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13-18 November 2015 HRFT Daily Human Rights Report

13-18 November 2015 Daily Human Rights Report

(11/075) Silvan Blockaded…

The 6th curfew in Silvan district of Diyarbakır ended on its 12th day as of 14 November 2015. Operations of security forces and clashes continued in the district. Since the first curfew started on 16 August 2015, 15 persons were killed in Silvan. On 14 November 2015, military troops and tanks left the district with the protests of the people in the district.

Special Forces conducted operations on11 November 2015 in Mescit quarter and Süleyman Güleç was killed when they opened fire. The number of the casualties reached 7 since 3 November 2015.

Security forces intervened and dispersed a group of persons who wanted to stage a march on 12 November 2015 during the curfew. The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the group including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ.

Figen Yüksekdağ was about to be shoot at head with a tear gas canister during the intervention. The group was also hosed pressurised water. Sümeyye Sinbağ, sister of Yakup Sinbağ who was killed on 10 November 2015, was also shot at her leg and wounded.

200 lawyers who arrived to Silvan on 13 November 2015 to protest in the curfew and blockade were also attacked with tear gas and water cannons. 50 persons were detained during the attack and released after negotiations.

Muhittin Kan, Chairperson of Merchants and Craftsmen Credit and Warranty Cooperative, made a public statement and announced that at least 100 shops and workplaces were damaged during the curfew and operations in the district.

(11/076) Persons Killed by the Police in Şırnak…

Kadri Sencer was shot to death during an operation on 12 November 2015 in Yeşiltepe quarter of Silopi district in Şırnak. The fire was reportedly opened from a vehicle used by Special Forces during operations. The body of Kadri Sencer was reportedly dragged by the police for 300 meters.

(11/077) Person Killed by Soldiers in Şırnak…

On 12 November 2015, Fatma Yiğit died and at least 10 persons were wounded when bombs were reportedly thrown from Gendarmerie Headquarters in Silopi district of Şırnak to the Şehit Harun quarter of the district.

(11/078) Persons Killed by the Police in Şırnak…

Abdullah Karaviş (24) was shot at head and killed on 13 November 2015 when the police opened fire from an armoured vehicle in Yeni Mahalle quarter of İdil district in Şırnak.

(11/079) Curfew in Nusaybin…

Sub-Governorate in Nusaybin district of Mardin announced on 13 November 2015 curfew to be implemented in 15 quarters of the district starting from 14 November 2015.

3 persons were wounded on 14 November 2015 during the operations conducted in Nusaybin on the first day of the curfew.

Selamet Yeşilmen (44) was shot to death in front of his house allegedly when Special Forces opened fire during an operation on 15 November 2015 in Fırat quarter. Her children S.Y. and F.Y., and Yılmaz Tutak (30) who wanted to help her were also shot and wounded. Abdulhakim Aytimur who was in the garden of his house was also wounded during the incident. Sub-Governorate of Nusaybin alleged that security forces did not conduct an operation in the quarter.

Şirin Bilgin (37) was also shot and wounded on the balcony of her/his house during the operations conducted in Devrim quarter.

During the 6-days curfew in Nusaybin started on 1 October 2015, Ahmet Sönmez (61) and Şahin Turan (25) were killed.

(11/080) Curfew in Cizre…

Governorate of Şırnak declared curfew on 14 November 2015 in Sur and Yafes quarters of Cizre district.

Special Forces conducted operations in Nur quarter where curfew was not implemented. 5 persons were wounded during the operations. A person had heart attack in Cudi quarter, but security forces reportedly did not allow ambulance to enter the quarter and the person died.

The curfew was suspended on 15 November 2015.

Servet Aydık who was going home from shopping was shot by the police on Arîn Mîrxan Avenue. The police opened fire from an armoured vehicle and Servet Aydık was shot in the belly.

During the 9-days curfew in Cizre in September 2015, 21 persons were killed including a 35-days old baby.

(11/081) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…

Military troops conducted a house raid on 13 November in Erciş district of Van on the allegations that there were PKK militants in the house. A non-commissioned officer and 3 militants died, a major and 2 soldiers were wounded during the armed clash. The bodies of the militants were allegedly set to fire by the soldiers after the operation.

2 soldiers died when a bomb exploded on 13 November 2015 during the passage of a military vehicle in Lice district of Diyarbakır.

Governorate of Şırnak announced on 12 November 2015 that 11 militants were killed during the military operations in Cizre and Silopi districts.

Governorate of Şırnak also announced on 12 November 2015 that 6 regions in Beytüşşebap district of the province were decided to be temporary security zones until 27 November 2015. Entrance of civilians to the security zones was also banned.

(11/082) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared in the press on 15 November 2015, Cahit Baybaris, Agit Tekin, Mahmut Yıldızbakan and Salih Ahmed incarcerated in İskenderun (Hatay) M-type Prison were reportedly interrogated under torture byt eh prison administration. The prisoners were also sentenced to cell confinement.

(11/083) Journalists Detained and Arrested in Van…

10 journalists were detained on 13 November 2015 under beatings when they were following an armed clash in Erciş district of Van.

Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent İdris Yılmaz and Jin News Agency (JINHA) correspondent Vildan Atmaca were arrested on 14 November 2015 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” and “insulting the State President”.

(11/084) Censor on TV Channels and Radio Stations…

Broadcasting of 14 TV channels and radio stations owned by Samanyolu Broadcasting were stopped to be downlinked from Türksat satellites. The decision of the Ankara Administrative Court No 6 was implemented on 15 November 2015 before waiting the defence of the company. The channels and stations were previously excluded from the digital platforms Digitürk and Teledünya.

TV channels and radio stations subjected to censor are Samanyolu TV Avrupa, Mehtap TV, Samanyolu Haber, Yumurcak TV, MC TV, Dünya TV, Tuna Shopping TV, Samanyolu TV Türkiye, Samanyolu Haber, MC EU, Burç FM, Radyo Mehtap, Dünya Radyo, Radyo Berfin ve grup bünyesinde yer almayan Irmak TV ile Radyo Cihan.

(11/085) Journalist on Trial…

Çağlayan (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance started on 12 November 2015 to hear the case against Canan Coşkun, journalist with the daily Cumhuriyet, in connection with the news under the headline “House Sales under Discussion in the Judiciary” appeared in the paper on 29 February 2015 about the discounted sales of luxury houses to prosecutors and judges in İstanbul by a private construction company.

The case was launched upon official complaint by 2 judges/prosecutors in charge at Çağlayan and Küçükçekmece courthouses and 8 judges/prosecutors were also referred as victims in indictment. The indictment wants Canan Coşkun to be sentenced 10 times according to the Article 125 TPC for “insulting public officers”. After the testimonies, the court adjourned the hearing to 16 March 2016.

(11/086) Former MP Detained in İstanbul…

Sebahat Tuncel, Co-Spokesperson of Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) and former MP, was detained on 12 November 2015 at Atatürk Airport in İstanbul when she was going abroad. She was reportedly detained in connection with the investigations against her. She was taken to Bakırköy Court House and the court released her with a ban on leaving the country.

Public Prosecutor in Bakırköy started an investigation against her on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” with the speeches she gave during activities in the years 2010 and 2013.

(11/087) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…

Celal K. (39) who was detained in Hekimhan district of Malatya for the messages he shared on Facebook was arrested on 14 November 2015 on the allegations of “insulting the State President”.

(11/088) Political Party Executive on Trial in Kocaeli…

Körfez (Kocaeli) Penal Court of First Instance No 1 started on 12 November 2015 to hear the case against Tuğman Kayalı, People’s Republican Party Chair for the Körfez district. The case was launched for putting up the poster of 4 former ministers with thief masks to protest in non-prosecution of the bribery and corruption allegations of 17-25 December 2013.

After the identification and defence of the lawyers, the court accepted the demand of former ministers Zafer Çağlayan, Muammer Güler and Egemen Bağış’ demand to join the case and adjourned the hearing to later date to wait for the response of former minister Erdoğan Bayraktar.

(11/089) Protest Intervened in Şırnak…

The police attacked the demonstration staged on 12 November 2015 in Cizre district of Şırnak to protest in the operations and blockade in Silvan district of Diyarbakır. The police reportedly used bombs to disperse the crowd and Mehmet Dal (78) was heavily wounded.

(11/090) Silvan Demonstrations/Protests Prevented…

The police intervened a sit-in action staged on 12 November 2015 on a ferry in İzmir to protest in the operations and blockade in Silvan district of Diyarbakır. The protesters also put up a poster on the ferry. The police detained 16 female protesters under beatings.

6 persons who occupied the office of Doğan News Agency in Mersin and 9 persons who occupied the building of the TV station NTV in Ankara for the same reason were detained.

9 students who were distributing leaflets in Bingöl University campus were also detained.

The police also intervened the protests staged in Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and İstanbul University. 14 students were detained during the interventions.

(11/091) G-20 Summit Protests…

G-20 Summit held in Antalya was protested in several cities.

The police intervened the protests staged by the members of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) on 14 November 2015 in front of the consulates of Germany and England in İstanbul. 20 persons were detained.

4 members of Peoples’ Houses (Halkevleri) were detained on 15 November 2015 in Antalya when they were going to Belek to deliver a letter of demands to G-20 Summit.

41 persons were also detained when the police intervened a protest and a march on 15 November 2015.

(11/092) Protest Intervened in İstanbul…

5 persons who opened a banner during the 37th Eurasia Marathon on 15 November 2015 in İstanbul to protest in the government’s decision for not allowing Aziz Güler’ body to be taken by his family on Rojava border for funeral were detained.

(11/093) Persons on Trial in Ağrı…

Doğubayazıt (Ağrı) Heavy Penal Court started on 13 November 2015 to hear the case against 19 persons who were arrested after being detained during a human shield attempt. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.

The defendants testified at the hearing through SESBİS teleconference system. The court decided for the continuation of the arrests of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) workers Kudbettin Saltan and Leyla Sevgin, and Municipality Assembly member Halime Keskin. The court also decided to release remaining 16 defendants to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to 7 January 2016.

(11/094) Operations throughout Turkey…

Bismil Co-Mayor Haci Fethi Gürbüz, İbrahim Türk, Muhammed Peksoy and Gülizar Akat who were detained during house raids in Bismil district of Diyarbakır were arrested on 12 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

During the house raids conducted on 12 November 2015, 5 persons in Ceylanpınar district of Şanlıurfa, 2 persons in Dargeçit district of Mardin, and 2 persons in Seyhan district of Adana were detained.

Mahsum Kürd and Eyüp Tarhan who were detained Ceylanpınar were arrested on 14 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

Mahmut Atakay, Elif Toprak, Deniz Ayırkan, Oya Yılmaz and Ayşe Yılmaz were detained when union in education sector Eğitim-Sen office in Dicle district of Diyarbakır was raided on 12 November 2015. They were reportedly detained on the allegations of taking part in Women’s Day activities and sharing photos of Kurdish female politicians assassinated in Paris.

Ethem Yıldız, worker at the headquarters of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), was detained on 12 November 2015 during a road control in Bulank district of Muş. The reason of detention was not disclosed.

7 persons who were among 10 persons detained during raids on 10 November 2015 against the premises of Dersim Free Students Association (Dersim Özgür Öğrenci Derneği – DÖ-DER) and the houses of the members of the association were arrested on 13 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

14 persons including Beşiri Co-Mayor Mustafa Öztürk were detained during the house raids conducted on 14 November 2015 in Batman and its districts.

Abdulaziz Gezen, Murat Özkan, Ali Yiğit and Ahmet Gümüş who were detained during house raids conducted in Diyarbakır were arrested on 14 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

The police conducted operations on 14 November 2015 against the People’s Assembly of Gülbahçe quarter in Seyhan district of Adana and detained 39 persons.

(11/095) Person Killed by the Police in Diyarbakır…

Rıdvan Us who was heavily wounded on 6 November 2015 when security forces opened fire in Silvan district of Diyarbakır where curfew was implemented for 12 days died on 16 November 2015 in the hospital. The number of the casualties reached 8 during the 6th curfew in the district. 16 persons died in total during the curfews implemented in Silvan.

(11/096) Curfew in Nusaybin…

Süleyman A. (65) was shot at her leg and wounded when the police opened fire on 16 November 2015 in Nusaybin district of Mardin where curfew was implemented since 13 November 2015. Süleyman A. (65) was going to her daughter’s house.

Abdülkadir Yılmaz (65) who had heart attack in Duruca quarter of the district died in the hospital. The ambulances were reportedly prevented and he could not be taken to hospital immediately.

(11/097) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…

According to the official announcement by the General Staff, 13 PKK militants were killed during the operations conducted on 15 November 2015 in the rural areas of Çukurca district in Hakkari. PKK did not make any announcement concerning the allegations.

(11/098) Death in Prison…

E.N. (15) incarcerated in Bahçecik (Trabzon) E-type Prison allegedly committed suicide on 11 November 2015 by hanging himself.

(11/099) Political Party Executives on Trial in İzmir…

Yiannis Bournous, Member of the Political Secretariat of SYRIZA / Greece, took part and gave a speech during the meeting of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on Gündoğdu Square in İzmir before the election on 7 June 2015. According to the news appeared in the press on 16 November 2015, Public Prosecutor in İzmir concluded the investigation against the executives of HDP for İzmir on the grounds that they did not inform the authorities about the speech of Yiannis Bournous.

The indictment was accepted by İzmir Penal Court of First Instance No 22 and the indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.

(11/100) G-20 Summit Protests…

The police prevented a group of protesters who wanted to march on 16 November 2015 to the restricted area in Bellek where G-20 Summit was held in Antalya and reportedly detained 11 persons.

(11/101) Operations throughout Turkey…

The police conducted house raids on 16 November 2015 in Birecik district of Şanlıurfa and detained 5 persons. The reason of the operations was not disclosed.

The police conducted operations in 5 districts of İstanbul and detained 12 persons in connection with a “Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H) Investigation”.

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) members Yüksel Oğuz ve M. Şerif Acar who were detained on 16 November 2015 in Dargeçit district of Mardin were arrested on the same day on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

Fatmagül Kurt, Mehmet Çağdavul, Yaser Örnek, Kadir Kurka, Fırat Kayalıdağ and Delil Ek who were among 39 persons detained during operation the People’s Assembly of Gülbahçe quarter in Seyhan district of Adana were arrested on 16 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

(11/102) Curfew in Nusaybin…

On the 5th day of curfew in Nusaybin district of Mardin, Halime Güner (35) was shot and wounded in front of her house on 17 November 2015 when Special Forces opened fire in the neighbourhood.

Abdülkadir Doğan (53) was wounded when he was shot while leaving his house. Mehmet Aslan (19) was also shot at his neck and wounded when Special Forces opened fire in Yeni Turan quarter.

(11/103) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared in the press on 17 November 2015, the vegan prisoner Osman Evcan incarcerated n Kandıra (Kocaeli) F-type Prison No 1 started hunger strike to protest in prison administration’s decision to seize the vegan foods sent to him.

(11/104) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared in the press on 18 November 2015, İzzet Sevilgen, Selahattin Kılınç, Hikmet Kara, Emin Sosin, Ramazan Özyiğit, Rıdvan Tanış and Mehmet Tosun who were transferred from Şırnak T-type Prison to Van M-type Prison for medical treatment were sent to Erzurum H-type Prison without their demands.

(11/105) Journalists on Trial…

Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 14 started on 17 November 2015 to hear the case against 18 journalists launched in connection with the news covering the operation in Çağlayan Court House in İstanbul which led to deaths of 2 DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) militants and Public Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced to terms of imprisonment up to 7 years and 6 months according to the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.

After the identification of the defendants and testimonies, the court adjourned the hearing to alter date for the continuation of the testimonies.

Following journalists are on trial in this case: Editor-in-chief of the daily Şok Kaan Özbek and director Orhan Duman, editor-in-chief of the daily Millet Sedat Gülmez and director Cuma Ulus, editor-in-chief of the daily Posta Seçil Şengelir and director Mehmet Emin Öztürk, editor-in-chief of the daily Yurt Başak Günsever and director Orhan Şahin, editor-in-chief of the daily Bugün Gökhan Çorbacı and director Temel Tanadalan, editor-in-chief of the daily Cumhuriyet Abbas Yalçın and director Can Dündar, editor-in-chief of the daily Özgür Gündem Reyhan Çapan and director Eren Keskin, editor-in-chief of the daily Aydınlık Murat Şimşek and director Mehmet Sabuncu, editor-in-chief of the daily Birgün Berkant Gültekin and director İbrahim Aydın.

(11/106) Political Party Executive Convicted for Insulting the State President…

Kayseri Penal Court of First Instance No 10 concluded on 17 November 2015 to hear the case against People’s Republican Party (CHP) Chair for Kayseri province Mustafa Ayan launched on charges of “insulting the State President” with the expression he used in a speech.

 After the final defence, the court sentenced the defendant to 1 year and 5 months’ imprisonment under the Article 299 TPC and suspended the sentence.

(11/107) Activity Prevented in Eskişehir…

On 17 November 2015, private security guards attacked a stand opened in the Anadolu University campus in Eskişehir to promote an activity for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. 3 students were wounded during the attack.

(11/108) Protest Intervened in Mardin…

The police intervened a demonstration staged on 17 November 2015 in Kızıltepe district of Martin to protest in the curfew and blockade in Nusaybin. 4 children were detained during the police intervention.

(11/109) Operations throughout Turkey…

The police conducted house raids on 17 November 2015 in Sarıkamış and Selim districts of Kars and detained 15 members of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP).

The houses of unionists from confederation of public servants’ unions KESK were raided on 18 November 2015 in Adana. 14 unionists were detained during the raids.

3 persons including 2 children who were detained during operations conducted in Şanlıurfa were arrested on 17 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

(11/110) House Raids in Elazığ…

The police conducted house raids on 18 November 2015 in Elazığ in connection with a “DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) Investigation” and detained 11 persons.