Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
07 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/064) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 6, 2019 that 3 prisoners (Rahşan Aydın, Ebru Güden and Gülten Akgün) who are on hunger strike since December 26, 2018 in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison were not given vitamin B1.
(02/065) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 6, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers 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). With the last rejection, it was the 787th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(02/066) 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 820 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 6, 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 February 6, 2019, 3 people (Mahmut Konuk, Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) 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 February 6, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/067) Prevention of A Press Declaration in Mardin…
The police prevented the press declaration to be held by People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Mardin provincial organisation in front of Mardin E Type Prison for the hunger strike of prisoners on February 6, 2019. The group including HDP Mardin co-mayor candidates left in front of the prison.
(02/068) Police Intervention Against Students Holding a Banner in METU…
3 students of Middle East Technical University (METU), are detained by the police using physical violence, for holding a banner in front of Physics Department to protest President’s visit to the university on February 6, 2019.
(02/069) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against Research Assistant Sinem Aydınlı from Bahçeşehir University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 6, 2019. It is learned that the court interrupted Sinem Aydınlı’s lawyer during defence declarations. The court sentenced Sinem Aydınlı to 1 year and 3 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
The case against Assist. Professor Zeki Kanay from Dicle University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on February 5, 2019. The court adjourned the trial.
(02/070) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against Tunceli co-mayor Nurhayat Altun Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No 1 is held on February 6, 2019. The indictment demands jail sentences up to 22 years for Nurhayat Altun, on the charge of ‘leading an illegal organisation’, for 22 press declarations, rallies and funerals she attended and her activities within Democratic Society Congress (DTK). Nurhayat Altun did not join the trial.
The court decided to continue detention for Nurhayat Altun and adjourned the trial to March 18, 2019.
Nurhayat Altun was arrested on November 17, 2016 and a trustee was appointed to Tunceli Municipality on the same day.
(02/071) Journalists and Parliament Member on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Enis Berberoğlu, former executive editor of daily Cumhuriyet newspaper Can Dündar and Ankara correspondent Erdem Gül, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14, for publishing the footage of MIT (National Intelligence Service) trucks stopped in Adana and Hatay on January 19, 2014, is held on February 6, 2019. The lawyers demanded that legal proceedings against Enis Berberoğlu should be ended due to him being an MP, but the court rejected this demand on the grounds that “his previous legal immunity was not cancelled by ‘an individual parliament decision’ legally, and thus it is concluded that he does not have a new immunity according to Article 83/4 of the Constitution”. The court decided to separate the case against Can Dündar and adjourned the trial to May 15, 2019.
(02/072) Lawyers on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The case against 41 lawyers including Diyarbakır Bar Association chair Cihan Aydın, on the grounds of ‘misuse of duty’ by leaving the court room without permission at one of the trials of the case known as “Diyarbakır KCK Main Case”, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 12 on February 6, 2019. After defence hearings the court separated the cases against 2 lawyers and acquitted 39 lawyers.
(02/073) Dargeçit JİTEM Case…
The case against 18 people, for forced disappearance of 8 people including 3 children who were detained in Dargeçit district of Mardin between October 29, 2015 and March 8, 1996; and of special sergeant Bilal Batır, who was alleged to inform families of those disappeared forcefully, is held on Adıyaman Heavy Penal Court No 1 on the charge of ‘intentional killing’ on February 6, 2019.
Defendants Mehmet Tire, district gendarmerie commander back then; Hurşit İmren, gendarmerie commando battalion commander back then; Mahmut Yılmaz, gendarmerie central station commander back then; and Haydar Topcan who was special sergeant back then, joined the trial via sound and vision system.
Talip Yel, Dargeçit sub-governor back then; Emir Gültekin, who was on compulsory military service at the station back then; and special sergeant Ali Arısoy are heard at the trial as witnesses. Ali Arısoy, who was special sergeant back then stated the following: “2 teachers and 1 contractor were kidnapped. And then we heard that 6 civilians were detained around the house of those teachers. These people were described as ‘militia’ in relation with kidnapping of teachers. I do not recall their names now. Some people from undercover national intelligence organisation and JITEM (Gendarmerie Intelligence and Anti-Terror Department) conduct the detention procedures. Afterwards, I heard that these people were interrogated and then were killed at different locations and were buried. I do not know who gave the orders either who killed them.”
The court adjourned the trial to May 13, 2019.
(02/074) Police Officer on Trial for Committing Physical Violence Against Perihan Pulat…
The case against 1 police officer for injuring Perihan Pulat (77), a participator of “I Want My Job Back” protests, in the police intervention on May 1, 2018 started to be held on Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 14 on February 6, 2019. It is learned that the police officers did not attend the trial on the excuse that he is on duty for electoral security assignment however the court did not accept the excuse and issued a detention warrant on him.
Perihan Pulat stated the following on the police violence she was subjected to: “I was waiting in front of Chamber of Architects on May 1, 2018; and a person threw me up in the air at a moment that I did not see or notice; I was flying in the air. Security cameras have recorded this person. I fell onto the concrete pavement on my head.”
The footage submitted to the court by Ankara Directorate of Security are watched at the trial. It is learned that the footage did not cover the moments when Perihan Pulat were subjected to police violence. Perihan Pulat’s lawyers submitted the footage recorded by security cameras of Chamber of Architects.
The court rejected the demand of Perihan Pulat for arrest of the defendant police officer and adjourned the trial to May 24, 2019.
(02/075) The Case on Fire at Quran Course in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case regarding the fire that broke out on December 1, 2015 in a Quran course building related to Kulp district mufti organisation of Diyarbakır where 6 children died, against Faruk Işık, educator of the course and Özcan Ceylan, local authority of the village, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 6 on February 6, 2019. The court sentenced Faruk Işık to 9 years and 3 months for ‘the death of more than one person by reckless conduct’. The court acquitted 5 defendants. The court rejected to arrest Faruk Işık.
(02/076) People on Trial for Attending an Event for Abdullah Öcalan’s Birthday in Urfa…
The final trial of the case against 64 people for an event organized in Urfa for Abdullah Öcalan’s birthday on April 4, 2018, is held on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6 on February 6, 2019. The court sentenced 50 people to 1 year and 6 months each on the charge of violating Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911. The court decided to suspend verdict of 10 people; but did not suspend the verdict for 40 people on the grounds of having criminal records. The court decided to separate cases of 12 people and drop the case for 2 people due to death.
(02/077) People on Trial in Adıyaman for a Protest Against Law on Tobacco…
The case against 39 people for the action held on November 24, 2017 in Adıyaman to protest the law on tobacco, started to be held on Adıyaman Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on February 6, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial.
(02/078) Case to Close 68 Generation Foundation…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 6, 2019 that, Legal Department No 8 of the Supreme Court reversed the closure decision of 68 Generation Foundation. Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 15 has decided to close down the foundation and delete all registration information related, on April 13, 2017.
(02/079) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 6, 2019 17 people are detained for using ByLock, in house raids in Bursa.
(02/080) Curfew in Lice…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on February 6, 2019 and announced curfew in 7 villages of Lice district as of 06.00 on February 6, 2019 until a further notice. Diyarbakır Governorate made another declaration on the same day and lifted the curfew as of 24.00. The villages under curfew were: Ecemiş, Şenlik, Birlik, Abalı, Erginköy, Tuzlaköy and Ceper.
(02/081) Curfew in Hani…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on February 6, 2019 and announced curfew in 4 villages of Hani district as of 06.00 on February 6, 2019 until a further notice. Diyarbakır Governorate made another declaration on the same day and lifted the curfew as of 24.00. The villages under curfew were: Kaledibi, Akçayurt, Topçular and Yukarıturalı.
(02/082) March 31, 2019 Elections…
It is claimed on the news coverage of February 6, 2019 that campaign film of Felicity Party (SP) which was created to be shown at movie theaters, was banned from broadcasting as a result of pressures on the advertising agency that made the film.
[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.