(1956- )
A former refugee from Turkey, Kerim Yildiz is the executive director of the Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP) headquartered in London. As a leading human rights defender, Yildiz received the Sigrid Rausing Trust's Human Rights Award for Leadership in Minority and Indigenous Rights in 2005. He also won the Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights Award for his contributions in protecting human rights and promoting the rule of law. Under his leadership, the KHRP has participated successfully in numerous European Court of Human Rights cases involving the rights of Kurds suffering from official repression. He also is the chair of Gateway Trust and serves on the board of directors of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). In addition, Yildiz has written several books about the Kurdish situation in Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria.
Historical Dictionary of the Kurds. Michael M. Gunter.