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URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION URGENT ACTION
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION - URGENT APPEALS PROGRAM
Forwarded Appeal 09 September 2003
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FA-28-2003: TURKEY: EREN KESKIN, Human Rights defender harassed and threatened
TURKEY: Human rights defenders; Torture; sexual assault in custody; arbitrary detention
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Dear Friends
Amnesty International has highlighted five appeal cases against torture from around the world. ( http://ai-stoptorture.c.tclk.net/maabc0oaaYRL8bcN4R0b/ ), Together Against Torture. We are forwarding one to you, regarding Eren Keskin, who is a lawyer and human rights activist in Turkey. Although Turkey is outside the geographical remit of an Asian NGO, we feel the cause Eren is fighting for is a valid one, and would support her (and others like her) in her fight.
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER HARASSED AND THREATENED IN TURKEY
Eren Keskin is a lawyer and a human rights activist in Turkey. She has been repeatedly harassed because of her work. She has exposed the torture of women prisoners in Turkey and is one of the founders of a legal aid project for women survivors of sexual assault in custody. Harassment against her has included telephone death threats, being shot at, physical assault by a police officer and arbitrary detention and ill-treatment.
Eren Keskin has faced 86 lawsuits in relation to her human rights activities. In one trial she was charged with "insulting the state security forces". Her crime was to publicize the sexual torture that some of her women clients reported they had suffered in custody. In another trial she was charged with disseminating "separatist propaganda" after participating in a panel discussion on Violence against Women.
Eren Keskin faces seemingly endless court cases as she supports the survivors of sexual torture. However, the Turkish authorities have yet to show any determination to use the courts to bring the torturers to justice.
http://ai-stoptorture.c.tclk.net/maabc0oaaYRL9bcN4R0b/
SUGGESTED LETTER TO Mr Cemil Çiçek, the Minister of Justice, Turkey:
Mr Cemil Çiçek
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi
06659 Ankara
TURKEY
Fax: 00 90 312 418 5667
Dear Minister
EREN KESKIN: Human Rights defender harassed and threatened
I write to protest at the large number of criminal cases brought against Eren Keskin because of her work as a human rights defender, specifically in reporting the sexual torture of women in Turkey. I urge you to ensure that the charges against her are dropped. I call upon the government to demonstrate its total opposition to sexual violence and torture, and to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice.
Yours sincerely,
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Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
Posted on 2003-09-09
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