Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
12 February 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/118) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment of the Police in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 11, 2020 that, the police raid a house in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır and detained a 17 years old child named T. T. in the house. It is learned that during the raid the police put a gun to head of T. T. and of a 3 years old baby. T. T. was released after statement procedures on the same day.
- T.’s mother stated the following: “The doorbell rang. We were surprised to hear the doorbell this time since the police usually uses a hammerhead to raid in our house. They came when my child was preparing to go to school. As soon as my son opened the door they forced him lie down on the ground putting a gun to his head. I told them that my son was 17 years old, but they waited him in this position for minutes. I tried to stop them. They took him in the kitchen when I intervened them. They did not tell the reason of detention. They searched the house, scattering everything around. My grandchild was at home, they put a gun to his head too.”
(02/119) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Erzurum…
It is learned that İrfan Arslan, one of 3 people who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during raid of security forces to a house in Çavuş village of Karayazı district of Erzurum on February 8, 2020, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ on February 11, 2020. 2 people (Şevin Arslan and Halis Arslan) are released on judicial control conditions.
It is learned from the news coverage that İrfan Arslan who was hospitalized due to torture and ill-treatment that he was subjected during raid, has rib fracture, and wounds at forehead, nose and head.
(02/120) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
People’s Law Office declared on February 11, 2020 that their client Hakan İnci was subjected to physical violence of the wardens in Edirne F Type Prison.
(02/121) 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 February 11, 2020 and detained İsmail Kara. İsmail Kara is released on the same day. Mustafa Koçak is on death fast for 225 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.
(02/122) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, at Özgürlük Square in Bakırköy district of Istanbul on February 11, 2020 and detained 2 people (Baki Can Işık and Aygül Bilgi).
(02/123) Detained Person in Istanbul…
Arlet Natali Avazyan is detained in Istanbul on February 11, 2020 for her social media posts. Arlet Natali Avazyan is released after statement procedures at the police on February 12, 2020.
(02/124) Arrested Person in Istanbul ‘Insulting the President’…
On February 11, 2020, Ayten Sarıkaya Kesler, who came to Istanbul from Switzerland is detained on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ in her social media posts and is arrested by the court on the same day. It is reported that Ayten Sarıkaya Kesler, who has cancer, deteriorated and taken to hospital and that she would be taken to prison after treatment. It is also claimed in the news reports that Ayten Sarıkaya Kesler was enforced to sign the interrogation report while she was unconscious.
(02/125) Arrested City Council Member in Muş…
Şengül Çiçek, Varto city council member; People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Varto district co-chair Atik Yıldız, and Bektaş Han, former district executive of HDP who were detained in house raids in Varto district of Muş on February 11, 2020 are referred to the court on the same day. Şengül Çiçek is arrested on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and 2 people are released.
(02/126) Detained People in Adana…
2 people including 1 child (Şirda Erol and 15 years old D. S.) are detained in house raids in Adana through an investigation against DEM Music Center on February 11, 2020. 4 people (İlyas Arzu, Jiyan Savcı, Hakan Taş and Berfin Doğan) were detained earlier through the same investigation and detention period for these people was extended 4 more days.
(02/127) Detained People in Urfa…
On February 11, 2020, 13 people are detained on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘aiding an illegal organisation’, in house raids in Koçova neighbourhood of Bozova district of Urfa. It is learned that 5 of them (Mehmet Yıldırım, Tacettin Gül, İbrahim Polat, Mahmut Pehlivan and İskender Şeker) are taken to Bozova District Gendarmerie Command; and 8 people are taken to Urfa. Detained people are: Mehmet Yıldırım, Kenan Yıldırım, Müslüm Yıldırım, Yılmaz Doğan, Tacettin Gül, Abdullah Polat, İbrahim Polat, Mustafa Yıldız, İskender Şeker, Emin Zincirkıran, Mahmut Pehlivan, Ayhan Atmaca and Mustafa Taş.
(02/128) Detained People in Mersin…
On February 11, 2020, 12 people including 2 children are detained on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ in house raids in Mersin. Names of detained people known so fare are: S. A., V. Ç., Ferhat Salman, Mehmet Beyhan, Resul Demir, Mustafa Koç, Barış Şen and Yusuf Keskin.
(02/129) Co-Mayor on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The indictment of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office against Cemal Özdemir, HDP co-mayor of Sur district of Diyarbakır, is accepted by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 8.
The indictment accuses Cemal Özdemir for 22 activities he participated in, statement of an anonymous witness and 3 social media posts and demands jail sentence from 17 years and 6 months to 36 years for Cemal Özdemir, on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, ‘possession of hazardous substances without permission’ and ‘selling, purchasing, carrying and owning weapons and/or bullets which are severe in terms of quality’.
The first trial will be held on March 10, 2020.
(02/130) Journalists on Trial in Van…
The trial of the case against Sibel Eres, Kadir Cesur, Nahide Aslan, Gülsün Altan, announcers of Van TV channel which was closed down by a state of emergency decree; managing director Koçali Özipek and shareholders Gürcan Bayrakçı and Nedim Dalga, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 4 on February 11, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 8 people on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to May 7, 2020.
(02/131) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 7 people (Ayfer Yılmaz, Muzaffer İpek, Türkan Sünbül, Elvan Uçar, Mürvet Kesen, Zübeyde Ağırbaş, Maynur Yılmaz) is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 on February 11, 2020. 7 people were detained on November 24, 2019, while they were distributing leaflets on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Esenyurt district of Istanbul, and were arrested by the court.
After defence hearings the court released 7 people on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to March 10, 2020.
(02/132) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 11, 2020, 14 people are detained in operations covering 4 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
[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.