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Although Europe boasts high standards of education, for children from minority communities segregated classes, obstacles to mother tongue education and difficulties with integration are resulting in discrimination and sometimes exclusion, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) says in a new report released today.

The State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2009, themed on education and prepared this year with UNICEF's collaboration shows that of the world's 101 million children out of school, between 50 and 70 per cent are from minorities or indigenous peoples.

Orhan Kemal CENGİZ

Since the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power in 2002, the reopening of the Halki Seminary has repeatedly returned to the political agenda in Turkey.

There is almost a pattern. Some government officials say, “There is no harm in reopening the school [which was closed down in 1971], and there are some preparations taking place to that effect.

Strasbourg, 03.07.2009 - Commissioner Hammarberg concluded today a six-day visit to Turkey during which he held discussions with the President, the Ministers of Justice and EU Affairs and other representatives of national and local authorities, international agencies and non-governmental organisations. The focus was on the human rights of minorities as well as of asylum seekers and refugees.

Andy HULL

Torture is terror. We must reject it: no ifs, no buts. In the words of General Lord Guthrie, former chief of defence staff and one of the members of Institute for Public Policy Research's independent commission on national security, "Torture does violence to the defenceless, using their bodies against their souls. It is illegal, unethical, counter-productive and dumb".

Orhan Kemal CENGİZ

This week I attended a luncheon in Ankara with foreign diplomats who wanted to discuss Turkey's human rights problems. We were two human rights experts invited to this meeting to give a briefing about recent developments in the human rights field.

Strasbourg, 30.06.2009 – “The right to housing is of central importance to the effective enjoyment of most human rights. States should ensure their implementation, in particular in times of economic crisis” said today the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg, issuing a recommendation on housing rights.

Orhan Kemal CENGİZ

To some people in Turkey, the Ergenekon case is just a fabrication by the government to undermine the secular structure of the state.

According to some, the ruling party is now taking revenge for the closure case against it. For some Westerners, the Ergenekon case is just a part of the dirty war between the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and those looking to maintain the status quo in Turkey. 

Orhan Kemal CENGİZ

Our soldiers never understand the society beyond the high walls that surround them. For them, there are allies and enemies. They view the society as such: black or white, those who are with us and those who are against us.

They do not realize that their "psychological warfare" books are no longer useful. They are not aware of the fact that all the walls around the world are coming down.

Orhan Kemal CENGİZ

For some time, there has been an interesting trend among “white Turks” (this half-witty term refers to Westernized secular Turks, who are not Kurdish or Alevi, and definitely not devout Muslims). This is their apparent sympathy toward Turkey's non-Muslims. Ah, how sweet they are.

In 2008, the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) helped through its urgent appeals to put a stop to the maltreatment to which certain prisoners were subjected; it aided those who were freed after undergoing inhuman or degrading treatment to recover their dignity and a normal life; it asked for torturers to be pursued and condemned because without this the practice of torture will continue unchecked. It helped organisations who are members of the SOS-Torture network to present alternative reports to countries’ offi cial reports to the United Nations (UN) Committees. Several recommendations contained in these reports have been taken up and sent to the States concerned. Thus OMCT can be satisfied that its action is recognised and contributes to preserving human beings from torture.