés individuelles sont, en tout cas, gravement malmenées par le régime de Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
▻http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/insatiable-erdogan-23-12-2016-6487488.php
Turchia, arrestata vicepresidente partito curdo: altre 1682 persone fermate solo questa settimana
#Aysel_Tugluk, è avvocata e difende i 12 deputati arrestati, è accusata di reati legati al terrorismo. Il Parlamento ha revocato l’immunità di quasi tutti i parlamentari dell’HDP
Aysel Tugluk, è avvocata e difende i 12 deputati arrestati, è accusata di reati legati al terrorismo. Il Parlamento ha revocato l’immunità di quasi tutti i parlamentari dell’HDP
▻http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/12/26/turchia-arrestata-vicepresidente-partito-curdo-altre-1682-persone-fermate-solo-questa-settimana/3281722
Purges : 6000 personnes limogées, les Turcs de l’étranger menacés
Plus de 6 000 personnes ont été limogées et plus de 80 associations fermées en Turquie, selon trois décrets-lois parus parus au Journal officiel dans la nuit de ce vendredi à ce samedi.
▻http://www.lalsace.fr/actualite/2017/01/07/purges-6000-personnes-limogees-les-turcs-de-l-etranger-menaces
Turkey dismisses another 649 academics, brings total to 6,986
A total of 649 academics were dismissed in three government decrees, issued on Jan.6, 2016, bringing the total number of academics who lost their jobs after a failed coup on July 15 to 6,986.
Professors, associate professors and lecturers from nearly all universities in Turkey were targeted in the government’s post-coup crackdown. Academics were accused of links to the Gülen movement, which the government pinned the blame on for July 15 coup attempt.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/turkey-dismisses-another-649-academics-brings-total-to-6986
Turquie • #Ahmet_Türk risque la mort en prison
142 artistes, auteurES et intellectuelLEs ont lancé un appel pour la libération d’Ahmet Türk, en détention depuis le 24 novembre 2016.
Ahmet Türk a 74 ans. Il est né en 1942 à Mardin. Il vient d’une grande tribu/famille kurde. Sa vie politique a commencé suite à l’assassinat de son grand frère, qui était député en 1984.
A la Une : Turquie, « la plus grande prison du monde » pour les journalistes
Dans son rapport de 2016, Reporters sans frontières recense plus d’une centaine de journalistes enfermés. Les accusations de complicité avec les organisations terroristes sont presque systématiquement mobilisées pour justifier les condamnations et longues périodes de détention provisoire. La peur et les mécanismes d’autocensure se sont durablement installés dans la société et compromettent toujours davantage la liberté d’expression et d’information.
▻http://www.rfi.fr/europe/20170127-turquie-plus-grande-prison-monde-journalistes
Turquie : nouvelle vague de purges, 4.500 fonctionnaires limogés
Parmi les 4.464 personnes expulsées de la fonction publique figurent notamment 2.585 employés du ministère de l’Education, 893 de la gendarmerie, 10 de la Cour de cassation, 10 autres du Haut conseil électoral et 88 de la chaîne de télévision publique TRT.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-nouvelle-vague-de-purges-4500-fonctionnaires-limoges.
The purge turns Turkish academia into a slaughterhouse; Turkey into an ‘intellectual desert’
When I heard the news on late Tuesday night, I did not know who to pity more than the other. I knew a few of the victims, but the first one I thought was a soft-spoken, elderly gentleman; Prof İbrahim Kaboğlu, from Marmara University, a top Turkish expert on constitution and law.
▻http://www.vocaleurope.eu/the-purge-turns-turkish-academia-into-a-slaughterhouse-turkey-into-an-in
Turkey — A Country With Most Educated Prison Population
▻https://i2.wp.com/theglobepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/academics.jpg?w=846
▻http://theglobepost.com/2017/02/11/turkey-a-country-with-most-educated-prison-population
‘I feel like I have been buried alive’: families live in fear and isolation as Erdoğan leads a witch-hunt
More than 125,000 people have been sacked on suspicion of links to a dissident cleric. Two teachers and a law student describe how this has affected them
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/12/blacklisted-erdogans-witch-hunt-forces-turkish-families-into-world-of-f
Turkey prolongs custody for „Welt“-correspondent
Turkey’s State Attorney prolongs police custody for „Welt“-correspondent Yücel for seven more days. Authorities accuse Yücel of being a member of a terrorist organization and misuse of data.
▻https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article162232961/Turkey-prolongs-custody-for-Welt-correspondent.html
Yucel’s detention points to press restrictions in Turkey
Some members of the foreign press in Turkey told DW that they see the detention of reporter #Deniz_Yucel as an attempt to silence foreign media. They said that working conditions have worsened since the coup attempt.
Owner of closed Kurdish daily detained in Diyarbakır
Ramazan Ölçen, owner of the now-closed-down Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat, was detained in a police raid on his Diyarbakır home on Saturday.
No reason was cited for his detention according to Kurdish news websites.
▻http://www.turkishminute.com/2017/03/04/owner-closed-kurdish-daily-detained-diyarbakir
As Erdoğan turns the screw, we must stand up for human rights in Turkey
Free speech is under fire. Victims of the president’s clampdown need the same kinds of support we once offered dissidents in the Soviet Union
▻https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d3216ed904d6742162b33b7044baa9854b028a27/0_257_4000_2400/master/4000.jpg?w=620&q=20&auto=format&usm=12&fit=max&dpr=2&s=50395c72d7589b25eb0
▻https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/02/erdogan-turns-screw-human-rights-turkey
’Sometimes I laugh at this farce’: six writers on life behind bars in Turkey
Six persecuted writers describe the mental and physical toll of living in the country that jails more journalists than any other
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/23/words-from-behind-bars-turkey-persecuted-writers-journalists?CMP=share_
Profs en résistance contre Erdogan
Le putsch manqué de juillet dernier a servi de prétexte aux islamistes turcs pour s’offrir les pleins pouvoirs. Mais, référendum constitutionnel en vue, la résistance prend la rue.
▻https://www.lecourrier.ch/148034/profs_en_resistance_contre_erdogan
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of April 2, 2017
Police on April 1 immediately arrested journalists jailed in Istanbul and the Mediterranean city of Antalya in the wake of the failed July 2016 military coup as they were released from prison, according to the daily newspaper #Cumhuriyet. Prosecutors had asked Istanbul’s 25th Court for Serious Crimes to release journalists Ahmet Memiş, Bayram Kaya, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Cuma Ulus, Habib Güler, Halil İbrahim Balta, Hanım Büşra Erdal, and Muhammed Said Kuloğlu pending the conclusion of their trial, according to media reports. The court agreed, but prosecutors then appealed that order to the 26th Court for Serious Crimes, which quickly reversed the lower court’s order for their release, and Istanbul counterterrorism police arrested them as soon as they were formally released from Istanbul’s Silivri Prison, according to the press freedom advocacy group Ben Gazeteciyim ("I am a journalist").
▻https://cpj.org/blog/2017/04/turkey-crackdown-chronicle-week-of-april-2-2017.php
Opposition HDP co-chair Yüksekdağ receives one-year jail term
A Turkish court has sentenced #Figen_Yüksekdağ, a co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), to one year in jail on accusations of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization,” state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.
Journalist #Berivan_Altan held in custody for 7 days
MERSİN – Journalist Berivan Altan, who was taken into custody within the scope of an investigation opened against her, has been held in custody for seven days.
▻https://gazetesujin.com/en/2017/04/journalist-berivan-altan-held-in-custody-for-7-days
Photojournalist under arrest for inciting referendum protests
#Kazım_Kızıl, a filmmaker and photojournalist known for his documentaries on human rights violations in Turkey, was put under pre-trial detention after being detained by police while covering protests in the aftermath of an April 16 referendum in İzmir, his lawyer said.
Ankara franchit une étape supplémentaire dans la censure et la répression
Le gouvernement a interdit, samedi, les émissions télévisées de rencontres amoureuses et congédié près de 4 000 fonctionnaires. Le site Wikipédia était lui bloqué.
▻http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2017/04/29/en-une-journee-la-turquie-interdit-les-emissions-tv-de-rencontres-et-limoge-
At least 165 detained during May Day celebrations in İstanbul
At least 165 individuals were detained during the celebrations held on Sunday across Turkey to mark May Day, according to the İstanbul Security General Directorate.
Privé de plébiscite, Erdogan tentera de museler l’opposition par tous les moyens
« Circulez, y a rien à voir » : telle est à peu près la réponse que le pouvoir islamo-nationaliste turc adresse à ceux qui, comme les organisations de gauche et syndicats en ce 1er mai, contestent les résultats du référendum constitutionnel du 16 avril. Quelles qu’aient pu être l’inéquité de la campagne et la réalité des fraudes, le Haut Conseil électoral a rejeté tout recours et affirmé la victoire du oui à 51,41% contre 48,59%. Mais ce mauvais résultat –bien loin du plébiscite espéré– fragilise terriblement le Président Erdogan.
Video-activist and documentarist Kazım Kızıl has been arrested
Documentarist and video-activist for Kamera Sokak, Kazım Kızıl has been arrested and sent to Menemen Prison. On April 17th, Kazım was detained while covering the protests in Izmir, Bornova after the referendum results had been perceived as illegitimate by many citizens. At the Küçükpark Square in Bornova, university students had called for a rally titled “No, We have Won”. The police intervened the rally and detained protesters, not allowing the press to take visuals from the site.
▻https://medium.com/@dokuz8HABER/video-activist-and-journalist-kaz%C4%B1m-k%C4%B1z%C4%B1l-has-been-arrested-4
Turquie: plus de 100 magistrats «proches de Gülen» limogés
Les autorités judiciaires turques ont limogé vendredi plus de 100 magistrats soupçonnés d’appartenir à la mouvance du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen, accusé par Ankara d’avoir ourdi le putsch manqué en juillet dernier, a rapporté l’agence de presse progouvernementale Anadolu.
Femmes exécutées : Günay, Dilek, Dilan, Şirin, Yeliz, Taybet… Sıla
En Turquie, les exécutions de femmes par la police se poursuivent. Après Günay, Dilek, Dilan, Şirin, Yeliz, Taybet, c’est aujourd’hui celle de Sıla…
Turquie : un journaliste français interpellé par les autorités
Un journaliste indépendant français installé depuis plusieurs années en Turquie était retenu mardi par les autorités turques après avoir été interpellé la veille au cours d’un reportage dans le sud-est du pays, a annoncé l’ONG Reporters sans frontières (RSF).
Mathias Depardon, un photojournaliste qui travaille pour plusieurs publications, a été arrêté lundi à Hasankeyf, dans la province de Batman, où il effectuait un reportage pour le magazine National Geographic, a dit à l’AFP Erol Onderoglu, représentant de RSF en Turquie.
« Il est en ce moment en train d’être transféré de Batman dans un centre d’accueil géré par la Direction des affaires migratoires à Gaziantep », une autre province du sud-est, a ajouté M. Onderoglu, qui a pu parler au journaliste français mardi après-midi.
▻https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1050891/turquie-un-journaliste-francais-interpelle-par-les-autorites.html
Turquie • Les grévistes : “Vous nous condamnez à la faim”
Nous ne voulons ni mourir, ni devenir handicapés, ni rester une seule seconde de plus à jeun. Nous sommes très clairs là-dessus.
La seule chose que nous voulons, c’est notre travail. L’affaire est si simple pour nous… Celles et ceux qui nous disent, “ne continuez plus votre grève de la faim, arrêtez”, s’il vous plaît, devraient s’adresser aux bons interlocuteurs. Qu’ils leur disent “Ces personnes sont en grève de la faim depuis tant de jours. Nous ne voulons plus qu’ils continuent, qu’ils subissent des dommages physiques. Vous promulguez des décrets, vous faites des listes de réintégration, ajoutez aussi leurs noms.” C’est si simple, en vérité…
Les “interlocuteurs” se montrent indifférents. Cela fait 180 jours que nous constatons cette attitude, mais nous savons qu’ils voient et qu’ils entendent… Notre action est, en très peu de temps, devenue visible, et elle a atteint l’opinion publique internationale. Il est donc impossible qu’elle ne les ait pas atteint, jusqu’au plus haut placé des interlocuteurs. C’est donc une tactique, mais ce ne sont pas les tactiques qui font gagner les guerres. C’est une guerre d’usure. Nous sommes convaincus de la gagner avec le soutien du peuple, nous en sommes sûrs. Plus encore, nous devons accentuer la pression sur eux, pour que le délai ne se rallonge pas. Nous gagnerons de toutes façons, mais ce serait sensé de gagner avant d’avoir des dégâts corporels, et avant d’arriver à la frontière de la mort…
Que personne ne pense, ” A quoi servirait ce que je peux faire [à mon niveau] ?”, chacun peut faire des choses, et chaque chose est précieuse pour nous. Ne serait-ce que le fait de parler de notre résistance et de notre grève, à une nouvelle personne, est précieux pour nous. .
Pour terminer, nous voudrions exprimer ceci : nous aurions préféré ne pas faire une grève de la faim. Personne ne veut faire souffrir son corps. Mais nous voulons que ceux qui voient cette grève de la faim comprennent, ici, qu’il y a une lutte pour le pain. Nous voulons leur rappeler ce qu’est cette lutte de survie. Ce qui a construit l’histoire, c’est la lutte pour le pain et le combat pour la dignité.
150 mille fonctionnaires sont licenciéEs et personne ne dit rien. Les gens se suicident ! Dans les deux derniers mois, 37 personnes se sont suicidées. Ce tableau n’est-il pas terrifiant ? Justement, nous voulons mettre fin à ce tableau. La grève de la faim est le cri qui détruira un tel tableau. Il faut que les êtres humains se rappellent ce qu’est la lutte pour le pain, et qu’il s’agit d’une lutte pour la dignité. Il faut qu’ils comprennent ce que cela signifie, que quelques-uns puissent lever leur voix, au lieu de se soumettre.
C’est, aussi, hisser le drapeau de la résistance, face à la décomposition, à l’altération de la société, et à des attaques qui ciblent nos valeurs communes.”
“Nous nourrissons notre âme par la faim.”
Déclaration des médecins
Nuriye et Semih en sont au 63ème jour de leur grève. Ayant eu un malaise la veille, Nuriye n’a pas pu venir hier, sur le point de rendez-vous du boulevard Yüksel, à Ankara, son “espace de résistance” comme elle aime l’appeler.
La Chambre des Médecins a fait une déclaration pour attirer l’attention sur la dégradation de santé de Nuriye et Semih. Particulièrement Nuriye, ces deux derniers jours. La déclaration souligne, en résumé : “Le 45è jour, cap critique d’une grève de la faim est largement dépassé. Des irrégularités de tension et de pouls, perte de défenses immunitaires, les résultats d’analyses de sang sont inquiétants. Des perturbations dans les humeurs et les fonctions motrices et intellectuelles. Nous constatons les symptômes du syndrome Wernicke-Korsakoff1. 10 à 15% des personnes atteintes de cette maladie perdent leur vie et 77% périssent du fait d’infections dans les périodes qui suivent.”
Grève de la faim des enseignants en Turquie
▻https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_greve-de-la-faim-des-enseignants-en-turquie?id=2213057
Açlık grevinde 65. gün: ’Bizi açlığa mahkûm etmelerine izin vermek zorunda değiliz’
675 ve 679 sayılı Kanun Hükmünde Kararnameler ile işlerinden ihraç edilen akademisyen Nuriye Gülmen ile ilkokul öğretmeni Semih Özakça’nın açlık grevlerinde bugün 65’inci gün.
Giornalismo indipendente in Turchia: arrestato il direttore dell’edizione online di #Cumhuriyet
Un altro giorno nero per il giornalismo indipendente in Turchia: #Oğuz_Güven, direttore dell’edizione online del noto quotidiano turco Cumhuriyet, è stato arrestato. Trattenuto in una stazione di polizia, non è chiaro se sarà interrogato riguardo ad altre questioni. Güven, secondo il suo avvocato, è stato arrestato a causa di un titolo sulla morte di un procuratore della provincia di Denizli.
Turkey seeks arrests at opposition newspaper #Sozcu
Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of the opposition daily Sozcu. Officials accuse the newspaper of supporting people allegedly involved in last July’s failed coup.
Campagne de solidarité avec #Özgür_Gündem : la condamnation de #Murat_Çelikkan est un “précédent inquiétant”
La pression monte contre les participants à la campagne de solidarité avec le journal pro-kurde Özgür Gündem : pour la première fois, l’un d’entre eux, le journaliste Murat Çelikkan, a été condamné à de la prison ferme le 16 mai 2017. Le procès du représentant de Reporters sans frontières (RSF), poursuivi dans la même affaire, reprend le 8 juin.
Turquie : ouverture du procès des instigateurs présumés du coup d’Etat
Le procès de plus de 200 instigateurs présumés du putsch manqué du 15 juillet dernier s’est ouvert lundi sous haute sécurité dans une prison près d’Ankara, aux abords de laquelle des dizaines de manifestants ont réclamé la peine de mort pour les accusés.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-ouverture-du-proces-des-instigateurs-presumes-du-coup
Turquie : plus de 4.000 #juges et #procureurs limogés
Plus de 4.000 juges et procureurs ont été limogés en Turquie après le coup avorté de juillet et tous les personnels du corps judiciaire ont été passés au crible pour déterminer d’éventuels liens avec les putschistes, a annoncé vendredi le ministre la justice.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-plus-de-4000-juges-et-procureurs-limoges.afp.com.2017
Lawyer #Ebru_Timtik taken into custody
Ebru Timtik, one of the lawyers of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), was taken into custody at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul.
Ebru Timtik, one of the lawyers of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), which was shut down by KHK decree, was taken into custody at Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul about one hour ago. Reason for detention of Ebru is unknown yet.
Arrestato il presidente di Amnesty International Turchia
#Taner_Kiliç fermato nella sua abitazione a Smirne con l’accusa di legami col movimento dell’imam esule Gulen. Anche le organizzazioni umanitarie nel mirino della repressione avviata da Erdogan dopo il fallito golpe. E’ stato anche l’avvocato di Gabriele Del Grande, il giornalista italiano trattenuto per giorni al confine con la Siria
►http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2017/06/06/news/arrestato_il_presidente_di_amnesty_international_turchia-167443563/?ref=twhr×tamp=1496790815000
#Taner_Kilic a été l’avocat de #Gabriele_Del_Grande quand ce dernier a été arrêté en Turquie...
Turkey arrests Amnesty International head and lawyers in Gulenist sweep
Police detained Taner Kiliç and 22 other lawyers on suspicion of ties to the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen
▻https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/07/turkey-arrests-amnesty-international-head-and-lawyers-in-gulenist-sweep
Le chef d’Amnesty en Turquie a été arrêté
Taner Kiliç a été arrêté mardi par Ankara qui le soupçonne de liens avec la mouvance du prédicateur Fethullah Gülen.
Chair of Amnesty International Turkey swept up in post-coup purge
Responding to the news that Taner Kiliç, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, was today detained by police along with 22 other lawyers in Izmir on suspicion of having links with the Fethullah Gülen movement, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:
▻https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/06/chair-of-amnesty-international-turkey-swept-up-in-post-coup-purge
«Ascoltate la Turchia che ha paura»
Il 6 giugno le autorità hanno arrestato a Smirne Taner Kiliç, presidente di Amnesty International nel Paese. Ne abbiamo parlato con Riccardo Noury, il portavoce dell’Ong in Italia.
▻http://letteradonna.it/305564/intervista-riccardo-noury-amnesty-international-arresto-turchia-preside
Journalist faces 22.5-year imprisonment after 13-month arrest
Journalist #Nedim_Türfent will stand trial 13 months after his arrest due to his news coverage during the curfews in Yüksekova. The first hearing of the case will be held at Hakkari 2nd High Criminal Court on June 14th. Türfent faces an imprisonment claim up to 22 years and six months.
The indictment of the case against Türfent presents news coverage, visuals recorded and social media posts by the journalist as crime evidence for the charges of “illegal organization membership” and “illegal organization propaganda.”
La Turchia sotto accusa: «Giudice Onu in cella nonostante l’immunità»
#Aydin_Akay arrestato 9 mesi fa con l’accusa di aver appoggiato il golpe. Pressioni internazionali per liberarlo
VIDEO. #Mathias_Depardon : « On peut parler aujourd’hui de dictature en Turquie »
Le photojournaliste français Mathias Depardon, détenu pendant un mois en Turquie après avoir été arrêté pendant un reportage dans le sud-est du pays, est rentré vendredi 9 juin en France. Il a livré son témoignage en longueur, samedi 10 juin, sur France Inter.
Lors de cet entretien le photojournaliste revient sur les conditions de sa libération : « Je l’ai appris vendredi vers 13h, suite à la visite du sous-directeur du centre de rétention de Gaziantep, et j’ai été libéré du centre une heure après. J’ai du rédiger une lettre témoignant que je souhaitais être expulsé vers la France. »
▻http://mobile.francetvinfo.fr/monde/turquie/video-mathias-depardon-on-peut-parler-aujourd-hui-de-dictature-en-turquie_2230659.html#xtor=CS2-765-%5Btwitter%5D-&xtref=https://t.co/Bq5ZMnbvk7
Court accepts indictment demanding 2 consecutive life sentences for 13 journalists
An indictment drafted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office that seeks two consecutive life sentences for 13 people, including prominent Turkish journalists and pop singer Atilla Taş, on coup charges, was accepted by the 25th High Criminal Court in İstanbul on Friday, CNNTürk reported.
17 journalists to be tried in Istanbul for “complicity” in coup attempt
The trial of 17 Turkish journalists accused of complicity in a coup attempt in July 2016 will open in Istanbul on 19 June. Six of them, including Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilıcak, are currently detained. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for their immediate release because they are being held for criticizing the government.
Turkey: Rights Groups to monitor criminal trial against journalists accused of participating in coup
On 19 June, the first hearing will take place in a trial concerning 17 defendants, including a number of journalists. Among the defendants are prominent novelists and political commentators, #Ahmet_Altan, #Mehmet_Altan and #Nazlı_Ilıcak. The case is the first trial of journalists accused of taking part in last year’s failed coup attempt, and may shed light on how the courts will approach numerous cases concerning the right to freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial under the state of emergency.
▻https://www.article19.org/img.php?f=/data/images/Altans.jpg&p=toWidth&o=jpg&a[width]=512
▻https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/38798/en/turkey:-rights-groups-to-monitor-criminal-trial-against-journalists-accus
#procès
Le pouvoir par l’arbitraire
Manuela Honegger et Ilias Panchard ont assisté aux procès des élus du parti pro-kurde HDP. Ils décrivent une Turquie livrée au pouvoir discrétionnaire du président Erdogan.
▻https://www.lecourrier.ch/151008/le_pouvoir_par_l_arbitraire
Turkey’s Post-Coup Purge and Erdogan’s Private Army
The Turkish president has brutally cleansed ranks and is building a new army with some strange bedfellows.
▻http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/13/turkeys-post-coup-purge-and-erdogans-private-army-sadat-perincek-gule
Turquie : plus de 7.000 policiers, soldats, et membres de ministères limogés, selon des médias
Plus de 7.000 officiers de police, soldats et membres de ministères ont été limogés en Turquie, selon un nouveau décret publié vendredi dans le cadre de l’état d’urgence imposé après le putsch manqué de juillet dernier, ont rapporté des médias turcs.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/nouvelle-purge-en-turquie-avant-lanniversaire-du-putsch-manqu
Turkey: Free Peaceful Rights Defenders
(New York) – The recent arrest of 10 human rights activists is a “hammer blow to Turkey’s besieged civil society and an ominous indicator of the direction Turkey is heading in,” the leaders of five international organizations said today in an open letter to the Turkish government.
Turkey’s “#black_list” casts a long shadow
Independent Turkish news sources have reported a rumoured “black list” of Turkish journalists they fear police will arrest in coming weeks. The rumour comes as 12 news websites are blocked, journalists are fired from their jobs, and radio and television channels affiliated with the Hizmet movement are banned.
Turkey’s European Future at a Crossroad: Where do we go from here?
In the run-up to Turkey’s April 2017 referendum on a constitutional change, which will enshrine an unprecedented concentration of power – by the standards of any democracy – in the President’s hands, talk has been rife about a suspension of Turkey’s accession process. The chorus became louder when, upon his narrow victory by 1% of the vote, President Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan floated, yet again, the prospect of reinserting the death penalty. In a rather muted victory night, the President hinted at the possibility of two further referenda, one on the death penalty and another on the suspension of EU accession talks. The storm somewhat calmed when the Gymnich informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Malta in late April, at which Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoğlu was invited, came and went without breaking news. Likewise, Erdoğan’s meeting with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk – taking place on the heels of a reportedly disastrous meeting between Erdoğan and US President Donald Trump only a few days before – was fairly constructive. But the question remains: has the time come to end to Turkey’s moribund accession process? To suspend or not to suspend. That is the question.
▻http://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/turkeys-european-future-crossroad-where-do-we-go-here?platform=hootsuite
ECtHR drops 12,600 post-coup rights complaints from Turkey after gov’t established watchdog
Turkey’s Ministry of Justice has said with the establishment of a state of emergency (OHAL) commission, 12,600 cases currently awaiting review at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) have been dropped by the court, the t24 news website reported on Friday.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/ecthr-drops-12600-post-coup-rights-complaints-from-turkey-after-govt-es
Sous état d’urgence : une année noire pour les journalistes en Turquie
Un an après la tentative de putsch en Turquie, Reporters sans frontières (RSF) dresse un état des lieux accablants pour la liberté de la presse. Le gouvernement de Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a profité de l’état d’urgence pour intensifier sa chasse aux voix critiques. Le journalisme est aujourd’hui à l’agonie.
▻https://rsf.org/fr/actualites/sous-etat-durgence-une-annee-noire-pour-les-journalistes-en-turquie
Turchia, tutti i dubbi sulle accuse agli attivisti
Dieci attivisti arrestati per «sostegno al terrorismo» nella Turchia delle purghe e dei sospetti emersa dal fallito golpe del luglio 2016. Nuove accuse che sollevano dubbi e sconcerto
▻https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/aree/Turchia/Turchia-tutti-i-dubbi-sulle-accuse-agli-attivisti-181396
Journalist Ahmet Şık Behind Bars for 200 Days
Friends of Ahmet Şık have made a call for journalist Ahmet Şık demanding his release on the 200th day of his arrest.
▻http://bianet.org/english/media/188402-journalist-ahmet-sik-behind-bars-for-200-days
Turquie. La presse libre guillotinée à Ankara
Ce lundi 24 juillet s’ouvre le procès de dix-sept journalistes et responsables du grand quotidien #Cumhuriyet, l’un des derniers journaux d’opposition encore en activité dans une Turquie toujours plus étroitement contrôlée par Recep Tayyip Erdogan, qui tient le couperet dans ce dessin.
Detention Warrant Allegedly Issued for 4 Rights Advocates
Detention warrants have been allegedly issued for four rights advocates who were detained in Büyükada and released on probation. Their attorneys said that they haven’t been informed.
Cumhuriyet trial: Background and Resources
Representatives from free expression watchdogs to monitor Cumhuriyet trial in Istanbul where 17 defendants face up to 43 years in prison on charges over criticism of Turkey’s government
▻https://ipi.media/cumhuriyet-trial-background-and-resources
My father and press freedom are on trial in Turkey – don’t look away, Europe
The trial of 12 imprisoned Cumhuriyet newspaper journalists is a warning that democracy and human rights are fragile everywhere
Musa Kart’s opening statement at trial
Cartoonist Must Kart’s trial on charges pertaining to terrorism commenced in Istanbul yesterday. Like all the co-accused from Cumhuriyet newspaper he read a prepared statement in his own defence. According to those there to hear them, Musa’s wry comments were greeted with laughter in the public gallery. He also showed some of his cartoons as evidence of his impartiality, something long-time readers of CRNI’s coverage will recognise.
▻https://cartoonistsrights.org/musa-karts-opening-statement-at-trial
Ulmer Journalistin sitzt mit Sohn (2) und 24 Frauen in Zelle
Die türkischen Behörden werfen der Ulmer Journalistin #Mesale_Tolu Terrorpropaganda vor. Im Mai stürmen sie ihre Wohnung. Seitdem sitzen sie und ihr Sohn in Istanbul im Gefängnis. Von Katharina Dodel
Global Condemnation for Turkey’s Detention of Innocent Digital Security Trainers
The detention of a group of human rights defenders in Turkey for daring to learn about digital security and encryption continued last week with a brief appearance of the accused in an Istanbul court. Six were returned to jail, and four released on bail. In an additionally absurd twist, the four released activists were named in new detention orders on Friday, and are now being re-arrested.
▻https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/07/global-condemnation-turkeys-detention-innocent-digital-security-trainers
Turkey, Cumhuriyet on trial
The trial has started in Istanbul for Cumhuriyet journalists and administrators, accused of terrorism. The voices from the courtroom in the debate symbol of the concerning state of relationships between journalism and power in Turkey
In Turkey, Freedom of Expression is in the Dock
Journalists’ Trial Part of Vicious Crackdown on Independent Voices
▻https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/07/26/turkey-freedom-expression-dock
Turquie : 7 collaborateurs du journal Cumhuriyet sortent de prison
Sept collaborateurs du quotidien turc d’opposition Cumhuriyet sont sortis de prison samedi matin après plus de huit mois derrière les barreaux et ont souhaité que leurs quatre collègues toujours détenus soient prochainement libérés.
Turchia, rinviato all’11 settembre processo a giornalisti Cumhuriyet. Intervista a Mariano Giustino, corrispondente di Radio Radicale
Articolo 21 ha seguito tutte le fasi del dibattimento iniziato il 24 luglio raccontando sia quanto avveniva in aula che all’esterno del Palazzo di Giustizia dove si è radunata una folla di operatori dell’informazione, politici, sindacalisti, attivisti e semplici lettori e cittadini che non hanno voluto lasciare, come abbiamo fatto noi di Articolo 21 dall’Italia, soli redattori, amministratori e avvocati dello storico quotidiano di opposizione.
▻https://www.articolo21.org/2017/07/turchia-rinviato-all11-settembre-processo-a-giornalisti-cumhuriyet-inter
Turchia, « #Penguen » chiude le ali
Il 28 maggio scorso è uscito l’ultimo numero della rivista a fumetti «Penguen», punto di riferimento della satira politica e sociale in Turchia. Ne parliamo col disegnatore Serkan Altuniğne
Turkey: Investigate Ankara Abductions, Disappearances
(London) – Turkish authorities should urgently investigate the abduction and possible enforced disappearance of at least four men in Ankara since March 2017, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül.
▻https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/03/turkey-investigate-ankara-abductions-disappearances
Le journaliste #Loup_Bureau mis en examen en Turquie pour « terrorisme » : « Une situation alarmante »
Selon Martin Pradel, l’un de ses avocats, « un cap a été franchi » par les autorités turques dans la répression des journalistes occidentaux.
▻http://mobile.lemonde.fr/international/article/2017/08/03/le-journaliste-loup-bureau-inculpe-en-turquie-pour-terrorisme-une-situation-alarmante_5168264_3210.html?xtref=https://t.co/nYDdFB4Gks
Cumhuriyet trial, Musa Kart gives his statement
The deposition of Cumhuriyet’s cartoonist in the trial accusing him and other journalists of “terrorism” becomes a “manifesto” on the role of journalism and satire in nowadays Turkey
▻https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Turkey/Cumhuriyet-trial-Musa-Kart-gives-his-statement-181700
Mandats d’arrêt d’Ankara contre 35 personnes
Les autorités ont déjà arrêté des collaborateurs de médias nationaux, qu’elles soupçonnent d’avoir utilisé une application de messagerie cryptée.
▻https://www.lecourrier.ch/151660/mandats_d_arret_d_ankara_contre_35_personnes
#Loup_Bureau, déjà quinze jours dans les geôles d’Erdogan
Depuis quinze jours, un nouveau journaliste français se trouve derrière les barreaux en Turquie. Et cette fois, Ankara a franchi un pas dans la répression. Loup Bureau, 27 ans, ne se trouve pas en rétention. Cela avait été mon cas pendant trois jours en novembre 2016, puis deux jours en avril 2017, et le cas de Mathias Depardon, retenu pendant un mois au printemps dernier. Loup Bureau, lui, se trouve en détention, dans une prison, accusé de terrorisme. Sa famille s’impatiente, trouve les autorités françaises bien en retrait, et raconte un jeune homme déterminé, dont la vocation professionnelle se trouve à l’exact opposé de la conception de la presse cultivée par les autorités turques.
Turchia, arrestati 35 tra giornalisti e intellettuali. Fermato in Spagna #Hoamza_Yalcin, protesta di Rsf e Federazione internazionale stampa
A poche settimane dalla prima sentenza del regime del bavaglio turco nel processo a 19 dipendenti del quotidiano di opposizione Cumhuriyet, che ha rinviato a giudizio 12 di loro tra cui editore, giornalisti e consulenti legali e amministrativi, una nuova ondata di arresti si abbatte sul mondo dell’informazione e della cultura in Turchia.
▻https://www.articolo21.org/2017/08/turchia-arrestati-35-tra-giornalisti-e-intellettuali-fermato-in-spagna-h
Ma collègue Idil est en prison
Ma collègue #Idil_Eser est en prison depuis le début de l’été. Son crime ? Aucun. Elle est la directrice d’Amnesty International en Turquie.
▻https://www.amnesty.ch/fr/contacts/media/opinions/docs/2017/copy_of_turquie-pouvoir-renforce-presse-laminee
Indian political cartoonist portrays forced disappearances of Turkey’s purge
Aseem Trivedi, an Indian free speech activist and cartoonist, has drawn cartoons of 13 Turkish citizens who have allegedly been abducted or disappeared after a coup attempt on July 15, 2016 in Turkey.
Defendants in Sep 11 #Cumhuriyet17 trial face up to 43 yrs. See how long #Turkey's government wants each one jailed
▻https://ipi.media/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017-Cumhuriyet-Trial-Defendants.pdf
Turkey: A year on from the coup attempt, journalists are still being labelled terrorists
In the year since the failed coup attempt on 15 July 2016, Turkey has cemented its position as the largest jailer of journalists in the world, with around 166 journalists in prison by the end of June 2017.
Processo Cumhuriyet, gli imputati restano in carcere
Riprende a Istanbul il processo ai lavoratori del quotidiano Cumhuriyet, accusati di terrorismo. Gli imputati in carcere restano dietro le sbarre, su richiesta dell’accusa. La cronaca del nostro corrispondente
Turkey: Court rules that Cumhuriyet journalists will remain under arrest
▻https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2017/09/turkey-cumhuriyet-journalists-remain-arrest
Turquie : un journaliste remis en liberté, 4 restent détenus
Un tribunal d’Istanbul a ordonné lundi la remise en liberté du journaliste turc #Kadri_Gürsel et le maintien en détention de quatre de ses collègues accusés dans le cadre du procès controversé de dix-sept collaborateurs du quotidien d’opposition #Cumhuriyet.
▻http://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-un-journaliste-remis-en-liberte-4-restent-detenus.afp
69 more detained across Turkey over Gülen links
Turkish police on Saturday detained 69 more people as part of an investigation into the faith-based Gülen movement, the state-run Anadolu news agency (AA) reported.
Chiesti fino a 16 anni di carcere per 11 difensori dei diritti umani, tra cui la direttrice e il presidente di Amnesty International
“Un’accusa oltraggiosa che non si basa su alcuna nuova prova e che invece ripropone accuse assurde di terrorismo nei confronti di alcuni dei più importanti difensori dei diritti umani della Turchia“.
▻https://www.amnesty.it/chiesti-16-anni-carcere-11-difensori-dei-diritti-umani-cui-la-direttrice-pre
Wall Street Journal Reporter Sentenced to Prison by Turkish Court
Conviction on terrorist propaganda charges highlights government’s increased targeting of journalists; reporter to appeal decision
▻https://www.wsj.com/articles/wall-street-journal-reporter-sentenced-to-prison-by-turkish-court-1507663509
#Murat_Arslan, giudice detenuto, ha vinto il premio Václav Havel per i diritti umani 2017
L’Assemblea parlamentare del Consiglio d’Europa (PACE) ha annunciato nella sua sessione plenaria di oggi a Strasburgo (Francia) che il vincitore del Premio Václav Havel per i Diritti Umani 2017 è Murat Arslan, giudice turco, presidente di #YARSAV, associazione indipendente dei giudici turchi, in prigione dal 19 ottobre 2016.
Turchia, a processo giornalisti dell’inchiesta sulle mail che accusavano il genero di Erdogan mentre continuano le retate della polizia
Ennesima retata in Turchia, solito silenzio dell’Europa e degli altri attori internazionali che non riescono a frenare le repressione di ogni libertà individuale e collettiva voluta dal presidente Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
#Osman_Kavala, Turkish democracy on the anvil
Now, after two weeks of being held in detention, Osman Kavala is faced with trumped up charges and ridiculous fabrications with the intention of incarcerating him for years.
▻https://www.opendemocracy.net/anthony-barnett/osman-kavala-turkish-democracy-on-anvil
Chasse aux réseaux gülenistes : un enseignant turc arrêté au Kosovo
Au lendemain de la visite du procureur général d’Ankara au Kosovo, un enseignant turc d’une école güleniste a été arrêté à Prizren avant d’être transféré et placé en détention à Pristina. La Turquie a remis aux autorités kosovares une liste de 25 ressortissants turcs dont elle demande l’#extradition.
Turkish Court Issues Detention Warrant for US Scholar #Henri_Barkey
An Istanbul court issued a detention warrant for U.S. scholar Henri Barkey after a demand by the office of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor over charges of plotting July 15 coup with a group of scholars and philanthropists at a workshop during the coup night in an island in the Marmara Sea.
▻http://turkey.theglobepost.com/henri-barkey-detention-turkey
In carcere il presidente di Amnesty Turchia: parla la figlia
#Taner_Kiliç, il presidente di Amnesty Turchia è in carcere dal 9 giugno con l’accusa assurda di essere membro di una “organizzazione terroristica armata”. In realtà è perseguitato soltanto a causa del suo lavoro per i diritti umani. Taner ha difeso anche Gabriele del Grande quando è stato fermato ad aprile del 2017. Taner ha dedicato la vita alla difesa dei diritti umani di giornalisti, attivisti e di altre voci libere nel suo paese e nel mondo. Ora tocca a noi fare qualcosa per aiutarlo.
Turquie : le leader prokurde #Demirtas maintenu en détention
Un tribunal turc a décidé jeudi de maintenir en détention le leader prokurde #Selahattin_Demirtas, farouche opposant du président Recep Tayyip Erdogan, au premier jour de son procès pour activités « terroristes », qui inquiète les défenseurs des droits de l’homme.
▻https://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/turquie-le-leader-prokurde-demirtas-maintenu-en-detention.afp
Pour archivage :
Mon témoignage sur la Turquie de M. Erdogan
Conseillère régionale Auvergne Rhône Alpes du Rassemblement RCES et secrétaire nationale du Parti de Gauche, Corinne Morel Darleux revient de Turquie où elle voulait assister au procès de la militante féministe et socialiste #Figen_Yuksekdag, députée et co-fondatrice du HDP. Elle en a été empêchée. Voici son témoignage.
▻https://blogs.mediapart.fr/edition/les-invites-de-mediapart/article/200917/mon-temoignage-sur-la-turquie-de-m-erdogan
Procès HDP à Ankara : De lourdes peines requises
Des observateurs internationaux sont rentrés scandalisés d’un procès qu’ils qualifient de “parodie” avec de lourdes peines requises contre les co-présidents du HDP, le Parti Démocratique des Peuples.
Jean-Paul Lecoq pour le Parti Communiste Français, Corinne Morel-Darleux et Jean-Christophe Sellin pour le Parti de Gauche, Sylvie Jan et Michel Laurent pour l’association France-Kurdistan se sont rendus les 6 et 7 décembre 2017 à Ankara pour les procès de Figen Yüksekdağ et Selahattin Demirtaş, les deux co-présidents du HDP, le Parti Démocratique des Peuples. Le HDP avait obtenu 14% des voix lors des élections nationales en juin 2015.
Turkish interior minister : 55,665 jailed, 234,419 passports revoked over Gülen links
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu on Tuesday said 55,665 people have been jailed and 234,419 passports have been revoked as part of investigations into the faith-based Gülen movement since a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, DHA reported.
▻https://www.turkishminute.com/2017/12/12/turkish-interior-minister-55665-jailed-234419-passports-revoked-over-
Pro-Kurdish DIHA reporter gets 8 years, 9 months on terrorism charges
#Nedim_Türfent, a reporter for the now defunct pro-Kurdish #Dicle_News_Agency (#DIHA), was sentenced to eight years, nine months in prison on Friday.
Turquie : libération conditionnelle d’une journaliste allemande
Une journaliste et traductrice allemande a été remise en liberté conditionnelle lundi après avoir passé huit mois en prison dans le cadre d’un procès pour activités « terroristes », une affaire qui a tendu les rapports entre Ankara et Berlin.
#Mesale_Tolu, 33 ans, a été sortie de la prison pour femmes de #Bakirköy, à Istanbul dans l’après-midi, puis amenée au commissariat d’où elle a été libérée dans la soirée, quelques heures après qu’un tribunal eut ordonné sa libération conditionnelle, a constaté un journaliste de l’AFP.
#Zaman journalists remain in prison after second hearing
Thirty-one people, mostly Zaman journalists, appeared before a judge for the second time on 8 December on charges of aiding Turkey’s failed coup attempt of 15 July 2016 in a session held in the courtroom on the territory of the Silivri Prison Complex, which is currently home to some 150 journalists.
Turkish teacher with newborn baby to serve 15 months for praising terrorism
#Ayşe_Çelik, a Turkish teacher who was sentenced to one year, three months in prison for praising terrorism and a terrorist organization in 2016, was notified on Friday that she, along with her 2-month-old baby, would begin to serve her sentence in 10 days, human rights advocate Omer Faruk Gergerlioğlu reported on Twitter.
▻https://www.turkishminute.com/2017/12/23/turkish-teacher-with-newborn-baby-to-serve-15-months-for-praising-ter
#Ayse_Celik
#nettoyage et #remplacement :
Turkey to hire 110,000 new public servants in 2018
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Sunday that Turkey would employ an additional 110,000 public servants in 2018 including teachers, medical and religious personnel.
▻https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-jobs/turkey-to-hire-110000-new-public-servants-in-2018-idUSKBN1EI0FM
Nouvelle purge en Turquie : 2.700 personnes renvoyées
La Turquie a ordonné dimanche le #limogeage de plus de 2.700 personnes travaillant dans des institutions publiques en raison de prétendus liens avec des organisations « terroristes », nouvelle vague de purges depuis le coup d’Etat avorté de 2016.
▻https://www.courrierinternational.com/depeche/nouvelle-purge-en-turquie-2700-personnes-renvoyees.afp.com.20
What is happening in Turkey; A Genocide in the Making?
In this video, I examine the current situation in Turkey. After almost a year since the coup attempt, democracy in Turkey is now very weak. In fact, the purge is getting worse every day and it’s difficult to say whether there is any light at the end of the tunnel.
►https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBPtB-KETNs&sns=tw
Un #rapport cité dans la vidéo:
Demonizing the hizmet movement through media in turkey
▻http://admin.dialogueplatform.eu/demonizing-the-hizmet-movement-through-media
Turquie, les conséquences de la grande purge
Avec Dorothée Schmid, chercheur, responsable du programme Turquie contemporaine et Moyen-Orient à l’Institut français des relations internationales (IFRI) et auteur de La Turquie en 100 questions, aux éditions Tallandier.
▻http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20171226-turquie-consequences-grande-purge?ref=tw_i
Turquie : quatre collaborateurs de « Cumhuriyet » maintenus en détention
Le procès de 17 membres de cette publication d’opposition, jugés pour « activités terroristes », cristallise les inquiétudes liées à l’érosion de la liberté de la presse dans le pays.
#Selahattin_Demirtaş : “Plutôt le linceul que l’#uniforme”
Le décret du 24 décembre impose la généralisation d’un uniforme dans les lieux d’incarcération et devant les tribunaux, pour les prisonniers accusés de terrorisme. Voici à ce sujet une déclaration de Selahattin Demirtaş, contre cette ignominie supplémentaire connue sous son appellation en turc “tenue unique”, dans les prisons.
Selahattin Demirtaş, coprésident du HDP, incarcéré dans la prison de type F d’Edirne depuis novembre 2016, a communiqué par l’intermédiaire de ses avocats, une déclaration, le 24 décembre, en réaction au décret à valeur de loi, imposant l’uniforme dans les prisons.
▻http://www.kedistan.net/2017/12/26/demirtas-plutot-linceul-que-uniforme
Obtenir un #permis_de_tuer en Turquie
Les derniers décrets à valeur de loi n°695 et 696, annoncés le 24 décembre 2017 en Turquie, ne se contentent pas de prononcer de nouvelles purges. Ils promettent une quasi immunité aux “civils” qui feraient preuve de “civisme” anti-terroriste.
Two Turkish journalists jailed for act of solidarity with Kurdish newspaper “Özgür Gündem”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the 18-month prison sentences that an Istanbul court passed today on two journalists, #Ragıp_Duran and #Ayşe_Düzkan, for taking part in a campaign of solidarity in 2016 with Özgür Gündem, a Kurdish newspaper that was the victim of judicial persecution.
▻https://ifex.org/turkey/2018/01/17/journalists-jailed
#Ragip_Duran and #Ayse_Düzkan
Turkey extends state of emergency for sixth time
The Turkish Parliament on Thursday passed a prime ministry motion extending a state of emergency for another three months, the sixth such extension since it was originally put in force in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
▻https://www.turkishminute.com/2018/01/18/turkey-extends-state-of-emergency-for-sixth-time
#Etat_d'urgence
Journalists detained after criticizing Turkey’s Syria incursion
Istanbul, January 23, 2018 —The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the detention of at least four journalists in Turkey after they criticized its incursion into northern Syria, and urged Turkish authorities to release the journalists and allow the media to report without fear of reprisal.
▻https://cpj.org/2018/01/journalists-detained-after-criticizing-turkeys-syr.php
Activist Detained in Turkey for Tweets. Turkey Censors Criticism of Military Operation in Syria
The Turkish government’s intolerance of criticism knows few bounds.
Police detained writer and human rights activist #Nurcan_Baysal from her house in Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey, late Sunday. As I write this she remains in custody.
She has been detained in connection with her tweets calling for peace and condemning the Turkish government’s military incursion in the northwest Syrian enclave of Afrin, her lawyer told Human Rights Watch. Afrin is under the control of Kurdish forces, which Ankara has long opposed.
Baysal is among 30 people detained in Diyarbakır for their social media posts. The city’s chief prosecutor’s office announced those tweeting had, “spread propaganda for armed terrorist organizations … and a call for provocative actions.”
Après des mois d’archivage de nouvelles concernant les purges en Turquie, je découvre ce site, qui fait justement ce travail d’archivage :
#Turkey_purge
Il y a aussi la liste des #décret-loi :
Et plein de nouvelles et informations...
Journalist Oktay Candemir detained in eastern Turkey
#Oktay_Candemir, a former reporter for the pro-Kurdish DIHA news agency was detained in the eastern province of Van on Monday.
Candemir was taken into custody due to his reports on Turkey’s recent offensive in Syria’s Afrin, ANF said.
On Jan 22, Turkish troops entered Afrin area, which is controlled by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) extension PYD. While most political parties in Turkey welcomed the offensive, police have detained, among others, many journalists for criticizing the operation since then
The Remarkable Scale of Turkey’s “Global Purge”
In October of last year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at a gathering of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) about the steps that have been taken so far to eliminate the Islamic movement of the exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen whom he blames for organizing the July 15, 2016, coup attempt. After describing some of the domestic measures that he has pursued to stamp out the group, known officially as the Fethullahist Terror Organization (FETO), Erdogan noted his desire to also take down its networks abroad.
“Neither in the East nor in the West is a single member of this organization comfortable as before, nor will they be,” he said. “If not today, then tomorrow, one day every member of the FETO traitors’ front will pay for his treason against the country and the nation.”
▻https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/turkey/2018-01-29/remarkable-scale-turkeys-global-purge?cid=int-fls&pgtype=hpg
623 people detained over Gülen links in past week: ministry
At least 623 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
Amnesty’s Turkey chair #Taner_Kilic denied release from prison
Amnesty International’s Turkey chair Taner Kilic has been denied release from prison after the prosecutor in charge objected to an earlier court order to set him free.
Turkish activist detained in southeast Turkey: report
#Ayşe_Gökkan, a Turkish activist and a member of Free Women Movement (TJA), has been detained by Turkish police in the Nusaybin district of Mardin province, the sendika.org news portal reported on Monday.
According to the report, Gökkan was taken into custody in Nusaybin’s Abdulkadir Paşa neighbourhood due to an outstanding detention warrant and was taken to the Mardin Police Station.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ayse-gokkan-5subat2018.jpg
▻https://turkeypurge.com/turkish-activist-detained-southeast-turkey-report
Labour Party Bursa head put in pre-trial detention: report
#Hasan_Özaydın, Bursa district head for the Labour Party (EMEP), has been put in pre-trial detention over social media messages concerning a Turkish military operation in the Afrin region of Syria, the Birgün daily reported.
According to the report, Bursa police detained Özaydın and several other officials from the party early on February 2 due to tweets in critical of the Turkish government for the recent military operations in Syria.
Yet another 3 detained while on way to escape to Greece
Three people were detained in Turkey’s border province of Edirne while they were on their way to escape to the Greece on Feb 2, state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Monday.
Anadolu said gendarmerie stopped a bus near the Üyüklütatar village in Edirne and rounded up the suspects who were facing outstanding arrest warrants over ties to the Gulen movement. Three Afgan nationals were also caught along with the trio while media said they were paid to facilitate the illegal trip.
All six people were put in pretrial detention with the first three being charged with membership to Gulen movement and the remaining with human smuggling.
518 people detained over Gülen links in past week: gov’t
At least 518 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 518 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between Jan 29 and Feb 5.
#Enes_Kanter faces 4 years in jail for ‘insulting’ Turkish basketball federation head
An indictment filed by the Istanbul police’s cyber-crimes department seeks up to 4 years in prison for the New York Knicks center Enes Kanter for alleged insulting Hidayet Turkoglu.
Pro-government Sabah newspaper said Wednesday that the indictment accuses Kanter of insulting Turkoglu several times via social media. The NBAer faces between 1 to 4 years in prison on this charge alone while the indictment seeks an increase in the punishment by half, if convicted, claiming that the offence was committed publicly.
Journalist #Cem_Bahtiyar jailed pending trial over terror charges
Journalist Mete Cem Bahtiyar was arrested pending trial over terror charges, according to Ozguruz online news portal.
Detained following a police raid at his home in Balikesir’s Bandirma district, Bahtiyar was put in pretrial detention on Jan 31, Ozguruz said Wednesday. Police seized his computer, cellphone, and books including one by Noam Chomsky.
Turkey strips another pro-Kurdish deputy’s parliamentary status, brings total to 7
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) stripped pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) Şırnak deputy #Ferhat_Encü of his parliamentary status on Tuesday.
Chemistry teacher gets 10-year jail time over Gulen links
An Antalya court sentenced a chemistry teacher, identified as A.S., to 10 years in jail on charges of membership to the Gulen movement.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Wednesday that A.S., under pretrial arrest for 22 months, appeared before the court for her final hearing. Accused of leading the movement’s women’s network in Antalya, A.S. refused allegations asking for her release.
The court in charge turned down the request and sentenced A.S. to 10 years in prison.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/chemistry-teacher-gets-10-year-jail-time-gulen-links
64 military academy students, officers sentenced to life in prison over coup charges
An Ankara court has ruled for the acquittal of 100 suspects while handing down life sentences to 60 others and aggravated life sentences to four suspects in a trial concerning incidents that took place at the Turkish military academy in Ankara on the night of a failed coup attempt in July 2016.
The trial, which was heard by the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court, was concluded on Wednesday.
Among the 164 suspects indicted, 156 were military cadets while eight were high-ranking officers.
4 including critical Muslim preacher put in pre-trial detention on terror charges
#Alparslan_Kuytul, president of the #Furkan_Foundation and leader of a religious group critical of the Turkish government, has been put in pre-trial detention by an Adana court, the Turkish media reported on Friday.
Kuytul and 25 members of the foundation were detained at the end of January by counterterrorism police on suspicion of disrupting the public order and establishing a criminal organization.
Former law faculty dean detained over Gülen links
Law professor #Murat_Sen has been detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement in Kayseri, state-run Anadolu news agency said Thursday.
The dean of the Meliksah University’s law faculty until it was closed by the government over Gulen links in 2016, Sen was rounded up at his father-in-law’s home in Zonguldak and later transferred to Kayseri.
University student jailed for insulting Erdogan two years ago
A university student from the Turkey’s Amasya province, identified as H.N., was put in pretrial detention for insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media, on Wednesday.
Cumhuriyet reported that H.N., an Amasya University student and a member of Turkish Communist Party (TKP), was arrested over her allegedly insulting social media postings from 2014 and 2016.
Teacher, 2 children dead while 4 others missing after failed attempt to escape Turkey’s post-coup crackdown to Greece
At least three people died and four others were missing after a boat carrying a group of eight capsized in Evros river while seeking to escape Turkey’s post-coup crackdown, on Tuesday.
The dead were identified as #Ayse_Abdurrezzak, a 37-year-old teacher who was earlier dismissed from his job in a post-coup crackdown; and her children Abdulkadir Enes Abdurrezzak and Halil Munir Abdurrezzak. The children were 11 and 3 years old, respectively.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/teacher-2-children-dead-while-4-others-missing-after-failed-attempt-to-
#mourir_aux_frontières #frontières #décès #mort #Grèce #Evros
Purge-victim architect detained for refusing to stand for Turkey’s national anthem: report
#Alev_Şahin, a Turkish architect who was fired from her job with a decree issued by the Turish government after a coup attempt in 2016, has been detained for “refusing to stand for the Turkish national anthem,” the Gerçek Gündem news portal reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, Şahin refused to stand up for the anthem played during a public demonstration in a square in Turkey’s Düzce province because she was staging a separate sit-in protest against his dismissal by the Turkis government on coup charges. Şahin was detained after organisers of the demonstration complained to police that she had refused to stand for the anthem and Düzce public prosecutor launched an investigation into the incident.
4 Adana journalists given prison sentences of up to 9 years over terror charges
An Adana court has handed down prison sentences varying between 7 years 6 months and 9 years to 4 journalists on charges of membership in the Gülen group, accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a failed coup attempt in July 2016, the Hürriyet daily reported.
Turkey’s opposition leader slams life sentences handed down to Altan brothers, Nazlı Ilıcak
Leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized the handing down of aggravated life sentences to three prominent journalists including the Altan brothers and Nazlı Ilıcak by a Turkish court last week, saying that the journalists had not resorted to any kind of violence.
Academics, doctors detained while watching Gülen speech
Turkish police on Friday detained seven people, including two academics and three doctors, for watching a video of a speech by Turkish Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen on their mobile phones in a car in Adıyaman province, Hurriyet reported.
The Gülen group is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The group denies any involvement
[VIDEO] 18 detained as military students, families teargassed during Ankara march
At least 18 people were detained on Saturday after police intervened into a group of military academy students and their families during a scheduled march in Turkey’s capital.
Dozens of students who were removed from military academies after the government shuttered them in its post-coup crackdown marched along with their family members to the Anitkabir, the monumental tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkey, on Feb 24.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/video-18-detained-military-students-families-teargassed-ankara-march
Wedding singers put in pretrial detention over songs in Kurdish language
An Istanbul court ruled for the arrest of wedding singers İhsan Acet and İnayet Şarkıç over Kurdish-language songs they played during a wedding ceremony last week.
Hikmet Akyol, the father of the groom was put in pretrial detention as well.
Detained during the ceremony on Feb 18, the trio spent 6 days under custody to be formally accused on charges of making propaganda on behalf of a terror group on Feb 24.
5-months pregnant woman detained as police fail to locate husband: report
A Samsun woman, identified as B.D. was detained after police failed to locate her husband as part an investigation in to the Gulen movement, media reported Saturday.
According to Grihat online news portal, B.D., already a mother of three, was detained after a police raid at her home. Police had initially come for B.D.’s husband, wanted over alleged ties to the Gulen movement.
B.D.’s three children were reportedly left under their 75-year-old grandmother’s care.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/5-months-pregnant-woman-detained-police-fail-locate-husband-report
[VIDEO] Former TRT producer detained while on way to escape to Greece
A former producer at the state-run broadcaster TRT, identified as E.D., was detained at a Bodrum hotel where he was allegedly making plans to sneak into a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.
Media reported Feb 23 that police raided a hotel in Mugla’s Bodrum district upon a complaint that E.D. was staying before his would-be escape to the Kos island.
Two pro-Kurdish MPs stripped of parliamentary status for insulting Erdogan, social media posts
The Turkish Parliament stripped pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies #Ahmet_Yıldırım and #İbrahim_Ayhan of their parliamentary status on Tuesday.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/two-pro-kurdish-mps-stripped-parliamentary-status-insulting-erdogan-soc
#Ahmet_Yildirim and #Ibrahim_Ayhan
Court rules for continuation of arrest of Turkish columnist: report
An Uşak court on Tuesdayruled for continuation of imprisonment of #Ali_Ünal, a theologian and a former columnist for the now-closed #Zaman daily, several media outlets reported.
4 periodistas de #Adana con penas de prisión de hasta 9 años por cargos de terrorismo
Un tribunal de Adana ha dictado penas de prisión que varían entre 7 años, 6 meses y 9 años contra 4 periodistas acusados de pertenecer al grupo Gülen, grupo acusado por el gobierno turco de planear un fallido intento de golpe en julio de 2016, informó el diario Hürriyet.
Durante la cuarta audiencia del juicio en el 4º Tribunal Penal Superior de Adana, los periodistas Mustafa Naim Yalçınel, Aytekin Gezici y Yüksel Evsenwere fueron condenados a una pena de prisión de 9 años cada uno, mientras que Abdullah Özyurt recibió una pena de prisión de 7 años y 6 meses.
Los periodistas de Adana Gezici y Özyurt fueron arrestados el 25 de julio de 2016 como parte de una investigación sobre el grupo Gülen.
Zaman newspaper’s bureau chief in Izmir gets 9-year jail sentence
#Vahit_Yazgan, the former bureau chief of the shuttered Zaman daily in Turkey’s western province of İzmir, was sentenced to eight years, nine months in prison on Wednesday based on an anonymous letter alleging that he was a member of a “terrorist organization.”
65 personnel from naval forces get life sentences in coup trial: report
A high criminal court in Ankara has handed down aggravated life sentences to 47 defendants and life sentences to 18 defendants from the Naval Forces Command in a trial concerning a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
The trial of the 73 defendants involving incidents that took place at the Naval Forces Command in Ankara on the night of July 15 was concluded by the Ankara 13th High Criminal Court on Tuesday.
Journalist #Hayri_Tunç detained by Istanbul police in home raid
Journalist Hayri Tunç was detained by police in his Istanbul home at around 11:20 pm on 7 March, Evrensel reported.
The police also searched the house. According to reports, they didn’t name the exact reason of his detention, yet they said it concerned a “complaint” filed against him in Van province.
Turkey sentences at least 22 journalists on terrorism-related charges
Istanbul, March 8, 2018—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Turkish court’s decision today to sentence at least 22 journalists to prison on terrorism-related charges, and called on Turkish authorities to release them without delay.
▻https://cpj.org/2018/03/turkey-sentences-at-least-22-journalists-on-terror.php
Actor-director battered, threatened with death in police custody: report
Actor-director #Emre_Kılınç, detained a few days ago, has been threatened with death in police custody, according his lawyer.
Turkey seeks life in prison for US pastor
A Turkish prosecutor on Tuesday demanded life imprisonment for American pastor #Andrew_Brunson, who has been jailed in Turkey since October 2016, over alleged links to a failed coup attempt in July 2016, the Doğan news agency reported.
Local TV channel red-tagged after reports on municipal corruption
The headquarters of the Ordu-based #TV_52 was red-tagged over problems with the safety standards on March 12.
City police from Ordu’s central district of Altinordu raided the TV 52 and red-tagged its office on the grounds that the channel failed to meet zoning and fire safety requirements at the building’s top two floors within a given period.
The reason behind the move has nothing to do with the safety requirements, the chairman Isa Akcay said, the channel’s broadcasts on corruption in municipal tenders and construction permits.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/video-local-tv-channel-red-tagged-reports-municipal-corruption
Outspoken lawyer representing coup suspects jailed pending trial
Outspoken lawyer #Kemal_Ucar who is known for representing some of the coup suspects from the military has been jailed pending trial over what his colleagues said “occupational activities.”
Mother of this child gets 7.5 years in prison for working at Gulen-affilated student dorm in Ankara
#Sena_Uslu, 29-year old Turkish woman and the mother of 3-year-old Asım Uslu (pictured above) has been sentenced to 7,5 years in prison for working at a now-closed student dormitory affiliated with the Gülen group, which is accused of masterminding a coup attempt in 2016.
According to an e mail sent to Turkeypurge.com editors by Sena’s family members, she was given 7,5 years in jail at the first hearing on March 14, 2018 over “membership in the Gülen group.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/mother-child-gets-7-5-years-prison-working-gulen-affilated-student-dorm
Zaman’s Yazici: Courtroom layout gives impression that we are like gladiators thrown to lions
#Fevzi_Yazıcı, the jailed art director of the now-closed-down Zaman daily, has sent a letter, accompanied by his drawings, to the Kronos online news outlet sharing his reflections on the layout of the courtroom in which he was given aggravated life sentence.
Jailed pending trial on accusation of membership to a terror group in the summer of 2016, Yazıcı was given aggravated life sentence along with 5 other journalists including Altan brothers and Nazli Ilicak on charges of attempting to destroy the constitutional order, on Feb 16, 2018.
Wife of judge who attempted to release Samanyolu journalist sentenced to 7.5 years in jail
Rabia Baser, the wife of the now-dismissed judge Mustafa Baser was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison on terror charges on Wednesday.
Mrs. Baser rejected the accusation that she is a member of the Gulen movement during her final hearing. However, the court in charge ruled for her conviction sentencing Mrs. Baser to 7 years and 6 months in jail.
Journalist #Sahin_Alpay: There are thousands of innocent people in prison
Veteran journalist Şahin Alpay, released pending trial on Friday after 20 months in jail, said he left thousands people who have nothing to do with terrorism in prison, saying that “Turkey will not be free if they are not free.”
Pro-Kurdish politician #Aysel_Tuğluk given 10-year prison sentence
An Ankara court on Friday sentenced Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) former deputy co-chair Aysel Tuğluk to 10 years in prison in a case in which she was tried for allegedly “being the leader of a terror organization.”
According to a report by the Hürriyet Daily News, Tuğluk said in her defense before the court that the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) was not an extension of a terrorist organization. “The DTK never called for violence. It serves as a legal platform that seeks a democratic solution to the Kurdish question,” Tuğluk added.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/pro-kurdish-politician-aysel-tugluk-given-10-year-prison-sentence
#Aysel_Tugluk
Turkey’s journalists have sacrificed their freedom in the pursuit of truth
Recent developments in Turkey, once seen as a role model for the Muslim world, have shown that concepts such as the rule of law and right to free speech are no longer welcome by the Erdogan government.
With 156 journalists behind bars as of 26 February 2018 and the closing down of more than 150 media outlets by virtue of the state’s of emergency decrees, Turkey is the global leader in suppressing the media. The irony is that Erdogan was once a victim of an earlier oppressive regime in the late 1990s, having been dismissed as mayor of Istanbul, banned from political office and put in prison for three months for inciting religious hatred after he recited part of a poem by the Turkish nationalist Ziya Gokalp at a political rally.
The destruction of the rule of law in Turkey has been in the making since the anti-government Gezi Park protests and corruption probes of 2013. However, the government has made its intentions on the right to free speech crystal clear in the aftermath of the 15 July 2016 coup attempt. Many journalists and writers have been imprisoned over accusations as absurd as spreading subliminal messages to promote the coup.
Some of them — like Die Welt journalist Deniz Yucel — have languished in detention without charge for a year. Yucel was used as a bargaining chip against Germany and was only freed after chancellor Angela Merkel put pressure on the Turkish government. Immediately after he was let out of detention he published a video message in which he said: “I still don’t know why I was arrested and why I have been released.”
Ahmet Sik, another well-known journalist, was imprisoned because of his thorough investigations into the dark sides of the coup attempt. Can Dundar was arrested for publishing about Turkish intelligence’s illegal arms transfers to Syria. He was kept in prison for several months and eventually released on a constitutional court decision in February 2016. He fled the country and currently lives in Germany. Veteran journalists Sahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, on the other hand, were not so lucky. They had been granted freedom by the constitutional court but a local court refused to implement their release. Recently, the Altan brothers, Mehmet and Ahmed, and another senior journalist, Nazli Ilicak, have been brutally sentenced to aggravated life prison sentences. Examples of the obscene unlawful imprisonment of journalists can go on and on.
The heart of the issue is that Turkish journalists do excellent work. They go to extraordinary efforts to make sure the public is informed about corruption, illegal arms transfers, extrajudicial killings of Kurds and minorities, shady affairs of the ruling party with the judiciary and unanswered questions about the coup attempt. The government doesn’t want to see these issues make headlines, and for defying it many journalists have sacrificed their freedom.
Behind the thin veneer of Turley’s judicial system is the political machine manufacturing countless crimes. After 500 days pretrial detention, Ahmet Turan Alkan, an intellectual and a respected writer, pointed that out by telling a judge: “Your honour, I know you can’t release me because if you decide to do so you will be jailed.”
Turkey’s journalists are faced with a unique problem: if they continue to lay bare the truth for all to see they risk exile or prison. In a normal country, journalists performing at the height of their abilities would be encouraged or rewarded, perhaps not by their governments but by the society as a whole. But not so in Turkey, where the government mouthpieces and politically-aligned media outlets spout the latest propaganda to manipulate Turks. Unfortunately, the majority of people actually believe that most of the arrested journalists are criminals or terror supporters.
This collective hostility to freedom of expression makes Turkey one of the biggest violators of press freedom in the 42 European-area countries Index on Censorship’s Mapping Media Freedom project monitors; one of the lowest ranking countries in Reporters Without Borders’ World Press Freedom Index; and deemed “not free” by Freedom House’s evaluation.
It’s not just journalists. Academics, rights defenders, philanthropists and lawyers also face punishment for carrying out their professional responsibilities on behalf of the public. Disclosing the unlawful practices of those in power is all it takes for an individual to find themselves on the wrong side of the bars. As with Alpay and Altan, a court had ordered Taner Kilic, the chairman of Amnesty Turkey, to be released from detention, but the prosecutor put him back in prison. Kilic and his colleagues are being targeted in retribution for Amnesty International’s work to make the world aware of the inhumane conditions in Turkey’s post-coup attempt era.
The government’s intolerance toward dissenting voices can also be seen in its treatment of university professors, students and others who signed an Academics for Peace petition, which called for an end to violence in the Kurdish region of the country. Hundreds of distinguished academics have found themselves summoned to courtrooms. For taking a stand about the ongoing tragedy in Kurdish cities, the majority of these academics are dehumanised and defamed. They have not only become enemies of the state but enemies of all Turks.
Yes, the government has terrorised ordinary people with the narrative of the “world against great Turkey” and urged them to stand against outspoken figures who are the “spies, traitors and enemies”.
What do the EU and other international organisations do? Mostly expressing their “concern” in different formats such as “great”, “deep” or “serious”. Even the European Court of the Human Rights has not issued a single verdict against Turkey’s post-coup purge which has seen the country become the world’s largest jailer of journalists.
On the same day the Altan brothers were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison, Tjorbon Jaglan, the secretary general of the Council of Europe was on a two-day visit in Turkey. He didn’t utter a single word about their situation. What else could better fit the definition of the “banality of evil” conceptualised by Hannah Arendt?
24 jailed pending trial over money deposits to #Bank_Asya
A total of 24 people, under custody since March 7, have been jailed pending trial over their money deposits to the now-defunct Bank Asya.
State-run Anadolu news agency reported Monday that 24 out of 41 former employees of the Isik Yayincilik publishing firm who were detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement last week have been put in pretrial detention.
24 employees of Gülenist publishing house arrested on coup charges: report
Twenty-four out of 41 people who were detained in operations on March 7 have been arrested over alleged links to the Gülen group, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
#Işık_Publications, which was closed down in the aftermath of the failed coup, used to publish religious books and books penned by Turkish-Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen.
Turkey: Prosecutor requests long jail terms for 13 defendants in Cumhuriyet trial
The Cumhuriyet newspaper trial’s prosecutor requested sentences of up to 15 years in prison today for 13 of the newspaper’s journalists and managers. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns the trial as a “sinister farce” and urges as many people as possible to turn out in support of the journalists at the next hearing, at which the court is expected to issue verdicts.
At today’s hearing, the prosecutor asked the court to convict 13 of the 18 defendants of “assisting a terrorist organization,” a charge that carries a maximum jail term of 15 years. They include well-known investigative reporter Ahmet Şık, editorial writer Kadri Gürsel, editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu and managing director Akın Atalay.
ECtHR: Turkey violates liberty, security, freedom of expression of #Şahin_Alpay, #Mehmet_Altan
The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has ruled that Turkey has violated the liberty, security and freedom of expression of two journalists, Şahin Alpay and Mehmet Altan, who face terror charges.
7 including teacher, dormitory manager jailed for trying to escape to Greece
At least 7 people were jailed pending trial following their illegal attempt to sneak into Greece where they had reportedly planned to seek asylum.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Wednesday that 7 out of 8 people who were caught at a rice farm near Turkey’s Greek border in Edirne province on Monday.
Anadolu said the group were on their way to escape to Greece due to their affilation to the Gulen movement in Turkey.
Pro-Kurdish deputy #Lezgin_Botan gets 18 years in prison on terror charges
A Van court on Friday sentenced pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Lezgin Botan to 18 years in prison over terrorism charges,” the Evrensel daily reported.
According to a report by the report, the Van 2nd High Criminal Court sentenced the Kurdish deputy for “damaging the integrity of the state,” “disseminating the propaganda of a terrorist organization” and “membership in a terrorist organization.”
Detention warrants issued for 62 executives of gov’t-closed business unions
Warrants issued for 68 executives of some business unions that the government shuttered over ties to the Gulen movement in the wake of the July 15, 2016 failed coup.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Friday that the Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office issued warrants for 62 people who worked at 5 unions, all affiliated with the Aksiyon Business Confederation (Aksiyon Is).
35 purged military students, army members detained
At least 35 military academy students and army members who were earlier dismissed from their jobs and schools over alleged ties to the Gulen movement have been detained.
Report: At least 2,113 people detained over Gülen links in March alone
More than 2,113 people have passed through police custody over their alleged ties to the Gulen movement in March, this year, state-run Anadolu news agency said Sunday.
Anadolu compiled data from the all police operations against alleged Gulenists in March.
More than 2,113 people were detained in such operations, of which 623 were remanded in pretrial detention, according to the news agency.
Turkish government blames the Gulen movement for the July 15, 2016 failed attempt while the latter denies involvement. Nearly 170,000 people have been detained over Gulen links since the summer of 2016.
16 members of Alevi association detained in Erzincan on terror charges: report
At least 16 people affiliated with the Erzincan-based Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Association (PSAKD), have been put in pre-trial detention for “providing support to a terrorist organization,” the Birgün daily reported.
According to the report, among the arrestees are Erol Yeter, deputy chair of the PSAKD, and Akın Demir, local director of the PSKAD in Erzincan.
Police detain 7 Bogaziçi students for participating in protest against Turkey’s Afrin operation
At least 7 student have been detained by police at İstanbul’s Boğaziçi University for participating in protests agains Turkey’s Afrin operation, the Dİken news portal reported.
Detentions came only a day after Turkish President Recep Erdogan said on Saturday that the government will “clean communist and terrorist students” out of Turkish universities.
According to the report the students were detained in police raids on their homes and dormitories at 6 a.m.
On March 19 a group of students protested other students who had set up a stand and distributed Turkish delight in memory of Turkish soldiers killed during the Turkish military’s operation in Afrin, Syria. Police identified 17 of the protestors and detained five of them, while 12 are still being sought.
►https://turkeypurge.com/videopolice-detain-7-bogazici-students-participating-protest-turkeys-af
Mother of this baby put in pre-trial detention on coup charges in İstanbul — claim
#Serap_Öztürk, a Turkish woman and the mother of a 2-month-old baby (pictured above) has been arrested by a Turkish court over alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group, which is accused of masterminding a coup attempt in 2016.
According to a twitter account named @magduriyetlert, Öztürk was detained on March 21 in İstanbul and sent to prison on March 23 over “membership” in the Gülen group.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/mother-baby-put-pre-trial-detention-coup-charges-claim
120 including on-duty soldiers and gendarmerie personnel in custody on coup charges: report
At least 120 people including on-duty soldiers and gendarmerie personnel have been detained by Turkish police over alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group, the pro-government Yeni Şafak reported.
According to the report, the detentions took place in at least 10 provinces including Samsun, Gaziantep, Yalova, Istanbul and Ankara.
Turkey survived a military coup attempt on July 15 that killed over 240 people and wounded more than a thousand others. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen movement.
Turquie : Répression contre des auteurs de messages diffusés sur les réseaux sociaux
Au cours des dernières semaines, les autorités turques ont arrêté et poursuivi en justice de nombreuses personnes qui avaient critiqué sur les réseaux sociaux l’opération militaire menée par la Turquie à Afrin, dans le nord-ouest de la Syrie, a déclaré Human Rights Watch aujourd’hui. Cette répression viole le droit à la liberté d’expression pacifique.
Selon le ministère turc de l’Intérieur, entre le 20 et le 26 février 2018, les autorités ont détenu 648 personnes ayant critiqué sur des médias sociaux les opérations militaires menées par la Turquie à Afrin. Les autorités ont en outre détenu 197 autres personnes ayant exprimé des opinions critiques d’autre manières, par exemple en participant à des manifestations. Le ministère de l’Intérieur a ajouté que de nouvelles enquêtes criminelles ont été ouvertes depuis la fin février.
Dismissed public servant abducted from car in Turkey’s capital
#Ümit Horzum, a former public servant who was removed from his job at Turkish Accreditation Agency (TURKAK) in a government’s post-coup emergency decree, was abducted from his car in Ankara, according to his wife.
“I haven’t heard from my husband Ümit Horzum since Wednesday, Dec 6, 2017, 6 pm. …Following media reports on tortured detainees, my husband was scared and he left home to hide. …A short while after leaving, gendarmerie came to our home to detain him. …He was not staying at home since then. A few days ago, one of his friends stopped by to say that his car was stopped and that he was abducted by force. [His friend] left without answering any further question,” the Horzum Family, a Twitter account believed to be controlled by Umit’s wife said in a series of tweets on Wednesday.
v. aussi: ▻https://turkeypurge.com/ankara-man-missing-111-days-wife-finds-car-abandoned-deflated-tire
Another pro-Kurdish deputy gets 10 years in prison on terrorism charges
A Turkish court in Gaziantep province has sentenced pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy #Selma_Irmak to 10 years in prison on terrorism charges.
According to the Cumhuriyet daily, The Gaziantep Provincial Court upheld a decision issued by a lower court that sentenced Irmak to 10 years in prison for “membership in a terrorist organization” and “disseminating terrorist propaganda.”
Irmak was arrested on Nov. 4, 2016 and delivered her defense to the court via a closed circuit camera system. Irmak’s lawyers appealed the decision to the Gaziantep Provincial Court. But the court upheld the verdict of the lower court that sentenced Irmak to 10 years in prison.
Couple jailed after attempt to escape Turkey’s post-coup crackdown to Iraq
A Turkish couple was intercepted in Hakkari’s Şemdinli district while reportedly on way to escape the government’s post-coup crackdown to Iraq on March 23.
State-run Anadolu news agency said the couple was caught near Hacıbey river and taken into police custody where they were later found to have links to the Gulen movement.
While the identities of the couple remain unknown, they were jailed pending trial on charge of membership to a terror group on Sunday, Anadolu said.
Head of Aliağa commerce chamber detained over grants to students
The president of the chamber of commerce in Izmir’s Aliaga district has been detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement on March 30.
#Adnan_Saka, 75, was detained over grants that Aliaga Chamber of Commerce (ALTO) has given to needy students suspected of ties to the movement, media said.
Saka is accused of financial support to Gulenists.
Dentist gets 7.5-year jail sentence over Kanter’s picture at his clinic’s balcony
Dentist, identified as A.I.B., has been sentenced to 7.5 years of prison sentence nearly one and a half year after he was detained over NBA player Enes Kanter’s picture taken at the balcony of Istanbul clinic.
A.I.B. was jailed pending trial in October 2016 when he was reported to police as the owner of a dental clinic where Kanter took a picture of himself along with former prosecutors Zekeriya Oz and Celal Kara.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/sdsd.jpg
▻https://turkeypurge.com/dentist-gets-7-5-year-jail-sentence-kanters-picture-clinics-balcony
With printing house seized, Turkey’s only Kurdish daily newspaper tries to survive with photocopying
Turkey’s only Kurdish daily newspaper #Rojnameya_Welat has ceased its print edition as the printing house that publishes the newspaper was taken over by the government last week.
Turkish authorities took control of the pro-Kurdish Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper and the Gun Printing House following a police raid over terror charges on March 28.
Doctor commits suicide after suspension from post due to Gülen links
A doctor who was removed from his post at the İzmir-based Katip Çelebi University’s hospital last Friday as part of an ongoing crackdown on the followers of the Gülen movement, committed suicide on Sunday by jumping from the 10th floor of the hospital.
Doctor #Orhan_Çetin, 30, was an assistant doctor at the biochemistry department of the Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Education and Research Hospital.
Çetin was heavily injured when his body was found on the ground floor on Sunday morning. He could not be saved despite doctors’ efforts.
An investigation has been launched into the incident.
Former top judiciary member dies of heart attack in prison: report
#Teoman_Gökçe, a top judge and a former member of the Turkish Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), has passed away following a heart attack in prison, media reported Monday.
Gökçe was a HSK member until he quitted in the summer of 2014 claiming that government appointments violated judicial independence.
Dismissed from his job as a judge in the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 failed coup, Gökçe was subsequently jailed on charges of links to the Gulen movement.
Detention warrant issued for pollster due to social media postings
Detention warrant was issued for #Kemal_Özkiraz, the coordinatior of the Eurasia Public Opinion Research Centre (AKAM), media reported on Tuesday.
Police raided Özkiraz’s home and workplace, to no avail. A lawyer representing him said Özkiraz would stop by the prosecutor’s office to give his statement on Wednesday.
The warrant was issued over his social media posts what media said critical of Turkey’s military offensive in Afrin.
Former editor-in-chief of state-run #TRT_News gets 9 years, 9 months on terror charges
#Ahmet_Böken, a Turkish journalist and Former editor-in-chief of public broadcaster TRT News, has been handed down a prison sentence of nine years, nine months on charges of membership in a terrorist organization.
Böken was among the dozens of journalists who were jailed in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016 due to alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group, accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the coup attempt.
The group denies any involvement.
Veteran journalist #Hasan_Cemal receives suspended jail sentence on terror charges
Veteran Turkish journalist Hasan Cemal has been given a suspended sentence of three months, 22 days for a series of articles documenting the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) withdrawal from Turkey as part of an agreement with the government.
According to a report by the Cumhuriyet daily on Tuesday, Cemal, whose articles were published under the heading “Withdrawal Diary” on the T24 independent news website in 2013, had faced up to 13 years under Turkish terror and criminal law in a case opened against him four years later. He was acquitted in this trial, but the İstanbul 2nd Regional Court of Justice, a superior court, overturned the acquittal in November 2017 and ruled for a retrial.
Turkey seeks aggravated life sentences for 9 #Zaman -linked journalists, columnists
An İstanbul prosecutor has demanded aggravated life sentences for nine journalists affiliated with now-defunct Zaman daily, which was closed by the government after a coup attempt in July 2016.
The nine suspects, according to the prosecutor, have “violated the Turkish constitution.”
The journalists for whom life sentences are being sought as follows: Columnists Mümtaz’er Türköne, Ali Bulaç, Şahin Alpay, Ahmet Turan Alkan, İhsan Duran Dağı, Orhan Kemal Cengiz, and reporters İbrahim Karayeğen, Mehmet Özdemir, Mustafa Ünal.
All nine of them have been held in pre-trial detention for almost 19 months.
Purge-victim gets 9.5 years in prison for paying tax through Bank Asya, indictment shows
A Turkish man has been given a prison sentence of 9 years five months over membership in the Gülen group, which is accused by the government of masterminding a coup attempt in 2016.
The indictment revelaled that one of his crimes was to pay tax through now-defunct Bank Asya in 2014.
“During the police search in the house of the suspect, a tax slip dated 06.01.2014, numbered [………], belonging to […….], paid through Bank Asya Sefaköy Branch, has been seized,” the indictment said.
la purge autoritaire turque vue d’Europe
Depuis la tentative de coup d’État de juillet 2016, la purge autoritaire, menée à un rythme effréné, a pris une ampleur glaçante en Turquie. Militant·e·s, journalistes, universitaires, simples citoyen·ne·s tou·te·s sont concerné·e·s, jusqu’aux avocat·e·s qui les défendent, quand ils ne sont pas directement ciblé·e·s. Le tout sous le regard froid d’institutions européennes, documentant la dérive autoritaire du régime turc dans un silence fracassant. En dépit des violations répétées du droit international, aucune réponse politique ou diplomatique ne semble devoir se dessiner.
Gloom detained for ‘insulting’ Erdoğan, bride performs ceremony alone
A groom named Rahat Akbaba was detained for “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on henna night, a customary celebration before a wedding, in Turkey’s Diyarbakır province, causing the wedding ceremony to be held with just the bride, the Mezopotamya news agency reported.
According to the report, Akbaba’s car was stopped on April 5 by counterterrorism units on his way from the hairdresser to the henna night party with his bride, Sara Başak. Akbaba was taken to a courthouse and later to Diyarbakır Prison after he was informed that a sentence of three years, nine months in prison for insulting President Erdoğan had been approved by an appeals court.
Ferhat Tunç Prosecuted for ‘Commemorating Musa Anter’
An investigation has been launched against artist Ferhat Tunç due to his speech he delivered for commemorating Musa Anter. In his deposition, Tunç has said, “I stand by all my words written in the investigation text”.
Turkey arrests another German national on terror charges: report
#Adil_Demirci, a Turkish origin German ciziten, has been put in pre-rial detention in Turkey over alleged “membership in a terrorist organization.”
According to the German news portal Deutsche Welle, Demirci was initially detained by the Turkish police on April 13 along Semiha Şahin and Pınar Gayip, two journalists affiliated with the pro-Kurdish ETHA news agency.
Pro-Kurdish HDP deputy gets 7 years in prison on terrorism charges
A Turkish court has sentenced pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy #Burcu_Çelik_Özkan to prison for alleged terrorism propaganda, according to a report by the pro-Kurdish Mesopotamia news agency.
Özkan was sentenced to seven years, three months and 10 days on charges of disseminating propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). She had previously been given six years for the same offense by a lower court, but the sentence was dropped and the case retried on appeal.
Pro-Kurdish HDP deputy Yüksekdağ gets 6-month in jail for ‘violating election bans’
#Figen_Yüksekdağ, former co-chairperson of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who has been jailed since November 2016, has been handed down a prison sentence of six months on charges of violating election bans.
The last hearing in Yüksekdağ’s trial was held at the Erciş 2nd Penal Court of First Instance in the eastern province of Van on Friday.
Yüksekdağ was convicted over a speech she made at the opening of a bus terminal in Erciş on Oct. 27, 2015.
Turkey seeks three-year jail sentence for journalist Baysal over tweets criticizing Afrin operation
A Turkish prosecutor is seeking a three-year jail sentence for journalist #Nurcan_Baysal due to her tweets critical of an ongoing Turkish military operation in the Kurdish-controlled Afrin region of Syria, according to the Mesopotamia news agency.
Baysal was detained on the night of Jan. 21 after police teams broke down the door of her house. The journalist was released pending trial by a court on Jan. 24.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/turkey-seeks-three-year-jail-sentence-for-journalist-baysal-over-tweets
4 journalists from seized pro-Kurdish daily put in pre-trial detention on terror charges
A Turkish court on Tuesday ruled to arrest three editors and one media worker from the pro-Kurdish Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, which was seized by the Turkish government in late March on the grounds that it has links to the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Özgürlükçü Demokrasi is the successor of the Özgür Gündem newspaper, which was closed down by the government in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
On March 28, the headquarters of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi in the Beyoğlu district of İstanbul and its printing house were raided and searched by police teams upon an order from the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Twenty-two employees of the daily were detained, and 20 were subsequently arrested.
Seven others from the daily were detained in another police operation on April 7.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/4-journalists-from-seized-pro-kurdish-daily-put-in-pre-trial-detention-
8 pro-Kurdish deputies under investigation over ‘terror propaganda’
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday filed motions against eight pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies for disseminating “terrorist propaganda,” demanding the removal of their immunity from prosecution, the state-run Anadolu agency reported.
According to the report, HDP deputies Osman Baydemir, Alican Önlü, Feleknas Uca, Sibel Yiğitalp, Nadir Yıldırım, Dilek Öcalan, Mizgin Irgat and Garo Paylan also were accused of “humiliating the Turkish nation, the Turkish state, government, military and police,” “violating the Political Parties Law” and “Insulting the president [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan].”
The prosecutor sent motions to the Justice Ministry to forward to the presidency of the Parliament for removal of the deputies’ immunity.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/8-pro-kurdish-deputies-under-investigation-over-terror-propaganda
Columnist Alpay’s house subject to random searchings even at midnights: lawyer
The house belonging to veteran journalist #Şahin_Alpay, who was released pending trial on May 17 after spending 20 months in jail, has been subject to frequent and random searchings by police even at midnights, according to Alpay’s lawyer.
Alpay was jailed in the aftermath of a military coup attempt on July 15, 2016 over alleged links to the Gülen movement and “attempting to overthrow the government.”
Turkey to dismiss 3,000 more active duty officers on coup charges: Defense Minister
The Turkish government has identified a total of 3,000 active duty military officers suspected of links to the Gülen group, said Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli on Wednesday.
“They will be dismissed with a government decree in the coming days,”Canikli stated according to report by the Hürrüyet daily.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/turkey-to-dismiss-3000-more-active-duty-officers-on-coup-charges-defens
State of Emergency in Turkey extended for 7th consecutive time
Turkey’s post-coup emergency rule was extended for another three months following general assembly meeting at the parliament on Wednesday.
The extension is the seventh since the State of Emergency was first declared in the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 failed coup.
The extension was listed among the recommendations declared following the National Security Council meeting Wednesday.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/state-of-emergency-in-turkey-extended-for-7th-consecutive-time
#Etat_d'urgence
77,081 people put in pre-trial detention over Gulen links so far: gov’t
At least 77,081 people have been put in pre-trial detention over Gulen links so far, according to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.
Speaking during a Tekirdag meeting on Wednesday, Soylu said the total number of people who were arrested over their alleged ties to the Gulen movement between July 15, 2016 and April 11, 2018 is 77,081.
The year 2017 alone saw 20,409 operations by law enforcement across Turkey through which thousands of people were detained and 20,478 of them were subsequently put in pre-trial detention, Soylu said adding 2,706 were arrested following 6,742 operations in 2018.
People who were jailed from July 15, 2016 to the end of that year totalled 53,897, Turkey Purge estimated based on stats by Soylu.
Apart from the pre-trial detentions, more than 150,000 people have passed through police custody since the July 15, 2016 failed coup.
Turkish government accuses Gulenists of masterminding the failed attempt while the latter denies involvement.
Turkey arrests four more journalists from pro-Kurdish Etkin news agency: report
A Turkish court on Thursday ruled for the arrest of four journalists affiliated with the Etkin News Agency (ETHA).
The arrestees — #Semiha_Şahin, #Pınar_Gayıp, #Ferhat_Harun_Pehlivan, #Gülsen_İmre — are accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “spreading propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization.”
Turkey is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) . There are currently a total of 235 journalists are under arrest pending trial, while 24 have been convicted.
The Turkish government also closed down more than 180 media outlets after a failed coup on July 15, 2016.
Gülen’s nephew, in pre-trial detention for 20 months, sentenced to 12 years in jail
Fethullah Gülen’s nephew #Ahmet_Ramiz_Gülen was sentenced to 12 years in jail on charges of membership to a terror group.
Under arrest for 20 months in a Gaziantep prison, Ahmet Ramiz was given 12 years of prison term on April 18, 2018. The court overseeing his case ruled to continue his arrest.
Turkey strips 2 more pro-Kurdish deputies of parliamentary status, bringing total to 11
The Turkish Parliament has stripped pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies #Osman_Baydemir and #Selma_Irmak of their parliamentary status, the Cumhuriyet daily reported.
The decision was made due to the approval by an appeals court of sentences the two depuies had previously received.
‘Gülenist’ public servant under heavy torture at Ankara Organized Crime Bureau: report
#Ümit_Horzum, a Turkish citizen who was abducted from his car in Ankara on December 6, 2017 and handed over to the Ankara police on Monday, is being subject to torture, torment and excruciating pain at the Ankara Police Department Organized Crime Control Bureau, Turkish journalist Bülent Ceyhan tweeted.
Horzum, who was removed from his job at the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TURKAK) by a government decree issued last year due to his alleged links to the Gülen group. He was reportedly found on April 17, after which the police informed his wife, Aynur, that her husband was in police custody. Yet, according to the family’s Twitter account, neither his family nor his lawyer has been allowed to see Horzum.
#İshak_Karakaş: Imprisoned for tweeting about Turkey’s Afrin operation
İshak Karakaş, the editor-in-chief of a local Istanbul weekly Halkın Nabzı, is an early riser. He is usually up before dawn and back from a long walk, which he takes with an unlikely group of friends from the neighbourhood, by 8 am. This is when he starts checking the news of the day over breakfast while posting impassioned tweets about the morning’s reports.
On 20 January the Turkish military launched an operation into Afrin, a Kurdish-controlled enclave in Syria, arguing that the Kurdish forces in the region are an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which Turkey considers a terrorist organisation. Karakaş, like many others, took to Twitter to criticise the military incursion. He did so using the account @ishakkakarakas_, which has since been closed by his son and lawyer Uğur Karakaş.
“There is not a single Islamic State gang in Afrin. Why are you telling lies?” he asked Turkey’s politicians, who have claimed that the Kurdish forces in Syria are actually ISIS militants. “Don’t believe the TV’s propaganda on Afrin,” he told fellow citizens in another tweet. He also retweeted a post claiming that civilians had been killed in the region at the hands of the Turkish military.
Then they came for him.
Turkey seeks up to 15 years in prison for Yeni Asya editor
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday demanded up to 15 years’ imprisonment for the Yeni Asya daily editor #Nur_Ener over membership in a terrorist organization, the P24 news portal reported.
Ener was initially arrested on March 5, 2017, over her alleged use of ByLock, a smartphone messaging application that Turkish government claims to be the top communication tool among the members of the Gülen movement.
In February 2018, the İstanbul 26th High Criminal Court released her on condition of house arrest.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding the July 15 coup attempt.
Turkish court arrests another woman with 10-month-old baby on coup charges
#Nazlı_Mert, a Turkish woman with a 10-month old baby, has been put in pre-trial over alleged links to the Gülen group, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt in 2016.
Mert was initially detained by police on June 3, 2017, days after she gave birth to a baby at Lokman Hekim Hospital in Ankara’s Etlik neighborhood. She was released pending trial while her husband sent to prison over his alleged ties to the Gülen group.
On April 23, 2018, a Kırşehir court this time ruled for the arrest of the woman on coup charges, putting her and her 10-month old baby in a prison in the Kırşehir province. The woman was picture with her baby while being transferred to the prison late on Monday.
Suspended police officer commits suicide 2 months after reinstatement
A 25-year-old police officer who was earlier suspended from his job in Turkey’s post-coup crackdown has shot himself dead 2 months after he was reinstated to the office.
#Erdem_Gezer, a father of one from the eastern province of Bitlis, was temporarily removed from office over his alleged links to the Gulen movement.
Two months after he was reinstated to his job as a result of an administrative investigation, Erdem Gezer shot himself dead at his home on April 18.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/suspended-police-officer-commits-suicide-2-months-after-reinstatement
16 including 6 children detained following attempted escape to Greece
At least 16 people were detained in Turkey’s western province of Mugla after they failed to escape to Greece, media reported on Apr 24.
The group attempted to escape to the Greek island of Kos in a speed boat that was chased by Turkish coast guards off Mugla shores upon a complaint. The boat carrying the group crashed into a reef in the Kisebükü bay.
The people aboard rushed into the woods through Kisebükü shore after the crash, however they were rounded up in the forest.
The group included 6 children, 2 former judges, 2 Defence Ministry employees and 1 The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) employee who were earlier dismissed from their jobs over links to the Gulen movement.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/16-including-6-children-detained-following-attempted-escape-to-greece
Turkey sentences Cumhuriyet journalists to prison for up to seven years on terror charges
A Turkish court has sentenced a group of Cumhuriyet journalists and employees to jail for alleged links to a group the Turkish government blames for a failed coup attempt in July 2016.
According to the Birgün daily, 6 of them were convicted of aiding and abetting an armed terrorist organisation and were given prison terms of up to seven and a half years.
Several others were convicted on lesser charges.
Veteran journalist Ahmet Şık, Cumhuriyet daily Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu and columnist Aydın Engin were given seven years, six months, while Cumhuriyet CEO Akın Atalay was sentenced to seven years, three months, 15 days. Publisher Orhan Erinç and columnist Hikmet Çetinkaya got six years, three months and editorial consultant Kadri Gürsel two years, six months. Three other Cumhuriyet employees, Önder Çelik, Hakan Kara, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, received three years, nine months in prison.
The staff of the newspaper –- long seen as a thorn in Erdoğan’s side and one of the few remaining voices critical of the government –- were charged with supporting the Gülen movement. “This was absolutely not a lawful verdict. At the end, it is a political case,” Özdemir said.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/turkey-sentences-cumhuriyet-journalists-to-prison-for-up-to-seven-years
22 businessmen, former #Bank_Asya employees detained over Gulen links
At least 22 people were detained as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement on Thursday.
Police carried out operations in 5 provinces in a Kastamonu-based investigation that targeted mostly businessmen and former employees of the now-defunct Bank Asya.
Bank Asya was earlier closed over its ties to the Gulen movement which the government blames for the July 15, 2016 failed coup.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/22-businessmen-bank-asya-employees-detained-over-gulen-links
Mother of these children put in pre-trial detention on coup charges in Kırşehir — claim
Ayşe Elibol, a Turkish woman and the mother of three children (pictured above) has been arrested by a Turkish court over alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group, which is accused of masterminding a coup attempt in 2016.
According to a twitter account named @magduriyetlert, Elibol was initially detained on Thursday in Kırşehir and released pending trial later the same day.
Upon the demand of a Kırşehir prosecutor, Mrs Elibol has been re-detained and this time sent to prison over “membership” in the Gülen group.
[VIDEO] 5 detained over ByLock use in Turkey’s Kayseri
At least 5 people were detained over their alleged use of ByLock mobile application in Turkey’s central Anatolian province of Kayseri, media reported Friday.
A Turkish prosecutor issued detention warrants for a total of 8 people in Kayseri on accusations that they use a smart phone application known as ByLock.
Turkish authorities believe that ByLock is a communication tool among followers of the Gülen movement, accused of mounting the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt. The movement denies involvement.
Warrants issued for 103 people in 36 provinces: 63 detained
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday issued detention warrants for 103 people for allegedly organizing marriages between faith-based Gülen movement people, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
According to the report, 63 of the 103 being sought have been detained by police in operations across 36 provinces, while 40 are still at large.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government pursued a crackdown on the Gülen movement following corruption operations in December 2013 in which the inner circle of the government and then-Prime Minister Erdoğan were implicated.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/warrants-issued-for-103-people-in-36-provinces-63-detained
Prime coup suspect’s niece put in pre-trial detention
Esmaül Hüsna Öksüz, one of the cousins of Adil Öksüz, a major suspect in the investigations into the July 15 coup attempt has been arrested, adding up to a group of people jailed over their family ties to the latter.
#Esmaül_Hüsna was rounded up at a post office in Istanbul where she was going to send a package to his relatives in the US who are wanted over links the Gulen movement, media reported Saturday.
Turkey issues detention warrants for 25 air force officers on coup charges: report
The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s offices on Monday issued detention warrants for 25 air force officers of varying ranks as part of an investigation into theTurkey’s Gülen group.
According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, 11 of the 25 were dismissed by a state of emergency decree, 12 were suspended and two had previously retired.
Turkish court sentences 20 journalists, media workers to jail over terror charges
An İstanbul court gave its verdict about 20 Turkish journalists and media employees in a trial known as Feza Gazetecilik and Cihan Media Distribution Co. case during the 4th hearing on Monday.
Following the 4t hearing of the trial, İstanbul 13th High Criminal Court, which is in the campus of the notorious Silivri Prison, ruled to sentence Cihan news agency executives Hakan Taşdelen, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş and Faruk Akkan, general director of Cihan news agency, 9 years in prison and continuation of their imprisonment.
The court has also given 7 years and 6 months to Cihan news agency employees Osman Nuri Arslan, Ahmet İrem and Yüksel Durgut in prison and decided for continuation of their judicial probe.
The same court sentenced Cuma Kaya, Alaattin Güner, Hüseyin Turan to 4 years in prison and Murat Avcıoğlu to 3 years, 1 month and 15 days in prison and decided to release them.
The İstanbul court has also decided for acquittal of Zafer Özsoy, Hüseyin Belli, Onur Kutlu, İsmail Küçük and Ali Hüseyin Çelebi from the charge of being a member of a terror organisation and ruled for releasing all of them from prison.
The court has also ruled to separate the files of Şeref Yılmaz, Osman Nuri Öztürk and Süleyman Sargın, the general director of Irmak TV, from the case while it ruled for acquittal of all other defendants from the charge of involvement into a coup attempt.
The trial of the case about Zaman daily employees and columnists Ali Bulaç, İbrahim Karayeğen, Mümtazer Türköne, Şahin Alpay, Mehmet Özdemir, Mustafa Ünal, Ahmet Turan Alkan, Nuriye Ural, İhsan Duran Dağı, Lalezar Sarıibrahimoğlu and Orhan Kemal Cengiz is going to be held on May 10 in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse.
An İstanbul prosecutor had demanded aggravated life sentences for nine journalists in a trial of employees of the former Zaman daily, which was closed by the government for its alleged affiliation with the Gülen movement.
There are 31 defendants in the indictment, 17 of whom are jailed. Mümtaz’er Türköne, Ali Bulaç, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Ahmet Turan Alkan, Alaattin Güner, Cuma Kaya, Faruk Akkan, Hakan Taşdelen, Hüseyin Turan, İbrahim Karayeğen, Mehmet Özdemir, Murat Avcıoğlu, Mustafa Ünal, Sedat Yetişkin, Şeref Yılmaz, Yüksel Durgut and Zafer Özsoy have been in pretrial detention for almost 19 months.
Eight defendants who were earlier released are Şahin Alpay, İhsan Dağı, Orhan Kemal Cengiz, Nuriye Akman, Lale Kemal, Onur Kutlu, İsmail Küçük and Hüseyin Belli. The remaining journalists are being tried in absentia.
Feza Gazetecilik owned the then-best selling Zaman daily, which was seized by the Turkish government on March 4, 2016 and closed down in the aftermath of a controversial coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
According to the prosecutor’s legal opinion, the nine prominent journalists, including Mümtaz’er Türköne, Ali Bulaç and Şahin Alpay, “violated the constitution.” In addition, the prosecutor demanded up to 15 years for each of the nine on charges of “membership in an armed organization.”
Other defendants for whom the same sentence was demanded are İbrahim Karayeğen, Mehmet Özdemir, Mustafa Ünal, Ahmet Turan Alkan, İhsan Duran Dağı and Orhan Kemal Cengiz.
For the 20 other defendants, who were tried on Monday, the prosecutor demanded jail sentences of between seven and 15 years at the most recent hearing. Those charges included “membership in an armed organization” and “aiding the organization without being a member of it.”
The court is expected to announce its decision for columnists and journalists on May 11.
At least 489 people detained over Gulen links in past week: data
At least 489 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 489 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between Apr 23-30.
Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the July 15, 2016 coup attempt while the latter denies involvement.
Nearly 160,000 people have been detained and 80,000 arrested over ties to the movement since the summer of 2016.
Istanbul police detain 66 people during Tuesday’s May Day marches
Turkish police on Tuesday detained 66 people as they attempted to mark May Day by marching in Istanbul, Cumhuriyet reported.
According to the report, 56 people were detained in Beşiktaş, six in Maltepe, two in Beyoğlu and two in the Şişli district of Istanbul.
According to the Turkish media over 26,000 police officers have been on duty during the day in Istanbul.
The Turkish government banned Taksim Square for celebrations and asked people to use the Maltepe meeting area instead.
Detention warrants issued for 9 former Treasury employees
Detention warrants were issued for 9 people who worked at the Undersecretariat for Treasury until they were dismissed over links to the Gulen movement, on Wednesday.
A tenth individual is also wanted in the investigation
Ankara Public Prosecutor’s office issued the warrants and four were rounded at the time of writing, state-run Anadolu news agency said.
Some of the suspects are accused of using #ByLock mobile app that the government claims to be the top communication tool among Gulenists.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/detention-warrants-issued-for-9-former-treasury-employees
118 houses in Izmir raided, 72 people detained over Gülen links
Seventy-two people were detained in İzmir province on Sunday morning in a police operation targeting members of the faith-based Gülen movement, according to the T24 news website.
Members of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) along with counterterrorism police raided 118 houses as part of an investigation into people who are allegedly helping Gülen-linked suspects in jail. The prosecutor accuses them of paying the rent of their families and lending them moral support.
The Fallen of Turkey’s Purge
Turkey survived a military coup attempt on July 15, 2016 that killed 249 people. Immediately after the putsch, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government along with President Erdoğan pinned the blame on the Gülen group.
The group denies any involvement.
Sınce the coup attempt, at least 106 people have died while in pre-trial detention or in exile somewhere in the world.
10 pro-Kurdish politicians including HDP co-chair arrested in run-up to snap elections
An İstanbul court arrested at least 10 pro-Kurdish politicans, including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul branch co-chair Cengiz Çiçek, according to the NTV news website.
On April 28, police had raided a public meeting held by the HDP in İstanbul and detained 41 people from the party and press. Following police interrogation, 31 of them were released on the same day, with the other 10 remaining in police custody until today.
Pro-Kurdish Dihaber reporter arrested over terror charges
#Gökhan_Öner, a reporter for the now-closed pro-Kurdish online news portal, Dihaber has been put in pretrial detention over terror charges.
Detained following a police raid on his home in Denizli on Apr 28, Oner has been kept in custody since then. Media said his detention came after a complaint over his articles published on Dihaber earlier.
Oner was jailed for pre-trial detention on charges of membership to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Saturday.
Turkey has arrested more than 300 journalists under the government’s post-coup emergency rule.
Detention warrants issued for 52 including doctors, engineers, teachers, pharmacists
At least 23 detained in operation targeting anti-gov’t foundation
Turkish police teams on Monday carried out operations against members of the Furkan Foundation, which is critical of the Turkish government, and detained 23 of its members.
The operations, which were based in the southern Turkish province of Adana, were conducted across 10 provinces including Elazığ, Malatya, Ankara, Gaziantep, İstanbul, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Konya and İzmir.
The detainees, who were taken into custody following simultaneous police raids, are reported to be responsible for the foundation’s financial and educational activities.
The Furkan Foundation has been facing growing pressure from the Turkish government due to the critical views of its president Alparslan Kuytul, in recent months.
587 people detained over Gülen links in past week: gov’t
At least 587 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 587 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between Apr 30 and May 7.
Indictment accuses 4 journalists of ‘leading an armed terrorist group’
A İstanbul prosecutor has accused four journalists from now-defunct Zaman newspaper of “leading an armed terrorist group,” which could lead to a sentence of up to 22 years, six month, P24 news portal reported.
The Zaman newspaper, which was seized on March 4, 2016 and then closed down by the Turkish government under a state of emergency declared in the aftermath of a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
The same journalists — Zaman night-shift editor İbrahim Karayeğen, editor Mehmet Özdemir and columnists Orhan Kemal Cengiz and İhsan Dağı — were previouly accused by the same prosecutor of membership in a terrorist organization and playing a role in the coup.
In the news indictement, Karayeğen and Özdemir are now charged with “leading an armed terrorist group,” which could lead to a sentence of up to 22 years, six months.
On the other hand, Cengiz and Dağı are accused of “spreading propaganda for a terror organization” and requested a 13-year sentence for both.
A total of 30 columnists and staff members of Zaman, once one of Turkey’s highest circulating newspapers, are now on trial.
[#TAMAM] One million tweets say ‘#Enough’ to Turkish President Erdogan
More than one million people took to Twitter on Tuesday to call time on President Tayyip Erdogan, tweeting “Tamam” (“Enough”) hours after he promised to step down if “Turkish nation says enough” in the upcoming election.
Istanbul lawyer detained due to social media postings
Istanbul-based lawyer #Sibel_Sevinç_Deveci has been detained due to her postings, deemed to be making propaganda on behalf of the Gulen group.
Deveci was detained at his home as part of an investigation in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Her detention came three days after he tweeted: “As a judicial member I know that they will try to pretend like they did not supported the AKP. It will happen very soon. Do not forget.” These postings has drawn harsh reaction from pro-government social media accounts since then.
Zaman columnist, in pre-trial detention for 21 months now, denied release during court appearance
A high criminal court in the western Turkish province of Uşak has ruled for the continuation of the arrest of former Zaman daily columnist #Ali_Ünal, who was jailed in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
Ünal’s trial resumed at the Uşak 2nd High Criminal Court on Thursday, when the journalist delivered his defense statement. It was the third hearing in the trial in which Ünal faces charges of attempting to perpetrate a coup and being a leader of a terrorist organization.
Ünal is among the dozens of journalists who were arrested in the aftermath of the coup attempt because the media outlets they used to work for had links to the Gülen movement, which is accused by the government of masterminding the failed coup.
Public accountant, in pre-trial detention for 22 months, given 9-year jail sentence
Kayseri-based public accountant, identified as M.Y., was given 8 years and 9 months jail sentence during his final court hearing, media said Thursday.
In pre-trial detention for 22 months, M.Y. was convicted of membership to the Gulen movement, which the government accuses of masterminding the July 15, 2016 failed coup. Gulenists deny involvement in the failed attempt.
Evidence against M.Y. include his previous business as a distributor of textbooks, published by Kaynak Holding and its affiliates that were seized over Gulen links recently.
Pro-Kurdish Ozgur Gundem’s managing editor detained
Journalist #Reyhan_Capan, the managing editor of the now-defunct pro-Kurdish daily Ozgur Gundem, has been taken under police custody in Artvin’s Hopa district.
Report: Purged architects, engineers banned from building inspector jobs until the year 3025
CHP report reveals gross human rights violations in Turkey’s overcrowded prisons
The report, based on data from Turkey’s Justice Ministry, was prepared by CHP Deputy Chairman Tekin Bingöl, who is responsible for human rights issues for the party.
According to the report, there are currently 228,993 people in Turkey’s prisons, 140,248 of whom have been convicted of a crime, while 88,745 are in pre-trial detention. These figures show that the prison population in Turkey has increased by 285 percent since the AKP came to power in 2002.
Due to the high prison population and lack of adequate space for prisoners, more than 20,000 inmates sleep in shifts, the report said.
967 people detained over Gulen links in past week alone: data
At least 967 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 967 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between May 7-14.
30 Turkish nationals fled Turkey to Greece each day since Erdogan called for snap elections: report
About 30 Turks have been arriving on a daily basis since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for snap elections to be held next month, according to Greek media.
Kathimerini said Monday that some 30 Turkish nationals have fled Turkey to Greece each day since Erdogan announced that Turkey would hold presidential and general polls earlier than scheduled.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/30-turkish-nationals-fled-turkey-to-greece-each-day-since-erdogan-calle
Turkish government seizes 15 Merzifon-based companies including jewelry store, grocery, drugstore
Fifteen more companies were seized as part of an investigation into the Gulen movement, which the Turkish government blames for the July 15, 2016 failed coup, media reported Monday.
A trustee panel was appointed to 15 companies in the Merzifon district in Turkey’s Amasya. The measure was taken on accusations of providing financial support to a terror group.
Turkeypurge.com has learned that among the companies seized by the government are a plastics manufacturer specializing in custom and stock marine parts for the boating industry, two construction and consulting companies, a drug store, and a jewellry store.
▻http://turkeypurge.com/15-companies-in-turkeys-amasya-seized-by-government
Six companies seized from critical businessman to be liquidated: gov’t
Six companies seized from the government-seized Dumankaya Holding would be liquidated, state-run Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) said Tuesday.
According to TMSF’s statement, the companies to be liquidated are as follows: Dumankaya Dış Ticaret ve Pazarlama; Dumankaya Holding; Dumankaya Kentsel Dönüşüm Proje Geliştirme; Dumankaya ve Mazaya İnşaat; Shov Oto Sanayi ve Ticaret; and Dumankaya Teknoloji.
The liquidation doesn’t concern Dumankaya’s flagship construction firm. TMSF earlier said that the agency is in talks with a German company to complete Dumankaya’s now-halted construction projects.
Turkish folk singer arrested at airport to serve 10 months in prison over terror charges
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) party council member #Pınar_Aydınlar, also a famous folk singer, was arrested on Tuesday due to a final judgment by the İzmir 2nd High Criminal Court, immediately upon her arrival at İstanbul Atatürk Airport from Germany, the Cumhuriyet daily reported.
The court’s original verdict, in which Aydınlar was convicted of “disseminating terrorist propaganda” in an election campaign speech in İzmir province in 2015, was two years, one month in prison, which was reduced to 10 months on appeal.
Following her arrest, she was brought to Bakırköy Women’s Prison in İstanbul, where she will spend seven and a half months. On her way to İstanbul from Germany early in the morning, Aydınlar tweeted a message to her followers, saying, “I don’t prefer Europe’s fancy streets to my country’s prisons. Time to come back! Hope to see you in free days! Jin Jiyan Azadi [women, life, freedom]!”
Turkish gov’t used controversial app to spy on citizens who attended landmark opposition march: report
Turkish authorities used spy software developed by a German firm to infiltrate the smartphones of members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) during a march launched by the party’s leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu last summer in protest of the arrest of a party deputy, according to several German media outlets.
German daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and public broadcasters NDR and WDR reported the news based on a study by digital rights group Access Now.
According to Access Now’s findings, Turkish officials used the program “#Finspy” by #Finfisher, based in Munich, to spy on members of the CHP primarily during the march, called the “March of Justice,” which lasted for three weeks.
Access Now found evidence that fake Twitter accounts posted links to websites that promised to inform protesters about the demonstration if they downloaded a smartphone app.
The app included Finspy software and allowed the Turkish government to gain real-time access to the smartphone owners’ contacts, photos and videos.
A security expert at Germany’s University of Bochum independently analyzed the software and told Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR that “it appeared to be a newer version” of previous Finspy software.
FinFisher refused to comment on the story when contacted by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR.
Curdi: storia di Nurcan, donna e giornalista perseguitata in Turchia
Essere curdi, donne e giornalisti nella Turchia di Erdogan può essere molto rischioso. Come dimostra la storia di Nurcan Baysal, che sta pagando sulla propria pelle questa condizione. E che, con il suo lavoro infaticabile, si è meritata il premio “globale” del Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk, un riconoscimento assegnato proprio oggi dall’ong irlandese Front Line Defenders a cinque attivisti, associazioni e movimenti, uno per ciascuna regione del mondo.
Opposition IYI Party supporter put in pre-trial detention over alleged terror propaganda
#Kerim_Çoraklık, the alleged head of the communications team of the opposition İYİ (Good) Party and an advisor to the party’s leader, Meral Akşener, who was detained on charges of disseminating the propaganda of the Gülen movement earlier this month, was arrested on Monday.
IYI Party executives earlier denied any official link between Coraklik and the party. His Twitter account campaigned for IYI Party until he was detained earlier this month.
Çoraklık was taken into custody in Ankara on May 8 as part of an investigation carried out by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office due to his social media posts, which allegedly praised the Gülen movement, accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
Cihan news agency editor gets 7.5-year prison sentence
Journalist Kazım Canlan, the Ankara editor of the Cihan news agency before it was shut down, has been sentenced to 7.5 years in jail.
In pre-trial detention in an Ankara prison on charges of membership to a terror group for months now, Canlan appeared before the court via teleconference system for his final hearing earlier this month.
Canlan is accused of having used ByLock mobile app and Bank Asya accounts for his banking transactions. The government sees the two as an evidence of links to the Gulen movement.
The court overseeing his case sentenced Canlan to 7.5 years in prison.
District governor in Trabzon province detained over Gulen links
#İbrahim_Halil_Şivgan, the governor of Trabzon’s Arakli district was detained over his alleged links to the Gülen movement, on Monday.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Şivgan was taken into custody by Trabzon police on charges of membership to a terror group.
104 more military personnel get aggravated life imprisonment over coup charges
An İzmir court on Monday handed down aggravated life sentences to 104 of 137 suspects for their alleged role in a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
On Friday an Istanbul court sentenced 57 air force cadets to life and six others to aggravated life for their alleged role in the failed coup attempt.
Civil engineer gets 8 years and 9 months in prison over Gulen links
Police detain 9 tax inspectors in Turkey’s Hatay
Nine tax inspectors were detained as part of an investigation into Gulen movement supporters in the southern province of Hatay on Wednesday.
Hatay police carried out operations at several locations and rounded up the nine suspects, some of whom were earlier dismissed from their jobs over Gulen links.
Doctor jailed as part of Turkey’s post-coup purge commits suicide in pre-trial detention
#Ibrahim_Halil_Özyavuz, a medical doctor who was put in pre-trial detention a month ago over his alleged ties to the Gulen movement, has reportedly committed suicide in Silivri Prison.
[VIDEO] Jailed doctor did not commit suicide but died due to torture: family
Family members of İbrahim Halil Özyavuz, a medical doctor who was jailed in May over alleged links to the Gülen movement, said that Özyavuz did not commit suicide as previously reported but rather died after he was subjected to heavy torture by police officers while he was in pretrial detention.
Former judge, 10 others detained while escaping from Turkey to Greece
A total of 11 people have been stopped near in Edirne province while they were reportedly on their way to Greece, media reported.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Monday that Edirne police stopped caught 11 people in 2 cars and a bus near Ipsala district.
Eleven suspects include former judge Ismail Kurt as well as doctors, engineers and teachers who were earlier removed from their jobs as part of the Turkish government’s post-coup crackdown.
Man, in hiding from gov’t crackdown, dies due to delayed treatment as wife detained during funeral
A Turkish man, claimed to be a teacher with an outstanding arrest warrant over his links to the Gulen movement, has died during his long overdue treatment at hospital while his wife has been reportedly detained at the funeral.
Several social media accounts claimed Sunday that #Esra_Celik was detained during the funeral of her 30-year-old husband Mehmet Celik who had a lung problem but was unable to seek medical treatment due to the arrest warrant.
When he ended up going to hospital for treatment, it was so late for a recovery that he passed away during the surgery.
On Sunday, Mrs Celik was detained during her husband’s funeral in Hatay and was taken to 1000-km-away Manisa province where the investigation against her was originated. The accusations against Mrs Celik were unknown at the time of writing.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/man-in-hiding-from-govt-crackdown-dies-due-to-delayed-treatment-as-wife
Housewife detained while destroying copies of gov’t-banned magazine
An Antalya woman, identified as R.Y., was detained while she was burning copies of #Sizinti magazine, media reported.
Police has long been watching R.Y., a housewife who was earlier investigated for allegedly making propaganda on behalf of the Gulen movement.
When she attempted to destroy some copies of Sizinti magazine near her home, police rounded her up, Hurriyet said June 8.
District governor covers pro-Kurdish party’s election banners with Turkish flag
Banners and election campaign materials of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) have been covered with Turkish flag in Van’s Gurpinar district upon an order by the city’s governor #Osman_Doğramacı.
Doğramacı also holds the mayor’s office as the Turkish government earlier seized the administration of the municipality over terror charges.
492 people detained over Gülen links in past week: gov’t
At least 492 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 568 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between June 4-11.
Prosecutor extends detention of journalist, known for investigative reporting on 2016 failed coup
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday extended the detention of #Ece_Sevim_Öztürk, a journalist known for her investigative reporting on a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
Öztürk, also the editor-in-chief of the Çağdaşses news website, was detained by İstanbul police on June 8 over “terrorist propaganda,” a reference to her recent reporting, including a documentary on the coup.
Report: Former police chief, in pre-trial detention for 23 months, dies of cancer
Former police chief #İsmail_Ülker, 42, has died of colon cancer after he spent 23 months in pre-trial detention, media reported Sunday.
Jailed over his alleged ties to the Gulen movement in July, 2016, Ulker was denied release from prison despite his successive requests. Having spent 23 months behind bars pending trial, he was taken to a hospital for his cancer treatment only a month ago.
119 people detained over Gülen links in past week: gov’t
At least 119 people were detained as part of investigations into the Gülen movement over the past week, according to government data.
In a written statement on Monday, the Interior Ministry said 119 people were rounded up in operations targeting the Gülen movement between June 11-18.
Turkey seeks 15 years in prison for Enes Kanter’s father
A Turkish prosecutor has charged NBA star Enes Kanter’s father with “membership in a terror group,” seeking 15 years in jail for him.
An indictment prepared by the public prosecutor’s office in Turkey’s Tekirdag province has been accepted by a penal court in the same city, pro-government Yeni Safak newspaper reported Monday.
Kanter’s father, an academic who was earlier removed his job at the Istanbul-based Medeniyet University over his alleged ties to the Gulen movement, has been charged with membership to the same group.
Istanbul court jails investigative journalist #Öztürk on terror charges
An Istanbul court on Wednesday sent another Turkish journalist to prison on terror charges.
Ece Sevim Öztürk, an İstanbul-based Turkish journalist known for her investigative reporting on a coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, was sent to prison after spending 13 days in police custody.
She was reportedly jailed for “aiding the Gülen group,” which is accused by the government of masterminding the failed attempt.
Öztürk, who is the editor-in-chief of the Çağdaşses news website, was initially detained by İstanbul police on June 8 on allegations of spreading “terrorist propaganda,” a reference to her recent reporting, including a documentary on the coup.
Amnesty’s Taner Kılıç remains in prison, İstanbul court rules
The İstanbul 35th High Criminal Court on Thursday ruled to continue the pretrial detention of Amnesty International’s honorary Turkey chair, Taner Kılıç, at the fourth hearing of the trial of 11 human rights activists.
Some of the activists, who were taken into police custody on July 5, 2017 during a meeting on Büyükada, one of İstanbul’s Princes’ Islands, have been accused of membership in a terrorist organization, while others are charged with aiding a terrorist organization without membership in it.
87 people with outstanding arrest warrants detained while casting votes in Turkey’s elections
At least 87 people were detained at polling stations where they stopped to cast their votes in the elections on Sunday.
Turkey held presidential and parliamentary polls on June 24, 2018. With the official voting results were yet to be disclosed by the Supreme Election Council (YSK) at the time of writing, state-run Anadolu news agency said in a report that 87 people were detained at the polling stations.
“I am being detained by police in front of my house,” tweets former main opposition deputy
Eren Erdem, a former main opposition deputy and a member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), tweeted early on Friday that he was taken into custody by police in front of his house.
“I was just detained. I do not know the reason. I was detained by police in front of my house,” Erdem tweeted early on Friday morning.
Mr Erdem, an outspoken critic of the Turkish government and the management of his own party, CHP, was not included on his party’s nomination list for the June 24 general election.
Turkey issues detention warrants for 192 military personnel: report
Turkish authorities have issued detention warrants for a total of 192 military personnel over alleged links to the Gülen group, accused of orchestrating a failed coup two years ago, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing authorities and media.
Among the military personnel sought by the Ankara prosecutors are one former brigadier general and 30 pilots, 99 members of the air force.
It said the detainees were suspected of being in contact with the network of the cleric, Fethullah Gülen, and of communicating with it via periodic pay phone calls, a method believed to be used by supporters of the group.
In a separate series of operations, authorities ordered the detention of 93 personnel from the army, navy and coast guard, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Former intelligence chief ‘found dead’ in prison cell : report
#Zeki_Güven, a former police intelligence chief who was fired from his job in 2015, was “found dead” in his prison cell in Sincan, Ankara, on Sunday, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Mr. Güven was dismissed from his latest position as assistant chief of police in Bolu over his alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group. After a coup attempt on July 15, 2016, an Ankara court issued a detention warrant for him on accusiation of “membership in a terrorist organization.”
Former Istanbul prosecutor in solitary confinement for 500 days: son
Former Istanbul prosecutor #Sadrettin_Sarikaya has been held in solitary confinement for more than 500 days, according to his son.
Sarikaya, the prosecutor who had called the intelligence chief Hakan Fidan for testimony as part of a 2012 investigation into the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), was dismissed from the post over his alleged ties to the Gulen movement and jailed pending trial in February, 2017.
Turkey detains 15,190 ‘Gülenists’ in first half of 2018: interior ministry
The Turkish Interior Ministry announced on Monday that 777 people have been detained in the past week due to alleged links to Turkey’s Gülen group, bringing the total number of people detained in first half of the year to 15,190.
The Gülen group is accused of masterminding a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016.
The group denies any involvement.
Since the attempt, the Turkish gov’t has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, teachers, police and civil servants since July 15. On December 13, 2017 the Justice Ministry announced that 169,013 people have been the subject of legal proceedings on coup charges since the failed coup.
Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu announced on April 18, 2018 that the Turkish government had jailed 77,081 people between July 15, 2016 and April 11, 2018 over alleged links to the Gülen group.
▻https://turkeypurge.com/turkey-detains-15190-gulenists-in-first-half-of-2018-interior-ministry
Arrest warrant issued for Turkish folk singer #Gokmen
An arrest warrant was issued for Turkish folk singer Gokmen Ürü over his alleged ties to the Gulen movement.
State-run Anadolu news agency said Sunday that a prosecutor in Turkey’s eastern province of Mardin issued an arrest warrant for Gokmen and that police raided several locations across the country to detain him.
The singer is believed to be living abroad.
Police guard implicated in migrant smuggling ring in #Evros
An operation carried out by Thessaloniki police on Tuesday has led to the arrest of 11 suspected members of a migrant smuggling racket, including a police special guard, according to a police statement released on Wednesday.
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/210394/article/ekathimerini/news/police-guard-implicated-in-migrant-smuggling-ring-in-evros
#police #asile #migrations #réfugiés #Grèce #gardes-frontières #passeurs
cc @albertocampiphoto
El cementerio de los migrantes sin nombre
Lesbos improvisa un camposanto para los cientos de migrantes ahogados en naufragios
▻http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2016/03/25/actualidad/1458932541_917623.html?id_externo_rsoc=TW_CC
#cimetière #fosse_commune #asile #migrations #réfugiés #mourir_dans_la_Forteresse_Europe #corps #cadavres #Lesbos #Grèce
Au nom de tous les morts
Une poignée de vivants redonne une dignité aux migrants ayant péri aux frontières gréco-turques.
Il se tient droit, immobile et ferme ses yeux sombres. Une pluie régulière trempe ses mains qui se lèvent au ciel. Il entonne une prière en arabe, ce matin gris de janvier. Mustafa Dawa est seul au milieu d’un champ cerné d’oliviers perdu dans la brume de Kato Tritos, dans le sud de Lesbos.
Cette terre qu’il connaît par cœur, il y consacre désormais sa vie. En quelques années Mustafa l’a transformée en cimetière. Face à lui se dressent des dizaines de monticules de terre retournée. Des tombes, celles des migrants décédés en ayant voulu venir depuis la Turquie voisine, séparée par un bras de mer.
Le dernier enterré est un petit Afghan de 10 ans, mort en décembre, piétiné lors d’un mouvement de panique dans un bateau pneumatique. « Je l’ai mis en terre selon le rite musulman », regard tourné vers la Mecque, corps enveloppé d’un linceul, comme les autres résidents du cimetière. Mustafa Dawa montre du doigt sa sépulture à droite, petite montagne de terre mouillée. « On reconnaît les dernières tombes car moins de végétation y a poussé ». Au centre, les tombes les plus anciennes sont recouvertes d’herbes folles. Il en compte aujourd’hui une centaine.
C’était il y a deux ans et demi mais pour lui c’était hier. Une succession de naufrages, l’indignation et la naissance de ce cimetière. Printemps 2015. Les bateaux gonflables surchargés affluent chaque jour au nord de l’île, à quelque douze kilomètres de la Turquie. À bord, des hommes, femmes, enfants, venus de Syrie, d’Irak, d’Afghanistan...
L’île aux airs idylliques, dominée par les collines verdoyantes et encerclée d’une mer azur, devient une escale tragique pour près de 600 000 migrants en quête d’Europe. Lesbos est dépassée, les services d’accueil inexistants, les réfugiés qui fuient la misère en retrouvent une autre.
Un peu perdu au milieu de ces drames, Mustafa Dawa, étudiant en philosophie grecque de 27 ans, est venu du continent pour aider une ONG comme traducteur en arabe. Puis vient octobre, noir. « Ce mois-là, il y a eu trois naufrages. Le cimetière de Mytilène était plein. En plus, les responsables n’y faisaient pas de rituel musulman pour les défunts ». La morgue de Mytilène, aussi, est surchargée. Mustafa a la mémoire des chiffres morbides :
Environ 80 personnes sont restées dans cette morgue, dont 46 dans un container à côté de l’hôpital pendant 38 jours.
Mustafa Dawa, traducteur pour une ONG
« On parle là de dignité »
Ce container blanc hante toujours aujourd’hui Mustafa. « Les corps étaient entreposés dans des positions déstructurées, nus, raconte-t-il écœuré. Personne n’en parlait, ni les politiques ni les associations ».
Il croise alors le chemin d’une Syrienne venue d’Allemagne. « Elle cherchait sa sœur et ses enfants. Elle avait une photo de celle-ci, mais c’était très difficile de l’identifier ». Mustafa finit par la trouver « dans le container… reconnaissable seulement grâce à une cicatrice qu’elle portait sur le corps ». Les vagues rejettent sur les plages de galets des cadavres souvent abîmés par la mer.
La colère de Mustafa se mélange à sa sidération. « Je ne pensais qu’à ça, à ce container, je ne pouvais plus manger, plus dormir, il fallait que je fasse quelque chose ». Il a choisi de leur donner un lieu pour inhumer ces naufragés.
l se tourne vers la municipalité de Mytilène pour obtenir un terrain. Elle lui demande d’attendre « des autorisations ». Mais il y a urgence, dit Mustafa. « Les questions politiques je m’en fiche, on parle là de dignité ». Un adjoint au maire, George Katzanos, pleure lorsque Mustafa lui décrit ce container. Il lui octroie finalement un champ d’oliviers, à vingt minutes de Mytilène où Mustafa va mettre en terre, à la chaîne.
En sept jours, en novembre, j’ai enterré 57 personnes. Depuis, je fais ça régulièrement.
Mustafa Dawa
Entre 2015 et 2018, Mustafa organise « 96 funérailles ». Quelques familles viennent, d’autres le contactent aussi lorsqu’elles cherchent des proches. « Ce n’est pas mon travail, mais je ne partirai pas de Lesbos tant que le cimetière ne sera pas reconnu et légal. Le gouvernement doit faire venir un imam ». Mustafa explique qu’ « un propriétaire du village veut (le) poursuivre en justice pour fermer le cimetière ».
Pour cet Égyptien, comment « imaginer un seul instant » déplacer ces tombes ? « Parfois, il y a deux enfants dans une même sépulture. J’ai aussi dû enterrer un homme sans tête à côté d’une autre personne… Je ne voulais pas le laisser seul ».
Enfouis dans le sable, gisant sur le rivage
Alexandros Karagiorgis, lui aussi, est resté médusé devant ce corps sans tête. Celui qu’il a ramassé dans un mélange de vase et d’eau, un jour d’octobre 2015. « C’est quelque chose que tu ne peux pas oublier, tu le gardes toute ta vie », exprime ému ce responsable des pompes funèbres pourtant « habitué aux morts ». Deux ans et demi après ce jour, Alexandros Karagiorgis parle vite, dans le désordre et sans silences.
Fin 2015, il sillonne les côtes de l’île à la recherche des défunts pour les acheminer à la morgue de Mitylène. Les gardes-côtes l’appellent, lui indiquent la présence des morts. Avec sa camionnette, l’homme de 59 ans arpente les routes sinueuses jusqu’à la mer, puis guette les groupes de mouettes dans le ciel. « Elles tournoient autour des cadavres, cela indique leur présence ». Recrachés par les vagues, les naufragés décédés « sont éparpillés », dit-il, « parfois enfouis dans le sable, gisant sur les rivages ou bloqués sur des rochers au loin ».
Les corps sont déformés par l’eau. Il montre sur son téléphone portable le tronc d’un enfant de 9 ans retrouvé en janvier 2016, boursouflé, méconnaissable.
Je prenais des photos des cadavres pour les gardes-côtes. J’ai vu de tout. Des femmes, des enfants, des hommes. Un jour j’ai pris le bras d’un homme, il est resté dans ma main. J’ai vu des gens sans bouche, sans yeux…
Alexandros Karagiorgis, entrepreneur de pompes funèbres
Sans répit, il travaille « sans penser », des allers et retours incessants entre plage et morgue. « Une fois, j’ai ramené 19 personnes dans la même journée, j’ai cru défaillir. J’ai dû embaucher quatre personnes pour m’aider. Parfois il y avait tellement de corps que je les ai gardés quelques jours dans mes frigos, aux pompes funèbres ».
Trois ans après, lui aussi vit avec ces fantômes, et ses dettes. « J’ai perdu beaucoup d’argent, je n’ai jamais été payé par la municipalité pour ce que j’ai fait », s’énerve-t-il. La mairie n’a pas répondu à nos sollicitations. Alexandros rappelle que les « sacs pour emballer les corps coûtent 30 euros. Frontex (l’agence européenne des gardes-côtes) m’en a donné 15 ou 20, le reste je les ai financés moi-même et réutilisés ».
Aujourd’hui, il affirme qu’on « lui a dit d’aller en justice pour être payé ». Il n’ira pas. « Trop cher ». « Tout le monde ne peut pas faire ce travail, il faut avoir des sentiments et paradoxalement de la compassion pour les victimes et les familles. Il faut pouvoir montrer du respect aux morts ». Pour lui « l’Europe et les politiques n’en n’ont aucun, conclut-il amer. Ils n’ont jamais donné d’argent pour ces funérailles. Alors qu’il doit y avoir une dignité pour ces gens ».
Une simple plaque de marbre
Alexandros Karagiorgis a ramassé plus de 90 corps. Ils sont au cimetière informel de Mustafa Dawa. Sur chaque tombe, une plaque de marbre offerte par un artisan du coin, avec l’âge, le jour estimé du décès, et lorsque cela est possible, le nom.
Sur certaines plaques la mention Agnosto (άγνωστο) pour les anonymes. Eux n’ont malheureusement qu’un numéro, celui du protocole d’identification, donné par le médecin légiste de Lesbos Théodoros Noussias. « Les corps étaient acheminés ici, des policiers prenaient ensuite des photos, puis on procédait à l’analyse ADN », détaille-t-il.
L’échantillon est ensuite envoyé au laboratoire d’Athènes. « Si les familles recherchent leurs proches, elles contactent la Croix-Rouge, et s’organisent pour donner de leur côté leur ADN à leur ambassade, qui le transmet en Grèce pour faire des comparaisons ».
Certains n’ont jamais été identifiés, les Agnosto. Mais l’ADN a parfois parlé, dit-il. Il lève son regard derrière ses fines lunettes sur un avis de recherche plaqué au mur où quatre visages juvéniles figés apparaissent. Une fille de 12 ans affublée d’un foulard jaune, ses trois frères, âgés de 10 à 16 ans.
Les parents étaient morts dans un naufrage, ils avaient été retrouvés mais les enfants avaient disparu ». L’oncle a cherché sans répit. Il a sillonné l’île, la côte turque aussi, parlé aux ONG. « On a comparé les ADN. Trois enfants avaient finalement été inhumés à Lesbos, sans identité ». L’un d’eux, l’aîné de 16 ans, n’a jamais été retrouvé, d’après Theodoros Noussias.
L’identification de ces victimes est un travail de Titan. Les proches des défunts font parfois partie du naufrage mais d’autres anonymes voyagent seuls. Pour leurs familles, laissées loin derrière eux, c’est l’incertitude. Elles n’ont plus de nouvelles, ne connaissent pas leur localisation, les imaginent parfois heureux dans un pays d’Europe.
Pour trouver les leurs, elles peuvent alors contacter la Croix-Rouge qui a lancé le site « Trace the face », rassemblant des avis de recherche. Pour les proches, chaque détail post mortem qui aide à la reconnaissance d’un disparu est indispensable : tatouage, vêtements mais aussi les rares objets qu’ils portent : livres, bijoux...
C’est ce que garde méticuleusement dans ses tiroirs Pavlos Pavlidis, médecin légiste à Alexandroupoli, au nord-est de la Grèce, depuis dix-huit ans.
Les oubliés de la rivière Evros
L’imposant hôpital d’Alexandroupoli se situe à une cinquantaine de kilomètres de la frontière terrestre gréco-turque. Un autre chemin que des milliers de migrants ont foulé dans l’espoir de trouver asile en Europe. 186 kilomètres délimités naturellement par la rivière Evros et 12 kilomètres de barbelés.
Médiatiquement oubliée lors des flux importants en 2015 via les îles égéennes, cette frontière reste un point de passage. Une grande partie des exilés franchissent ce long fleuve étroit aux courants parfois intenses, sur des bateaux gonflables. « Les arrivées ont commencé dans les années 1990, au départ des hommes, des Irakiens, Pakistanais, Bangladais, Somaliens… Et en 2010, un pic soudain, avec la venue de femmes, dû aux conflits du Proche-Orient », détaille le médecin.
Ils se noient pour une grande majorité, mais meurent aussi d’hypothermie ou tués par des mines disposées, avant 2008, entre Grèce et Turquie. Grand homme au regard impassible, Pavlos Pavlidis, 45 ans, vit avec les morts de la frontière, comme ses homologues de Lesbos. Il demeure stoïque lorsqu’il évoque son travail de légiste. Froideur qui lui permet d’avoir du recul sur cette mission de longue haleine.
Depuis 2000, il a « autopsié plus de 342 corps de migrants », dans le sous-sol frais de l’hôpital. Sur la table basse de son bureau sans fenêtre, le médecin étale les pochons de plastique contenant montres à l’arrêt, cartes sim usées, téléphones ayant trempé dans l’eau…
« Je veux respecter ces gens, tout faire pour retrouver leurs proches, leur redonner une identité. Garder les objets, c’est mettre toutes les chances de notre côté ». Au total, Pavlos Pavlidis est parvenu à identifier 103 personnes.
Le problème de la rivière est qu’elle abîme les corps, les courants, la boue, les poissons créent des blessures post-mortem. Les personnes sont souvent difficiles à identifier.
Pavlos Pavlidis, médecin légiste
Il fait défiler des photos de corps sur l’écran de son ordinateur. Des hommes et femmes couverts de terre, visages blanchâtres gonflés ou membres manquants… Peu d’enfants. « Les plus petits êtres sont malheureusement rapidement mangés par les animaux ».
« Tout le monde s’en fiche »
Alexandros Koutsidis, lui, reste marqué par l’un de ces corps. Celui d’un homme qu’il a découvert alors qu’il chassait à l’aube aux abords de la rivière trouble en décembre. « Il faisait très froid, l’homme flottait, bloqué par un tronc d’arbre, il avait du sang au coin de sa lèvre, son visage était déformé ».
Ce fermier vit dans le village frontalier de Poros, 300 âmes. En voiture, il longe les champs de blé ou de coton, emprunte des sentiers marécageux pour rejoindre les rives de l’Evros. Dans cette zone militaire interdite au public, seules quelques silhouettes de soldats grecs et turcs se distinguent au loin.
Les yeux plissés par le soleil, Alexandros, treillis militaire, fixe ce matin de janvier le fleuve large d’environ 10 ou 15 mètres. Sur l’autre rivage, derrière les branches des arbres morts « la Turquie », dit-il. Le bruissement du courant régulier comble le silence. « L’Evros est un piège, elle paraît calme et tranquille, mais en réalité, on s’enfonce dans la boue si on tombe ». Le jour de sa macabre découverte, Alexandros a « tout de suite appelé la police ».
Ces derniers ont convoqué Pavlos Pavlidis qui a emporté le corps. Alexandros « ne sait pas » où vont ensuite les morts. Dans la région de Thrace-Macédoine, où près de 400 migrants ont perdu la vie en passant la frontière, peu savent en réalité où sont enterrés les fantômes de la rivière. Les autorités locales fournissent peu de sépultures. Alors, c’est le mufti, Mehmet Serif Damadoglou, à Sidero, village isolé dans la vallée qui a pris les choses en main, dans les années 1990.
C’est au sommet d’une colline inaccessible en voiture, sur un terrain d’herbes sauvages cerné d’une grille, qu’il a placé les dépouilles. Des monceaux de terre déforment le sol, recouvert de ronces où les pieds s’enfoncent. Seules deux plaques de marbre, payées par une famille syrienne indiquent la présence de sépultures.
Ce « cimetière » de migrants qui n’en a pas l’air est informel, aussi anonyme que ses quelque 400 tombes sans stèle. Certaines contiennent plusieurs corps. « Les politiques n’en ont rien à faire de ces morts. De l’argent est donné mais presque rien, de quoi payer l’acheminement de corps jusqu’au cimetière, s’énerve Akram, le fils du mufti qui a aujourd’hui quitté Sidero. Un jour, un Syrien est venu chercher son frère disparu, personne ne lui a indiqué l’existence de ce cimetière. Je l’ai appris après qu’il soit parti. C’est la réalité, tout le monde s’en fiche ».
Sur l’une des premières tombes à l’entrée du lieu, un fragment de tissu bleu ondule sous le vent. Des ossements humains dépassent de la terre fouillée, comme le confirme le médecin légiste Pavlos Pavlidis. Les animaux errants sont les seuls visiteurs ou presque de ce cimetière oublié.
▻https://www.amnesty.fr/refugies-et-migrants/actualites/au-nom-de-tous-les-morts
#frontière_greco-turque #Grèce #Evros #Pavlos_Pavlidis #Evros
Lost and Found
The Al-Hayek family fled their Syrian home to escape war. In Europe, they have found both hope and heartbreak.
The Syrian family, refugees from Aleppo, had entered Greece that afternoon by crossing the Evros River, which runs along the border with Turkey. Once across, smugglers forced them to walk for hours along railway tracks.
It had been two days since they last slept, and even longer since they had eaten. They did not hear the train as it raced towards them in the darkness, with its lights off, and swept little Rand from her father’s grasp.
Des murs contre les réfugiés : le tragique exemple grec
Plus de quatre-vingts personnes sont mortes noyées ces dix derniers jours au large des îles grecques. De nombreuses voix à Athènes en appellent à ouvrir le mur de l’Evros, érigé fin 2013 par le gouvernement de droite de Samaras sur les 12 km de frontière terrestre qui séparent la Grèce de la Turquie. À l’heure où plusieurs pays d’Europe centrale tentent de fermer leurs frontières, le cas grec met en évidence les conséquences criminelles de telles barrières.
▻http://www.mediapart.fr/journal/international/041115/des-murs-contre-les-refugies-le-tragique-exemple-grec?onglet=full
#mourir_aux_frontières #murs #barrières_frontalières #Grèce #réfugiés #asile #migrations #mer #Méditerranée #mer_Egée #Evros
cc @daphne @marty @albertocampiphoto