Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
10 January 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/052) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 9, 2020 that 3 HPG militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Silopi district of Şırnak on November 19, 2019.
(01/053) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 9, 2020 that journalist Ruken Demir who is in Izmir Şakran Women’s Closed Prison, is prevented by prison administration from sending letters on the grounds that “she leaks information out”. It is also stated in the news reports that food given to prisoners contain bugs etc., clothes and books sent by families are not given to prisoners, and Yeni Yaşam, Evrensel and Birgün newspapers are not given either.
(01/054) 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 1157 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 9, 2020 at 13.30, and at 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 9, 2020, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Merve Demirel and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 9, 2020. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
(01/055) Detained People in Mardin…
It is learned that 10 people including Church of Saint Jacob priest Sefer Bileçen, and Üçköy village local authority Joseph Yar are detained on the grounds of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’, in house raids in Eskihisar, Üçköy and Üçyol villages of Nusaybin district of Mardin on January 9, 2020. Names of detained people are: Sefer Bileçen, Joseph Yar, Musa Taştekin, Dıljin Dinç, Xaço Dinç, Mehmet Başak, Mahmut Başak and Süleyman Genç.
(01/056) Detained People in Maraş…
3 people (Nuri Çul, İbrahim Usta and Ahmet Taş) who were detained at a police control point in Elbistan district of Maraş on January 9, 2020, fort hey have a banner with photographs of Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez, are released on the same day after statement procedures.
(01/057) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against People’s Democratic Party (HDP) former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 19 on January 9, 2020. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to May 27 and 28, 2020.
(10/058) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Osman Akın, former chief editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on January 9, 2020. The court sentenced Osman Akın to 5 months on the charge of ‘degrading Turkish nation, state of Turkish Republic, the organs and institutions of the state’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(01/059) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Seyhan Avşar, on the charge of ‘targeting a public officer’ for her news reports “Prosecutor of Sözcü case is an ex-convict”, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29, on January 9, 2020. The court adjourned the trial to May 21, 2020.
(01/060) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Cumhuriyet newspaper reporters Alican Uludağ and Duygu Güvenç, for the news reports on house confinement of USA citizen pastor Andrew Brunson, on the charge of ‘degrading state of Turkish Republic, and the organs and institutions of the state’ as to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on January 9, 2020. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to April 16, 2020.
(01/061) People on Trial in Şırnak…
The case against 5 people [Mehmet Demir (former co-mayor of Kumçatı town of Şırnak), Veli Encu, and HDP employees Salih Kerçin, Mazlum Güzel and Şehmus Kerçin], on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 1 on January 9, 2020. The court decided to continue detention of 5 people and adjourned the trial to January 28, 2020. 5 people were detained on May 22, 2019 and were arrested on May 24, 2019.
(01/062) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 20 people is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 24 on January 9, 2020. The court sentenced Cafer Tekin İpek to 6 years and 3 months and to a fine of 250.000 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘violating capital market law’, to 62 years 2 months and 21 days on the charge of ‘violating tax procedure law’, and to 11 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced Melek İpek to 4 years and 2 months and to a fine of 104.100 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘violating capital market law’, and to 7 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced 4 people to jail penalties from 6 years 3 months to 9 years 4 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’; 1 person to 18 years 7 months and 22 days on the charge of ‘forgery’; 8 people to 2 years and 1 month on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’. The court ruled to confiscate shares of 5 people in Koza-İpek Company. The court separated the cases against 5 people.
(01/063) Constitutional Court Decision on Freedom of Expression…
It is learned that Constitutional Court concluded on the appeal of Şaban Sevinç, former editor in chief of Halk TV channel. Şaban Sevinç was sentenced to a fine of 4.700 Turkish Liras by Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 30, on the charge of ‘publicly insulting an officer’, for saying “court jester” about Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Samsun MP and Minister of Youth and Sports. The court decided that freedom of expression of Şaban Sevinç was violated by penalty fine and sent the verdict to the local court for re-trial.
[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, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, 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.