Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
10 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/112) 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 1217 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 9, 2020 at 13.30, and forced people away from the monument. It is learned that Nazan Bozkurt was detained on the grounds of ‘insulting an officer on duty’.
(03/113) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the sit-in protest at Bakırköy Square on March 9, 2020 of Nursel Tanrıverdi who rally for 155 weeks to regain her job from which she had been dismissed by state of emergency decree, and detained her by using physical violence. Nursel Tanrıverdi is released on the same day.
(03/114) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, at Khalkedon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on March 9, 2020 and detained 1 person (Feridun Osmanağaoğlu). Mustafa Koçak is on death fast for 251 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison, to demand a fair trial. İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek have gone on a hunger strike on June 18, 2019 and İbrahim Gökçek turned his strike to a death fast on January 3, 2020 and Helin Bölek did it so on January 20, 2020.
(03/115) Police Intervention to a Protest in Izmir…
The police intervened the press declaration of Izmir Platform of Living Spaces, in front of Izmir Chamber of Commerce on March 9, 2020; to protest the meeting of “Ege Tourism Plan – Çeşme Project” with Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. It is learned that the police forced people away by using physical violence and that the press declaration was then held at Cumhuriyet Square.
(03/116) Osman Kavala is Arrested…
It is learned that a new investigation on the grounds of ‘political or military espionage’ against Osman Kavala, Anadolu Kültür chair of executive board. Osman Kavala gave official statement via sound and vision system on March 9, 2020; and is arrested by the court on the same day.
(03/117) The Case Against Diyarbakır Co-Mayor…
The final trial against Diyarbakır co-mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on March 9, 2020. Selçuk Mızraklı was suspended by Ministry of Interior and a trustee was appointed as mayor to Diyarbakır on August 19, 2019.
Selçuk Mızraklı did not join the trial for he rejects joining via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court sentenced Selçuk Mızraklı to 9 years 4 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Selçuk Mızraklı was detained on October 21, 2019 and was arrested on October 22, 2019.
(03/118) The Case Against Yüksekova Co-Mayor…
The final trial against Hakkari’s Yüksekova district co-mayor İrfan Sarı, is held at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 3 on March 9, 2020.
İrfan Sarı joined the trial from Elazığ T Type Prison via sound and vision system.
After defence hearings the court acquitted İrfan Sarı on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and sentenced him to 1 year and 3 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court released İrfan Sarı upon its verdict.
İrfan Sarı was detained on October 15, 2019 and was arrested on October 17, 2019. Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to Yüksekova Municipality on October 18, 2019.
(03/119) The Case Against Former Co-mayor and Former DBP Co-chair…
Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 5 has sentenced Gültan Kışanak, former co-mayor of Diyarbakır, to 14 years and 3 months; and Sebahat Tuncel, former co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), to 15 years; and Penal Department No 18 of Antep Regional Court has reversed the verdict.
Retrial of Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel is held at Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 9, 2020. Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention of Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel and adjourned the trial to April 13, 2020.
(03/120) DİSK Chair on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Arzu Çerkezoğlu, the chair of Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), for her speech at a panel discussion organized by Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Sapanca district on April 5, 2016, is held at Sapanca Penal Court of First Instance on March 9, 2020. The indictment demands sentence up to 3 years for Arzu Çerkezoğlu, on the charge of ‘publicly inciting people to hatred and hostility’. The court acquitted Arzu Çerkezoğlu.
(03/121) Person on Trial in Ankara for ‘Insulting the President’…
The final trial of the case against a person named K. D., for his social media post “take the election, it’s all yours demon”, referring the President, is held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 46 on March 9, 2020. The court sentenced the defendant to 5 months, not according to Article 299 of Turkish Penal Code which is related to the charge of ‘insulting the President’ but rather to Article 125, on the charge of ‘insult’. The court stated the following: “Defendant said ‘demon’, considering that the complainant, as a party leader, rig the elections. The insult is not related to actions of the complainant as President or head of executive power, but rather related to deeds of the complainant as a party leader, which is considered as unjust by the defendant; and the word ‘demon’ is an abstract attribution referring to personality, not referring any act, including stealing and rigging; thus it is outside of strong criticism”. It is learned that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed the verdict on the grounds of incorrect description of the act which should be considered in ‘insulting the President’.
(03/122) 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 March 9, 2020. It is learned that writs for locating address of Ahmet Kul, district public prosecutor back then who was expected to be heard as witness, was not affirmed. The adjourned the trial to June 29, 2020.
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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.