UN Calls on Turkey to Investigate Hundreds of Killings in Kurdish Regions

The United Nations Human Rights Office on Friday released a report regarding the increase in violence over the past 18 months in southeastern Turkey, urging the country to investigate hundreds of reported killings and other human rights violations in Kurdish areas. According to the Associated Press, the UN Human Rights Office states that approximately two thousand people, including 1,200 local residents and about 800 military and police personnel, were killed during Turkey's extensive security operations from July 2015 to December 2016. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to the Associated Press's request for comment on this report. The extensive crackdown on armed opponents in southeastern Turkey coincides with other events, including deadly attacks by the Islamic State group, a failed coup, and a massive influx of Syrian refugees, which have severely destabilized Turkey. Meanwhile, Kurdish fighters, some of whom are said to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), have made significant advances in the battle against ISIS in Syrian territory. The 25-page report from the UN Human Rights Office, based on evidence provided by confidential sources, satellite images, and other resources, lists the destruction of approximately 1,800 buildings and the displacement of at least 335,000 civilians during these military operations. The report emphasizes the necessity for investigations and calls for "those responsible for these unlawful killings to be held accountable, for the undeclared and 24-hour curfew in these areas to be lifted, and for compensation to be provided to victims and their families whose rights have been violated." UN Human Rights Office inspectors have been unable to travel to southeastern Turkey, which is predominantly Kurdish, despite a year of repeated efforts. Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for this office, stated that the Turkish government has not provided any specific reasons for opposing the inspectors' visit. He emphasized that although this investigation has not taken place on-site, it should be considered "independent and impartial." According to this spokesperson, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is deeply concerned about the "clear deterioration of the human rights situation in Turkey" and believes it will only deepen existing tensions and prolong instability. Rupert Colville also referenced a part of the report stating that "no credible investigations have been conducted into hundreds of reported killings, including women and children, during this 13-month period." He noted that it appears that no suspects have been arrested and no one has been prosecuted for what occurred between July 2015 and August 2016. Rupert Colville, without going into further details, said the Turkish government has challenged the accuracy of some of the claims made in this report. The UN Human Rights Office states that the Turkish government has claimed that the PKK, which is also considered a terrorist organization by the US and the EU, has killed several Turkish military and police personnel during its attacks. The report also refers to the "complex challenges" Turkey has faced since the failed coup in July 2016, adding that "it seems that the increased security measures in the state of emergency following this event have generally targeted dissenters, specifically opposition political parties and particularly Kurdish individuals." The report from the UN Human Rights Office provides a "complete and shocking picture of the destruction of neighborhoods in the city of Cizre" based on testimonies from witnesses and family members of victims.