European Convention on Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided on June 23 that there was no violation of the European charter?s article on the right to life in a case concerning Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirta?, who had complained that he had been exposed to a risk of death due to an article published in a local newspaper in 2007. 

Dilek Öcalan, a lawmaker from the ranks of the Peoples? Democracy Party (HDP) will serve as one of six temporary clerks at parliament until permanent ones are elected through next week elections. The appointment is of note because of Dilek Öcalan?s familial ties to Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK). 

The Council of State has ruled that although the formal name of a mandatory class in Turkish schools is ?religious culture and moral knowledge,? the content of the class is actually general ?religious education,? dismissing the complaint of a family in a years-long legal saga. 

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found Turkey guilty in the case of retired commander Levent Bekta?, who complained he had failed to obtain notice of the public prosecutor?s opinion during his criminal proceedings.

The government has launched an isolation of imprisoned outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan in ?mral? Island where he is serving a life sentence, a leading deputy of the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) said on June 12.

Justice Minister Robert Cazanciuc on Thursday welcomed President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Dean Spielmann to discuss, among other things, property returning and detention conditions in Romania's penitentiaries.

Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK), is the appropriate person to call on militants of his organization to lay down arms, Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirta? has said, urging for the resumption of talks in the stalled peace process. 

Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has said it was open to all options for a coalition government other than with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and that President Tayyip Erdo?an should remain within his constitutional limits.

Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an has continued to slam the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), accusing it of being "intolerant and closed to criticism."

"'Shut up. Don't talk' is the favorite discourse of some HDP people," Akdo?an said on his Twitter account on June 9.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an said the Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) can ?only shoot the movie? of the Kurdish peace process, responding to reporters on June 8 a day after the general elections.