11-20 July 2015 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/074) Persons on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 8 July 2015, a court case was launched against 17 persons for the expressions used on banners against the State President in connection with the bribery and corruption allegations during a protest staged on 20 December 2014 in İlkadım district of Samsun.
The indictment wants 4 defendants for shouting slogans “Thief, Murderer Erdoğan”, 13 defendants for carrying banners saying “Chase off Thieves, Murderers, Bigots” to be sentenced according to the Article 299 TPC. The court did not suspend the sentence. Samsun Penal Court of First Instance No 2 will start to hear the case.
(07/075) Lawyer Convicted for of Insulting the State President…
Lawyer Umut Kılıç, registered to Afyonkarahisar Bar Association, was arrested on 21 April 2015 for the expressions s/he used against the State President at the oral examination of Ministry of Justice for recruiting judges. A court case was launched against Umut Kılıç on 27 April 2015 upon permission of the Ministry of Justice. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced according to the Article 299 TPC for “insulting State President”.
Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 32 concluded on 13 July 2015 to hear the case and sentenced the defendant to 1 year and 6 months’ imprisonment. The court sentenced Umut Kılıç also under the Article 125 TPC to 1 year 10 months and 15 days’ imprisonment for “insulting public officer”.
(07/076) Protesters on Trial…
Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 7 concluded on 13 July 2015 to hear the case against 6 persons launched in connection with a public announcement staged to protest in the operations conducted in Eskişehir in connection with a DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) investigation.
After the final defence, the court acquitted the defendants Hatice Yüksel, Zeynel Danacı, Süleyman Yiğiter, İbrahim Serkan Türkmen, Özge Aras ve Ferdi İşçi on the grounds that the elements of crime were not materialised. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced for “praising crime and criminals” and “violating Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
(07/077) Hasan Ferit Gedik Trial…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued on 13 July 2015 to hear the case concerning the killing of Hasan Ferit Gedik on 30 September 2013 during the armed attack by drug dealers against the members of People’s Front in Gülsuyu quarter of Maltepe district in İstanbul. 35 defendants including 11 remanded defendants are on trial for being involved in the incidents on 28-29-30 September 2013.
After the testimonies of the defendants at the close hearing, the court decided to release one of the defendants to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
The police intervened a group of protesters before the hearing in front of the Court House and detained 3 persons.
(07/078) Protest Intervened in Ağrı…
On 13 July 2015 in Kanikork and Şexxuli villages of Doğubayazıt district in Ağrı, military troops intervened villagers when they wanted to march to protest in the recent military operations. 14 villagers were detained during the intervention.
(07/079) Impunity in Torture Investigation…
According to the news appeared in the press on 14 July 2015, Public Prosecutor in Eskişehir took the decision not to prosecute in connection with the official complaint of 30 persons. The complainants alleged that they were subjected to ill-treatment and torture during Gezi Park demonstrations in Eskişehir. Despite the complainants identified the police officers and provided serial numbers of the police officers, the Public Prosecutor took the decision on the grounds that “there were incidents of torture, but was not systematic”.
(07/080) Protesters on Trial in Antalya…
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 July 2015, Antalya Penal Court of First Instance No 15 concluded to hear the case against 10 persons launched in connection with a demonstration staged on 11 March 2014 in Antalya to protest in the killing of Berkin Elvan who was shot with a tear gas canister during Gezi Park demonstrations.
The court sentenced 4 defendants to 6 months’ imprisonment. The remaining 6 defendants were acquitted. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
(07/081) Protesters on Trial in İstanbul…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance continued on 9 July 2015 to hear the case against 15 persons launched in connection with a protest staged on 10 November 2014 in İstanbul. The police intervened by using tear gas and rubber bullets the demonstration staged to protest against cutting down of trees in Validebağ Grove in Üsküdar district of İstanbul and the construction in the grove. 15 persons were detained during the intervention.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “resisting security forces”.
After the testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to 18 September 2015 for the continuation of the testimonies.
(07/082) Newspaper Distributors Detained in İstanbul…
The police detained İlker Dönmez, Ece Ünsal and Gürkan Abuşka who were distributing the weekly newspaper of Kadıköy Municipality and Sergen Kay who was selling the daily Birgün on 10 July 2015 in front of Eminönü ferry port in Kadıköy district of İstanbul. The distributors were reportedly detained under beatings.
(07/083) Person Beaten by the Police…
Public bus driver Ahmet Can Hilaloğlu was reportedly beaten by police officers after having a dispute with another driver for blowing horn. According to the news appeared in the press, the owner of the vehicle was a police officer who was in plain clothes. Police officers also came on the scene. Both the owner of the vehicle and police officers beat the driver.
(07/084) House Raids in Mersin…
The police conducted house raids on 10 July 2015 in Akdeniz district of Mersin and detained 9 persons including one child. The reason of the operations was not disclosed.
(07/085) House Raids in Van…
4 persons who were among 8 persons detained during house raids conducted in Edremit and İpekyol districts of Van were arrested on 10 July 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(07/086) House Raids in Muş…
10 persons who were detained during house raids conducted against members of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in Bulanık, Varto and Malazgirt districts of Muş were arrested on 10 July 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(07/087) Nezir Tekçi Case…
Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1 continued on 10 July 2015 to hear the case against retired Colonel Ali Osman Akın and active Lieutenant Colonel Kemal Alkan launched on charges of ordering the killing of Nezir Tekçi.
The court adjourned the hearing to 11 September 2015 for final decision. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for ordering the killing of Nezir Tekçi for not revealing information on PKK militants and exploding his body with a land mine.
Nezir Tekçi had been detained on 26 April 1995 in Yekmal (Aşağı Ölçek) village of Yüksekova district in Hakkari by the soldiers from Bolu 5th Commando Brigade and had disappeared since then. He had been allegedly killed by soldiers for not providing information about PKK militants in the region.
His father Halit Tekçe made the first official complaint concerning the disappearance in 1997 and Military Prosecutor in Van decided not to prosecute on 15 December 1997.
In 2010, the investigation restarted upon testimony of Yunus Şahin who was serving for compulsory military service on the day of the incident and witnessed the killing of Nezir Tekçi. Meanwhile upon official complaint by his family, a court case was launched against the soldiers in September 2011. But the case was transferred to Eskişehir for security reasons.
(07/088) Hate Crime in Bursa…
An Alewite family was attacked by a group on 14 July 2015 in Kestelli district of Bursa for nor fasting during Ramadan. The family was attacked when they wanted to buy ice cream in a public park. The father Daimi Gül still has risk of death.
(07/089) Killing by Unidentified Assailants in Ardahan…
According to the news appeared in the press, a vehicle was caught between two fires on 12 July 2015 nearby Gundik village of Göle district in Ardahan. A vehicle of Göle municipality was reportedly set to fire and soldiers conducted an operation against PKK militants. During the alleged clash between soldiers and militants, Kanber Morkoç (65) was shot to death in the vehicle; Sabri Morkoç and Altan Akın were wounded.
According to the eyewitnesses, gendarmerie soldiers opened fire against the vehicle, but Ardahan Governor made an officially announced that the attack was organised by PKK militants.
(07/090) Protesters Attacked in Rize…
Gendarmerie soldiers attacked the villagers on 11 July 2015 in Yukarı Kavrun highland in Çamlıhemşin district of Rize when the villagers prevented the construction machines to protest in the “Green Road Project”.
The soldiers reportedly beat the women who stood in front of the construction machines.
(07/091) Protesters on Trial…
According to the news appeared in the press on 12 July 2015, a court case was launched against 258 persons who staged a demonstration on 7 March 2015 to protest in the visit of former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Eskişehir. The police dispersed the protesters by using tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “insulting public officer”, “resisting security forces” and ”damaging public property”. Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 7 rejected the indictment, but upon objection of the Public Prosecutor the court decided to hear the case.
(07/092) Armed Attack and Extra-judicial Execution Allegations in Siirt…
Police officer Bünyamin Torğut was wounded when persons allegedly opened fire against a control point on 7 July 2015 on Eruh-Siirt road.
After the attack, one person ran away and Şerafettin Özekinci who was unarmed in the vehicle was allegedly beaten by the police. Şerafettin Özekinci alleged that the run-away person shot the police officer. 7 persons were detained in connection with the attack and 2 detainees were arrested.
(07/093) Child Convicted in Şanlıurfa…
Suruç (Şanlıurfa) Penal Court of First Instance concluded on 7 July 2015 to hear the case against 2 children launched for writing “Kobanê”, “Biji” and “YPG” on the walls of a school in Bostancılar village of Suriç district in Şanlıurfa.
After the final defence, the court sentenced O.E. (17) to 6 months 20 days’ imprisonment for “damaging public property”. The court acquitted the other defendant H.O. (13) for “not being conscious of committed crime”. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(07/094) House Raids in Diyarbakır…
The police conducted house raids on 15 July 2015 in Silvan district of Diyarbakır and detained 17 persons on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(07/095) 1 May Demonstrators on Trial…
İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 2 started on 15 July 2015 to hear the case against 10 persons launched in connection with the incidents during 1 May celebrations on 1 May 2015 in İzmir. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “being member of an illegal organisation”.
After the members and activists of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) testified at the hearing, the court decided to release remanded defendants Fırat Gencer, Hüseyin Kaya, Murat Demir, Hatip Azizoğlu, Halil Akan, Mahir Yalçın, Muhammet Kaya, Azad Göçer, Agit Sağlamcan and Mihran Çelikbaş taking into account the time they spent during pre-trial detention. And the hearing was adjourned to a later date.
(07/096) Person Arrested in İstanbul…
The street musician Taylan Atar who was detained under beatings in Kadıköy district of İstanbul was arrested on 15 July 2015 on the allegations of “resisting security forces”.
(07/097) Persons Detained in Diyarbakır…
The police conducted house raids on 16 July 2015 in Diyarbakır and detained 4 persons including one child on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(07/098) Killing by Unidentified Assailants in Şırnak…
University student Murat Çevrim (25) was shot to death by unidentified persons on 15 July 2015 in Rîzok village of İdil district in Şırnak. According to the news appeared in the press, Murat Çevrim was shot when he opened the house door and the persons asked him whether his father was at home. The attackers also opened fire against a vehicle and wounded 2 persons.
(07/099) Street Peddlers Beaten by Municipality Police Officers…
Municipality police officers reportedly beat street peddlers Hamit Mendil and Gökhan Mendil on 12 July 2015 Çapa quarter of in Fatih district in İstanbul. According news appeared in the press, street peddlers and municipality police officers had a dispute when Hamit Mendil was fined. Hamit Mendil announced that he was street peddler for the last 20 years and regularly paid his occupancy tax. He added that they were attacked when he objected the fine.
(07/100) Killing by Unidentified Assailants in Tunceli…
Ali Doğan Firik (58) was reportedly killed on 16 July 2015 b unidentified persons when he was grazing nearby Hozat district of Tunceli. Ali Doğan Firik was previously convicted for “being member of an illegal organisation”. TKP/ML TİKKO (Turkish Communist Party/Marxist Leninist Liberation Army of the Workers and Peasants of Turkey) made an announcement and claimed the killing.
(07/101) Persons Convicted in Adıyaman…
Adıyaman Heavy Penal Court No 1 reportedly concluded on 9 July 2015 to hear the case against 6 persons launched for shouting slogan “Long Live YPG” during a meeting of Peoples’ Democratic Party on 25 January 2015 in Adıyaman.
The court sentenced the defendants Abuzer Küçükşahin, Serhad Buğdaycı, Lütfü Yoldaş, Zafer Polattaş, Ali Rıza Oğuz and Abuzer Yar to one year’s imprisonment for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(07/102) Condition of Prisoners…
According to the news appeared in the press on 17 July 2015, Kemal Özelmalı (51) incarcerated in Kürkçüler (Adana) F-type Prison and suffering Wernicke-Korsakoff disease lost his memory and cannot fulfil his needs in prison without help of his cellmates.