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16 May 2019 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

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

16 May Daily Human Rights Report

(05/176) Journalist Was Attacked in Antalya…

Journalist İdris Özyol is attacked by an anonymous group, in front of the building of Yeni Yüzyıl newspaper where he works in Antalya on May 15, 2019. It is reported that İdris Özyol was wounded at head and chest and was taken to Antalya Atatürk Public Hospital.

(05/177) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2019 that, 15 prisoners who are on hunger strike in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2, are put into solitary cells. It is also reported that personal belongings of prisoners such as pencils, notebooks and books were seized.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2019 that wards of prisoners on indefinite hunger strike in Kandıra F Type Prison No 1 were searched and personal belongings of prisoners such as radios and letters were seized.

(05/178) 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 918 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 15, 2019 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 15, 2019, 2 people (Mahmut Konuk and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.

Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 15, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

(05/179) Police Intervention and Prevention Against Protests in Kocaeli, Diyarbakır, Ağrı, Adana and Istanbul…

The protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties (HDP and DBP), about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be held in front of Gebze M Type Prison on May 15, 2019, is prevented by the police on the grounds of governorate’s ban. It is learned that the group had a sit-in protest there.

The police prevented the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be held at Koşuyolu Park in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on May 15, 2019. It is learned that journalists who were watching the protest were removed from the park by the police.

The gendarmerie used pressurized water to intervene into the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, held in front of Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison on May 15, 2019. It is learned that nobody was detained. It is also learned that journalists who were watching the protest were checked by the gendarmerie through general information gathering system controls.

The polis used pepper spray to intervene into the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, held in Lice district of Diyarbakır on May 15, 2019. A person named Galip Kaymaz was detained at the intervention and was released on the same day. It is learned that Galip Kaymaz wanted to record while he was being detained and the police broke his phone.

The police prevented the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be in front of Adana Ceyhan M Type Prison on May 15, 2019.

The police prevented the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, in Başakşehir district of Istanbul on May 15, 2019 and detained at least 6 people. The names of detained people are: Nadire Kılıç, Zübeyde Adar, Gülbahar Erkılıç, Dılşah Uğurtaş, Yonca Çelik and Mirza Korkmaz.

11 people who were detained at the police intervention against the protest held on May 13, 2019 in Batman, are released on May 15, 2019.

(05/180) Detained HDP Members in Diyarbakır…

It is learned that 4 members of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir district co-chair, who were visiting shops around, were detained on May 15, 2019 by the police on the grounds of “complaints against them”. It is learned that detention period for 4 people is extended to 4 days. The names of detained people are: HDP Yenişehir district co-chair Vahap Günay, Diyadin Noyan, Şaban Turhan and Abdo Öner.

(05/181) Detained Journalist and ESP Member in İstanbul and Antalya…

Journalist Soner Karabulut and 5 members (Gülsen İmre, Ulaş İmre, Deniz İmre, Eren Mehdi Şen, Okan Gündüz) of The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) including Sultangazi district chair Gülsen İmre who were detained in house raids in Istanbul through an investigation against ESP members, on May 14, 2019, are released by the court on May 15, 2019. It is learned that 5 people except Gülsen İmre were released on judicial control conditions.

(05/182) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The case against 8 academicians (Assist. Professor Ömer Turan, Assoc. Professor Nazan Haydari, Research Assistant Zeynep Yeşim Gökçe, graduate student H.T. from Bilgi University, PhD student Tuğba Yıldırım from Sabancı University, Assoc. Professor Begüm Özden Fırat from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, PhD Aylin Kuryel from Amsterdam University and Professor Mehmet Ali Oturan from Paris-Est University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on May 15, 2019. The court reversed its decision from the previous trial, which resulted in consolidation of the cases, and decided to separate the cases, in order to prevent prolongation of the trials, and adjourned the trials to November 1, 2019.

The separate cases against 2 academicians (Assist. Professor Necat Keskin from Mardin Artuklu University and Assoc. Professor Mustafa Tekpınar from Van Yüzüncü Yıl University) for the same reason are held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 on May 15, 2019. The court adjourned the trials.

(05/183) The Case Against Former Co-Chairs of HDP…

The final trial of the case against Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-chairs of HDP, on the grounds of defaming Kayseri provincial police chief İbrahim Kulular, is held on Kayseri Penal Court of First Instance No 12 on May 15, 2019. It is learned that Selahattin Demirtaş’s petition demanding to attend the trial in person was submitted to the court board. The court acquitted Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

(05/184) The Case Against Former Co-Chair of HDP…

The trial of the case against Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-chair of HDP, on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on May 15, 2019. The court decided to consolidate the case with the case on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 against Figen Yüksekdağ.

(05/185) Journalists and Parliament Member on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Enis Berberoğlu, and Ankara correspondent Erdem Gül, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14, on the grounds of ‘aiding an illegal organisation despite not being a member of it’, for publishing the footage of MIT (National Intelligence Service) trucks stopped in Adana and Hatay on January 19, 2014, is held on May 15, 2019. The court decided to separate the case against former executive editor of daily Cumhuriyet newspaper Can Dündar, on the trial held on February 6, 2019.

The court decided to drop the case against Erdem Gül, on the charge of “knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation without being a part of its hierarchical order”, and decided to non-verdict situation for CHP MP Enis Berberoğlu.

The court adjourned the trial of the case against Can Dündar to October 31, 2019.

(05/186) Journalist on Trial in Erzurum…

The appeal trail of the case against journalist Seda Taşkın, who was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months by Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2, is held on Erzurum Regional Court on May 15, 2019. The court sentenced Seda Taşkın to 1 year 11 months and 10 days for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court acquitted Seda Taşkın on the charge of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’.

Seda Taşkın was detained and then arrested on December 20, 2018 and a case was opened against her on Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2, where she was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months for ‘aiding an illegal organisation without being a member of it’; to 3 years and 4 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ which makes 7 years and 6 months in total. Seda Taşkın was released from the prison by Erzurum Regional Court’s interim decision on January 17, 2019.

(05/187) Ceylan Önkol Case…

On May 15, 2019, Penal Department No 5 of the Council of State has declared its decision on the appeal about rejection of the lawsuit for non-pecuniary damages opened by Ceylan Önkol’s family. Ceylan Önkol (12), has died due to a mortar shell fired from Yayla Mlitary Post, while she was shepherding in Şenlik village of Diyarbakır’s Lice district on September 28, 2009. Penal Department reversed the decision of Diyarbakır Administrative Court No 2, which rejected the lawsuit, and decided to send the case to the court for retrial. The court states the following: “Since the fact that unexploded ammunition was found in an area where people constantly use and which is close to residential area shows that the administration failed to serve security and safety service, it is concluded that the administration has a fault. Thus, it is legally appropriate to solve the controversy according to the Law No 5233.”

Önkol family demanded 100.000 Turkish Liras for material and 150.000 Turkish Liras for immaterial damages in the case against administration and Diyarbakır Administrative Court No 2 sentenced the administration to pay 28.208 Turkish Liras for material damages while rejecting the demand for immaterial damages.

(05/188) Constitutional Court’s Decision on Gezi Park Protests…

On May 15, 2019, the Constitutional Court concluded the appeal for deferment of the verdict of 10-months’ jail sentence given to police officer F.Z., who used pepper spray at a close range to Ceyda Sungur, who is known as “Woman in Red” during Gezi Park protests. The court decided that there is no violation in the act. The decision states the following: “The security personnel who used physical force against the applicant although it was not necessary, is judged in the context of violation of ban on ill-treatment, and the personnel is given a sentence which is considered to be appropriate for the act. Thus, it is decided that unjust treatment which the applicant was subjected to is justified”. It is learned that the decision is made out of 3 cons against 2 pros. Serruh Kaleli, the member of the court board who opposed to this decision states the following in his objection: “According to the practices of the Constitutional Court, deferment of the verdict given to public officials who violate by intentional acts the ban on ill-treatment, does not justify the unjust treatment against the applicants. In addition, it does not provide the required determent in the context of ban on ill-treatment. Furthermore, it gives the impression that judicial bodies are indifferent to these unlawful acts. In this case, there is no reason to differ from the established practices of the Constitutional Court, the member submits a dissenting opinion”.

(05/189) Constitutional Court’s Decision on Violation of Right to Assembly and Demonstrate…

On May 15, 2019 the Constitutional Court concluded on the appeal made by Türk Eğitim-Sen (Turkish Education Employees’ Union) Niğde Branch chair İhsan Uğraş, about the penalty fine of 189 Turkish Liras given to the participators of a press declaration held in front of Niğde Governorate on August 25, 2014. The Constitutional Court decided that the penalty fine violates the right to assembly and demonstrate and decided to send the case to Niğde Penal Court of Peace.

(05/190) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On May 15, 2019, 16 people are detained in operations covering 6 cities through an Adana based investigation.

(05/191) Elections on March, 31…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2019 that the investigations on infraction of rules during elections on March 31, is consolidated in 3 main cases under the names Kadıköy, Maltepe and Ataşehir cases.

(05/192) Curfew in Bitlis…

Bitlis Governorate made a declaration on May 15, 2019 and declared curfew in 14 villages of the central district as of 06:00 on May 15, 2019 until 23:59 on May 20, 2019. The villages under curfew are: Sarıkonak, Abacılar, Harmanyeri, Esenburun, Güllüce, Aşağıçobansuyu, Çobansuyu, Akgün, Kutlu, Kınalı, Uçankuş, Dikme, Aşağıdikme, Yukarıdikme.

[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, Tr724, 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.