Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
10 May 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/078) Person Kidnapped in Istanbul…
It is claimed on the news coverage of May 9, 2018 that a person named Adem was kidnapped by the police in 1 Mayıs neighbourhood in Ataşehir district of Istanbul. It is learned from the news reports that 4 undercover police officers got off an armoured vehicle called “scorpion” and forced a person waiting at the bus station to get in the vehicle, and this person shouted that his name is Adem.
(05/079) A Private Soldier Claimed to be Lynched in Ağrı…
It is claimed on the news coverage of May 9, 2018 that, Fikret Aydemir, a private soldier on compulsory military service in Ağrı, was lynched because of singing in Kurdish. HDP Van MP Lezgin Botan, shared the following on the incident on his social media posts: “Private soldier Fikret Aydemir, on his compulsory service in Fehmi Altınordu Station of Squadron No 9 in Ağrı, is lynched by military officers for singing in Kurdish and left to Iğdır Public Hospital. He is now struggling for his life. We are expecting an explanation from The Ministry of Defence”. It is also learned that Lezgin Botan submitted a parliamentary question for The Ministry of Interior.
HDP Iğdır MP Mehmet Emin Adıyaman, visited Fikret Aydemir in hospital and stated in the news report that, Fikret Aydemir says “Two soldiers were bullying me for a while. When I went to the mess one of them tripped me up. We had a fight there and they beat me up. I do not know why they threaten me all the time”.
(05/080) People on Trial in Muğla…
The case against 15 people including 13 arrestees, about the incidents happened in Köyceğiz and Seydikemer districts on October 4, 5, and 6, 2017, where 6 people alleged to be HPG militants were killed, on Muğla Heavy Penal Court No 2, for ‘aiding an illegal organisation on purpose’, ‘resisting to the officers in order to prevent’, ‘providing weapons to illegal organisations’, ‘human trafficking’, is held on May 9, 2018.
It is learned that 13 arrested defendants were brought to the court, while Tahir Şenlik and Senar Şenlik who were not arrested were not present. Families of defendants and press without press credentials were not allowed into the court room.
It is learned that defendants Ekrem Altay and Velat Aşan, did not give any official statement in trial, as a reaction to no legal actions on their naked photographs being provided to media in a way violating their personal rights and humiliating them. After defence hearings the court acquitted İsmail Bozdağ, Mustafa Yiğirer, Adnan Yiğirer and Bahtiyar Şenlik, and decided to continue detention for other arrested defendants. The court adjourned the trial to August 9, 2018.
(05/081) People Sued in Istanbul…
It is learned from news coverage of May 9, 2018 that, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared the indictment through the investigation on 34 people including Celalettin Can, 78′ Generation Association spokesperson and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) party assembly member. The indictment states that People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) is established in the direction of Abdullah Öcalan, and implies that HDP’s activities are evidence of criminal actions.
(05/082) Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Case…
The case on death of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş, who was hit by a car during the march on Trans-European Motorway in Ümraniye, during Gezi Park protests, on Istanbul Anatolian Heavy Penal Court No 8 is held on May 9, 2018. Mehmet Görkem, a defendant without arrest, attended the trial. The court rejected the demand for re-investigation of the crime scene, but accepted the demand of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş’s family’s lawyers for renewal of expertise report. The court also rejected the demand of arrestment for defendants and adjourned the trial to September 24, 2018.
(05/083) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of May 9, 2018 that Tekin Bingöl, CHP deputy for human rights, made a report on violations in prisons.
According to the report, the total number of people in prisons raised by 285%; the right to health of prisoners are prevented due to lack of adequate physicians and medical staff, and coercion to medical examination with handcuffs; several types of torture and ill-treatment including physical violence, sexual harassment and threat of harassment, electric shock and pressurized water etc. are being widely used; and communication rights of prisoners are prevented as well.
The report also states that 3432 prisoners died in prisoners in last 16 years; 1154 ill prisoners are still kept in prisons and 357 of those are in serious conditions and should be released immediately; and the number of women prisoners who are kept with their children is almost 600.
(05/084) Detentions and Arrests…
It is learned from news coverage of May 9, 2018 that Atiye Eren, former central executive board member of HDP and 1 woman are detained in house raids in Ankara. It is reported that 2 women were detained on the grounds that they support hunger strikes in prisons in 2017, and that they were taken to Ankara Police Headquarters. It is learned that 8 people are sought by the police for the same reason.
It is learned that 5 people including Democratic Regions Party Gevaş district co-chair Bülent Aydın are detained in house raids in Bahçesaray and Gevaş districts of Van on May 9, 2018. The names of detainees are: DBP Gevaş district co-chair Bülent Aydın, Turan Varol, Sertip Sezer, Ehdinur Elbir and Fahrettin Ağbal.
It is learned from news coverage of May 9, 2018 that 4 of 20 people who were detained in Izmir on May 2, 2018 are arrested by the court. It is stated that 8 people (6 of them on juridical control conditions) are released after procedures at the prosecutor’s office, and 8 of 12 people who were referred to the court, are released on juridical control conditions and ban on leaving the country. The names of arrested people are: Hakkı Kızıl, Cengiz Karakuş, Şerif Eşit and Mehmet Acar.
A person named Ö. Ş., who was detained on May 9, 2018 in İskenderun district of Hatay, for social media posts is arrested by the court for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
It is learned that a person named Ramazan H. who was detained on May 9, 2018 in Kırıkhan district of Hatay, is arrested by the court.
(05/085) 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 for a while to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 9, 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 May 9, 2018, 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt, İlker Işık and Derviş Lermi) and at 18.00 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Simge Aksan, İlker Işık and Derviş Lermi) were detained.
Thus in total 8 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 10, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(05/086) Elections on June 24, 2018…
The police prevented the march for “Tamam” organized by Labour and Democracy Platform in Avcılar district of Istanbul on May 9, 2018. The group started a sit-in protest in front of Earthquake Memorial. It is learned that the police intervened the group and detained 8 people, and took them to Avcılar Central Police Station.
Upon AKP chair and President Tayyip Erdoğan’s expressions in caucus, “The nation brought us here. If they say ‘Tamam’ [‘enough’ in Turkish] we step aside”, “TAMAM” became a motto for thousands of people on social media.
(05/087) ESP Chair and Other People on Trial…
The case against 4 people including Çiçek Otlu, and Fadime Çelebi, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) chair and deputy chair, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 is held on May 9, 2018. ESP chair Çiçek Otlu attended the trial from Sincan Prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention and adjourned the trial to September 27, 2018.
(05/088) HDP and DBP Members and Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 21 members and executives of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including 14 arrestees is held on May 9, 2018. After defence hearings, the court released Mevlüt Aykoç, Rıdvan Döner, Mehmet Şirin Akyol and Mehmet Şah Güneş on juridical control conditions, and decided to continue detention for Eşref Yaşar, Güven Pınar, Ahmet Sağınç, Enver Sönmez, Ercan Doğru, Aygül Turhan, Mustafa Elma, Abdullah Geldi, Haydar Ergül, Münevver İlingi and Aysel Diler. It is reported that the trial is adjourned to August 9-10, 2018.
On July 28, 2017, 21 people were detained in house raids in Istanbul, and 14 people were arrested on August 11, 2017.
(05/089) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
It is learned that 2 people (A. K. and B. C.) are detained based on a warrant, by gendarmerie teams on road check in Osmaniye on May 9, 2018.
On May 9, 2018, 9 military members on active duty, 2 dismissed students from military schools and 2 former teachers are detained in operations covering 4 cities through a Çorum based investigation.
In operations covering 10 cities through an Ankara based investigation, 7 former employees of Ministry of Customs and Trade and of Ministry of Youth and Sport are detained on May 9, 2018. It is learned that a detention warrant is issued for 11 people through the same investigation.
It is leaned from news coverage of May 9, 2018 that, 26 of 12 majors on active duty and 20 lieutenants who were detained on April 27, 2018 based on a warrant issued by Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office are arrested.
17 of 20 people who were detained through an Elazığ based investigation on April 26, 2018 are arrested by the court, 3 people are released on juridical control conditions.
(05/090) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The case against 37 defendants for incidents at General Staff Headquarters during July 15 coup attempt, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 17 is held on May 9, 2018. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded heavy life penalty for 252 times for defendants former Air Chief Marshall Akın Öztürk; major generals İlhan Talu, Osman Ünlü, Kubilay Selçuk, Mehmet Dişli; former brigadier generals Ahmet Bircan Kırker, Ali Kalyoncu, Ali Osman Gürcan, Erhan Caha, Gökhan Şahin Sönmezateş, Hakan Evrim, Mehmet Partigöç, Murat Aygün, Özkan Aydoğdu, Ünsal Coşkun; former commodores Ömer Faruk Harmancık, Sinan Sürer, former colonels Ahmet Özçetin, Ali Yazıcı, Bilal Akyüz, Cemil Turhan, Doğan Öztürk, Fırat Alakuş, Muhsin Kutsi Barış, Murat Koçyiğit, Mustafa Barış Avıalan, Muzaffer Düzenli, Orhan Yıkılkan, Osman Kardal, Osman Kılıç, Ramazan Gözel and former lieutenant colonels Ertuğrul Terzi, Halil Gül, Özcan Karacan, Savaş Kabaklı, Turgay Sökmen and Mehmet Şahin, for ‘violating the constitution’, ‘wilful murder’ and ‘assassination attempt to the President’.
The case against members of Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Council of State and High Council of Judges and Prosecutors who have been dismissed and arrested after July 15, coup attempt, on Penal Department No 9 of Supreme Court is held on May 9, 2018. The court released 1 defendant (Halil Çırak) on juridical control conditions and adjourned the trial to September 20, 2018.
The case against Osman Şanal, former chief public prosecutor in Erzincan, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 is held on May, 2018. Osman Şanal was on charge of arrest of CHP MP İlhan Cihaner. The court approved İlhan Cihaner’s demand to intervene the trials, and decided to continue detention of Osman Şanal while adjourning the trial to a further date.
The final trials of the separate cases against 4 people for leaking the questions of Public Personnel Selection Exam in 2010, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on May 9, 2018. The court sentenced 2 defendants (Gülizar Kaynak and Betül Kırsakal) to 6 years and 3 months each for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court also sentenced Betül Kırsakal to 3 years 1 month and 15 days and fine penalty for ‘chain fraud towards public institutions’. The court acquitted 2 defendants.
[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, Yeni Yaşam, 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.