Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
02 – 04 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/017) University Student Being Threatened by the Police in Ankara…
It is claimed on the news coverage of February 1, 2019 that, Emrah Bakır, a student of Ankara University, was stopped on January 31, 2019 by undercover police officers who claim themselves to be “the police of the state within the state”, and was threatened by them as “if you do not work with us the attacks will continue”.
(02/018) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 1, 2019 that 16 prisoners including Rezan Zuğurli Ataş, co-mayor of Lice district of Diyarbakır, who are kept in Van T Type Prison were subjected to physical violence of the wardens. It is reported that the prisoners were not taken to infirmary after violence.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 2, 2019 that in Manisa T Type Prison, disciplinary proceedings are initiated against 11 prisoners fort hey reject to stand in military order during roll-calls. It is learned that Özgür Bektaşoğlu, a handicapped prisoner with poliomyelitis, was among those 11 prisoners too. It is reported that 4 prisoners (Şemsettin Erdem, Mehmet Tekin, Özgür Bektaşoğlu and Özgür Çelik) were penalised with 3 months of prevention from communication rights and 2 prisoners (Mustafa Çakır and Şemsettin Erdem) were penalised with 10 days of solitary confinement.
(02/019) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 1, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275.
It is learned that the appeal made on February 1, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 786th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(02/020) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 817 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 1, 2, and 3, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 1, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin, Mehmet Dersulu and Emir Karakum) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin, Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 2, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Emir Karakum) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 3, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 14 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 1, 2, and 3, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/021) Police Intervention Against Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 722nd time on February 2, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP’s Hüda Kaya and Garo Paylan, Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu as well as representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people gather in front of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office and started to march. It is reported that the police blockaded the street of IHD Istanbul office too.
(02/022) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 357th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on February 2, 2019, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(02/023) Detained People at HDP Rally in Istanbul…
It is learned that at least 11 people are detained by the police on the grounds of slogans they chanted, after the rally of HDP at Bakırköy Özgürlük Square in Istanbul on February 3, 2019. The names of detained people are unknown.
(02/024) Detained Journalist in Aydın…
Jinnews reporter Melike Aydın is detained on February 2, 2019, at a road check while she was travelling from Aydın to Izmir, on the grounds of her social media posts. Melike Aydın is released after statement procedures at Aydın Police Headquarters on the same day.
(02/025) Detained Executive of HDP in Adana…
Mehmet Kıran, HDP’s provincial executive in Adana, who was detained on January 28, 2019, for writing “PKK” on the rear window of a car around Adana Courthouse, is arrested by the court on February 1, 2019, on the charge of ‘threatening by taking advantage of the power to invoke fear derived from a criminal organisation’.
(02/026) Detained People in Şırnak…
4 people Eda Balzencir, Halime Tarak, Sebahat Uğur and Veyşan Külter) who were detained through a Şırnak based investigation on January 29, 2019 are released after procedures at the prosecutor’s office on February 1, 2019.
Thus, all of 22 people including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) provincial co-chair Ayşe Altay, DBP central district co-chair Nuriye Bilir and HDP Cizre co-mayor candidate Berivan Kutlu, who were detained through the same investigation are released.
(02/027) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 16 academicians 16 academicians (Assist. Professor Ömer Turan, Assoc. Professor Nazan Haydari, Research Assistant Zeynep Yeşim Gökçe, MA student H.T. from Bilgi University, PhD student Tuğba Yıldırım from Sabancı University, Assoc. Professor Begüm Özden Fırat from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, PhD Aylin Kuryel from Amsterdam University and Professor Mehmet Ali Oturan from Paris-Est University, Assoc. Professor Mustafa Tekpınar from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Remezan Alan and Assist. Professor Necat Keskin from Artuklu University, Assoc. Professor Halis Ulaş and Research Assistant Aydın Arı from Dokuz Eylül University, Assist. Professor Hanifi Kurt from Ege University, Assoc. Professor Güven Bakırezer and Research Assistant Adem Yeşilyurt from Kocaeli University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 1, 2019. The court adjourned the trials of the cases against Necat Keskin and Mustafa Tekpınar to May 15, 2019. The court has consolidated the separate cases against Ömer Turan, Nazan Haydari, Zeynep Yeşim Gökçe, H.T., Tuğba Yıldırım, Begüm Özden Fırat, Aylin Kuryel and Mehmet Ali Oturan previously, and adjourned the trial of the case against 8 academicians to May 15, 2019. The court decided to send the cases against Halis Ulaş, Hanifi Kurt and Aydın Arı to Izmir Heavy Penal Court, on the grounds of lack of venue. The court decided to send the cases against Güven Bakırezer and Adem Yeşilyurt to Kocaeli Heavy Penal Court on the grounds of lack of venue. The court decided to send the case against Remezan Alan to Mardin Heavy Penal Court on the grounds of lack of venue.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Assist. Professor Serdar Tekin from Ege University and Assoc. Professor Candan Badem from Munzur University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 33 is held on February 1, 2019. The court rejected to accept lack of authorization due to venue for both cases and adjourned both trials to February 26, 2019.
(02/028) Co-Mayor and DBP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against Gültan Kışanak, Diyarbakır Municipality co-chair who was replaced with an appointed trustee, and against Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Sebahat Tuncel on Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 1 is held on February 1, 2019.
The indictment demands 240 years of sentence for Gültan Kışanak for ‘starting and leading an illegal organisation’, ‘attending illegal meetings and demonstrations’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’ (41 times) and 145 years of sentence for Sebahat Tuncel for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’.
Gültan Kışanak attended the trial to make her defence. The court sentenced Gültan Kışanak to 14 years and 3 months and Sebahat Tuncel to 15 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. It is reported that Sebahat Tuncel was never brought to the court during the trials.
The court decided to continue detention for Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel.
(02/029) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The case against Gülser Yıldırım, former Mardin MP of HDP, for the speeches she made between 2012 and 2016, is held on February 1, 2019, on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3. It is learned that Gülser Yıldırım rejected to join the trial via sound and vision system. The prosecutor declared the legal opinion and demanded jail imprisonment up to 18 years and 3 months for Gülser Yıldırım on the charges of ‘making successive propaganda of an illegal organisation’ and ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’. The court decided to bring Gülser Yıldırım to the next trial which is adjourned to March 4, 2019.
(02/030) Co-Mayors on Trial in Mardin…
The case against 7 people including Leyla Salman and İsmail Asi, co-mayors of Kızıltepe district of Mardin, who were replaced by an appointed trustee, is held on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 1, 2019. İsmail Asi and Leyla Salman joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention for Leyla Salman and İsmail Asi and adjourned the trial to April 17, 2019.
7 people including co-mayors Leyla Salman and İsmail Asi and municipality employees were detained on December 2, 2016 for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and Salman and Asi were arrested afterwards.
(02/031) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
It is learned that on February 1, 2019, a detention warrant was issued for 12 military members on active duty including 3 colonels and 2 majors, through an Ankara based investigation against Air Force personnel, and that 9 people were detained in operations.
(02/032) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 19 former military members, including 8 arrested and 8 fugitives, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 33 is held on February 1, 2019. The court sentenced 3 defendants to heavy life imprisonment, 1 defendant to 15 years and 10 months and 1 defendant to 14 years and 2 months for ‘attempting to demolish the constitutional order’. The court sentenced 1 defendant to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 2 defendants and separated the case against 8 fugitive defendants.
(02/033) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on February 1, 2019 and announced 31 areas with given coordinates in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts as special security zone as of February 3, 2019 until February 17, 2019.
(02/034) March 31, 2019 Elections…
It is learned that, HDP’s campaign bus in Van used for local elections which will be held on March 31, 2019, was assaulted by anonymous person or persons, which resulted in material damage.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar, Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.