The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Thursday rejected five appeals for a temporary injunction to lift the curfews imposed in Turkey's southeastern Şırnak and Diyarbakır provinces, currently affected by clashes between the PKK and security forces. In its ruling, the court underscored confidence in the Turkish government to take reasonable steps to ensure necessary services and assistance to people in the region.

The lawyers for five citizens from the Sur district in the southeastern Diyarbakır province and Cizre district in Şırnak appealed to the ECtHR for a temporary injunction to lift the curfew in areas affected by clashes.

In the appeals, the applicants demanded that the ongoing curfews in several southeastern districts be lifted and security operations against the PKK terrorist organization halted or conducted "in compliance with international standards."

The ECtHR had requested the Justice Ministry's point of view on the matter, which it submitted on Jan. 8. According to reports, the court rejected the appeals citing a lack of necessary data and evidence for a temporary injunction. "With the current serious condition in southeastern Turkey in consideration, the court asserts its confidence in the Turkish government's commitment to take steps to ensure necessary care of or help to civilians living in the areas where curfews are declared," the ECtHR said in its statement.

Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said on Thursday that terrorism is a worldwide disaster and that the international community has the responsibility to act jointly in combat and support each other against terror. Regarding the ECtHR cases in Turkey, Bozdağ announced that the number of applications within the last three years has dropped 47 percent. "Following our action plan for the ombudsman, personal application, compensation commission as well as preventing violations of the European Human Rights Agreement getting into action, the numbers of applications at the ECtHR and other matters are indicating a change in favor of Turkey," Bozdağ said.