European court rejects petition to end curfews in Southeast Turkey

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has rejected a petition for a temporary injunction on frequent days-long curfews that the Turkish government has enforced in southeastern towns since late July 2015.

The petition lodged against Turkey by Diyarbakır Bar lawyer Neşet Girasun and Batman Bar lawyer Erkan Şenses in the name of five individuals who live in areas such as the Cizre district of Şırnak province and the Sur district of Diyarbakır province -- some of the areas most affected by curfews -- requested the court for a temporary injunction against the curfews.

• The court ruled that the data at hand was not enough for the court to render a decision regarding the curfews but noted that a new petition may be filed by the applicants should the situation change, according to a press statement by the lawyers.

The Ministry of Justice sent a defense statement to the court regarding the curfews on Jan. 8. Turkish media reported on Tuesday that the court decision noted that even though the situation in which the applicants found themselves is dire, the court trusts that the Turkish authorities will provide the necessary care and assistance to the applicants should they request it.

Violence has escalated sharply since a cease-fire between the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and Turkish security forces came to an end in July, with the PKK stepping up attacks on security forces in the southeastern region. Since the settlement process ended, curfews have been imposed in 17 southeastern districts, and nearly 200,000 residents have been forced to leave their homes due to fighting and curfews.
 todayszaman.com
13/1/16
--
-
Related:

• Turkey to make defense at ECHR over curfews in southeast

• EU must condemn Turkish operation against Kurds (Gabi Zimmer)

• Turkish parliament to consider lifting Kurdish leaders' immunity

• Woman killed after rocket projectile hits house in Turkey’s southeast

• Turquía intensifica y envuelve en silencio su guerra contra los kurdos 

• Russia Foreign Ministry urges Ankara to solve Kurdish problem politically

Related:

• Post-curfew photos tell story of nine-day clashes in Turkey's Cizre

• Τουρκία: Ήρθη μετά από οκτώ ημέρες ο αποκλεισμός στην κουρδική Τζίζρε

• The eight-day curfew in the town of Cizre in Turkey's southeastern province of Sirnak has ended at 7 a.m. local time (0400GMT) Saturday, officials said...

• Turkey to lift curfew in embattled town of Cizre...

• Citizens in Turkey's Cizre given access to markets, internet

  ---

• Turkey should grant independent observers immediate access to the besieged city of Cizre, the Council of Europe has said...

• Tens of people killed in Turkish town under curfew

• Politicians of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) are barred from the southeastern district of Cizre which has been under curfew for their own safety, Interior Minister Selami Altinok said Thursday...

• Turkey Kurds: 30 dead in Cizre violence as MPs' march blocked...

• Turkey pro-Kurdish party warns of 'civil war'