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4-6 July 2015 HRFT Daily Human Rights Report

4-6 July 2015 Daily Human Rights Report

(07/034) Suspicious Private Death in Ankara…

Özkan Yıldırımlar (19) who was serving for compulsory military service in Ankara Support Command allegedly committed suicide on 5 July 2015 by hanging himself with his weapon’s sling during night watch. He was registered to Cyprus.

(07/035) Impunity in Disappearance in Custody Case…

Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 9 concluded on 3 July 2015 to hear the case against 6 soldiers launched in connection with the disappearance of 6 villagers on 14 May 1993 after having been detained on order of Mete Sayar, Şırnak Brigade Commander on the day of incident, for aiding and abetting PKK in Derecik hamlet of Görümlü town in Silopi district of Şırnak. The villagers had been Şemdin Cülaz, Mehmet Salih Demirhan, Halit Özdemir, İbrahim Akıl, Hamdo Şimşek and Hikmet Şimşek. The case was launched just 3 days before the lapse of time.

After the Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations, the court acquitted the defendants following the demnd of the Public Prosecutor on the grounds of lack of evidences.

The indictment wanted the defendants Mete Sayar, retired Colonel Albay Hasan Basri Vural, First Lieutenant İbrahim Kıraç, Captain Murat Ali Yıldız, Lieutenant Serdar Tekin and Tansel Erok to heavy life imprisonment.

(07/036) Killings by Unidentified Assailants Case…

Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 1 continued on 3 July 2015 to hear the case against 19 persons including Mahmut Yıldırım aka Yeşil, Mehmet Ağar and Korkut Eken launched for 18 killings by unidentified assailants in 1990s.

The defendants did not appear at the court. Mehmet Eymür, former Head of Central Intelligence Service (MİT), testified at the hearing as witness to the effect that the first list of the persons to be killed had been consisting of 29 persons, but the number had increased to 54 persons. He also added that the persons could not have been killed without the consent of Mehmet Ağar.

Mehmet Ağar testified at the hearing through SESBİS teleconference system.

The court locked the court room and did not allow the entrance of any journalists or spectators. In his testimony, Mehmet Ağar pleaded not guilty and alleged that he was doing his duty.

Kutlu Savaş who was Chair of Prime Ministry Inspection Board then also testified at the hearing. Kutlu Savaş testified to the effect that lots of crimes had been committed in the 1990s allegedly for the sake of fight to terrorism. Kutlu Savaş also added that the killings by unidentified assailants had started after Tansu Çiller’s statement “We have the list of businessmen who help PKK”. He also stated that “using weapons of killed PKK militants had been ideal for the assassinations”.

The court adjourned the hearing to 20 November 2015 for the continuation of the testimonies of both witnesses and defendants, and completion of the deficient documents.

(07/037) Mardin JİTEM Case…

According to the news appeared in the press on 3 July 2015, 5th Penal Chamber at the Court of Cassation rejected the demand of Governorate in Adıyaman for the transfer of the gendarmerie intelligence service JİTEM case to another city for security reasons. Adıyaman Heavy Penal Court No 1 will reportedly start to hear the case on 1 October 2015.

The case was launched in Mardin and Midyat (Mardin) Heavy Penal Court accepted the transfer of case against 5 defendants to Adıyaman for security measures. The case was launched in connection with the killings of 8 persons including 3 children and one solider. 7 persons were found dead after having been detained by gendarmerie intelligence JİTEM between 30 October 1995 and 3 November 1995 in Dargeçit district of Mardin.

According to the indictment, 7 persons had been detained during house raids by gendarmerie soldiers along with the temporary village guards. They had been killed under torture and thrown in lime pit. Specialist Sergeant Bilal Batırır (25) who had witnessed the killings and informed officials had been also killed and burnt in a coal bunker.

(07/038) Hate Crime in İstanbul…

The march organised on 4 July 2015 by the İstanbul branch of grey wolves to protest in the oppression on Muslim minority in Xian autonomous region of China turned into racist attacks. The march started on Beyazıt Square and planned to be end on Sultanahmet Square in İstanbul. After the end of the march, grey wolves attacked a group of tourist from Far East when they were visiting Topkapı Palace.

(07/039) Villagers Wounded by the Soldiers…

The soldiers opened fire against a vehicle on 4 July 2015 nearby Gare village of Şemdinli district in Hakkari for being border traders. When the villagers gathered nearby the place of the incident, the soldiers attacked them by using tear gas. 3 persons were wounded during the attack.

(07/040) Torture and Ill-treatment in Custody…

According to the news appeared in the press on 6 July 2015, 5 persons who were detained by the Narcotic Branch on 27 May 2015 in Keçiören district of Ankara were subjected to torture in a construction area by the police. The incident was revealed when the lawyers of the victims made an official complaint against the police officers.

According to the official complaint, the victims were given electroshock with taser and fired with blank cartridges. The victims were also beaten in the construction area.

(07/041) Persons Acquitted from Putting Up Posters…

According to the news appeared in the press on 3 July 2015, Aliağa (İzmir) Penal Court of First Instance concluded on 20 June 2015 to hear the case against Şeref Sinan Erel and Hikmet Utkun Hız launched for possessing the posters with the photo of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and saying “Thief” on 4 April 2014.

The court acquitted the defendants by referring the case law of ECtHR on freedom of expression. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced according to the Article 125 TPC for “insulting public officer”.

(07/042) Persons Convicted from Putting Up Placard…

According to the news appeared in the press on 5 July 2015, Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 8 concluded on 26 June 2015 to hear the case against the students Hasret Akbıyık, Çağdaş Yurtseven and Mert Özay launched in connection with the placard “Dictators are overthrown on the streets” they put up on a building in Eskişehir Anadolu University campus.

The case was launched upon permission of the Ministry of Justice and the defendants were sentenced to 11 months and 20 days’ imprisonment under the Article 299 TPC for “insulting State President”.

(07/043) Distributers Attacked and Police Intervention…

A group of grey wolves attacked the stands of political parties and publishing houses on 3 July 2015 on Konur street in Ankara. The attackers were carrying the flags of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). When the attack turned into a quarrel between 2 groups, the police intervened the attacked persons by using tear gas and rubber bullets. 2 persons were detained during intervention.

Many persons were wounded during attack of the police. The nose of journalist Ercüment Özkaya was reportedly broken by the police and he was detained being handcuffed from behind.

(07/044) Workers’ Action Prevented…

The police intervened the workers of Arçelik Company in Çayırova district of Kocaeli who stopped the production to protest in the union in the sector Türk Metal Sendikası and detained 15 workers.

(07/045) Unionists Detained in İstanbul…

The police conducted house raids on 3 July 2015 in İstanbul and detained 3 persons including union in construction sector İnşaat-İş expert Serdar Ben on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

Serdan Ben was released by the court, but Mürüvvet Küçük, worker with the journal Alınteri, and reader of the journal Murat Şanlı were arrested for the same allegation.

(07/046) House Raids in izmir…

The police conducted house raids on 3 July 2015 in Gaziemir district of İzmir and detained 10 persons on the allegations of “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.

(07/047) House Raids in Ağrı…

The police conducted operations on 3 July 2015 in Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı and detained 7 persons under beatings.

Prisoners’ families solidarity association TUHAYD-DER (Tutuklu ve Hükümlü Aileleriyle Yardımlaşma Derneği) representative for Doğubayazıt district Mehmet Bozkurt, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) delegate Ziya Özberk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former Co-Chair for Doğubayazıt district Cemil Rızaoğulları, İbrahim Bobilik and Baran Çağlı who were among detainees were arrested on 5 July 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.

(07/048) House Raids in Mardin…

3 persons who were among 11 persons detained during operations in Mardin and Nusaybin district were arrested on 5 July 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

(07/049) Detentions and Arrests…

Former Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Chair for Muradiye district in Van province Vahap Aslan who was detained in Çaldıran district of Van was arrested on 5 July 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.