26-30 November 2015 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/162) Tahir Elçi Murdered…
Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson Tahir Elçi was killed on 28 November 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır. 2 police officers were killed when 2 persons opened fire against them from a taxi nearby the Dört Ayaklı Minare in Sur district where a public statement was held. The attackers started to run through the street where the public statement was held. Tahir Elci was caught in a gun battle between the police and attackers; he was shot at head and died.
A police officer and a journalist were also wounded during the incident.
After the attack, curfew was declared n Sur district and the implementation of curfew ended in the morning of 30 November 2015.
The funeral of Tahir Elçi was on29 November 2015 in Diyarbakır with the attendance of 100 thousand people.
Tahir Elçi’s wife Türkan Elçi was threatened to death by someone on twitter. The person was identified as a police officer.
The police intervened the demonstrations staged in Diyarbakır and İstanbul staged to protest in the killing of Tahir Elçi. The demonstrations were dispersed by using tear gas and water cannons.
Crime scene investigators were also attacked on 28 and 30 November 2015. 2 police officers were wounded during the attack on 28 November 2015.
The weapons of 2 police officers who were recorded by the media were seized for ballistic investigation. The weapon found next to Tahir Elçi was also announced to be the one threw by one of the escaping persons.
Chief Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakır Ramazan Solmaz announced that the killing was investigated by a committee of 3 Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor and 5 Public Prosecutors. He added that the bullet which killed Tahir Elçi was not found.
Chief Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakır Ramazan Solmaz also took confidentiality decision concerning the investigation. The autopsy showed one bullet had penetrated the back of Elci’s neck, the Chief Public Prosecutor said.
Mikail Yerlikaya who was carrying photo of Tahir Elçi in Torbalı district of İzmir was beaten by the police.
(11/163) Nusaybin Blockaded…
The blockade and operations conducted under the decision of curfew ended on its 14th day as of 26 November 2015. 9 persons were killed during the operations in the district.
Governorate of Mardin declared curfew again on 29 November 2015 in the Abdülkadirpaşa, Fırat, Dicle and Yenişehir quarters of Nusaybin.
(11/164) Curfew in Derik…
Governorate of Mardin declared curfew in Derik district starting from 26 November 2015. The curfew reached its 5th day as of 30 November 2015.
(11/165) Person Killed by the Police in Şırnak…
Nasip Yeşil (18) who was on the roof of his house to talk on the phone was shot to death on 28 November 2015 by the police located in the Süleyman Demirel Primary School in Cudi quarter of Silopi district in Şırnak.
(11/166) Person Killed by the Police in Şırnak…
Hacı Sasur was shot to death when the police opened fire against a group of persons who staged a demonstration on 29 November 2015 in Cizre district of Şırnak to protest in the killing of Tahi Elçi.
(11/167) Person Shot in Hakkari…
Gever People’s Assembly Co-Chair Sibel Çapraz and 2 persons were wounded when the police opened fire from armoured vehicles on 28 November 2015 in Yüksekova (Gever) district of Hakkari.
(11/168) Person Shot in Cizre…
Dilber Yıldız (47) was wounded when the police opened random fire on 25 November 2015 in Nur quarter of Cizre district in Şırnak.
(11/169) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
An attack was organised against a police vehicle on 27 November 2015 in Diyarbakır. One of the 2 alleged attackers Süleyman Yakışır (23) died and 3 police officers were wounded during the clash that broke out after the attack.
A military vehicle was attacked with a rocket launcher on 30 November 2015 in Derik district of Mardin where curfew was implemented.
(11/170) Dilek Doğan Investigation…
According to the news appeared in the press on 29 November 2015, Public Prosecutor in İstanbul concluded the investigation concerning the killing of Dilek Doğan. The indictment wants a police officer to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 26 years and 6 months for “intentional killing by negligent conduct”.
Dilek Doğan (25) who was shot during a house raid on 18 October 2015 in Sarıyer district of İstanbul conducted in connection with a “DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) Investigation” died on 25 October 2015. She was heavily wounded when the police opened fire in the house. She was reportedly shot from behind. The authorities did not make any statement concerning the incident. But Dilek Doğan’s family declared that the police opened fire when they had a dispute for wearing overshoes to enter the house.
(11/171) Torture and Ill-treatment in Custody…
According to the news appeared in the press on 30 November 2015, the police detained Atatürk University student Z.İ. on 27 November 2015 in the university campus in Erzurum. Z.İ. was taken to Anti-Terror branch in Erzurum and stripped naked. S/he was forced to move in the room. He was also subjected to verbal and physical assault.
(11/172) Impunity in Police Violence Case…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 35 concluded on 26 November 2015 to hear the case against 3 police officers launched upon official complaint by Can Burak Sarıgül. He was beaten by the police during a demonstration staged on 27 May 2015 in İstanbul to protest in the International Higher Education Congress.
The court sentenced the police offices Abdullah Dal, Ali Mutlu and Mevlüt Ünlü to 7 months and 15 days’ imprisonment for “exceeding the right to use force”.
(11/173) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 26 November 2015, Sevinç Sönmez, Bahar Demir, Aysel Koç and Alev Yarar remanded in Elazığ E-type Prison for being on trial in a Maoist Communist Party (MKP) case were beaten in the prison. Bahar Demir and Aysel Koç were also transferred to other prisons without their demand.
(11/174) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 29 November 2015, 5 prisoners incarcerated in Erzurum H-type Prison were transferred to other prisons without their demand.
(11/175) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 26 November 2015, Public Prosecutor in İstanbul completed the indictment against Bülent Keneş, editor-in-chief with the daily Today’s Zaman. Bülent Keneş was detained on 9 October 2015 when he went to Çağlayan (İstanbul) Court House to testify in connection with an investigation started against him on the allegations of “insulting State President” was released by the court. Public Prosecutor objected the release decision and Bülent Keneş was arrested on 10 October 2015. He was released on 14 November 2015 upon objection of his lawyers.
The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced to term of imprisonment up to 8 years according to the Article 299 TPC and Penal Court of First Instance will start to hear the case if the indictment is accepted.
(11/176) Journalists Arrested in İstanbul…
7th Penal Court of Peace Judge on duty decided to arrest Can Dündar, editor-in-chief of the daily Cumhuriyet, and Erdem Gül, Ankara representative of the paper, on 26 November 2015. The journalist were arrested in connection with an investigation started concerning the news appeared in the paper on the transportation of fire arms to Syria by National Intelligence Service (MİT).
The arrest decision was taken on the allegations of “revealing information on the security of the state”, “political and military espionage”, “revealing confidential information”, and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
The police attacked a group of persons who were protesting in the arrest of the journalist on Yüksel Avenue in Ankara. The police dispersed the crowd by using tear gas.
(11/177) New Agency Editor Detained in İstanbul
İsminaz Ergün, editor with the Etkin News Agency (ETHA), was detained on 27 November 2015 when s/he went to İstanbul Security Directorate to take the official notice concerning an investigation started against her/him in connection with a column.
(11/178) Protest Intervened in Çanakkale…
2 members of Free Young Women (Özgür Genç Kadın) were detained on 29 November 2015 in Çanakkale when they wanted to put up the placard “Women will bring you to account for the massacres (katliamların hesabını kadınlar soracak)” on a ferry.
(11/179) Persons on Trial in Adana…
Adana Penal Court of First Instance No 25 started on 26 November 2015 to hear the case against 11 persons launched on charges of “damaging public property” and “resisting security forces”.
The police intervened when members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) tried to erect a tent in İnönü Park in Adana and detained 10 people under beatings. The 10 detainees were reportedly subjected to torture at 5 Ocak Police Station.
After the identification and testimonies of the defendants, the court decided to drop the case against the defendant Cebrail Günebakan who died in the bomb attack in Suruç and adjourned the hearing to 9 February 2016.
(11/180) Utku Kalı on Trial…
Amasya Heavy Penal Court continued on 26 November 2015 to hear the case against Utku Kalı launched for revealing intelligence in connection with the bomb explosions in Reyhanlı district of in Hatay on 11 May 2013. Utku Kalı was serving for compulsory military service. Two separate bombs exploded during the incident. 52 persons died and 130 persons were wounded.
In his opinion as to the accusations, the Public Prosecutor wanted the defendant to be acquitted. The court adjourned the hearing to 4 February 2016 for the preparation of the defence as to the accusations.
(11/181) Operations throughout Turkey…
Mehmet Aslan (19) who was shot and wounded by the police during the operations in Nusaybin district of Mardin was arrested on 26 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. Mehmet Aslan was being treated when arrested.
Muharrem Kılıç who was among 5 persons detained in Çatak district of Van was arrested on 26 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted operations on 26 November 2015 in Iğdır and detained 6 members of Democratic Regions Party (DBP). One persons was also detained in Şanlıurfa during the operations.
Sıddık Turan who was among 6 persons detained in Iğdır was arrested on 27 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
6 members of Socialist Youth Association (SGD) were reportedly detained on 25 November 2015 in Diyarbakır. Bülent Bakır was arrested in Silvan district of Diyarbakır on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Abbas Kaya and Şiyar Balkaya who were among 7 persons detained during house raids in Kepaz district of Antalya were arrested on 26 November 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
3 persons in Hakkari, 1 person in Van, and 1 person in Erzurum were detained during the operations on 27 November 2015.
The police conducted house raids on 28 November 2015 in Siverek district of Şanlıurfa and detained 10 persons. 4 persons including a child were detained on 29 November 2015 in Hazro district of Diyarbakır.