MENU
HOMEPAGE ABOUT HRFT PROJECTS REPORTS PRESS RELEASES SCIENTIFIC STUDIES DOCUMENTATION
x

08 November 2018 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

08 November 2018 Daily Human Rights Report

(11/089) Prisoner Died in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that Burhan Karatay (67), a prisoner with cardiac disease had a heart attack and died in Giresun E Type Closed Prison.

It is stated in the news reports that Burhan Karatay told his son five months ago that he should have angiography but the prison administration did not give permission for it.

(11/090) Allegation of Kidnapping in Diyarbakır…

It is claimed on the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly member Hüsamettin Tanrıkulu was taken into a civilian car by a person claiming to be a police officer saying “you have to give official statement”, on October 29, 2018 in Diyarbakır. It is reported that Hüsamettin Tanrıkulu was kept in the car for 2 hours and was asked about HDP; the police saying “If you side by us nothing will happen to you” and “We could be friends with you; we could be brothers” forced him to be a police informant before letting him go.

(11/091) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that 5 children in Diyarbakır Juvenile Prison were subjected to physical violence by a warden on November 1, 2018. It is claimed in the news reports that the warden attempted to stroke F.T. (16, m). It is reported that children’s lawyer made an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office.

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that female prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison No 2 were threatened by the soldier in charge who told them “You need to be killed. You need to be shot at the head. You are terrorist”, and that the prisoners were subjected to strip search at the entrance of prison.

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that prisoners kept in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison are not using their visit rights to protest the violations they are subjected to such as dirty tap water, unhygienic food, not being transferred to hospitals.

People’s Law Office made a declaration on November 7, 2018 and announced that their client Güven Usta was transferred under coercion from İzmir Şakran Prison to Kırıklar F Type Prison No 1.

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that 10 female prisoners in Diyarbakır E Type Prison including journalist Kibriye Evren, are faced with disciplinary proceedings on the grounds of singing Kurdish songs in wards on November 1, 2018. The names of the prisoners are: Sinem Ateş, Songül Aşıla, Selma Yılmaz, Menduha Polat, Arzu Karaman, Leyla Yıldız, Edanur Bazancir, Kibriye Evren, Kumri Tokay and Müslime Kalkan.

(11/092) Critically Ill Prisoners…

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that Sise Bingöl (85), an ill prisoner kept in Tarsus T Type Closed Prison, is taken to Mersin University Hospital on November 2, 2018 due to critical health situation. It is stated in the news reports that Bingöl’s daughter Hasbike Kızmaz applied to Mersin Public Prosecutor’s Office to attend on her mother at the hospital, and she was permitted to visit her mother only once a week.

It is learned from the news coverage of November 7, 2018 that Fatma Tokmak, a prisoner with cardiac disease in Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison was taken to Bakırköy Sadi Konuk Research and Education Hospital on November 6, 2018 due to critical health situation.

(11/093) 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 729 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on November 7, 2018 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 November 7, 2018, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Dersulu and Derviş Lermi) were detained.

Thus in total 6 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on November 7, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

(11/094) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Front of CHP Headquarters in Ankara…

Mehmet Dersulu, who was making a sit-in protest to support Mahir Kılıç, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality worker who was dismissed and started a protest in front of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Headquarters in Ankara, is detained in a police intervention.

(11/095) Detentions in Ağrı…

15 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) district executive Menduh Aydın, are detained in house raids in Tutak district of Ağrı on November 7, 2018. The reason for detention is unknown. The names of detainees known so far are: Menduh Aydın, Nurettin Duran, Bedir Elbi, Menderes Elbi, İlyas Efe, Vedat Turgut, Cevdet Bilici, Mehmet Durak, Abdurrahman Demirel, Menav Yıldırım, Metin Yıldırım, Enver Kutluay and Yaşar Duran.

(11/096) Police Raid to Revolutionary Party’s Istanbul Office…

Istanbul office of Revolutionary Party in Kadıköy is raided by the police on November 6, 2018. It is learned that the police seized computers and serval documents. It is also reported that 1 member of Revolutionary Party is detained.

(11/097) SGDF Member is Detained in Istanbul for ‘Insulting the President’…

Mazlum Aydın, a member of Socialist Youth Associations Federation is detained in front of his house in Nurtepe district of Istanbul on November 7, 2018, on the grounds of ‘insulting the president’.

(11/098) Teacher is Detained for ‘Insulting Atatürk’…

Teacher Harun K., who is alleged to say “Take this down, he’s looking at me like a traitor”, referring to the picture of Atatürk in a classroom that he lectures in Şehit Çetin Çakmak Religious Vocational High School in Kepez district of Antalya, is detained on November 7, 2018. Harun K. is released by the court on judicial control conditions on the same day.

(11/099) HDP MP on Trial…

The case against HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven, who was elected on June 24, 2018, is held on November 7, 2018 on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9. Leyla Güven rejected to be in handcuffs in the court room, thus she joined to the trial via sound and vision system. It is learned from the news reports that Lars Arslan Rasmussen, The Social Democratic Party MP from Denmark, who was there to follow the trial was not allowed in the court house.

Leyla Güven stated in her defence that she is going on an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The court decided to continue detention of Leyla Güven and adjourned the trial to December 26, 2018.

Leyla Güven was detained in a house raid on January 22, 2018, on the grounds of her declaration about Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin and her activities in Democratic Society Congress (DTK), and was arrested on January 21, 2018.

Leyla Güven was released on June 29, 2018, however the decision of release was reversed by a higher court upon objection of the prosecutor’s office.

(11/100) The Case Against Co-Mayor…

Gaziantep Regional Court reversed the 10 years’ sentence given to Siirt co-mayor Tuncer Bakırhan by Siirt Heavy Penal Court No 2, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.

(11/101) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The case against 2 academicians (Lecturer Deniz Parlak from Kemerburgaz University and Assist. Professor Dilşa Deniz from Nişantaşı University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on November 7, 2018. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Deniz Parlak to February 13, 2019 and the trial of the case against Dilşa Deniz to January 30, 2019.

The separate cases against 2 academicians (Lecturer Ayşegün Soysal and PhD Melike Acar from Boğaziçi University) for the same reason, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 27 is held on November 7, 2018. The court adjourned both of the trials to January 30, 2019.

The case against Sarpan Uzunoğlu from Kadir Has University for the same reason, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on November 7, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to March 6, 2019.

(11/102) Human Rights Defenders on Trial…

The case on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 against 11 human rights defenders is held on November 7, 2018.

The indictment demands 15 years of jail sentence for 11 human rights defenders on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘not being a member of but committing crime on behalf of the illegal organisation’. Lawyer Taner Kılıç, Amnesty International Turkey Chair, who has been arrested for another case on June 2017 was also put in the defendants of this case.

After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 21, 2019.

10 human rights defenders were detained during a meeting in Istanbul Büyükada on July 5, 2017. Human rights defenders for whom detention period was extended to 14 days, were referred to the court on July 12, 2017. The court arrested Amnesty International Turkey Director İdil Eser, Özlem Dalkıran from Citizens Assembly, Günal Kurlun and Veli Acu from Human Rights Agenda Association, Ali Garawi (citizen of Switzerland) and Peter Steudtner (citizen of Germany) and released İlknur Üstün from Women’s Coalition, Nalan Ekrem from Citizens Assembly, Nejat Taştan from Association for Monitoring Equal Rights and Şeyhmus Özbekli from Rights Initiative on juridical control conditions.

On July 21, upon the prosecutor’s office’s objection to the release, a detention warrant was issued for four of the human rights defenders. İlknur Üstün and Nalan Ekrem were arrested on July 23, 2017, and Nejat Taştan and Şeyhmus Özbekli were released on juridical control conditions.

On the first trial of the case which was held on October 25, 2017 eight human rights defenders were released on control conditions. Taner Kılıç was released on August 15, 2018, by an interim decision of the court in regular case review.

(11/103) The Case of Sözcü Newspaper…

The case against Burak Akbay, grant holder of Sözcü newspaper; Mediha Olgun, news director of www.sozcu.com.tr portal; Yonca Yücekaleli, finance director and reporter Gökmen Ulu, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on November, 2018. After defence hearings the court rejected the demand for lifting the ban on leaving the country for Mediha Olgun and Gökmen Ulu, and adjourned the trial to March 12, 2019.

On May 19, 2017, a detention warrant has been issued through “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation/Parallel State Structure Investigations”, for Burak Akbay, Mediha Olgun, Gökmen Ulu and Yonca Yücekaleli. Gökmen Ulu and Mediha Olgun have been arrested by the court on May 26, 2017. Mediha Olgun was released on September 22, Gökmen Ulu was released on November 9, 2017 on juridical control conditions.

The indictment of the case is based on a news report “Sözcü Found Erdoğan” by Gökmen Ulu, published on July 15, 2016, and stated that the news report “leads the way, calls on to the planned assassination against President and paves the way for it”.

(11/104) SGDF Co-chair on Trial…

The final trial of the case against Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) co-chair Ceren Çoban, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court, for her declaration about Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is held on November 7, 2018. The court sentenced Ceren Çoban 1 year 8 months.

(11/105) US Consulate Translator on Trial…

The case against Hamza Uluçay, who works as a translator for the US Consulate in Adana, on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 is held on November 7, 2018. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention and adjourned the trial to January 9, 2019.

Hamza Uluçay was detained on February 23, 2017 and was released by the court on juridical control conditions. Upon the objection made by the prosecutor’s office Hamza Uluçay was arrested.

(11/106) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On November 7, 2018, 19 people are detained in operations covering 14 cities through a Kayseri based investigation; 14 people are detained in operations covering 11 cities through a Manisa based investigation.

18 of 35 people who were detained through an Ankara based investigation on Turkish Land Forces personnel, are arrested by the court on November 7, 2018. 17 people are released on judicial control conditions.

12 of 17 people detained through a Kayseri based investigation are arrested by the court on November 7, 2018. 5 people are released on judicial control conditions.

(11/107) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

The final trial of the case against former ambassador Ali Fındık on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 29 is held on November 29, 2018. The court sentenced Ali Fındık to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.

(11/108) Curfew in Lice…

Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on November 7, 2018 and announced curfew in 19 villages and 54 hamlets of Lice district as of 06.00 on November 7, 2018 until further notice. The villages and hamlet under curfew are: Yalımlı, Mahmutlu, Akçabudak, Ulucak, Örtülü, Saydamlı, Kılıçlı, Yorulmaz, Güldiken, Bayırlı, Baharlar, Üçdamlar, Erginköy, Yamaçlı, Yaprakköy, Kıralan, Dernek, Gürbeyli and Yünlüce villages; Leyhosor, Tahtakülek, Ballıca, Mahmudan, Hevsel, Yeniyazı, Hij, Gözeli, Dergan, Alıçlıyayla, Buban, Vilu, Arpacık, Karadere, Sivritepe, Kilimli, Kaynaktaşı, Dokuzkat, Aliyan, Abdurrahmanağa, Gelberi, Eskiköy, Hegogozer, Semezi, Bilgin, Koçmarin, Yaka, Karaç, Kumımirza, Mehmedil, Sağlık, Körtan, Körha, Silkito, Hamzabey, Kayadibi, Baverda, Aşağıhodik, Konuklu, Yeşilburç, Sumaklı, Zıraht, Acımeşe, Muradiye, Mengusi, Puneyn, Çalıbükü, Kijikbadem, Kumluca, Perpank, Sıkas, Gucik and Yıldız hamlets.

[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.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.

[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT

[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari

[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.