Turkey's Human Rights Association (İHD) disclosed its 2006 Report. There had been a serious return in the country regarding human rights issues, said İHD chair Yusuf Alataş talking to bianet:

"The report conveys that the real issue on Turkey's agenda is human rights. We need a holistic approach to the problem".

The report files 972 cases of violations regarding the right to life in 2006, as gathered from media screenings and applications to the organization. In addition, 3 thousand 472 people have been injured as a consequence of those incidents.

Above incidents are classified as extra-judicial killings by security forces, excess use of power during interventions to mass protests, violation of the use of weapons, unknown killings/attacks, attacks by illegal organizations, deaths under police custody, attacks related to religious beliefs, deaths/injuries in prisons, armed, conflicts, incidents concerning land mines, violence towards children, violence towards women, domestic violence, suicides of soldiers and police officers.

Alataş notes that pareas of problems from the past still exist. Issues related to human rights dropped from the government's agenda regarding accession talks with the European Union, which has been the driving force behind legislative and practical reforms in recent years.

Furthermore, government's relations with human rights organizations have frayed, added Alataş.

Lastly, media's approach and coverage of human rights issues condition the society to avoid and discount as such, Alataş said.(TK/EÜ)

* Please click here to reach the full report. (in Turkish)