§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will use their best endeavours to secure the re-opening of the offices of the Human Rights Association (IHD) of Turkey in cities where 129WA they have been closed—for example, Diyarbakir and Mardin; and whether they will make representations concerning the harassment recently suffered by Goc-Der, an organisation in Istanbul representing internally-displaced Kurdish villagers from the south-east region. [HL1706]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Her Majesty's Government remain deeply concerned at the harassment suffered by the Turkish Human Rights Association (HRA) and we will continue to raise this issue with the Turkish authorities. We understand that the HRA's Mardin office has now been reopened.
We are aware of reports that the Mersin office of Goc-Der has been closed. Our Embassy in Ankara will he discussing this further with the Turkish authorities.