Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
05 – 07 January 2019 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/039) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that 1 soldier died in a gun accident during the military operation of Turkish Armed Forces in Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government.
It is reported that 1 soldier died and 2 soldiers got wounded in an attack of HPG militants against a border post in Iğdır on January 4, 2019. 1 HPG militant died in the same incident.
It is learned that 1 civilian got wounded in attacks with improvised explosives against Yenişehir district Police Headquarters, Directorate General of Meat and Milk Board and to a shop in Diyarbakır.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that, 2 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Şırnak on November 2, 2018.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that 1 HPG militant died in a clash in rural areas of Yüksekova district of Hakkari on July 9, 2018.
(01/040) Afghan Asylum Seeker Died Due to Not Being Treated…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2019 that, Seyyit Soltan Hüseyini, an Afghan asylum seeker with chronic kidney disease was not treated in the hospital where he went to take dialysis therapy on December 11, 2018, because of not having an identity card. It is stated that Seyyit Soltan Hüseyini died in the emergency service to where he was taken on December 12, 2018 after his condition gets worse.
(01/041) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2019 that prisoners (İsmet Akın, Davut Önder, Sedat Alçiçek, Emrah Ubiç, İsa İpekli and Kerem İmrak) in Kırıkkale F Type Prison who are on an indefinite hunger strike since December 26, 2018; were not given B1 and B12 vitamins. It is also stated in the news reports that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against prisoners on hunger strike and prisoners were prevented from communication rights.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that prisoners in Alanya L Type Prison who are on hunger strike were not given lemon, salt and sugar.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that prisoners in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 2 who are on hunger strike were not given B1 and B12 vitamins.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that, the wardens search the wards of and seize the belongings of prisoners in Antep L Type Prison who are on hunger strike.
(01/042) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that 4 prisoners in Alanya L Type Prison went on an indefinite hunger strike on January 5, 2019, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. The names of prisoners are: Mesut Canbey, Ramazan Sayan, Nevin Gökçe and Zelal Başboğa.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that 3 prisoners in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison went on an indefinite hunger strike on January 5, 2019 for the same cause. The names of prisoners are: İnan Akın, Harun Kaya and Yusuf Budak.
(01/043) Prevention of Prisoner’s Right to Condolence…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that Lokman Akbaba, a prisoner kept in Diyarbakır T Type Prison No 1, was prevented by Diyarbakır Court of Execution from attending to condolence service for his father İbrahim Akbaba, on the grounds of “not being able to provide security”.
İbrahim Akbaba, who was kept in Edirne F Type Prison, joined the trial of the case against him on December 28, 2018, via sound and vision system and died due to heart attack he had during the trial.
(01/044) Prisoner’s Letter is Seized…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that People’s Democratic Party (HDP) former co-chair who is kept in Edirne F Type Prison wrote a letter to his spouse and the letter is seized by Letter Control Committee on the grounds of “involving expressions that discriminate and humiliate a section of the public, that provoke and praise and justify actions presented in penal institutions and courtrooms”.
(01/045) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on January 4, 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. With the last rejection, it was the 93rd time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected since September 11, 2016.
(01/046) Coercion to Uniforms and Reactions Against This…
The press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on January 5, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police. It is reported that 3 people (Bengisu Demirel, Taylan Sungur and Deniz Aydın) were detained in police intervention.
(01/047) 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 719th time on January 5, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including parliament members, 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. The police prevented the march too, thus, the group had a sit-in protest and made a press declaration there. It is learned that the police prevented the journalists reporting on the press declaration as well.
(01/048) 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 789 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 4, 5, and 6, 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 January 4, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Acun Karadağ) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 5, 2019, 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Acun Karadağ) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 6, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Acun Karadağ) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Alev Şahin) were detained.
Thus in total 13 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 4, 5, and 6, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/049) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on January 4, 2019, and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 70th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(01/050) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 354th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prisons Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on January 5, 2019, is prevented by the police. Human rights defenders who attempt to march to Galatasaray Square from IHD office are prevented by the police and made a press declaration in front of IHD office.
(01/051) Gendarmerie Intervention Against Residents’ Protest in Manisa…
It is learned that from the news coverage of January 6, 2019 that, the gendarmerie intervened into the residents of Hacıbektaşlı village in Salihli district of Manisa, who protest attempts of geothermal power plant construction at the village and the picket of villagers was removed by the gendarmerie. It is reported that nobody was detained due to intervention.
(01/052) Detained Executive and Member of HDP in Adana…
HDP Party Assembly member Abdulselam Demirkıran and HDP member Uğur Bayrak, who were detained on January 3, 2019 at Adana Police Headquarters where they have been to give official statement through an investigation against them, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on January 4, 2019. The investigation was initiated because of the 2-day hunger strike held at HDP’s Adana office to support HDP Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Leyla Güven’s hunger strike.
5 people were detained on December 30, 2018 through the same investigation in Adana, and they were released on judicial control conditions on January 2, 2019.
(01/053) HDP’s MP Candidate Detained in Urfa…
18 people including HDP’s Urfa MP candidate Yağmur Dalgıç and Urfa municipal council member Esra Güler, who were detained in Ceylanpınar district of Urfa, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on January 4, 2019. The names of detained people: Yağmur Dalgıç, Esra Güler, Cemile Dağtekin, Fethi Ötken, Mehmet Ali Asan, Veysi Beken, Harun Dağtekin, Çetin İsi, Mizgin Aslan, Mehmet Özkan, Mustafa Şahin, İbrahim Polat, Elif Bozan, Yaşar Karaman, Ali Akın, Serdar Kırdan, Mehmet Çelebi and Haki Fırat.
(01/054) Mayor Candidate is Arrested in Zonguldak for ‘Insulting the President’…
Cevdet Aldağ, mayor candidate of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) for Karaman town of Zonguldak for the local elections to be held on March 31, 2019, is detained on January 6, 2019 for ‘insulting the President’. Cevdet Aldağ is arrested by the court on the same day.
(01/055) Detained DBP Executive in Istanbul…
On January 5, 2019, 5 people including Servet Ataklı, Küçükçekmece district co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), are detained in house raids in Istanbul. The names of detainees are: Servet Ataklı, Erhan Alkan, Muazzez Aygün, Resul Akkaya and Ercan Üskaş.
(01/056) Detained Musicians in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that 3 musicians (Ali Can Temel, Mesut Diril and Abdullah Sar) who perform at wedding celebrations, are detained in house raids in Viranşehir district of Urfa. The reason for detention is unknown.
(01/057) Detained Person in Urfa for Social Media Posts…
On January 6, 2019, 1 person (Müslüm Bayram) is detained in Urfa for social media posts.
(01/058) Executive of DBP on Trial…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2019 that, the indictment of Adana Public Prosecutor’s Office against Hasan Kocaman, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Adana deputy co-chair, for his expressions “Fascism of the Palace” in the declaration on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is accepted by Adana Penal Court of First Instance No 27. The indictment demands Hasan Kocaman to be sentenced for ‘publicly degrading The Republic of Turkey government ‘according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code. It is reported that the first trial will be held on February 27, 2019.
(01/059) Police Officer on Trial in Mersin for Death of Feray Şahin…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2019 that Penal Department No 4 of Adana Regional Court approved the 5 years and 3 months’ sentence given by Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 5 to police officer Fatih Burak Aykut, for ‘reckless killing’ of university student Feray Şahin on September 19, 2017 in Mersin. It is reported that the court decided to release the defendant police officer with a ban on leaving the country. It is learned that Feray Şahin’s family will appeal to the Supreme Court.
(01/060) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 4, 2019, 32 people including military members on active duty are detained through an Ankara based investigation against Naval Forces personnel; 42 people are detained in operations covering 11 cities through an Istanbul based investigation; 22 people are detained in operations covering 26 cities through a Konya based investigation; 8 people are detained in operations covering 3 cities through a Kayseri based investigation; and 7 military members are detained in operations covering 5 cities through an Erzincan based investigation.
Mehmet Gelen, the person who was detained by National Intelligence Service in Azerbaijan and was taken to Turkey on December 29, 2018, is arrested by the court on January 4, 2019.
11 of 23 people including military members on active duty who were detained through a Konya based investigation, are arrested by the court on January 4, 2019.
On January 5, 2019, 13 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 7 cities through a Trabzon based investigation; and 1 person is detained in a house raid in Trabzon.
(01/061) Police Raid to HDP’s Mardin Office…
The police raided HDP’s Mardin office on January 5, 2019. It is learned that stickers about HDP’s Hakkari MP and DTK co-chair Leyla Güven’s hunger strike, which was banned by Antalya Court of Peace No 4, and other printed material about Leyla Güven were seized by the police.
(01/063) Labor Killings…
Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 126 workers including 1 child, 14 women, and 4 asylum seekers died while working in December 2018. According to ISIG data at least 1923 workers died due to labor killings/labor accidents within 2018.
(01/064) Allegation of Forbiddance of Speaking Kurdish in Army…
It is claimed in the news reports of January 4, 2019 that in a military post in Mamak district of Ankara, the company commander said to soldiers on compulsory military service “You cannot speak Kurdish here. It is forbidden to speak Kurdish. This is Turkish Armed Forces this is the Republic of Turkey. You cannot speak any language other than Turkish”.
[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.