Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 January Daily Human Rights Report
(01/234) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 21, 2019 that 2 prisoners (Kadir Karabak and Esat Naci Yıldırım) who are on an indefinite hunger strike for 127 days in Van F Type Prison to protest right violations, quit their strike on January 21, 2019 after the prison administration accepts their demands.
It is reported that Kadir Karabak and Esat Naci Yıldırım demanded Turkish Medical Association to be involved in their treatment, however their demand was rejected by prison administration. Kadir Karabak and Esat Naci Yıldırım were then taken back to prison by shuttle from the hospital where they were taken to by an ambulance.
(01/235) 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 804 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 21, 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 21, 2019, 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Hayri Aktaş, Erol Nuzket and Cemal Öksüz) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 6 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 21, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/236) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the protestors in front of Çankaya Public Health Directorate on December 31, 2018, who rally to regain their jobs from which they had been dismissed by state of emergency decrees, and detained 2 people (Mahmut Konuk and 1 more person). It is learned that 2 people were released the same day.
(01/237) 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 January 21, 2019, 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 75th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(01/238) Detained Journalists in Diyarbakır…
Jinnews reporters Beritan Canözer and Beritan Elyakut, and Hevidar Ödüngit are detained by the police at a park in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on January 21, 2019. It is learned that 3 people were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. The reason of detention is unknown.
(01/239) Police Intervention Against Women’s March in Diyarbakır…
20 people who were detained by the police intervention into 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, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) 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, are released by the court on January 21, 2019.
(01/240) Detained Executives of HDP and Peace Mothers in Izmir…
3 of 14 people (Selahattin Işık, Fatma Yetim ve Kerem Ay) including HDP executives and Peace Mothers who were detained in house raids in Izmir on January 18, 2019, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on January 21, 2019. 10 people (Cemile Aydın (67), Hayat İzgi (48), Behiye Yalçın (60) ve Zarife Karasungur, Sabri Adıbelli, Mahmut Demir, Ezgi Yagcı, Dünyamalı Ariç, Neriman Ay, İbrahim Kortak) are released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office. It is learned that Türkan Poyraz is arrested on the grounds of a finalised verdict of another case against her.
(01/241) Arrested Person for ‘Making Propaganda for an Illegal Organisation’ in Istanbul…
Serap Mutlu, who was detained in Istanbul and then arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on January 14, 2019, on the grounds of wearing a yellow-red-green scarf at her mother’s funeral, is released on January 21, 2019 upon objection of her lawyers.
(01/242) Journalist on Trial in Tunceli…
The case against Evrensel newspaper reporter Kemal Özer on Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No 1 is held on January 21, 2019. The court released Kemal Özer on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to March 11, 2019.
Kemal Özer was arrested on September 4, 2017, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/243) Grup Yorum Band Members on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 15 people, 11 of which are arrested including Grup Yorum musical band members is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 on January 21, 2019. Berk Ercan is heard as a secret witness. After defence hearings the court released Grup Yorum band members Sultan Gökçek and Betül Varan; and Yurdagül Gümüş and Nurhan Yılmaz and adjourned the trial.
(01/244) Investigation Against Ekşi Sözlük Writer…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 21, 2019 that Kocaeli Karamürsel Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against Volkan Y., a writer/contributor of web-based dictionary Ekşi Sözlük, for an entry he wrote, on the charge of ‘provoking the public to hatred, hostility and degrading’. It is also learned that Volkan Y. gave his official statement at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 22 through the investigation.
It is reported that the indictment states that the entry of Volkan Y. ‘implies descendants of Ottoman Empire and thus gives the sufficient suspicion for the offence of degrading the public’.
(01/245) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 21, 2019, 13 people are detained in house raids in Tokat.
(01/246) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Hüseyin Kulaç, former member of the Supreme Court, is held on Penal Department No 9 of the Supreme Court on January 21, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 8 years and 9 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Miktat B., a former prosecutor, is held on Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11 on January 21, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/247) Curfew in Bitlis…
Bitlis Governorate made a declaration on January 21, 2019 and announced curfew in 42 villages of central district as of 06.00 on January 21, 2019 until a further notice. The villages under curfew are: Çalıdüzü, İçgeçit, Akçalı, Yukarıölek, Aşağıölek, Oğulcak, Kalupat, Dutköy, Karakuş, Aşağıbalcılar, Yukarıbalcılar, Çeltikli, Aşağıyolak, Yukarıyolak, Beşkaynak, Yarönü, Dikme, Yukarıdikme, Aşağıdikme, Bayırlı, Kutlu, Akgün, Çobansuyu, Aşağıçobansuyu, Güllüce, Kınalı, Cevizdalı, Kayalıbağ, Karaca, Esenburun, Uçankuş, Bayramalan, Üçevler, Başmaklı, Dursun, Yukarıçerman, Kaşıklı, Konalga, Ilıcak, Ünaldı, Ağaçdere, Aşağıkoçak, Harmanyeri.
(01/248) ECHR Decision on Mahmut Alınak…
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concluded on the application of Mahmut Alınak, who was sentenced to 50 days by Kars Penal Court of Peace, for his application to Kars Municipality, for some streets in the city to be named after Musa Anter, Deniz Gezmiş, Vedat Aydın, Kemal Akbulut and Oruç Korkmaz. ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay damages for ‘violating the freedom of though and expression of Mahmut Alınak. According to ECHR decision, Turkey will pay 3200 Euro as damages.
[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.