Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 – 21 January Daily Human Rights Report
(01/212) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 20, 2019 that 2 YJA-Star militants died in a clash in Bozbağlar village of Kocaköy district of Diyarbakır on January 11, 2019.
(01/213) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 19, 2019 that, Abdullah Akkan, Ercan Akkan and Özcan Akkan was stopped in their car at a checkpoint near Mermer Gendarmerie Station on Diyarbakır-Bingöl roadway on December 10, 2018 and these 3 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the station they were taken to.
Abdullah Akkan stated the following on the torture and ill-treatment they were subjected to: “After we took off our pants, they took our underwear off too and made body search to us. Then the officer on duty took the vehicle licence and said ‘to the soldiers do the criminal record check’ again. Since they could not find any element of crime and no missing document I asked to the military officer, I said ‘Can we go now sir’. The military officer came with 3 soldiers and they kept out hands behind and took us to the person they call as post commander. I saw that this person was a specialist sergeant. This specialist sergeant said ‘terrorists like you’ to us and started to curse us right away. Our identity cards were checked once again there, and they took us out of the station with curses and insults when they found nothing on our criminal records. The soldiers on duty threw our wallets onto our faces. After we took our ID cards from the ground we got into our car and went away. This inhuman treatment to us is recorded by the surveillance cameras both at the checkpoint and at the entrance of the station.”
It is learned that an official complaint is made to Lice Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(01/214) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 18, 2019 that 239 prisoners are on hunger strike demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
(01/215) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on January 19, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275.
(01/216) 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 803 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 18, 19, and 20, 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 January 18, 2019, 3 people (Mehmet Dersulu, Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (İlker Işık and Umutcan Aybak) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 19, 2019, 3 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt, Nazan Bozkurt and Cemal Öksüz) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 20, 2019, 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt and Cemal Öksüz) and at 18.00 3 people (Cemal Öksüz, Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 16 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 18, 19, and 20, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/217) Coercion to Uniforms and Reactions Against This…
The press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on January 19, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police. It is reported that 2 people (Bengisu Demirel and Umutcan Aybak) were detained in police intervention.
The press declaration of TAYAD members attempted to be held at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul on January 19, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police too. It is reported that 2 people (Hüseyin Avcı and İsmail Kara) were detained in police intervention.
It is learned that detained people were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day.
(01/218) 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 721st time on January 19, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP’s Züleyha Gülüm, Hüda Kaya and Oya Ersoy, and Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu as well as representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists 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.
(01/219) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 356th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prisons Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on January 19, 2019, is prevented by the police. Human rights defenders who attempt to march to Galatasaray Square from IHD office are prevented by the police and made a press declaration in front of IHD office.
(01/220) Police Intervention Against Women’s March in Diyarbakır…
The police used pressurized water and pepper spray to intervene the press declaration of women including HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun, and members of Roza Women’s Association and Dicle-Amed Women’s Platform, for Leyla Güven, HDP’s Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair who is on hunger strike, to be held in front on Diyarbakır E Type Prison on January 20, 2019. It is learned that 20 women were detained by the police using physical violence. It is reported that HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun were subjected to verbal and physical violence and was targeted to pressurized water from anti-riot cannon vehicle.
The names of detainees known so far are: Health and Social Services Employees’ Union (SES) Diyarbakır co-chair Gönül Adıbelli, Gurbet Özel, Gülistan Ekte, Narin Gezgör, Bahar Karakaş Uluğ, Ceylan Aslan, Rozerin Çatak, Adalet Kaya.
(01/221) Detention of 78s Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can…
Spokesperson of the 78s Initiative and HDP Party Assembly member Celalettin Can is detained in his house in Istanbul on January 18, 2019 and he is then taken to Izmir. It is learned that the reason of detention is the speeches he made at the meetings in 2014 and 2015, as a member of “Wise People Committee”. Celalettin Can is released after statement procedures on January 19, 2018.
(01/222) Detained Executives of HDP and Peace Mothers in Izmir…
On January 18, 2019, 14 people (Cemile Aydın, Mehmet Demir, Fatma Yetim, Hayat İzgi, Dünyamalı Ariç, Sabri Adıbeli, Zarife Karasungur, Ezgi Yağcı, Selahattin Işık, Kerem Ay, Neriman Ay, Türkan Poyraz, İbrahim Kortak and Behiye Yalçın) including HDP executives and Peace Mothers are detained in house raids in Izmir.
(01/223) Detained DBP Executive in Adana…
7 people including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Party Assembly member Halit Şaşmaz, who were detained on January 18, 2019 in Adana for social media posts, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on January 19, 2019.
(01/224) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 5 people including Emin Çölaşan and Necati Doğru, writers of Sözcü newspaper and Metin Yılmaz, executive editor of the newspaper, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 on January 18, 2019. The court decided to consolidate the case with the case against Burak Akbay, grant holder of the newspaper and other 3 defendants.
(01/225) Investigation Against Academician Bülent Şık…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 18, 2019 that an investigation is initiated against Bianet web portal’s writer and food engineer Assist. Professor Bülent Şık, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on social media posts and that Bülent Şık gave his official statement on January 15, 2019 at Department of Press Offences at Istanbul Courthouse through the investigation.
Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated another investigation against Bülent Şık, for declaring a report of the Ministry of Health, which covers a research on cancer conducted in Antalya, Ergene and Dilovası in between 2011-2015. The findings of the report were not published by Ministry of Health, Bülent Şık then declared the findings of the report in an article series “The state hides the carcinogenic products, we declare them! Here is the list of poisonous products!”.
(01/226) Journalist and Executives of HDP and DBP on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 21 people 8 of which are arrested including journalist Haydar Ergül and executives of HDP and DBP is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on January 18, 2019. After defence hearings the court released Ahmet Sağınç and decided to continue detention of 7 people (journalist Haydar Ergül and DBP and HDP executives Eşref Yaşar, Ercan Doğru, Aygül Turhan, Mustafa Elma, Abdullah Geldi, Münevver İlingi and Aysel Diler) and adjourned the trial to April 5, 2019.
21 people were detained in house raids in Istanbul on July 28, 2017, and they were arrested on August 11, 2017.
(01/227) HDP Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The case against Elif Haran, a member of HDP, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 is held on January 18, 2019. The court released Ellif Haran on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial.
(01/228) The Case of Mazlum Turan…
The case against police officer Süleyman Esenboğa, for death of Mazlum Turan (16) is held on January 18, 2019. Mazlum Turan died due to the fire opened to his car, by special operations force applying road check in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on August 29, 2015, after an attack against police shuttle. It was claimed that Mazlum Turan disobeyed the stop warning for not having driving licence.
The court sentenced Süleyman Esenboğa to 3 years for ‘reckless killing’ which was then reduced to 1 year 10 months and 15 days and was suspended.
(01/229) Non-Prosecution Decision on Death of Ömer Koç…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 18, 2019 that the investigation of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office, against police officer F.K., for death of Ömer Koç (17) is concluded as non-prosecution, on the grounds of lack of evidence. Ömer Koç died due to the fire opened by the police in 5 Nisan neighbourhood of Diyarbakır’s Bağlar district on October 4, 2015. It is stated in the news reports that the gun that kills Ömer Koç was sent to Syria without being subjected to ballistic inquiry, to be used in military operation to Afrin.
It is learned that an official appeal is made to Criminal Court of Peace.
(01/230) Police Officers on Trial in Istanbul for Rape Allegation…
Uzbekistan citizen I.K. was stopped by police officers Şeref Şık and İsmail Kök during a road check in Fatih district of Istanbul on October 15, 2018, and was taken out of the cab. I.K. was then raped by Şeref Şık in the police car and her money (1400 Turkish Liras) was seized by the police. I.K. talked to police officer Y.S. at Aksaray Şehit Vedat Ulusoy Police Headquarters where she went to make a complaint, and Y.S. told her “I will punish him, do not worry. He cannot approach you again. You will call me if he does so” and did not take I.K.’s official complaint. Another police officer E.S. told “I am his chief, I will punish him myself. I will relegate him” and did not put the complaint in process. It is also claimed that A.B., another police chief did not give proper orders to take official complaint.
It is learned that Şeref Şık and İsmail Kök were arrested and other police officers were released on judicial control conditions after being detained.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 20, 2019 that a case is opened against the police officers and jail sentence up to 46 years for Şeref Şık, up to 10 years and 6 months for İsmail Kök for ‘assisting an offense’, up to 15 years and 6 months for A.B. for ‘protecting the offender’ and ‘not reporting an offense’ and up to 10 years and 6 months each for E.S. and Y.S. for the same reason.
(01/231) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 18, 2019, 61 people are detained in operations covering 17 cities through an Izmir based investigation.
6 people who were detained on January 18, 2019 through an Istanbul based investigation are arrested on January 18, 2019.
1 person who was detained on a warrant in Mersin is arrested by the court on January 18, 2019.
On January 20, 2019, 11 people are detained for using ByLock, in operations covering 6 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
(01/232) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Alp Değer Tanrıverdi who was the lawyer of Süleyman Bağrıyanık, former Public Prosecutor of Adana, and former prosecutors Özcan Şişman, Aziz Takçı and Ahmet Karaca who were arrested defendants of the case on National Intelligence Organisation trucks in Adana; is held on Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11 on January 18, 2019. The court sentenced Alp Değer Tanrıverdi to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Murat Arslan, former chair of Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) which was closed down by a state of emergency decree is held on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 25 on January 18, 2019. The court sentenced Murat Arslan to 10 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against former lieutenant colonel Akın Yıldızhan, who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 on January 18, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/233) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on January 18, 2019 and announced 31 areas with given coordinates in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts as special security zones as of January 19, 2019 until February 2, 2019.
[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, 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.