Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 January Daily Human Rights Report
(01/249) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 22, 2019 that Leyla Akyıldız, a prisoner kept in Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Closed Prison, who went to a hospital for dental treatment, was subjected to physical violence of the prison staff on duty, for rejecting to be treated in handcuffs.
(01/250) People Subjected to Police Violence in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 22, 2019 that, people who were detained in 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, were subjected to verbal and physical violence of the police under custody.
Selma Yusma, spokesperson of Dicle Amed Women’s Platform stated the following in the news reports: “Although we said that we were for a peaceful case, and that we will not have a violent event; they swooped on us without even warning, dragged us forcibly, and detained us pulling the hair, twisting the wrists, kicking and beating us. We, although we are all women and although disproportionate use of force is forbidden, were intervened by male police officers (…) The intervention did not end there, female police officers continue torturing us with insults, beatings, pulling hair and kicking us in the detention car while waiting for the medical examination in front of the hospital. The physician at the military hospital asked a woman ‘Have you been beaten?’, a woman with bloody eyes and bruises on her face due to violence. When the woman responded ‘Isn’t it obvious?’, the physician said ‘Is it me who told you to participate in a demonstration? Is it me who detained you?’. The physician rejected to give a medical report evidencing the violence, except for the woman for whom he cannot deny marks of physical violence, he did not do his duty as a physician, and was hostile against women who were subjected to physical violence.”
(01/251) 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 805 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 22, 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 22, 2019, 3 people (Celal Akgün, Mahmut Konuk and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 22, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/252) 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 22, 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 76th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(01/253) Police Raid to HDP Office in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that HDP’s office in Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır is raided by the police on January 22, 2019. It is reported that the reason of the raid was the banner with “Strengthen the Resistance in Prisons” expression, hung outside the office. It is learned that HDP Yenişehir district co-chair Vahap Günaydın and district executive Arzu Candan were detained in the police raid. It is reported that district co-chair Demet Özkaran also went to the police headquarters to give her official statement. It is learned that the detainees are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(01/254) Detained Local Authorities in Mardin…
On January 22, 2019, 10 people including local authorities who were replaced by trustees appointed by the Ministry of Interior, are detained in house raids in Derik and Kızıltepe districts of Mardin, on the grounds of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’.
The names of detained people are: Arif Tekin, local authority of Derinsu neighbourhood of Derik district and Şükrü Gümüş, local authority of Eşme neighbourhood of Kızıltepe district. The names of other 8 people is unknown.
(01/255) 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 (PhD Eralp Osman Erden from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Professor L.N. from Sabancı University and Assoc. Professor Tansel Korkmaz from Bilgi University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on January 22, 2019. The court adjourned the trials of the cases against Eralp Osman Erden and Tansel Korkmaz to March 12, 2019, and the trial of the case against L.N. to March 5, 2019.
The case against Research Assistant Adil Serhan Şahin from Bilgi University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 is held on January 22, 2019. The court decided to consolidate the case with other cases against academicians and adjourned the trial to April 25, 2019.
The case against PhD student Z.Ü.K. from Washington University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 is held on January 22, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to April 24, 2019.
(01/256) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist Nazlı Ilıcak on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 on the claim that she shared classified material which was removed from Turkish Presidency of General Staff records and annihilated on her “Military Intelligence and Tahşiye Group” article on Bugün newspaper published on January 2, 2015, is held on January 22, 2019. Nazlı Ilıcak attended the trial via sound and vision system from the prison and made her defence. The court sentenced Nazlı Ilıcak 5 years and 10 months for ‘securing information that is to be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security, or domestic or foreign political interests of the state’.
(01/257) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against co-executive editors Eren Keskin and Hüseyin Aykol, and managing editor Reyhan Çapan and journalist Hasan Başak, from Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 is held on January 22, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to May 7, 2019.
(01/258) Chair of EMEP on Trial…
The case against Selma Gürkan, chair of Labour Party (EMEP) on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ for her declarations on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin is held on January 22, 2019 on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded Selma Gürkan to be sentenced for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court adjourned the trial to April 24, 2019.
(01/259) People on Trial in Balıkesir…
The final trial of the case against Ali Tükengün, Edremit district representative of Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen); Kemal Yadırgı, organising executive of Eğitim-Sen; and Çağdaş Alkan, former district chair of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Youth Branch and Zekiye Buket Gürses, for participating in Gezi Park protests in 2013, is held on January 22, 2019. The court sentenced 4 people to 1 year and 3 months and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(01/260) Police Officer on Trial for Allegation of Killing Ekrem Görkem in Antep…
On December 31, 2017, a police officer Hasan Bilki opened fire with long barrelled weapon at a car on alleged attempt to run away from a police check point in Antep; Ekrem Görkem, a 16-years old child was seriously injured due to gunfire and died on January 13, 2018.
The case against police officer Hasan Bilki, for killing Ekrem Görkem, is held on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 11 on January 22, 2019. The indictment demands Hasan Bilki to be sentenced for ‘intentional killing’. The court rejected the demand of complainant lawyers for arrest of the defendant and adjourned the trial to March 15, 2019.
(01/261) The Case Against the Ministry of Interior for Death of Helin Hasret Şen…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 22, 2019 that, on the case on Diyarbakır Administrative Court No 3, against The Ministry of Interior, for death of Helin Hasret Şen, the court sentenced The Ministry of Interior to pay 314.000 Turkish Liras as material and immaterial damages on ‘failure of service’. Helin Hasret Şen died due to the gunfire opened by the police on the street in Sur district of Diyarbakır, during curfew on October 12, 2015.
(01/262) Case of Çağrı Danışman…
The final trial of the case against 22 police officers, for death of Çağrı Danışman, is held on Antalya Heavy Penal Court No 6 on January 22, 2019. Çağrı Danışman died due to police torture, after being detained on allegation of killing 3 police officers, on October 4, 2012 in Antalya.
The indictment demands lifetime imprisonment for 7 police officers for ‘intentional killing’, and jail sentence up to 15 years for 15 police officers for ‘torture’.
The court acquitted 22 defendant police officers.
(01/263) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 22, 2019, 27 people are detained through an Ankara based investigation against former employees of the ministries; 14 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 9 cities through a Kocaeli based investigation; 27 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 21 cities through an Izmir based investigation and 9 people in Ankara are detained.
A.Ş., a person who was detained on January 15, 2019 in Antep is arrested by the court on January 22, 2019.
(01/264) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Sefa Bozdoğan, İyi Party Çukurova district Youth Branch chair, on Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11 is held on January 22, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years 10 months and 15 days for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/265) Constitutional Court Decision on Education Workers’ Participation to a Union Action…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 22, 2019 that, The Constitutional Court concluded the application of Yılmaz Güneş and Yusuf Karataş, executives of Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen), who were subjected to reprimand and disciplinary punishment for participating in the rally of ‘Support to Mother Tongue Based Education’, organized by Eğitim-Sen in Diyarbakır in 2011. The court fined the authorities to pay 4000 Turkish Liras as material damages for ‘violating the freedom of assembly’ of Yılmaz Güneş and Yusuf Karataş.
[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.