UN Human Rights chief: Turkey must probe 'shooting of civilians'

The UN human rights chief has called on Turkey to investigate the alleged shooting of unarmed people in the country after footage of the incident emerged online. Zeid Raad al-Hussein also voiced concern over reports that the cameraman, Refik Tekin, faces arrest over possible charges of membership in the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, when he leaves a hospital where he is treated for gunshot wounds sustained in the shooting in the south-eastern town of Cizre. Turkish authorities have imposed curfews in Cizre and other towns and districts to flush out militants from urban areas in Turkey's mostly Kurdish south-east since the collapse in July of a peace process with the PKK. The Turkish Human Rights Foundation says at least 198 civilians, including 39 children, have died in combat areas under curfew since August. The video in question purportedly shows people wheeling a dead body on a handcart behind a man and a woman who are waving white flags, before they are apparently targeted by gunfire. Mr Tekin, who works for the pro-Kurdish IMC television, continues to film despite being hit and blood is seen streaming past his camera. The video does not show who fired the shots...

from timesofmalta.com http://ift.tt/1P9caxy
via IFTTT