Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 – 24 December 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/286) Person Who Was Killed for Saying “I am Kurd” in Sakarya…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 22, 2018 that, Kadir Sakçı (43) and his son B.S. (16, m) was assaulted by Hikmet Usta, a person who stops them on their way fort hey speak Kurdish in Hendek district of Sakarya. It is claimed on the news reports that, Hikmet Usta asked “Are you Kurds?” to them and Kadir Sakçı responded as “Yes we are Kurds”, and then Hikmet Usta pulled his gun out and shot, heavily wounding Kadir Sakçı and B.S. It is reported that Kadir Sakçı died in hospital.
It is learned that Hikmet Usta was detained and said “I was drunk at the time of the incident and I do not remember” in his statement.
(12/287) Children Got Wounded Due to Explosion of Material They Found in the Field in Mersin…
It is learned that 5 children (H.D, Y.D, C.D, S.T. and M.R.) got wounded due to explosion of material they found on a rocky field in Erdemli district of Mersin on December 22, 2018. It is learned that 1 of the children is in serious condition.
(12/288) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 21, 2018 that 3 HPG militants died in an air bombardment of Turkish Air Force to Qandil area on November 24, 2018.
(12/289) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 21, 2018 that 4 people who were detained by gendarmerie in Hani district of Diyarbakır on December 17, 2018, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody. It is also reported that lawyers of these 4 people were not allowed to see their clients when they go to Hani District Gendarmerie Station. It is learned that lawyers were allowed to see their clients for only 5 minutes at their second visit to the station. Lawyers stated in the news reports that these 4 people “were seriously tortured, were subjected to beating and were forced to accept the alleged offences”. It is also learned that the judicial medical report on these 4 people was provided by a physician who was called to the station.
(12/290) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Mersin…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 21, 2018 that, Ramazan Kaya, who went to the police station in Akdeniz district of Mersin to give his official statement, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment.
Ramazan Kaya stated the following in the news reports: “Police officers tried to pull me in a room without security cameras. When I resist to it, something came out chafing of my throat and started bleeding. I fainted. When I got conscious I saw that I was covered in blood.”
It is learned that Ramazan Kaya made an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office.
(12/291) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 23, 2018 that, Mine Kaynak from Radio Dünya which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, was detained in Urfa on December 2, 2018 and was subjected to strip search under custody.
(12/292) Children Got Wounded in an Incident in Sincan Juvenile Prison…
It is learned that 7 children and 14 wardens got wounded in quarrel took place in Sincan Juvenile Prison. The reason and nature of the quarrel is unknown. It is also learned from the news reports that, a group of lawyers from Prison Watch Committee, Lawyers Rights Center and Children’s Rights Center of Ankara Bar Association visited the prison however only the first lawyer arriving there was allowed in and that the prison administration rejected demands of communication.
(12/293) Coercion to Uniforms and Reactions Against This…
The police intervened into the press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Galatasaray Square in Istanbul on December 22, 2018 against uniform coercion in prisons, and detained 1 person (Feridun Osmanoğlu).
The police intervened into the press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on December 22, 2018 against uniform coercion in prisons, and detained 3 people (Bengisu Demirel, Taylan Sungur and Sinan Yanbal).
(12/294) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on December 22, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s tutelary and lawyer in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275).
(12/295) 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 775 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on December 21, 22, and 23, 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 21, 2018, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 4 people (Alev Şahin, Nazan Bozkurt, Sinan Yanbal and Bengisu Demirel) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on December 22, 2018, 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Ünal Kaymak) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on December 23, 2018, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 14 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on December 21, 22, and 23, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(12/296) 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 21, 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 63rd time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(12/297) 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 717th time on December 22, 2018. Upon police prevention, the group including parliament members, 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. The police prevented the march too, thus, the group had a sit-in protest and made a press declaration there. It is learned that the police prevented the journalists reporting on the press declaration as well.
(12/298) Police Intervention Against TOKI Workers’ Protest in Ankara…
8 workers of TOKİ construction in Mamak district of Ankara who were detained on December 20, 2018 are released on December 22, 2018. Workers were detained by the police intervening into the picket line of for not receiving their wages for a while. The names of released workers are: Ömer Özkaya, Hasan Durgaç, Kerem Özkaya, Nazım Ertuş, Ozan Demirtaş, Doğukan Özkaya, Abdullah Çelik, Doğan Özkaya.
Workers went on a strike action after their employer asked for a pre-arranged bankruptcy and TOKI, as the contract giver did not pay workers’ wages; and they quit the strike after being promised to be paid. The police have intervened the picket line on December 2, 4, and 5, 2018 and detained 21 people in these three interventions.
(12/299) Police Intervention Against High School Students’ Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened into high school students’ press declaration in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on December 23, 3028 and detained 10 people by using physical violence. It is learned that students were subjected to physical violence in detention vehicle too. The press declaration of the students was aiming to call for the first trial of the case against students who made a protest on “report card day” on June 8, 2018 in Kadıköy district of Istanbul and who were detained by the police using physical violence.
Detained students were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day.
(12/300) Prevention of Press Declaration in Edirne…
The press declaration of a committee of writers, artists, journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders, to be held on December 21, 2018, in front of Edirne F Type Prison where Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) is kept, is prevented by the police on the grounds of Governorate’s prohibition order. It is learned that the press declaration is held in another place.
(12/301) Detained Newspaper Employee in Istanbul…
Tuba Bulut, an employee of Yeni Yaşam newspaper is detained in a house raid in Istanbul on December 22, 2018. It is reported that Tuba Bulut is taken to Istanbul Police Headquarters however the reason of detention is unknown.
(12/302) Detained CHP Members for Distributing Leaflets in Istanbul…
7 members of Republican People’s Party (CHP), who were detained by the police, while distributing leaflets on “December 17-25 Corruption Investigations” in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on December 22, 2018, are released after statement procedures at the police on the same day.
(12/303) Detained Members and Executives of HDP and DBP in Van…
On December 21, 2018, 6 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Van provincial co-chair Ümit Dede and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) provincial co-chair Ökkeş Kava, are detained in house raids in Van. Detained people are released by the court on December 22, 2018. The names of detained and then released people are: Ümit Dede, Ökkeş Kava, Handan Karakoyun, HDP provincial deputy co-chair Handan Karakoyun, HDP Gürpınar district co-chair Sinem Malal, and Peace Mothers’ Assembly members Hemi Akdoğan and Cahide Ölmez.
(12/304) Detained University Students in Tunceli…
3 of 16 university students who were detained on December 18, 2018 in Tunceli are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on December 22, 2018. 13 people are released. 16 students were detained for attending an event to commemorate Şerdil Cengiz, a student of Munzur University who was killed at a rally to protest curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır on December 14, 2015.
(12/305) 3rd Airport Workers in Istanbul Who Were Detained for Listening Kurdish Music…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 21, 2018 that, 3 workers of Istanbul’s 3rd airport construction were detained for listening Kurdish music and were released by the court on judicial control conditions. The names of detained workers are: Uğur Çıtanak, Musa Çelik, Mahsum (unknown surname).
(12/306) Detained Writer in Istanbul…
Writer İhsan Eliaçık who was detained on December 20, 2018 at Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul, where he went to give his official statement through a case opened in Batman, is released after statement procedures on December 21, 2018. It is learned that the case was opened on the charge of ‘insulting the President’.
(12/307) Detained Actors in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 23, 2018 that, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against actors Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen, for their words on a television program on Halk TV channel.
Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen are detained on December 24, 2018 through the investigation on the charge of “using insulting words about the President and making coup and death threats against the President”; and two actors are released by the court on judicial control conditions on the same day.
President Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen in a meeting he attended and said “(…) Now go and pay for it at the court (…) They will pay for it at the court”.
(12/308) Detained Person in Urfa for Social Media Posts…
Bülent Çevik, a person who was detained on December 19, 2018 in Urfa, for social media posts, is arrested by the court on December 21, 2018.
(12/309) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 3 academicians (Assist. Professor Bülent Şık, Assoc. Professor Süleyman Ulutürk and Professor Erdal Gilgil from Akdeniz University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on December 21, 2018. The court rejected the venue for the case against Bülent Şık and decided to send the case to Antalya Heavy Penal Court. The court decided to suspend the proceedings against Süleyman Ulutürk until the official permission of the Ministry of Justice in order to continue judging according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Erdal Gilgil.
The case against lecturer T.K. from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 is held on December 21, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to April 3, 2019.
(12/310) Executive of EMEP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Türkmen, deputy chair of Labour Party (EMEP), for his social media posts on Turkish Armed Forces’ operation to Afrin, is held on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 8 on December 21, 2018. The court acquitted Mehmet Türkmen.
(12/311) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 21, 2018, 12 people in operations covering 12 cities through an Istanbul based investigation are detained and 16 people including military members on active duty are detained in Bursa.
9 of 24 people who were detained through an Ankara based investigation against Gendarmerie Command personnel, are arrested by the court on December 21, 2018. 15 people are released on judicial control conditions.
On December 22, 2018, 1 former physician who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree is detained in Kırıkkale.
(12/312) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Kenan Fenci, a former police chief, is held on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 7 on December 21, 2018. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years 10 months and 15 days for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Savaş Çetinkaya and Hatice Çetinkaya on Çorum Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on December 21, 2018. The court sentenced Savaş Çetinkaya to 12 years and 6 months and Hatice Çetinkaya to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Abdulsamet T., a former police officer dismissed by a state of emergency, on Kastamonu Heavy Penal Court is held on December 21, 2018. The court sentenced the defendant to 3 years 1 month and 15 days for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(12/313) Curfew in Lice…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on December 23, 2018 and announced curfew in 2 villages and 5 hamlets of Lice district as of 06.00 on December 23, 2018 until further notice. The names of villages and hamlets under curfew are: Birlik and Şenlik villages; Miaran Komu, Kılaraş Komu, Şakan, Ayaz, Akçapınar hamlets.
[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.