February 11, 2012 DIYARBAKIR , The Kurdish region of Turkey, A prisoner in the Amasya Closed Prison, Avni Binici, reported an increase in violations of the prisoners rights and said that the prison administration adopted a provocative attitude towards the prisoners. For instance, traditional dance 'halay' is forbidden to perform in accompaniment of songs in Kurdish and only allowed along with songs in Turkish. "They go as far as giving disciplinary penalties of communication because of 'dancing in Kurdish.' A prisoner was deprived of his right to phone for a week. The prison manager threatens us and keeps saying in a racist manner that he can do anything," tells Binici. Binici also says that they were threatened upon arrival and all prisoners have been punished with disciplinary penalties at least twice. In addition,www.ekurd.net three prisoners were physically attacked on January 26, 2012. Binici expresses his concern about their safety, saying that they could be attacked any time. He comments, "Of course the attacks in the prison are part of the government's policy. The first step was our transfer to Amasya. The second step is the attacks. We can imagine what the third step will be by looking at the government's policies." Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish population as a distinct minority. It has allowed some cultural rights such as limited broadcasts in the Kurdish language and private Kurdish language courses with the prodding of the European Union, but Kurdish politicians say the measures fall short of their expectations. The Kurdistan Workers Party PKK fighting the Kurdish state from 1984, creation an autonomous Kurdish region in SE Turkey and more cultural rights for ethnic Kurds who constitute the greatest minority in Turkey, numbering more than 20 million. A large Turkey's Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK rebels. The PKK demands lifting the ban on education in Kurdish, paving the way for an autonomous democrat Kurdish system within Turkey, reducing pressure on the detained PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, stopping military action against the Kurdish party and recomposing the Turkish constitution. Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, diclehaber.com
this is how Turkey is broadcasting democracy and yet Turks complain and accuse Kurds of been separators!!! sorry but this is no way acceptable in 2012 it's in the era of Arab spring! hasn't it taught you guys anything??? a Kurdish spring will knock on turkeys door soon
