Issuing a statement for April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day, the DEM Party stated that this day is a day of protest against the mentality that marginalizes and renders invisible those who are different.
Today is April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day. In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day to raise global awareness regarding individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Commission for Persons with Disabilities released a written and video statement concerning the challenges and demands of autistic people.
Please click the video above or [here] to watch the video statement.
The written statement by Hatice Betül Çelebi, Co-Spokesperson of the DEM Party Commission for Persons with Disabilities, is as follows:
From education to health, and from urban life to social policies, autistic individuals and all persons with disabilities are forced to exist within an inaccessible, fragmented, and exclusionary system. While the right to education remains only on paper and inclusivity exists in rhetoric, segregation continues in practice. Inadequate teacher employment, overcrowded classrooms, curricula that ignore individual differences, and a market-oriented service approach deepen the existing inequalities.
The mindset that defines autism as a “disorder” is itself one of the most visible forms of discrimination. This language reproduces a perspective that views non-normative traits as problems rather than differences, reducing human existence to a single type. Yet, autism is not a deficiency; it is a natural part of human neurodiversity. The problem is not autistic people or autistic behavior; it is the social, political, and institutional structures that exclude, suppress, and attempt to “normalize” them.
The required approach is the implementation of public policies based on the autonomy, uniqueness, and social participation of autistic individuals. Within this framework, universal design principles must be adopted in every field—from education systems to urban planning—and physical, digital, sensory, and communicative accessibility must be addressed as a whole.
The right to speak, decide, and formulate policies on behalf of autistic people belongs directly to them and their families. Any policy that disregards this will is destined to be incomplete, biased, incorrect, and discriminatory. Real transformation will only be possible through democratic processes where the subjects themselves have the voice and decision-making power.
For us, April 2nd is a day of protest against the mindset that marginalizes and renders the ‘different’ invisible. We advocate for communal life instead of segregated institutions, inclusivity instead of exclusion, and justice instead of mercy.
It should not be forgotten that inaccessible cities, crises, poverty, and environments of violence disproportionately affect autistic individuals and persons with disabilities. Therefore, all policies—including disaster and crisis management—must be reconstructed through a perspective that embraces neurodiversity.
Social transformation is possible not merely through physical adjustments, but through a fundamental shift in mindset. We must replace prejudices, stereotypes, and monolithic norms with acceptance, understanding, and plurality. Every individual has the right to self-expression, and communication is not limited to spoken words alone. For autistic individuals, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods are fundamental elements of equal citizenship.
Today, our call is clear: We demand rights, not charity; justice, not mercy; and acceptance, not conformity. Our differences are not a threat, but rather the wealth of humanity. The liberation of autistic people is an inseparable part of the struggle for a democratic, egalitarian, and peaceful society
Hatice Betül Çelebi Co-Spokesperson of the Commission for Persons with Disabilities 2 April 2026
Mehmet Ekim Çam, who was included on the Human Rights Association’s list of seriously ill prisoners, has been released from the prison.
74-year-old seriously ill prisoner Mehmet Ekim Çam has been released from the Batman Type T Closed Prison where he was being held. It was learned that Çam had been referred to the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) three days ago.
Mehmet Emin Çam was arrested on December 12, 2012, while serving as the Siirt Co-Chair of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). He was released after 10 months, but was re-arrested in 2022.
In an urgent call published on March 26, the Human Rights Association (İHD) reported that Çam had been taken to Batman Training and Research Hospital on March 25, 2026. According to the information shared by İHD, Çam has a tumor on the right side of his brain, suffers from kidney disease, and has advanced heart disease. İHD also stated that Çam had suffered two heart attacks in prison, undergone two kidney surgeries, has paralysis in his left arm and left leg, and has blockages in his five veins. Despite all these conditions, the Council of Forensic Medicine issued a report on December 3, 2025 stating that he was “OK to remain in prison,” and his requests for postponing his sentence were rejected on March 10.
İHD emphasized that this situation constitutes a violation of Article 2 (right to life) and Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Number of ill prisoners in 2025
According to the İHD 2025 Report on Ill Prisoners, there are at least 1,412 ill prisoners in prisons across Turkey, including 161 women and 1,251 men. The report states that 335 prisoners are in serious condition.
Among them, 230 are unable to sustain their lives independently and 105 require assistance. Additionally, 188 prisoners need continuous medical monitoring due to their illnesses.
The report also highlights that ill prisoners are not taken to infirmaries in a timely manner, face months-long delays in referrals to tertiary healthcare services, and are forced to live under inadequate conditions in terms of nutrition, heating, and hygiene.
We have translated a report by AWNA (Afghanistan Women’s News Agency) featuring five Afghan female rappers who are raising their voices against misogynistic policies in Afghanistan.
Five female rappers in Afghanistan. Respectively: Sonita Alizadeh, Paradise Sorouri, Ziba Hamidi, Sosan Firoz, and Elina Afghan. Photo: AWNA
The policies of the Taliban administration in Afghanistan restrict women’s right to education, legitimize violence against women, and directly impact their lives through mandatory dress codes and limitations on freedom of movement. Women’s voices are being suppressed not only in physical spaces but also in cultural and artistic production.
Amid this climate of repression, in an Afghan society where male dominance prevails and women are subjected to various forms of violence and pressure, these young women are breaking the silence by raising their voices and expressing their protests through rap music. Most of the people believes that rap music is exclusively for men due to its harsh tone and the movements involved, and they do not consider this style appropriate for young women.
Nevertheless, young women like Sonita Alizadeh, Ziba Hamidi, Elina Afghan, Sosan Firoz, and Paradise Sorouri are successfully using this musical style to voice the unspoken words in defense of women’s rights.
Sonita Alizadeh
Sonita Alizadeh was born in 1996 in the city of Herat, Afghanistan. She spent several years as a refugee in Iran’s Alborz Province. She began composing music, playing the guitar, and singing in 2011 (1391 in the Islamic calendar). In 2014, she stood out among 166 rap artists to win a $1,000 prize. After winning this award, with the support of a charity and a scholarship she received, she was able to continue her education in the Utah, USA.
The themes of the rap songs she performs include Afghanistan, politics, discrimination against Afghan refugees in Iran, and the challenges faced by Afghan women, young girls, and children within Afghanistan’s traditional societal structure.
Ziba Hamidi
Ziba Hamidi was born in 1997 in Karachi, Pakistan. She spent over a decade as a refugee in Iran, where she completed her education. During her time in Iran, she took nearly six months of music training.
Ziba uses rap music to express the pain and sorrow experienced by her people.
Elina Afghan
Elina, who goes by the surname “Afghan,” was born in Mazar-i-Sharif. The 21-year-old artist is a graduate of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at Kabul University. Elina, who has been making rap music for over four years, views the genre as a tool for protest. The artist, who has a total of 15 songs, has performed numerous street shows to voice her concerns and became the first Afghan girl to participate in an art festival held in India in 2016.
The main themes she addresses in her rap songs include: violence against women, orphaned children, street children, street vendors, women’s rights, advocacy, and women’s quest for justice.
Violence against women, orphaned children, street children, and street vendors, as well as women’s rights, advocacy, and human rights activism, are among the topics she addresses in her rap songs. Elina has gained fame for her songs “Woman,” “I’m Not a Prostitute,” “Love,” and “Afghan Girl.”
Soosan Firooz
Soosan Firooz is known as Afghanistan’s first female rap artist. She is a controversial and influential figure who challenges social norms and the traditional roles of Afghan women.
Firooz was born in Afghanistan. Her family fled the country in 1990 and lived in a refugee camp in Iran for seven years during the Afghan Civil War. She then spent three years as a refugee in Pakistan with her family. After the collapse of the Taliban regime, her family returned to Afghanistan and settled in Kandahar in 2003, where her father found work. Soosan initially worked as a carpet weaver alongside her siblings. In 2011, she began her acting career with small local roles, then moved to Kabul and, with her father Abdülgaffar Firooz’s permission, started pursuing rap music.
Firooz, who caught the attention of Afghan musician Farid Rastagar, performs rap songs in the Dari language. Her first single, “Our Neighbors” (Hemsayegan-e Ma), released in 2012, addresses the harsh conditions faced by Afghan refugees; the song was composed by Rastagar based on verses by the poet Sohrab Sirat. Another of her songs, “Nakıs-ül Akl” (The Foolish One), refers to a phrase used in Afghanistan to belittle women.
Firooz lives with her family north of Kabul. She has repeatedly faced acid attacks, kidnappings, and even death threats. Her mother, who works on humanitarian aid projects in southern Afghanistan, has also been threatened with death. Her father, who works for the electricity department, accompanies her to studios and on TV shows, serving as both her manager and her bodyguard.
Paradise Sorouri
Paradise Sorouri is a 24-year-old Afghan singer born in Isfahan, Iran. At the age of 17, she moved to Herat, her father’s hometown, and later relocated to Tajikistan with her husband, Diverse. As the first female Afghan rapper, she released a rap song titled “Feryad-e Zen” (The Woman’s Cry). Through this song she voices the suffering, oppression, and struggles of Afghan women; her work has generated significant buzz on social media, particularly on YouTube and Facebook.
Another of her artistic works is “Nalestan” (Land of Lament), which addresses violence against women in Afghanistan.
The lines in the intro of Paradise’s song, which have drawn the attention of many people, especially women’s rights organizations and activists, are as follows:
“My voice is always filled with pain; it’s not the Arctic, but the air is so cold. I wanted to run, but they shot my waist; I wanted to think, but they shot my head. In the name of Islam, they burned my face; for revenge, they cut off my nose. They poured acid on my hands and body; they sold me, because I am just a woman…”
These striking words serve as a summary of Paradise’s struggle and the severe human rights violations faced by women in Afghanistan.
TÜM-BEL-SEN report reveals that since the 2024 local elections, the administration of 85 municipalities has been changed through trustee appointments, dismissals, and political interventions.
The Union of Municipal and Local Government Workers in Turkey (TÜM-BEL SEN) released a report on the second anniversary of the March 31, 2024 local elections. The report focuses on political pressure against municipalities run by opposition parties.
According to the report, since the 2024 elections, government interventions in local administrations have become against labor and democracy. It states that local democracy in Turkey has effectively been suspended due to practices; such as appointing government trustees, removing elected officials, judicial actions and financial restrictions.
“Public will has been ignored”
The report highlights that a large portion of votes for opposition parties has been ignored. It tells that 44.4% of the votes for the CHP (Republican People’s Party, main opposition party in Turkey) and 27.7% for the DEM Party (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party) were effectively taken away.
Report also argues that these practices violate the constitution, especially the basic democratic right to vote and be elected of people. After Hakkari, similar interventions continued in many (most of them are Kurdish-majority) municipalities, including Esenyurt, Batman, Mardin, Halfeti, Dersim, Ovacık, Siirt, Van, Kağızman, and Şişli.
The report states that these trustee appointments have damaged local politics, which is a key space for a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Since the 2024 elections, public will has been ignored not only through trustee appointments but also through suspensions, political pressure to switch parties, and changes in municipal councils.
85 administration has been changed
According to the report, the administration of 85 municipalities has been changed since the elections, making millions of votes ineffective. It says that about 8.8 million votes (20.55% of all votes) have been disregarded.
The report also recalls that the election certificate of Van Metropolitan Municipality’s elected mayor, Abdullah Zeydan, was first mayor to be unlawfully attempted to be taken away. In total, elected mayors or co-mayors in 30 municipalities -including major cities like Istanbul, Van, Mardin, Adana, and Antalya- were removed from office. In 55 municipalities, political control changed through different methods, such as altering municipal council arithmetics.
The report notes that municipalities in Turkey depend heavily on the central government for funding. Due to limited resources, cities -where 94% of the population lives- receive only 12% of total public spending.
Finally, it states that since the elections, 1,342 public workers have been dismissed due to canceled contracts and around 3,200 workers have directly lost income.
K. A. Ö., a student at Kocaeli University, said that they were threatened with eviction from their dormitory by the administration because of their trans identity. Lawyer Akpınar emphasized that these actions clearly are a human rights violation.Yılmaz from LGBTQ+ Comission ofHuman Rights Association said no one can be expelled from a dorm for who they are.
A student at Kocaeli University, identified as K. A. Ö., stated that they were targeted by the administration of the Gazi Süleyman Paşa KYK Male Student Dormitory where they reside, due to their transgender identity.
K. A. Ö. said that the dormitory administration had repeatedly called them in for meetings over this issue and threatened them with expulsion if they did not comply with the warnings. They also explained that their family had been contacted and warned by the administration, which increased the pressure on them:
“I have been staying at the Gazi Süleyman Paşa Male Student Dormitory since September 14, 2025. The way I express my gender identity has, for some time, become an excuse used by the administration to avoid dealing with real issues. I was first warned about this on January 29, 2026. The director personally told me that ‘dressing like a woman’ was against the dormitory rules. I was told that if I wanted to behave this way, I would not be able to stay in the dormitory and would need to rent a separate house. I told the administration that I am in a gender transition process at the hospital and that if they had objections, they should discuss the matter with my psychiatrists.”
“I was not told which rule I violated”
Speaking about their meetings with the dormitory administration, K. A. Ö. said that they examined the KYK regulations and presented them to the officials. They emphasized that they read the disciplinary provisions one by one to the deputy directors, yet were never informed which rule they had violated:
“I presented the regulation to them and asked which rules I had violated. I read aloud the articles that define acts requiring disciplinary action under Article 22 (Warning), Article 23 (Reprimand), and Article 24 (Expulsion from the dormitory). They tried to explain gender norms to me and how a man should apply ‘acceptable’ makeup. I was not given any written notification.”
“My family was informed without my consent”
K. A. Ö. stated that after a health issue resulting from an accident, the dormitory administration contacted their family. Saying they do not know exactly what was told to their family, but emphasized that information about their private life was shared without their consent:
“Although I am an adult, the administration of the Gazi Süleyman Paşa Male Student Dormitory disclosed my private life and medical process to my father without my consent. At a time when the government places such strong emphasis on ‘protecting the family structure,’ this unlawful action by the administration suddenly destroyed my good relationship with my father and put me in conflict with my family. This situation is the clearest evidence that the so-called ‘family’ discourse is not about real protection, but merely an ideological propaganda tool designed to discipline individuals deemed deviant through family pressure.”
K. A. Ö. stressed that the sharing of their medical interventions and private life violates both the undertaking they signed and laws on the protection of personal data.
Lawyer Akpınar: “These actions constitute rights violations”
Ekin Su Akpınar, the lawyer of K. A. Ö., stated that the incidents involve multiple rights violations and are unlawful.
Reminding that Article 10 of the Constitution guarantees equality before the law regardless of language, race, gender, or similar reasons, Akpınar also noted that under Article 17, any pressure, threat, or coercive practices targeting an individual’s personal integrity are unlawful:
“Intervening in a student’s clothing and threatening their right to housing on this basis creates serious legal issues and rights violations in terms of proportionality and legality.”
Akpınar further stated that contacting the student’s family and sharing personal information without consent constitutes a violation of the right to privacy under Article 20 of the Constitution:
“According to the regulations on disciplinary penalties and procedures, for a disciplinary action to be taken against a student, the alleged act must first be clearly defined, and the student must be granted the right to defense. This process is conducted directly with the student, and the administration’s counterpart is the student. Even if there is a claim that parents were contacted because the individual is a student, it must not be forgotten that these students are legally adults.”
“This is arbitrary interference”
Akpınar emphasized that imposing sanctions based on clothing style or gender identity is not provided for in the relevant disciplinary regulations and is incompatible with the Constitution and international conventions, describing such interventions as arbitrary.
She also stated according to the section on notification of decisions, disciplinary board decisions must be communicated to the student in writing, and that the regulation should fundamentally aim to protect the student’s right to housing:
“Issues such as students’ lifestyles, identities, and clothing are not matters the dormitory administration can intervene in. Contacting the family and exceeding the limits of authority constitutes entirely arbitrary actions and involves rights violations.”
“Trans students are the first to be excluded.”
Cüneyt Yılmaz, a member of the Human Rights Association (İHD) LGBTQ+ Commission, stated that the threat to expel the trans student from the dormitory is not merely an individual incident, it is the result of a structural problem. Highlighting that everyone has the right to housing and education, Yılmaz said that trans students are often the first to be excluded and deemed undesirable.
“Trans students face problems everywhere, whether they are in a process of transition or not, and are subjected to similar discriminatory attitudes in all areas they are present. This is absolutely a violation of rights. It is clear where dormitory administrations derive this boldness from. Even during parliamentary sessions, ruling party parliamentarian have used discriminatory and hateful rhetoric against LGBTQ+ people,” he said. Yılmaz underlined that dormitories, like all public services, must operate without discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.
Discrimination is a crime
“Just as you cannot exclude a student for being Kurdish or expel them for being Alevi, you cannot do so because they are trans. This is a clear violation of rights and constitutes a crime. Being subjected to discrimination due to an inherent aspect of your existence is inhumane treatment. Discrimination is a crime. Just as institutions are obligated to meet the needs of students with disabilities, they are also required not to create obstacles for trans individuals in transition and to ensure they can stay in the environment of their choice.”
Yılmaz also noted that this atmosphere is not limited to individual institutions, adding: “The rhetoric of institutions such as the government, the Directorate of Religious Affairs, and RTÜK fuels this discrimination. However, responsibility does not lie solely with the government; opposition parties, especially the The Republican People’s Party (CHP), also fail to take an adequate stance on this issue.”
Speaking about the planned geothermal power plant (GPP) project in the Varto and Karlıova region, Kasım Demiralp, a member of the Kanîrêş Ecology Platform, said: “Our goal is to provide the public with accurate information and raise awareness.”
The area where the Ignis company plans to operate in Varto and Karlıova is shown.
The people of Varto and Karlıova are protesting the approval of the geothermal power plant (GPP) project that Ignis plans to implement in Varto (Gimgim) and Karlıova (Kanîrêş), as the project crosses the Varto-Karlıova fault line and is expected to have negative ecological impacts.
The Karlıova Ecology Platform has been established to oppose the Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) project planned for six villages in the Karlıova district of Bingöl. The platform continues its activities with the aim of fighting against the destruction of nature in the region and GPP projects.
Speaking to Niha+ about the GPP project, which also covers the Karlıova region, Kasım Demiralp, a member of the Kanîrêş Ecology Platform, shared his views.
Demiralp stated that the purpose of establishing the Kanîrêş Ecology Platform is to protect nature and habitats in the region, as well as to bring together the people and villagers of Karlıova to provide them with accurate information and raise their awareness:
“We also aim to develop a culture of collective struggle and decision-making against those who threaten our lives. Taking the necessary legal steps, initiating legal proceedings with lawyers experienced in protecting ecology and wildlife habitats, and simultaneously working to develop the people’s unity and solidarity; our priority is to oppose activities carried out for investment purposes in our natural habitats.”
“We are building on the experiences of the resistance in Licik”
Referring to the planned exploitation of the streams and nature in the village of Kaynarpınar (Licik) in Karlıova last year, Demiralp spoke about the platform’s plans for the near future regarding the Ignis company’s geothermal power plant project:
“We are drawing on the experiences of our friends in the village of Kaynarpınar, Karlıova, who have shown their opposition to this destructive mindset through both legal means and their struggle to build a life where we can all live together. In this regard, we plan to properly inform the villagers through meetings and announcements, create broad public awareness, and secure everyone’s support on this issue.”
Demiralp, noting that no efforts had previously been made in Karlıova to protect the environment and natural habitats—and consequently, the local community lacked a foundation of awareness and organization—said it was important to inform people about what was to come.
The risk of earthquakes in the region is high
Explaining that the most critical aspect of the project is the physical and psychological devastation caused by an earthquake and its aftermath, Demiralp discussed the fault line beneath Karlıova:
“One of the active faults that geologists in Turkey have always emphasized is the Yedisu fault line, known as the North Anatolian Fault (KAF). Karlıova is located at the intersection of the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault (DAF). Drilling geothermal wells on and around active faults, and the extraction and subsequent reinjection of hot water from underground—where the water is pressurized and returned to the ground—carries the risk of triggering an earthquake. All the villages of Yedisu, Karlıova, and Varto face not only an ecological disaster but also the destruction caused by the significant risk of earthquakes. Despite all these scientific facts, this company continues to carry out operations that threaten the lives and livelihoods of the people living here. We will defend our nature, our forests, our springs, our streams, and our lives to the very end and continue our struggle in this direction.”
“We will protect our villages and our mountains”
Demiralp stated that they would fight against this project and thanked everyone who supports their resistance:
“As the people of this region, we have always been here, and we will continue to be here with our nature, our forests, our springs, our streams, our pastures, and our animals. We will always protect and guard our villages, our plains, and our mountains. As we carry out our struggle, we extend our gratitude to the valuable members of the press who voice our concerns, to all the non-governmental organizations that support us, and to the public.”
“Protecting our land is protecting our honor!”
In response to the environmental destruction caused by Ignis H2 Energy Inc., which extends from Varto to Yedisu, the people of Varto and Karlıova have announced that they will unite their efforts.
The recently established Varto Ecology Platform and Karlıova Ecology Platform have prepared a joint urgent appeal to political authorities and the general public against ecological destruction. The urgent appeal reads as follows:
URGENT MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE OF BİNGÖL AND MUŞ, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE ENTIRE PUBLIC
This ancient landscape extending from Karlıova in Bingöl to Varto in Muş and along the Yedisu line is today the target of dirty deals and profit-driven projects being prepared behind closed doors. The licenses that have been obtained and the false reports being prepared are not only handing over our land but also sacrificing our people’s right to live, their future and their natural environment to capital. We are fully aware of the game being played!
These “energy” and “mining” projects being carried out in Karlıova and Varto are operations aimed at displacing the local population and depopulating our pastures. The unity of our people—who have lived side by side as brothers and sisters on this land for centuries, despite their different origins—is the greatest force capable of disrupting these profit-driven games.
Our Call to Our Representatives and Provincial Party Chairs:
Shout out against this plunder from the parliamentary podium! Stop this unlawful process through motions submitted to the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy. The women, youth, and all civil society organizations of Bingöl and Muş: this is not a party issue, but a matter of life and death.
We Will Not Let Them Profit!
Every signature that sacrifices our nature to capital steals from our children’s future. This line of resistance built from Karlıova to Varto will stand as an unshakable fortress against profit, plunder, and the massacre of nature. Protecting our land is protecting our honor!
Varto Ecology Platform and Kanîrêş Ecology Platform
The project is a death sentence for the local people
Ömer Faruk Hülakü, a member of parliament from Bingöl representing the Peoples’ Party for Equality and Democracy (DEM Party), stated during a press conference held in parliament on March 27 that GPP projects must be halted.
Hülakü noted that the fact that the GPP projects are to be built at a point where the North Anatolian Fault Line and the East Anatolian Fault Line converge makes them a death sentence for the people of Karlıova and Varto:
“Bingöl is the center of seismic activity. Permission is being granted to drill 1,000–2,000 meters deep at the exact point where the North Anatolian Fault and the East Anatolian Fault converge—in the region with Turkey’s most fragile fault lines. How can you present such a project proposal to the public?”
Local residents are protesting the geothermal power plant (GPP) project, which is set to be implemented in an area covering 16 villages and is planned to begin within the boundaries of the village of Xwarik (Çallıdere) in Varto.
In recent weeks, the Provincial Pasture Commission of the Muş Governor’s Office approved a “drilling project as part of a geothermal resource exploration project” to be carried out by IGNIS H2 Energy Production Inc., which directly affects 16 Kurdish-Alevi villages in Varto (Gimgim). The villagers submitted a petition of objection to the relevant governor’s offices regarding this project. The petitions were rejected by the governor’s offices.
Although geothermal energy is a renewable and sustainable energy source, studies have shown that it causes significant ecological damage due to its environmental impacts. Power plants, which are mostly built in areas with villages and agricultural lands, leave the village communities facing the threat of forced displacement. In many provinces, local residents claim that geothermal power plants (GPP), as well as mines and other energy projects, are causing harm to agricultural and livestock activities, water sources, and living areas.
Local residents are voicing opposition to the GPP project, which will be implemented in an area covering 16 villages and will begin within the boundaries of the village of Xwarik (Çallıdere) in Varto.
Alev Yılmaz from the Varto Ecology Platform and Erdoğan Ödük, co-spokesperson for the Mesopotamia Ecology Movement, spoke to Niha+.
Alev Yılmaz from the Varto Ecology Platform stated that the geothermal power plant project threatens the villages, water sources, animals, and places of worship in the region, declaring, “We will not let Varto be taken over.”
IGNIS H2 Energy Production Inc.
IGNIS H2 Energy Production Inc., an American company that opened a branch in Yedisu, Bingöl in 2023 and operates in the Karlıova (Kanîreş) – Varto region; has obtained search licenses in the villages of Kızılağaç (Aynik), Kaynarpınar (Licik), Kantarkaya (Şorik), Ilıpınar (Çêrmûk), and Kargapazar (Qerxabazar), which are part of Karlıova in Bingöl.
The company states it aims to reach 1 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, and plans to conduct operations in the Varto-Karlıova region, where the North Anatolian Fault (KAF) and the East Anatolian Fault (DAF) intersect. Currently, the company aims to begin drilling 10 wells in Varto and Güzelkent, and the work it will carry out within an area of 453,494.83 square meters will cover approximately one-third of Varto.
“Who is this Ignis?”
Yılmaz, who has spoken against the projects of a company called Ignis seeking to operate in Varto, stated that they do not believe the company’s claims of “development”:
“Varto has been handed over to profit-seekers. There’s this company called IGNIS—we can barely even bring ourselves to say its name. What is Ignis? Who are they? Where do they come from? Why are they coming? Is IGNIS just saying, ‘I have nothing better to do, so I’ll go develop this distant, poor town of Varto’? Do you think something like that is possible?”
Yılmaz, noting that nothing the people do not want can be in the public interest, explained how the process began by pointing out that no details regarding the project had been shared with the public:
“IGNIS coming here isn’t new but we’re only hearing about it now. That’s the problem here. No one in the village knows anything about it. It’s a very high-handed situation on our land. These are our living spaces, our livelihoods, but the governor and the district governor are making the decisions. Even the current village head hasn’t been told anything to the people. They’ve spoken with the municipality. It’s claimed that very different things were told to the municipality.”
Yılmaz claimed that company representatives had held meetings with local representatives regarding the project, but the actual plans were being kept secret from the public.
“There is someone working for Ignis. They are meeting with the local bureaucrats, the governor, the district governor and the municipality. There is absolutely no mention of a geothermal power plant. They don’t say ‘We’re going to open up your 16 villages, settlements, and center of faith for profit.’ They say there’s hot water, and we’ll identify it. We’ll build thermal hotels, thermal pools and greenhouses. They say the villagers’ heating needs will be met here.”
“It’s impossible for this hot water to heat us.”
Yılmaz said that the company had made various promises to convince the local people but that they did not believe them:
“We won’t die if we don’t eat tomatoes all winter. They say they’ll heat our homes, but definitely we don’t want that either. We’ll heat ourselves with dung. Besides, we get 2.5 to 3 meters of snow here. There’s no way the hot water they’ll send through those pipes can keep us warm.”
They’ve already destroyed Goşkar Baba
Noting that the planned GPP project isn’t just about building a plant, Alev Yılmaz drew attention to the destruction that has already taken place:
“First, they came to us with the hydroelectric power plant. They plundered Goşkar Baba. They shattered the Goşkar villages and our mountains. They trapped our waters. Now they say they’ll build a geothermal power plant. They use fancy words, but we know it won’t be like that. We’re talking about 16 villages and their hamlets. Within these villages we have places of worship, our sacred sites—everything we hold dear. It’s certainly not limited to just 16 villages. We also know they’re after other mines, not just geothermal ones. Right now, who knows how many projects they have in the works that we’re not even aware of. No one is giving us any real information about this.”
Earthquake-prone region
Yılmaz, who reported that drilling is planned to reach a depth of 2500 meters, emphasized that Varto is an earthquake-prone region and that scientists’ warnings must be taken seriously. Yılmaz also reported that given the area’s status as an earthquake zone, a scientist had told them, “Don’t allow something like this.”
“They will destroy endemic species”
Alev Yılmaz, who stated that three drilling wells are planned to be opened in the village Bağdan, noted that this would disrupt the ecological balance in the region:
“When you go 3 km underground, the earth’s soil and mud will come out. There are substances in this mud. These will harm nature. When we ask, ‘What will you do with these?’ they say they’ll award the contract to local authorities. But the local authorities you’re talking about can’t even provide a shovel when we have a funeral. You’ll take them and dump them in Mengel River. There are red-spotted trout, an endemic species, in the Mengel River. You’ll kill them. You’ll disrupt the ecological balance. Here we have lynxes and chukar partridge. They live freely. We don’t touch them. Because all of these are entrusted to us by Hızır.”
In the Alevi faith, Hızıris regarded as an immortal wisdom figure who helps those in distress and those in need, provides relief from suffering, and symbolizes abundance and prosperity. Typically, during the second week of February, a three-day fast (Tuesday–Thursday) is held, rituals are performed, and lokma (kavut) is shared as a prayer for Hızır’s companionship and assistance.
“I want all the women to stand by my side”
Reminding everyone that the Çepanik Plateau, Gundêmîra, Dadina, and İnalı—all part of Varto—have been devastated by mining operations, Yılmaz stated her opposition to the company’s claims that “we will make you rich.”
Yılmaz concluded her remarks by stating that Varto’s ecology and cultural values must be protected:
“I’m afraid of snakes. I want to be afraid of snakes every day. I don’t want the bears to leave here. I want all women to stand by me as I continue this struggle. I want everyone to hear our voices. When they cut down Goşkar Baba, Grêboxa, Şehîdê Qawax, and Şehîdê Ciran, we’ll have nothing left. Let’s not abandon Varto. This is our village, our homes. If we withdraw our hands from Varto, Hızır will leave us too.”
Ödük: Projects will affect a wide geographical area
Erdoğan Ödük, Co-Spokesperson of the Mesopotamia Ecology Movement, stated that the Muş Ecology Platform has been established, noting that it was formed through the merger of organizations active in the region, such as the Varto Ecology Platform and the Goşkar Ecology Association.
Ödük expressed that the planned projects will affect not only Varto but a wide geographical area:
“Ultimately, this issue is not just Varto’s problem; it is a regional problem. There is currently a situation in the region where a geothermal energy field stretching from Varto to Karlıova and Bingöl Yedisu is being handed over. Last year, we also organized a large-scale protest there, in the Peri Valley.”
Eco-genocide policies have been implemented in the Goşkar Valley for a long time
Ödük emphasized that the eco-genocide policies that have been ongoing for a long time in Muş and the Kurdish regions are not only capital-oriented policies.
“For a long time, it has been claimed that eco-genocide has occurred in this region of Kurdistan during the war, yet even now, both domestic and foreign capital continue to commit eco-genocide in various forms across different areas. This is currently the situation in Varto, Muş. The region has already faced severe ecological destruction due to the Alparslan 1 and 2 dam projects in previous phases. Numerous villages were evacuated. Historical archaeological sites were submerged. Following that, there is another hydroelectric power plant (HES) project in the Goşkar Valley, carried out by Çağlar Elektrik in 2002.”
“Ecological destruction is also triggering migration”
Ödük noted that the exploitation in the Goşkar Valley affects not only nature but also social life, and continued:
“The last remaining water in the region is a spring called Ava Spî. Since the people there follow the Alevi faith, this situation is actually triggering migration in the region. These issues are not merely about ecological destruction; they also bring social problems in their wake.”
Companies are trying to break the resistance
“They told the villagers that a permit would be obtained, but they said it might happen or it might not. These are statements intended to break the resistance. However, it is not possible for an American company to come here, conduct no research, hand over 4 million dollars—which is the minimum cost of drilling—and then just open the well and leave.”
Success will be achieved if the area of resistance is expanded
Explaining that this is not merely a local issue, Ödük outlined the regional solidarity efforts they will carry out together with the people. Noting that village meetings and awareness-raising activities are ongoing in Varto, Ödük said they have also held meetings with members of parliament.
Unity of action in Varto
Emphasizing that the people’s role is decisive in the ecological struggle, Ödük highlighted that the plundering policies implemented in Kurdish provinces are based on more cultural and social factors compared to those in the West.
“The forests of the Black Sea are our too. The forests of India are our forests. But the difference is this: The current situation in the West revolves around a capital-centered dynamic. Here, the issue is not just capital. We saw this clearly with the Alpaslan 1-2 dams. We saw it with the dam planned for the Nerbüş River in Cizre. We saw it in the villages displaced as part of the GAP project. We saw it in the massive Ilısu Dam, in the destruction of Hasankeyf, and in the erasure of cultural memory. This situation is not merely a problem for the peoples living in Kurdistan.”,
Ödük stated that international and local environmental organizations must pay greater attention to the ecological destruction in Kurdish regions.
“We’ve managed to raise our voices for both the forests of the Black Sea region and the Kaz Mountains. Our friends are also working there to protest against the pesticides used in the Çukurova region. This nature is our shared living space. Once it’s gone, neither ideological divisions nor ethnic origins nor cultural distinctions will remain. Therefore, ecology organizations in the West must also approach Kurdistan in this way. In other words, when this place is gone, when it is devastated, they too will suffer the consequences.”
Varto Ecology Platform made press statement
Varto Ecology Platform issued a press statement on March 7, and DEM Party parlamenterian Sümeyye Boz Çakı also expressed her support for the platform members.
Mehmet Edip Taşar, an ill prisoner whose release had been repeatedly postponed, passed away on March 24. Yıldız, a member of the ÖHD Prison Commission, stated: “Ill prisoners are being left to die.”
Mehmet Edip Taşar, a ill prisoner held at Marmara No. 5 L-Type Closed Prison since December 27, 2022, passed away on March 24 at the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
According to a report by bianet, the Istanbul Bar Association’s Human Rights Center held a press conference in Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district regarding the condition of the ailing prisoner Mehmet Edip Taşar.
Rabia Gündoğmuş, a member of the Istanbul Bar Association’s Human Rights Center, who read the press statement, emphasized that Taşar had dropped to 40 kilograms and that his ability to see, walk, and speak had diminished.
According to a report by İlke TV, on February 26, the Istanbul Branch of the Lawyers’ Association for Freedom (ÖHD) stated that Taşar had been subjected to verbal and physical attacks by doctors during his transfer to the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK).
The number of ill prisoners in 2025
According to the IHD’s 2025 Report on Ill Prisoners, there are at least 1,412 ill prisoners in Turkish prisons, including 161 women and 1,251 men. According to the report, 335 prisoners are in serious health condition.
Of these, 230 are unable to care for themselves, and 105 require assistance. Additionally, 188 prisoners require constant monitoring due to their illnesses.
The report noted that ill prisoners were not taken to the infirmary in a timely manner, were kept waiting for months for referrals to tertiary healthcare services, and were living in conditions of inadequate nutrition, heating, and hygiene.
In a statement following Taşar’s death, ÖHD noted that despite numerous legal appeals, the ATK had not issued a “cannot remain in prison” report, nor had it granted a stay of execution, despite his health condition.
Destina Yıldız as a member of the ÖHD Istanbul Branch Prison Commission, spoke to Niha+.
Yıldız stated that due to the ATK’s lack of objectiveness and independence, there were inconsistencies in many cases -particularly those involving ill prisoners- regarding the deaths of Mehmet Edip Taşar and all other ill prisoners.
Yıldız, explaining the process of how ATK reports are prepared, continued:
“Specifically regarding ill prisoners, Article 16, Paragraph 3 of Law No. 5275 requires the execution of a sentence may be postponed for individuals for whom a decision has been made based on a report, prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institution or by the medical boards of fully equipped hospitals designated by the Ministry of Justice and approved by the Forensic Medicine Institution, stating that ‘the illness poses a definite threat to life.’ Accordingly, to postpone the execution of a ill prisoner, one must first apply to the prosecutor’s office to arrange for the prisoner’s transfer to a hospital, then obtain a report from the relevant medical board, and either submit this report to the Forensic Medicine Institution for approval or directly transfer the ill prisoner to the Forensic Medicine Institution. Following the examination, the report must be prepared here and approved by the Forensic Medicine Institution, or after the report prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institution, the relevant chief prosecutor’s office must determine that the prisoner “does not pose a threat to public safety.”
“Forensic Medicine Institution reports are not actually being implemented“
Yıldız noted that, considering the circumstances of ill prisoners, reports from the ATK are not actually being implemented.
“Even in cases where the Forensic Medicine Institution issues a report stating that the prisoner ‘cannot remain in prison,’ the prisoner’s release is not carried out by the prosecutor’s offices or the courts. Ill prisoners are sentenced to death due to conflicting reports between the prosecutor’s office, the hospital, and the Forensic Medicine Institution.”
Yıldız explained that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has stated that the continued detention of individuals suffering from a terminal illness or whose health condition is no longer compatible with prison conditions is considered a violation of the prohibition against torture under Article 3.
“Under international and national regulations and judicial decisions, the state is responsible for the health and lives of prisoners in prisons. It is obligated to remove obstacles to prisoners’ rights to treatment and health, and to ensure their access to these rights.”
Ill prisoners are left to death
“Yet today in Turkey, ill prisoners are either not released at all or are not released until they are on the brink of death. Those ill prisoners who are released at this stage lose their lives shortly afterward due to delayed diagnoses and treatments. Ill prisoners are being condemned to death. Mehmet Edip Taşar, a ill prisoner who lost his life, is one such case. The fact that he was not released despite a report from the Forensic Medicine Institute stating he ‘cannot remain in prison,’ and was instead condemned to death, is the clearest indication of the state’s approach toward political prisoners and ill prisoners.”
When the queer film selection, which the organizers had announced would be included in this year’s program, will be once again excluded from this year. Filmmakers and cultural and arts workers renewed their call for a boycott.
The program for the 45th Istanbul Film Festival organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), was announced.
In addition to three competitive sections—the Golden Tulip Competition, New Perspectives, and the Short Film Competition—the festival will feature six sections consisting of different thematic selections.
The “Neredesin Aşkım?” (“Where Are You, Love?”) section, dedicated to queer films, was not included in this year’s program either, despite statements made by the İKSV on social media following the censorship debates in 2025.
Filmmakers and cultural and artistic workers, who characterized this decision as “censorship,” expressed their outrage toward the İKSV and the festival management. The Istanbul Pride Week Committee has once again called for a boycott of the Istanbul Film Festival this year.
What happenned last year?
The decision to exclude the “Where Are You, Love?” section -which has been part of the festival since 2014 and showcases queer films- from the last year’s festival, had led to criticism from the LGBTQ+ community (such as, Pembe Hayat KuirFest) and certain artists, leading to calls for a boycott of the festival. Following the boycott calls, the festival stated in an Instagram post last year that it planned to include “Where Are You, Love?” in the program again the following year; which
Many artists point out that this decision is a clear act of censorship and is linked to the ruling government’s policies of oppression.
Comments on social media also highlighted that the festival’s decision was part of the Erdoğan government’s policies targeting the LGTBQ+ community under its “Year of the Family” campaign in Turkey.
Archeological excavations at the ancient city of Syedra in Antalya uncover a mosaic figure, with the inscription “Haters gonna hate”.
During archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Syedra in the Alanya district of Antalya, Turkey; a mosaic estimated approximately 15 square meters -believed to have been created between the 4th and 6th centuries A.D. and with the inscription “let the jealous burst”, roughly equivalent to “haters gonna hate”- had been discovered.
Excavations are being carried out under the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s Heritage for the Future Project, led by Associate Professor Ertuğ Ergürer.
Excavation Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer told an Anadolu Agency (AA) journalist that they had made an important discovery during excavation work being carried out in one of the city’s largest residential structures, which dates back approximately 3,000 years.
The ancient city of Syedra, whose history dates back to the 9th century B.C., is located in the Alanya district of Antalya Province, Turkey, and is known to have been home to numerous empires.
Turkish phrase “Let the jealous burst” is on the mosaic
Noting that what makes the approximately 15-square-meter mosaic unique is the presence of two writings on it, “In the central part of the mosaic, there is an expression meaning something like ‘use it well.’ In the entrance door section of the room, there is a second inscription within a circular border. This inscription also has a somewhat metaphorical meaning. The first word in the inscription means ‘jealousy’ or ‘the jealous one,’ while the second word means ‘cracking’ or ‘bursting.’ It corresponds to the expression ‘may the jealous one burst,’ which we still use (in Turkish) today. Coming across such an expression in the entrance section of a structure built approximately 1,500 years ago was a huge surprise for us.” said Ergürer.
Ergürer explained the AA, that the northern section of the triple building has entrances to the second and third floors, “The structure, which has numerous rooms and a central courtyard in the middle, was in use from the 2nd to the 7th century A.D. During this period, the owners changed, new spaces were added, additional floors were built, and some sections were closed off. In later periods, the entrance area and the upper part of this mosaic-covered section were enclosed. The fact that the mosaic was covered has ensured that it has survived to the present day in such good condition,” he said.
Ergürer noted that they believe the construction to be one of Syedra’s significant residential structures and that excavation and restoration work will continue at certain points of the structure.
The archaeologists aim to uncover new evidence regarding daily life during the late Roman Empire and the early Byzantine period.
