AI Op-Ed Letter Re: Turkey & Tortur

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: akin at kurdish.org (AKIN)
Subject: AI Op-Ed Letter Re: Turkey & Torture

Dear Editor,

On the 13th of June, Gulcin Ozgur was taken from her home in Turkey and
detained at police headquarters. The reason? She had publicly reported
being tortured during previous detention for failing to carry an ID card.
She was stripped naked, hosed with pressurized cold water, suspended by the
wrists and threatened with death. She is 15 years old. As the November
election draws closer and we hear the candidates bicker, posture and jockey
for position, we do not hear anything about Gulcin Ozgur. In fact, we do
not hear about human rights at all. We can blame the politicians for the
deafening silence on what seems to be a political non-issue, or we can
blame ourselves.

Each political issue is sticky one and politicians want to dodge as many of
them as they can in order to avoid taking a position. Their philosophy is:
"Why take a stand when no one seems to care anyway?" China, Turkey, and
Guatemala can seem very far away, especially when we have so many concerns
about our own families, our own schools and our own jobs. Yet, in a world
of increasing global interdependence, what goes on in these countries will
affect us sooner or later regardless of location. Beyond that, we must
remember that everyone, no matter where they are, is entitled to be treated
with respect of their individual human rights. The right to think and say
what one feels, without fear of imprisonment or torture, is basic and
undeniable.

Without international pressure from governments like our own, human rights
abuses will continue. It is up to us to make human rights a campaign issue
in 1996. Politicians take their cues from us and we must remind them that
we do care about human rights and will not tolerate silence on this issue.
Without our voices, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and the rest of the people who
represent us in Washington will continue to wipe their brows with relief
and say, "Just one less thing I have to worry about."

Jesse Christensen
Amnesty International-USA
Nederland, Colorado Op-ed piece


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