Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
12 July 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(08/126) Suspicious Death of a Soldier in Batman…
It is claimed on the news coverage of July 11, 2018 that, Yasin Yiğit, a private soldier on compulsory military service in Beşiri district of Batman, is shot in the head and killed by another soldier.
(07/127) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that 4 soldiers were injured due to rollover of an armoured military vehicle near Karaağıl village of Bulanık district of Muş on July 11, 2018.
(07/128) Claim of Torture in Antep…
It is learned that Ziynet Sağlam, a person who was captured in Afrin, during military operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Afrin, was subjected to torture in Azez and Antep, where she was taken after being captured. Ziynet Sağlam made a declaration via her lawyers and stated that people who represent themselves as National Intelligence Organisation members, tortured her by strappado, foot whipping, cage, electric shock and so on.
Ziynet Sağlam has been referred to the court in Kilis, 2 months and 20 days after being captured, and arrested by the court for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. Ziynet Sağlam was kept in Kilis Prison for 23 days and then was transferred to Tarsus Women’s Prison. It is reported that Ziynet Sağlam is on hunger strike for 11 days, demanding to stay in wards instead of a single cell.
(07/129) HDP Urfa MP Candidate Being Forced to be Police Informer…
It is claimed on the news coverage of July 11, 2018 that, Özgür Can Altıngül (23) has been forced to be police informer, once before the elections and once after the elections, by people who represent themselves as police officers, and that he was subjected to physical violence and was threatened by being killed.
Özgür Can Altıngül stated in the news report as following: “They pulled me in a car. There were 3 people in the car. They had masks on their faces. They said ‘Tell us what is going on in HDP. You do not need to do anything else. Work for us. Give us names, it is enough. You do not need to worry on anything, we will support you financially’ and forced me to be a police informer. I told them I would not accept it. Then I was subjected to beating and insults. They pushed me off the car in a rural area.”
Altıngül states following, on the second incident happened on June 25, 2018: “They came near to my car and wanted me to bend my head. They told me they were police. And said ‘How many times did we warn you? You do not stop. Do not you think that we would not kill you. We would kill you in such a way that nobody would notice’, and then they put a gun to my head. I told them I would not do what they want. They hit me in the head with the handle of the gun and let me go”.
It is learned that Özgür Can Altıngül made an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office on these incidents.
(07/130) Prevention of Prisoner’s Freedom of Belief…
It is learned from news coverage of July 11, 2018 that Eren Erdem, former MP from CHP who is in Silivri Prison, demanded to be visited by an Alevi spiritual leader (dede), and that his demand was rejected by the prison administration for ‘not being accordance with regulations’. It is claimed that the prison administration responded Eren Erdem’s demand verbally and said “You can demand imam but not dede”. It is reported that an official complaint will be made on this issue.
(07/131) 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 July 11, 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 July 11, 2018, 3 people (Mehmet Dersulu, Mahmut Konuk and Derviş Lermi) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Derviş Lermi and İlker Işık) were detained.
Thus in total 6 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on July 11, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(07/132) Turkish Medical Association Central Council Member Detained in Diyarbakır…
Turkish Medical Association Central Council member physician Halis Yerlikaya is detained by a house raid in Diyarbakır on July 11, 2018. It is reported that the reason for detention is a Siirt based investigation. Halis Yerlikaya is released on juridical control conditions by the court on the same day.
It is learned that houses of some members of The Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services (SES) were also raided, however none of these people were found in houses and detained.
(07/133) Trade Unionist Detained in Mersin…
It is learned that Zeliha Yaman Yavuklu, a member of The Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services (SES), is detained by a house raid for union activities in Mersin on July 11, 2018. It is learned from news coverage that Zeliha Yaman is 3 months pregnant and has a heart disease.
(07/134) Lawyer and Trade Union Members Detained in Siirt…
On July 11, 2018, lawyer Orhan Çelik; Şahin Kayıkçı, a member of Education and Science Workers’ Union; Hatice Kezer and Esra Celile Asi, a member of Union of All Municipality Civil Servants are detained in house raids in Siirt.
(07/135) Gendarmerie Raided a Condolence Room in Diyarbakır…
On July 11, 2018, gendarmerie raided the condolence room in Fera village of Silvan district of Diyarbakır, created by family of Volkan Bayka, a YPG militant died in Syria. It is learned that gendarmerie locked the room, seized the posters of Volkan Bayka, and detained the father Mustafa Bayka, and local headman Ali Bakıcı. It is reported that 2 people were released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office.
(07/136) Soma Case…
The final trial of the case against 51 defendants including 5 arrestees for the labour killing in a mine in Soma district of Manisa on May 13, 2014, where 301 workers died, on Akhisar Heavy Penal Court on July 11, 2018. Can Gürkan, the owner of the mine, is among 5 arrestees.
The court sentenced Can Gürkan, CEO of Soma Coal Enterprises Inc., to 15 years for ‘reckless homicide of more than one person’ and decided to continue detention for him. The court sentenced other 4 arrestees to jail penalties differing from 15 years to 22 years and 6 months. 9 more defendants who were not arrested yet are sentenced to jail penalties differing from 6 years and 3 months to 10 years 10 months. The court acquitted 37 defendants including Alp Gürkan, former CEO of the company.
It is learned that some of the complainants reacted against the verdict, and the courtroom was emptied and the trial was paused upon this.
(07/137) Diyarbakır JITEM / Musa Anter Case…
The consolidated cases of Musa Anter’s killing and JITEM (Gendarmerie Intelligence and Anti-Terror Unit) main case on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 6 is held on July 11, 2018. The court accepted the demands for bringing İsmail Hakkı Pekin, former head of Intelligence Department of Turkish General Staff who stated in news reports that the fugitive defendant Mahmut Yıldırım (Yeşil) is alive and in Turkey and Bedirhan Esenlik, known as “Zakir Selvi” who is alleged to be in relation to “Yeşil” as witnesses of the case. The court adjourned the trial to November 14, 2018.
(07/138) HDP MP on Trial…
The case against Leyla Güven, arrested MP from HDP and DTK (Democratic Society Congress) co-chair, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 is held on July 11, 2018. The court decided to continue detention for Leyla Güven and adjourned the trial to November 4, 2018.
After being elected as MP, lawyers of DTK co-chair Leyla Güven, objected arrestment of her and the court released Leyla Güven upon this objection, based on the fact that all evidence was collected, on June 29, 2018. The prosecutor’s office appealed to the supreme court however, and the release was cancelled the same day.
(07/139) Former HDP MPs on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Erol Dora and Mehmet Emin Adıyaman, former MP’s from HDP, on Kızıltepe Penal Court of First Instance No 3, for ‘opposing the law on meetings and demonstrations’ is held on July 11, 2018. The court sentenced Erol Dora and Mehmet Emin Adıyaman to 15 months and postponed the sentences.
(07/140) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On July 11, 2018, 9 people in Kayseri; 4 people allegedly in an illegal attempt to flee Greece in Marmaris district of Muğla, and 2 people allegedly helping these people; 16 people in operations covering 5 cities through a Malatya based investigation.
(07/141) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against İsmail Yalçın, former air vice-marshal and garrison commander in Kayseri, on Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on July 11, 2018. The court sentenced İsmail Yalçın to heavy life penalty for ‘attempting to change the constitutional order’.
The final trial of the case against 16 people including colonel Yurdakul Akkuş, former regiment commander of Gendarmerie in Bursa, on Bursa Heavy Penal Court No 8 is held on July 11, 2018. The court sentenced Yurdakul Akkuş to heavy life penalty for ‘attempting to change the constitutional order’. The court sentenced 10 defendants to jail penalties differing from 12 years and 6 months to 18 years for the same reason. The court sentenced 2 defendants to 8 years and 9 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 3 defendants.
The final trial of the case against Said Vakkas Gözlügöl, former governor of Ordu, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 is held on July 11, 2018. The court sentenced Vakkas Gözlügöl to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(07/142) People Detained Through an Istanbul Based Investigation…
On July 11, 2018, 172 people including Adnan Oktar, in house and office raids in 4 cities through an Istanbul based investigation. It is reported that A9 television channel was also raided by the police, and some documents were seized. It is learned from news coverage that detention warrants were issued for 63 more people through this investigation, and all personal assets of 235 people within the investigation is seized and transferred to trustees.
[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.