Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 December 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/249) The Case Against HRFT President for Signing the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The final trial of the case against HRFT President Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on December 19, 2018. Several people including parliamentary members, academicians, representatives of NGOs and right defenders.
The chief judge stated at the beginning of the trial that, interviews with Şebnem Korur Fincancı published on Özgür Gündem and Evrensel newspapers and the preliminary report of the research visit made to Cizre after the curfew was lifted there, are added to the case file as evidential documents. The court rejected the demand for recording of the trial via sound and vision system.
The lawyers demanded recusation, based on the court board’s losing objectivity on the case; and the court board rejected this demand too. After defence declarations, the court sentenced Fincancı to 2 years and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, with an increase of penalty, considering the information and documents provided by Fincancı in her declarations as an evidence against her. The court did not reduce the penalty nor did it defer the announcement of the verdict.
Thus, among all cases against Academics for Peace, the maximum penalty is given to Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı so far. As stated in the court’s verdict, Şebnem Korur Fincancı is sentenced not only for signing the petition but also for her interviews with media and the reports she prepared on serious violations as a right defender.
542 academicians who sign the petition “We Will not be a party to this crime!” are charged with “making propaganda for an illegal organisation” specified in article 7/2 of Anti-Terror Law; and judging has been started for 429 of them. In concluded cases 59 academicians are sentenced to 1 year and 3 months each; 3 academicians are sentenced to 1 year and 6 months each; 1 academician is sentenced to 2 years and 3 months and lastly, 1 academician is sentenced to 2 years and 6 months.
(12/250) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that 3 prisoners (Metin Serhat, Musa Candemir and Harun Alkan) in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, started an indefinite hunger strike on December 17, 2018, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that 6 prisoners (Emine İnan, Sevim Ekin, Gülistan Seçkin, Remziye Karadağ, Kader Peker and Zeynep Turan) in Elazığ Women’s Prison are on 48th day of their hungers strike which started on November 2, 2018 for the same cause.
(12/251) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that, prisoners in Manisa T Type Prison who reject to stand in military order during roll-calls, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that, Kandıra F Type Prison administration has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Resmiye Vatansever, a prisoner who goes on a hunger strike to support Democratic Society Congress /DTK) co-chair and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari MP Leyla Güven’s hunger strike. It is reported that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against prisoners on hunger strike in Urfa T Type Prison No 2. It is learned that 4 prisoners on hunger strike in Urfa Women’s Prison were transferred to another prison under coercion.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison No 1 were provided water only 2 hours a day, the prisoners referred to the infirmary were forced to be in handcuffs and were not treated otherwise.
(12/252) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened into the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 771 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on December 19, 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 December 19, 2018, 5 people (Alev Şahin, Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Dersulu, Nazan Bozkurt and Engin Karataş) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Alev Şahin, Engin Karataş) were detained.
Thus in total 8 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on December 19, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(12/253) 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 December 19, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 61st time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(12/254) Detained Lawyer in Istanbul…
Lawyer Didem Baydar Ünsal who was detained on December 18, 2018, while she was on “Watch for Solidarity with Arrested Lawyers” outside of Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul, is released by the court on judicial control conditions on December 19, 2018.
(12/255) Former Co-Chair of HDP on Trial…
The 1 year and 6 months’ jail sentence given to HDP’s former co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, by Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 13, for an interview with her published on Deutshe Welle in 2015, is approved by Penal Department No 20 of Ankara Regional Court, on December 19, 2018.
(12/256) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The case against HDP’s former Mardin MP Gülser Yıldırım on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, is held on December 19, 2018. Gülser Yıldırım did not attend the trial and the court adjourned the trial to February 1, 2019 waiting for prosecutor’s legal opinion as to accusations.
(12/257) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against Tunceli co-mayor Nurhayat Altun on Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No 1 is held on December 19, 2018. The indictment demands jail sentences up to 22 years for Nurhayat Altun, on the charge of ‘leading an illegal organisation’, for 22 press declarations, rallies and funerals she attended and her activities within Democratic Society Congress (DTK). Nurhayat Altun joined the trial via sound and vision system from Kandıra F Type Prison No 1.
Metin Alpaslan, a witness heard at the trial, stated that he does not know Nurhayat Altun and that he has signed the statement against her without seeing the content.
After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention for Nurhayat Altun and adjourned the trial to February 6, 2019. Nurhayat Altun was arrested on November 17, 2016 and a trustee was appointed to Tunceli Municipality on the same day.
(12/258) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against 7 people including Evin Keve, co-mayor of Çatak district of Van, is held on Van Heavy Penal Court No 5 on December 19, 2018. After defence hearings the court released Evin Keve, Cihan Tuci, Fırat Keve, Osman Balka, Nihat Babur, Turgut Babur and decided to continue detention for Vehbi Babur, and adjourned the trial to May 2019.
Evin Keve was arrested on January 3, 2016. The Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to Çatak Municipality on January 6, 2017.
(12/259) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 19, 2018, 37 former police officers who were dismissed by state of emergency decrees are detained in operations covering 13 cities through an Ankara based investigation; and 11 people including military members on active duty are detained in Izmir.
30 of 62 people who were detained through an Ankara based investigation against Turkish Air Force personnel, are arrested by the court on December 19, 2018. 32 people are released on judicial control conditions.
(12/260) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 3 former military members (Fatih Öztürk, Hanifi Taşdemir and Mustafa İmir) on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6 is held on December 19, 2018. The court sentenced 3 defendants to 6 years 10 months and 15 days each for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against 37 former police officers (including 5 arrestees) who were dismissed by state of emergency decrees, on Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11 is held on December 19, 2018. The court sentenced 22 defendants to jail penalties differing from 2 years and 1 month to 7 years and 6 months. The court acquitted 14 defendants and separated the case for 1 defendant.
(12/261) Armed Assault to a Political Party’s office in Adana…
İYİ Party’s Sarıçam district office in Adana is assaulted by anonymous armed person or persons on December 19, 2018. It is learned there is no casualties but material damage due to the attack which was carried out at night.
(12/262) Ban on an Event in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2018 that, the talk on “Yellow Vests Movement” in French, which was organised by Middle East Technical University (METU) Socialist Thought Community was banned by Ankara Governorate.
It is also learned that based on the ban decision, METU Rectorate decided to close the classrooms and postpone lectures and examinations after 4.30 p.m.
(12/263) Ban on Events in Maraş…
Maraş Governorate made a declaration on December 19, 2018 and banned all meetings, demonstrations and such events all over the city until December 31, 2018.
(12/264) Number of Arrests for Social Media Posts in 2018…
Anti-Cybercrimes Department of Police Directorate made a declaration on December 19, 2018 and stated that, 7.109 people were detained for social media posts in 2018; and 2.754 of them are arrested while 2.828 of them are released on judicial control conditions.
(12/2675) Cancelled Press Credential Cars…
Vice President Fuat Oktay, responded to the parliamentary question of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Izmir MP Atila Sertel, and stated that 1.954 press credential cards were cancelled as of November 19, 2018 since January 1, 2016.
[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.