Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 20 May Daily Human Rights Report
(05/212) Suspicious Death in Tunceli…
It is learned that a person named Sakine Oğuz in Geçimli village of Hozat district, is found dead in the meadow where she went to shepherd her animals. It is learned from the news that, fractures in her chin and chest, bullet hole in her forehead and cuts on her neck are found in the preliminary autopsy of Sakine Oğuz. It is also learned that Hozat Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation about Sakine Oğuz’s dead.
(05/213) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2019 that 1 HPG militant died in an air attack of Turkish Armed Forces against Xınere area in Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on May 14, 2019.
It is learned that 1 police officer and 2 militants died and 2 police officers were wounded in a clash between HPG militants and security forces in Dergili neighbourhood of Urfa’s Halfeti district on May 18, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2019 that 2 militants died in a clash between HPG militants and security forces in rural areas of Şırnak on May 15, 2019.
(05/214) Suspicious Death of a Soldier…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that, Ertuğrul Üstün, a soldier on duty in Şehit Çavuş Murat Özeker Board Post in Hatay, was heavily wounded due to a weapon accident during a patrol on board area and died afterwards.
(05/215) The Vehicle Which Was Shot by The Police in Urfa…
It is learned that, on May 18, 2019, a vehicle in which children were also travelling in Aligor neighbourhood of Suruç district of Urfa was opened fire by special force task police, on the grounds of disobeying stop warning. 6 people in the vehicle got wounded. The names of wounded people are: Hava Algac, Emine Çalışan, Gülcan Ertaş, Aysel Geçici, Zehra Kurt, Kübra Kurt.
It is learned that, Numan Tatlı, the driver of the vehicle stated who was detained after the incident, stated the following: “There was no other stopped or travelling vehicles on the road. I stopped my car. I heard the police saying ‘get out of the car’ and I said ‘We are farm labourers’ to them from the window of the car but the police fired their gun up in the air before I finished my sentence. I opened the doors of the vehicle, and when I was opening the driver’s door and at this moment numerous guns were fired against the vehicle which was shot by numerous bullets. I took my head out of the window again and said ‘We are farm labourers we are not dangerous’. A police officer with green vest came around and stopped other police officers who were firing guns. My vehicle was fired for almost a minute.”
(05/216) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody Istanbul…
People’s Law Office made a declaration and stated that, people who were detained in the police raid to Idil Cultural Center in Okmeydanı neighbourhood of Istanbul on May 16, 2019 were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at Istanbul Police Headquarters where they were taken. According to the declaration, Betül Varan, a member of Grup Yorum music band has a broken nose and other detainees have bruises on their wrists due to being handcuffed behind their backs. It is also reported that detained women and a person named Fırat Kaya were also subjected to sexual abuse under custody.
It is learned that the detained people met their lawyers and told about the ill-treatment and torture that they were subjected to. Fırat Kaya states the following: “They started torturing about 2.30 a.m. They wet us with water and beat us for 20 minutes. They asked my home city and beat me when I did not answer. They sexually abused me (put their fingers in my anus). They twisted my testicles.”
Beyhan Gün states the following: “They started around 23.00. I cannot stand on my foot. 5 or 6 people beat me until I fainted. I can recognise them if I see. They did it in a place where surveillance cameras were around. One of them, a fat one, came onto me, pulled my hair and hit my head on the floor. They cursed me when I said ‘stop arbitrary search’. My feet and shoulders are terrible. They sit on me, twisted my feet. They forced me to drink water. They were 2 people, one has a crescent shaped moustache, long hair and very weighty, this one stomped on me. The other one was bold with a beard and the same moustache.”
(05/217) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that, 10 people including Suruç district council member Abdurrezak Karak, who were detained in house raids in Suruç and Viranşehir districts of Urfa on May 16, 2019, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at Urfa Police Headquarters.
(05/218) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…
It is learned that, after the clash in Dergili neighbourhood of Halfeti district of Urfa on May 18, 2019, where 1 police officer and 2 militants died, the house where the clash took place was burned down by the police and the Alakuş family living there were detained.
It is learned that Fahri Alakuş and his wife Hanım Alakuş were taken to another house in the neighbourhood after being detained and were subjected to torture there. It is learned that Fahri Alakuş and Hanım Alakuş were heavily wounded due to torture and were kept there unconscious for a long while before being taken to hospital.
It is also learned Zeki Alakuş, his wife Hazal Alakuş and their son M.A. were detained by physical violence.
(05/219) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2019 that the wards of prisoners on hunger strike in Izmir Şakran Prison No 4 were searched and personal belongings of the prisoners were seized.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that prisoners kept in Amasya E Type and Tokat T Type prisons were subjected to restriction of right to meet lawyers. Accordingly, prisoners kept in Amasya E Type Prison were allowed to meet their lawyers only on Mondays and Thursdays, and prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison were allowed to meet their lawyers once a week and only for one hour. It is also reported that meetings with lawyers were audio and video recorded while a warden was present in the interview rooms.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison were not given newspaper.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2019 that Ergin Aktaş, an ill prisoner who was transferred from Izmir Menemen R Type Prison to Silivri Prison No 9 under coercion, and who was on hunger strike on March 6, 2019, is kept in solitary cell. It is also stated in the news reports that Ergin Aktaş was forced to quit hunger strike.
(05/220) 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 922 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 17, 18, and 19, 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 17, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Acun Karadağ) and at 18.00 2 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on May 18, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and İlker Işık) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on May 19, 2019, 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 17, 18, and 19, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(05/221) Police Intervention Against Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 738th time on May 18, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Pervin Buldan, HDP MP’s Hüda Kaya and Oya Ersoy, Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP’s Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Ali Şeker, and human rights defenders from abroad along with families of disappeared people gather in front of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office and started to march. It is reported that the police blockaded the street of IHD Istanbul office too.
(05/222) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 373rd time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on May 18, 2019, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(05/223) Police Prevention to Protests in Kocaeli and İstanbul…
The protests of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties (HDP and DBP), about the hunger strike in prisons, which were to be held in front of Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison on May 17, 18, and 19, 2019, are prevented by the police.
The police prevented the protests of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties, about the hunger strike in prisons, which were to be held at in front of Gebze M Type Prison on May 17, 18, and 19, 2019, on the grounds of governorate’s interdict.
(05/224) Police Intervention Against TAYAD’s Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened TAYAD (Association of Prisoners’ Families) members who made a press declaration in front of Kartal Courthouse in Istanbul and then wanted to start a ‘justice march’ to Ankara on May 19, 2019. 6 people including 3 people are detained. The detainees are released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. The names of detainees are: lawyer Ezgi Çakır, lawyer Didem Baydar, lawyer Görkem Ağdere, Hasan Kocaman, Feridun Osmanoğlu, Batuhan Şendağ.
(05/225) Police Intervention Against Lawyers’ Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of Ankara Bar Association LGBTIQ+ Rights Center for The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on May 17, 2019 in front of Education Center of the bar, and forced lawyers into the center. It is learned that nobody was detained.
(05/226) Police Intervention Against Galatasaray Fans’ Celebration in Istanbul…
The police intervened the group celebrating championship of Galatasaray football club, in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul on May 19, 2019. It is learned that the police fired the gun up in the air and a handicapped person was injured due to police violence and was taken to hospital.
(05/227) Detained Trade Union Member in Urfa…
Süreyya Reşitoğlu Çiftçi, a member of Health and Social Service Employees Union (SES) who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, is detained in a house raid on the grounds of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ in Urfa on May 17, 2019. It is learned that Süreyya Reşitoğlu Çiftçi is 7-months pregnant and was taken to Adıyaman to be kept in Gendarmerie Command.
(05/228) Detained Journalist and HDP Members in Iğdır…
On May 17, 2019 journalist İdris Demirel and HDP members Kemal Çakmak and Deniz Kaynar are detained in house raids in Iğdır. It is learned that the reason of detention is a human shield protest held in 2015.
(05/229) Journalist Put in Prison…
Mustafa Yaya, a journalist in Aydın, is put in prison on May 18, 2019, after the sentence of 11 months and 20 days given by Kuşadası Penal Court of First Instance No 2 to him on the charge of ‘insulting the President on social media posts’ is approved.
(05/230) Former Co-Mayor on Trial…
The final trial of the case against 7 people including Zeynep Sipçik, former co-mayor of Dargeçit district of Mardin, is held on Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 on May 17, 2019. The court sentenced Zeynep Sipçik to 13 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced 2 arrested defendants to heavy life imprisonment and 2 other defendants to 10 year and 6 months and to 11 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 2 people.
Zeynep Sipçik was detained on March 30, 2019 and was arrested on March 31, 2019.
(05/231) The Case of Bombing Attack in Beşiktaş…
The final trial of the case against 27 people including 24 arrested defendants, about the bombing attack to Vodafone stadium in Beşiktaş on December 10, 2016, where 47 people died and 242 people got wounded, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 on May 17, 2019. The court sentenced 4 people to heavy life imprisonment for 47 times and to 4.890 years of jail penalty each. The court sentenced 10 defendants to life imprisonment for ‘disrupting the unity and integrity of the state’ and to jail imprisonment differing from 25 years to 3.380 years. The court sentenced 4 defendants to jail penalties differing from 7 years and 6 months to 15 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court separated the cases against 9 fugitive defendants.
(05/232) Elections on March 31…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that the certification election of Erdal Kılınç, who was elected from CHP to city council of Kuşadası district of Aydın, was cancelled by the Supreme Election Board, on the grounds of being dismissed from public duty by a state of emergency decree.
(05/233) Ban on Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on May 17, 2019 and announced that all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins and opening stands and so on are banned as of May 19, 2019 until June 17, 2019.
(05/234) Ban on Events in Van…
Van Governorate made a declaration on May 18, 2019 and announced that all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins and opening stands and so on are banned as of May 19, 2019 until May 25, 2019.
(05/235) Banned Event in Adana…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2019 that HDP Adana Youth Assembly’s event of Çukurova Youth Gathering which was to be held on May 19, 2019 is banned by Adana Governorate.
[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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[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.