JINHA

ISTANBUL – Human rights activist Leman Fırtına, among the founders of Turkey's storied human rights groups Human Rights Association and Turkey Human Rights Foundation, lost her life to cancer last night.

Leman had been under treatment for cancer for the last two months at a research hospital in Istanbul's Kadıköy district. Her funeral will take place at the Selimiye Cemetery tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Leman Fırtına began her struggle with the effort to publicize the voices of the children tortured in Turkey's prisons during the coup of September 12, 1980. In addition to taking part in the founding of two notable human rights associations, Leman was action in the women's struggle. She took part in the signing of the Women's Agreement against Discrimination in 1986 and led the March Against Beatings, a 1987 action against domestic violence.

(fk/cm)