Istanbul / Hanover – 01.02.26
Last week, a delegation of several youth organisations – including journalists – as well as other human rights/peace activists travelled to the Kurdish areas in Turkey. Their goal was to observe the protests against the military escalation in Syria and bring them into the public eye. The delegation was on its way to the Turkish-Syrian border as part of the ‘Peoples’ Caravan – Caravan for the Defense of Humanity’. There they wanted to express their solidarity with the people in the city of Kobane. On Wednesday, however, the group was arrested by the police, this was also reported on by German media.
Now the participants of the delegation are exposing the Turkish officials for serious violations. According to statements, there was massive violence during the deportation process.
On Thursday evening, the group had already boarded a plane in Istanbul that was supposed to deport them to Germany. On the plane, they informed the other passengers about their deportation. As a result, the group was forcibly removed from the plane by Turkish officials at around 9:40 p.m. local time.
“Immediately after we were taken off the plane, officials began to handcuff us, repeatedly beat us, and threaten us. We were repeatedly taken to solitary confinement cells and beaten, sometimes for hours on end”, said Anna Müller.
Those affected also reported sexual assaults, humiliating treatment, and psychological torture by the officers. After their arrival in Germany, they had their injuries documented by a doctor.
Members of the delegation pointed out that the treatment they received was only the tip of the iceberg of human rights violations in Turkey.
“The officers reacted with extreme violence, especially to statements made in the Kurdish language and political statements in solidarity with democratic self-administration and the Kurds. The action shows that the systematic and institutional repression of the Kurds, as well as the democratic opposition and the press, continues to be an everyday reality in Turkey”, said Lynn Bojang.
While the members of the delegation have now returned to Germany, another 29 members of the “Peoples’ Caravan – Caravan for the Defense of Humanity” were arrested in Turkey on Friday evening. In this case, too, there are fears of massive violence and torture against those affected. The group is currently detained and awaiting deportation in Istanbul.
Members of the delegation are available for questions and interviews.
