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Turkey (Bakur or North of Kurdistan)
- People’s Democratic Party (HDP) held its Congress in Ankara in participation of several Turkish, Kurdish, and European political parties’ figures. HDP members reelected both party’s Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtash and Figen Yüksekdağ. During the Congress Co chairs addressed the current policies by the Turkish Government toward the Kurdish issue in the country. Demirtash said” We are the party most devoted to peace. But we can see that it is not enough. HDP is a union of peoples and beliefs. As we try to build a new union, we’ll not be trapped by those saying “You are separatist” ” While Yuksekdag said” Somethings must change. The republic will be democratic. There will be no denied or marginalized factions. Today we’ve come together fostering Turkey & Kurdistan peoples’ hope. We have always believed in the power of new beginnings.”
- According to Turkey’s Human Rights Foundations As of 16 August 2015, there has been 58 officially confirmed, open-ended and round-the-clock curfews in at least 19 districts of 7 cities (Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Mardin, Hakkâri, Elazığ, Muş, Batman) that approximately 1 million 377 thousand people resides (according to the 2014 population census). During these officially declared curfews, fundamental rights of people such as Right to Life and Right to Health are violated and 198 civilians (39 children, 1 stillbirth due to gunshot, 29 women, 27 people over the age 60) were killed according to the data of HRFT Documentation Center.
- A United Nations committee for human rights expressed concern over the Turkish military’s operations in the country’s mainly-Kurdish southeast, Hurryiet Daily News reported Tuesday. The U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reportedly published its findings on human rights violations in Turkey last week, which included general racial profiling of Kurdish citizens apart from the ongoing military campaign. Members of European Parliament also expressed concerns about the military campaigns in the Kurdish areas south east of Turkey.
Syria (Rojava or West of Kurdistan)
- Co-chair of Democratic Union Party (PYD) Salih Muslim announced on Tuesday the he will be expecting an invitation to Geneva conference. While Turkish Government is opposes strongly for PYD Co-chair to be included in Geneva talks, the Foreign Minister of Russia urged to include the Kurdish side in the talks.
- An explosion has occurred near the Miami Cafe in Rojava’s Qamişlo city Sunday evening. The explosion which was reportedly caused by detonation of explosives placed on a motorbike hit Necmê Cafe in Wusta neighborhood of Qamişlo city. Three civilians have died and seven others were wounded in the explosion. Casualties have been taken to Selam Hospital in the city.
- The Ahrar Jarablus (Freedom Seekers of Jarablus) Brigade today joined the SDF, calling it the only force capable of establishing a national Syrian army. The AJB, which is composed of Kurdish, Arab, and Turkmen fighters, declared it’s joining of the SDF via a statement. One of the AJB commanders named Armanj Jarablus read the AJB statement in Kharab Ato village located 30 kms to the west of Kobane.
Iraq (Bashur or South of Kurdistan)
- Ministry of Peshmerga’s General Advisor Jabar Yawar has stated on Saturday, January 23, 2016, that the Peshmerga will have effective and wide role in the liberation of Mosul from Islamic State militants. “The Ministry of Peshmerga has decided to participate in retaking Mosul since the city has strategic importance for Kurdistan Region’s security. We believe as long as ISIS is in Mosul, a large border area will be in danger,” Mr. Yawar stressed.
- At least 65 died Friday as a boat carrying refugees and migrants from Turkey capsized in the Aegean Sea, International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) said, and according to local refugee authority at least 34 Kurds from Iraqi Kurdistan region are among those drowned.
- Dindar Zebari, Chairman of the High Committee to evaluate and Respond to International Reports in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) further clarifies KRGs response to a report that was published by Amnesty International on the 20th of January 2016. Zebari stated from the offset that “the Yazidi community does not have any militia groups. Instead, local Yazidi forces fall under the authority of the Ministry of Peshmerga. Moreover, the mass majority of the Yazidi community evacuated Shingal and its surrounding villages and currently reside as internally displaced people within the Kurdistan Region’s various established camps, with others on the frontlines against the Islamic State”
Iran (Rojhelat or East of Kurdistan)
- Kurdish Prisoner in Iran Deal with Gradual Death: While Afshin Sohrabzadeh’s health situation in Iran has gravely worsened, the Iranian Judiciary authorities keep refusing to transfer him to hospital. Afshin, who had been transferred to Tehran three months ago for his colon cancer treatment, was transferred back to Minab prison in southern Province of Hormozgan without being treated. Devastated by Afshin’s colon cancer and serious internal bleeding, his mother Ziba Babasafari told the HRDAK: “I hold Mr. Khamenei accountable for my Afshin’s life.” She said she had been sent back and forth from Sanandaj and Kamyaran to Minab tens of times for three years by the Kamyaran Prosecution. She expressed her deep concerns over “my Afshin’s gradual death”.
- Kurdish prisoner Zanyar Moradi was threatened by Mr. Mirzaei the Judicial Assistant of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj that his death was imminent. According to the CDPCP, Tehran Prosecutor General’s Representative visited this prison in order to investigate a complaint by Ramazan Kamal Ahmad an ailing prisoner from Kobane, Syria, who had been to coma for six days after being gravely beat by prison officers. Amid investigating this complaint, Tehran Prosecutor General’s Representative spoke with Ramazan’s cellmates, one of whom is Zanyar Moradi.
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