Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 October 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/297) Allegation of Kidnapping in Ankara…
It is claimed on the news coverage of October 18, 2018 that Fahri Yalçın, who works at People’s Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters in Ankara, was tried to be kidnapped by 2 people who claim themselves as police on Tahran Street in Çankaya district of Ankara. It is stated in the news reports that Fahri Yalçın ran away from these 2 people and went back to HDP headquarters.
Fahri Yalçın stated the following: “When I was walking to the bus stop on Tahran Street after getting out of HDP headquarters, I heard 2 people calling me ‘Fahri’. I turned back and I saw two strangers coming towards me rapidly. I asked them who they were, they told me that they were police officers and want to talk. When I told them that I do not know them, they tried to took my arms and tried to take me to the car. I escaped from them before coming to the car and went back to the headquarters.”
(10/298) Person was Subjected to Police Violence…
It is learned that actress Sinem Umaş was subjected to physical violence by the police on October 18, 2018 in Istanbul, because she did not sign the official report of the police on the liquor store from where she bought the beer in her shopping bag. It is stated in the news reports that, Sinem Umaş had a medical report evidencing the physical violence and went to Şişli Police Station to make an official complaint against the police officers, and that she was detained there and was released the next day after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office.
Sinem Umaş stated the following about the police violence she was subjected to: “The police stopped me last night around 12 while I was on my way back home with my dog and with a shopping bag of bottles of beer. The police asked ‘You bought the beer from this store did not you?’ and forced me to go back to the liquor store. I forced me to go to the police station and sign the official report, I was dragged on the floor because I did not want to sign. The neighbours went down to the street and asked, I was on floor at this time. One of the police officers tried to handcuff me, the other dragged me on the floor by force. I had a report about violence and went to the station for complaint; they took me under custody from 01.00 at night to 11.00 the next day.”
(10/299) 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 708 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on October 18, 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 October 18, 2018, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Gülnaz Bozkurt and Meltem Servi) were detained.
Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on October 18, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(10/300) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on October 18, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 29th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(10/301) Detained Community House Executives in Ankara…
Mutlu Community House branch chair Seher Gümüşay, Mamak Community House branch chair Dilara Doğanbaş, Keçiören Community House branch chair Şebnem Kıymet Yar and Eryaman Community House branch chair Şenay Yılmaz Güner who were detained in house raids in Ankara on October 17, 2018, are released on juridical control conditions and with a ban on leaving the country on October 18, 2018.
(10/302) HDP Members Detained in Izmir…
On October 18, 2018, 13 people including Orhan Ayhan, MP candidate of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) for June 24, 2018 elections; Alev Özkiraz, Free Young Women (ÖGK) central coordination member; Medine Kaymaz, Peace Mothers’ Assembly member are detained in house raids in Izmir. It is learned that the reason for detention is attending HDP’s youth conference on October 7, 2018.
It is learned that the police seized the phone of Emine Kaya, HDP central executive board member who was in the house while the police raided to detain Alev Özkiraz; and Emine Kaya and Alev Özkiraz were subjected to physical violence of the police while they reject to this.
The names of detainees known so far are: Hazal Karabey, Orhan Ayhan, Alev Özkiraz, Aydın Yetim, Faruk Özer, Resul Sayan and Göksal Özen.
(10/303) 3 People Detained in Gaziantep for Social Media Posts…
C.K., Y.K., and İ.K., all from the same family who were on their way back to Australia after a vacation in Turkey, are detained at Gaziantep Airport on the grounds of social media posts.
(10/304) Detentions and Arrests…
On October 18, 2018, 8 people are detained in house raids in Özalp and İpekyolu districts of Van. The reason for detention is unknown. The names of detainees are: Ramazan Çalışkan, Mirhaç Akil, Nezir Önen, Hacı Koç, Abdi Giyci, Alaattin Giyci and Şahin Giyci and 1 unknown person.
(10 /305) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 2 academicians (PhD N.İ. ve Assist. Professor Eyüp Volkan Çidam from Boğaziçi University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on October 18, 2018. The court adjourned both of the trials to February 26, 2019.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (PhD Özlem Köseoğlu from Bilgi University and PhD Eralp Osman Erden from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on October 18, 2018. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Özlem Köseoğlu to January 17, 2019; and the trial of the case against Eralp Osman Erden to January 22, 2019.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Assist. Professor Gülhan Balsoy from Bilgi University and PhD Yonca Güneş Yücel from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on October 18, 2018. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Gülhan Balsoy to November 6, 2019; but the date of Yonca Güneş Yücel’s next trial is unknown.
The case against 32 academicians (Lecturers Olcay Kunal, T.A., Hakan Yücel, Research Assistant Başak Demir, Assoc. Professor Aslı Didem Danış and Assist. Professor Ömer Aygün from Galatasaray University; Assist. Professor Gizem Bilgin, Research Assistant Mehtap Balık Kaya, Research Assistant Pedriye Mutlu, Professor Dinç Alada from Istanbul University; Lecturer Cansever Güner, Research Assistant Burcu Yılmaz Gündüz, Research Assistant Can Yalçın Armutçuoğlu, Professor Hatice Günay Göksu, Assoc. Professor Leyla Şimşek Rathke from Marmara University; Ali Serdar from Özyeğin University; Assist. Professor Ayşe Zeynep Akalın, Nergis Perçinel, Assist. Professor Ayşe Serdar from Istanbul Technical University; Assist. Professor Gülçin Balamir from Kemerburgaz University; Assist. Professor Çiğdem Bozdağ Bucak, Assist. Professor Çağla Diner from Kadir Has University; D.G. from Yıldız Technical University; Can Candan, Professor Rıfat Okçabol, Professor Reşit Canbeyli, Professor Berna Kılınç, PhD Aslı Zeren, Assist. Professor Meral Demirel, Assist. Professor Ceren Özselçuk, Assoc. Professor Zeynep Gambetti, Assist. Professor Albert Ali Salah from Boğaziçi University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on October 18, 2018. The court has consolidated the 32 separated cases at the previous trial. The court decided to ask for the Ministry of Justice’s permission for proceeding according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code and adjourned the trial to April 25, 2019.
(10/306) The Case Against HDP MP’s and former HDP Co-Chair…
The case against HDP Diyarbakır MP Feleknas Uca and HDP İstanbul MP Hüda Kaya, HDP former co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, former HDP MP’s Çağlar Demirel, Altan Tan, Ahmet Yıldırım, Ertuğrul Kürkçü, Mehmet Ali Aslan, Saadet Becerikli and İdris Baluken on Silvan Penal Court of First Instance is held on October 28, 2018. The court rejected the appeal of the lawyers to legal proceedings against Feleknas Uca and Hüda Kaya on the grounds of being MP’s and adjourned the trial.
(10/307) The Case Against Co-Mayor and Other People…
The final trial of the case against Van co-mayor Bekir Kaya, municipality employees Cuma Köylüoğlu, Çetin Çiftçi, Zelal Tanlı, Mehmet Halim Eryiğit, Can Tayan and MEYA-DER executives İdris Şaybak and Neriman Uyar, on Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on October 18, 2018. Bekir Kaya joint the trial via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court sentenced Bekir Kaya to 8 years and 3 months; Bekir Kıran, Çetin Çiftçi, Cuma Köylüoğlu, İdris Şaybak and Neriman Uyar to 2 years and 1 month. The court acquitted Zelal Tanlı, Mehmet Yalım Eryiğit and Can Tayan.
(10/308) HDP Executives and Members on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 12 members and executives of HDP, including Doğan Erbaş, former Istanbul co-chair, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 is held on October 18, 2018. The court released Doğan Erbaş and Kasım Oba, the only arrested defendants of the case, and adjourned the trial to May 14, 2019.
(10/309) CHP Executive on Trial in Çorum…
The case against İzzet Burak Karaca, İskilip district chair of Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Çorum, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ on social media posts is held and the court sentenced İzzet Burak Karaca to 11 months and 20 days. The court then converted the sentence to a fine of 7.000 Turkish Liras.
(10/310) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against journalists Tunca Öğreten, Orhan Şahin, Mehmet Çağlar, Perihan Mağden, for an interview published on www.diken.com.tr portal and then on Yurt newspaper, on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance is held on October 18, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to December 27, 2018.
(10/311) German Citizen Singer on Trial in Edirne…
The case against Saide İnaç, a German citizen singer, on Edirne Heavy Penal Court No 3, on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, ‘inciting hatred and hostility among public’ and ‘insulting Atatürk’ is held on October 17, 2018. Saide İnaç joint the trial via sound and vision system. The court rejected the demand of lawyers for Saide İnaç’s being brought to the trials The court decided to continue detention of Saide İnaç and adjourned the trial.
Saide İnaç was detained on June 23, 2018 in Edirne where she came to support HDP’s campaign for elections on June 24, 2018; she was arrested on June 26, 2018 on the grounds of her social media posts.
(10/312) People on Trial for Supporting Airport Construction Workers in Istanbul…
26 people have been detained in the police intervention against the press declaration organized by Construction Workers’ Union (İnşaat-İş) and DISK affiliate Revolutionary Construction Workers’ Union (Dev Yapı İş) in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on September 15, 2018, to protest detention of Istanbul’s 3rd airport’s construction workers. The indictment against those 26 people on the charge of ‘resisting despite the warning to dispense unlawful assembly or demonstrations’ is accepted by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 32. The first trial will be held on January 11, 2019.
(10/313) The Case on the Incidents in the Funeral of Aysel Tuğluk’s Mother…
The case against 19 defendants about the attack during the funeral of HDP vice co-chair Aysel Tuğluk’s mother in Ankara İncek Cemetery, continued to be held in Gölbaşı 2nd Penal Court of First Instance on October 17, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to November 27, 2018.
The court has released 3 arrested defendants on the first trial of the case held on October 6, 2017.
(10/314) Non-Prosecution for the Investigation on Dilan Alp’s Being Wounded Due to Bomb Shell of the Police…
Dilan Alp has been wounded due to being hit by a gas bomb shell shot by the police intervening the May 1 celebrations in 2013. The prosecutor’s office declared non-prosecution as a result of the investigation on the incident, on the grounds that ‘the identity of the police officer who shot the gas bomb is undetectable’.
Dilan Alp has claimed for a suit for damages against the Ministry of Interior, however Istanbul Administrative Court No 10 has rejected the case.
(10/315) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Habip Atasoy, a former judge who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on October 18, 2018. The court sentenced Habip Atasoy to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against İlker Şahin on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on October 18, 2018. The court sentenced İlker Işık to 10 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Çelikaslan on İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on October 18, 2018. The court sentenced Mehmet Çelikaslan to 12 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(10/316) Prevention of an Event in Ankara…
It is learned that the appeal of Yeni Asya newspaper, to organize “Mawlid for Bediüzzaman” at Ankara Kocatepe Mosque on October 21, 2018 is rejected by Çankaya Mufti Office which grounds the rejection as “Demand to organize a mawlid at stated mosque on stated date is not considered as appropriate”.
[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, 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.