Turkey section in the US human rights report: 'Problems exist'

The US, which has been heavily criticized for its unconditional support for Israel during the process of killing thousands of civilians in Gaza and restricting humanitarian aid to the region, has released its 2023 Human Rights Report.

The introduction to the 2023 country reports prioritizes the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Russia's violations in Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who announced the report to the public, made references to several topics, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Russia's violations in Ukraine, and the crisis in Sudan.

Blinken stated that the review regarding whether Israel is "acting in accordance with international law in Gaza" is ongoing and that they will share the results they reach with the public soon.

"WE APPLY THE SAME STANDARD TO ISRAEL AS WELL"

Blinken stated, "We do not apply a double standard to Israel; we apply the same standard to everyone."

Using the phrase, "The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is causing deep concerns regarding human rights to grow," Blinken drew attention to the October 7 Hamas attacks. Blinken noted that approximately 1,200 people lost their lives and about 230 people were taken hostage in these attacks.

Emphasizing that Israel must conduct its "military operations" in the region in accordance with international law while exercising its "right to self-defense" against these attacks, Blinken included the statement, "We continue to have concerns regarding the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including children, women, and people with disabilities."

Stating that the US has warned its Israeli counterparts at every opportunity regarding the protection of Palestinian civilians, Blinken said, "We have repeatedly raised our concerns (with the Israeli side) regarding Palestinian civilians' access to humanitarian aid, the displacement of a large portion of Gaza's population, and the killing of an unprecedented number of journalists."

RUSSIA'S VIOLATIONS

Referring to Russia's violations in Ukraine, Blinken assessed that "Russian forces are using violence against civilians as a deliberate tool of war."

Blinken emphasized that the US State Department's report contains comprehensive assessments, examples, and findings regarding the violations in Ukraine.

"SEVERE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS"

In the Gaza section of the report, which was made public following Blinken's speech, it was noted that more than 21,000 civilians were killed in Gaza between October 7 and December 31, 2023.

The report, which describes the situation in Gaza as a "severe humanitarian crisis," highlights that 50 to 70 percent of the buildings in the region have been destroyed and that the area has become largely uninhabitable.

The report emphasizes that human rights violations by Israeli Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank continue, and it lists the rights violations reported throughout the past year.

In the sections of the US 2023 Human Rights Report concerning China, Iran, Sudan, and Cuba, human rights violations in these countries are covered extensively, with references made to reports of violations emerging from these nations throughout 2023.

PROBLEMS EXIST IN TURKEY

The Turkey section of the report notes that, according to international institutions and observers, voters were able to freely express their political preferences in the presidential elections held last May; however, it alleges that there are problems regarding political freedoms.

In the sections concerning the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), the report uses the term 'Gülen movement' and includes critical remarks regarding Turkey's operations against the PKK and YPG in northern Iraq and Syria.

YPG SECTION IN SYRIA

In the Syria section of the report, it is stated that the YPG/PKK holds approximately 9,000 ISIS members in custody across 11 separate facilities in the north of the country, and that conditions in these prisons are extremely poor.

The report notes that records indicate the YPG killed 74 civilians, including women and children, and states that the organization has committed severe violations in the regions it controls, such as 'suppressing other political views,' 'torture,' and 'kidnapping.'

The report states that between April 2022 and March 2023, the YPG forcibly recruited 637 children and used them in conflict zones, with these findings shared by citing the 'US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report.'