Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 – 16 September 2019 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/158) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 14, 2019 that, 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Diyarbakır’s Dicle district on September 9, 2019.
It is learned that 1 solider who was injured due to crash of a military vehicle in Iğdır on June 6, 2019, died in hospital on September 14, 2019.
It is learned that 1 village guard who was wounded in an attack in rural areas of Mardin’s Ömerli district on September 7, 2019 died in hospital on September 14, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 15, 2019 that, 2 HPG militants died in an air operation of Turkish Air Forces to Haftanin area in Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
(09/159) Prisoner Died in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 14, 2019 that, Kemal Bilici, a prisoner in Manisa T Type Prison, died in hospital on September 11, 2019. It is reported that Kemal Bilici was diagnosed with “depression due to confinement” and had difficulties such as attention deficit, limitations of movement and speech impediment after taking prescribed medication, and he was referred to Manisa Psychiatric Hospital on August 22, 2019.
(09/160) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 15, 2019 that Şerif Mesutoğlu who was sentenced to life imprisonment on the case about bombing attack on November 10, 2016 which caused death of Mardin’s Derik district sub-governor Mehmet Fatih Safitürk, is on hunger strike for a fair trial for 84 days in Siverek T Type Prison.
(09/161) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
On September 13, 2019, a letter from prisoners in Kırıkkale F Type Prison stating right violations they were subjected to, is covered by news reports. According to their letter, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners are limited, prices at prison mess hall is too high, 4 prisoners are kept in wards for 3 which obliges 1 prisoner to sleep on the floor, prisoners’ personal belongings are being scattered around during ward searches, and the number of books per prisoner is limited to 10.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 13, 2019 that prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison are forced to stand in military order during roll-calls.
(09/162) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 15, 2019 that Sıddık Güler (80) an ill-prisoner in İskenderun T Type Prison was not medically treated.
(09/163) People Were Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment of Gendarmerie in Mardin…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 14, 2019 that, after the clash in rural areas of Ömerli district of Mardin where 1 police officer died, almost 70 people including local headmen of 15 villages nearby, were called to Ömerli District Gendarmerie Command. It is reported that those who went to the gendarmerie command were made wait under sun for 2 hours and were subjected to verbal and physical violence.
One of those waited at the gendarmerie command stated the following: “A young person who stood up to their insults was beaten in front of us and then they took him inside. We do not know what they did to him there. And they beat 5 more people who reacted against them. They choked him and beat. They insulted especially the local headmen who came from the villages under curfew.”
(09/164) 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 1041 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 13, 14, and 15, 2019 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 September 13, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 14, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 15, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 13, 14, and 15, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
(09/165) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 755th time on September 14, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
(09/166) Gendarmerie Intervention to a Protest in Muş…
On September 14, 2019, gendarmerie intervened into residents of Arakonak village in Bulanık district of Muş, who protest stone pit construction, and detained 15 people. It is learned that 2 people were injured due to intervention. Detained people are released after statement procedures on September 15, 2019. The names of detained people are unknown.
(09/167) Detained Co-Mayor in Diyarbakır…
Mehmet Fatih Taş, People’s Democratic Party’s (HDP) co-mayor of Diyarbakır’s Kulp district is detained on September 13, 2019, through the investigation on the attack in Kulp district on September 12, 2019, which killed 7 people including 3 village guards. HDP’s district co-chair Abidin Karaman and Municipality Civil Works Director Şener Aktaş have been detained through the same investigation. It is reported that Kulp Municipality building was raided and searched by the police on September 13, 2019.
(09/168) Detained HDP Executive in Van…
6 of 23 people, members of HDP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) who were detained in house raids in Van on September 10, 2019 are arrested by the court on September 13, 2019. The names of arrested people are: Sait Kılıç, İbrahim Sungur, Fikret Doğan, Yadişen Karabulak, Dilan Yıldız and Nesibe Akdağ.
(09/169) Detained Journalist in Diyarbakır…
Journalist Hamza Özkan who was detained on September 10, 2019 in Diyarbakır, is released by the court on September 13, 2019.
(09/170) Detained People for Social Media Posts in Izmir…
7 people who were detained for social media posts in house raids in Izmir on September 12, 2019, are released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. The names of detained people are unknown.
(09/171) Police Raid to Chamber of City Planners in Diyarbakır…
On September 13, 2019, Diyarbakır office of Chamber of City Planners of TMMOB (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) is raided by the police and the banner “Don’t Touch to My Political Will and My City” is removed on the grounds of prosecutor’s office verdict.
(09/172) Police Raid to HDP Office in Osmaniye…
It is learned that HDP’s Osmaniye office is raided by the police on September 13, 2019. It is reported that posters and stickers about trustee appointments to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van were seized by the police and HDP provincial co-chair Cebrail Mutlu is detained after search.
(09/173) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of HDP, on the charge of ‘insulting Ahmet Davutoğlu’, the Prime Minister back then, in a speech he made, is held on September 13, 2019 on Mersin Penal Court of First Instance No 14. Selahattin Demirtaş did not join the trial. The court rejected Selahattin Demirtaş’s demand to attend the trials in person and adjourned the trial.
(09/174) Van Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case at Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 against Van co-mayor Bedia Özgökçe Ertan, who was suspended and replaced by an appointed trustee, is held on September 13, 2019. The indictment demands sentence for Bedia Özgökçe Ertan on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court decided to send a writ to Grand National Assembly of Turkey to check legal impunity and adjourned the trial.
(09/175) Former ESP Chair on Trial…
The case against Çiçek Otlu, former chair of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and 3 members of ESP (Sidar Balsever, Ali Haydar Keleş and Bedran Çoğaltay) on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 is held on September 13, 2019. After defence hearings the court released Çiçek Otlu, Ali Haydar Keleş and Sidar Balsever on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to February 13, 2020.
Former ESP chair Çiçek Otlu was arrested on August 22, 2017.
(09/176) Constitutional Court Decision on Abidin Cevher…
Constitutional Court’s decision on the individual appeal of Abidin Cevher, who was injured at one eye due to gas canister fired at a police intervention to a protest in 2013 in Ankara, is published on the official gazette on September 13, 2019. The court decided that Abidin Cevher should be paid a compensation of 50.000 Turkish Liras for immaterial damages since his right to live and right to assembly and demonstration were violated. The court also decided to send the verdict to Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office for re-investigation.
(09/177) Van Governorate’s Decision on Allegations of Torture and Ill-Treatment…
It is learned that Van Governorate did not accept to investigate 66 police officers, about allegations of torture and ill-treatment to 8 people including 2 children who were detained in a house raid in İpekyolu district of Van on July 14, 2018, where 3 people including 1 police officer died.
(09/178) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 13, 2019, a warrant was issued for 165 people through an Ankara based investigation on leakage of questions of Sub-Governor Exam 2012, and 83 of them are detained.
On September 13, 2019, a detention warrant is issued for 23 people including military members on active duty through and Adana based investigation.
On September 14, 2019, 141 of 222 military officers on active duty for whom a detention warrant was issued, are detained in operations covering 54 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
(09/179) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 37 people including Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB) former chair Mustafa Kaplan and some other former executives, is held on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 on September 13, 2019. The court sentenced 20 people including Mustafa Kaplan to jail penalties from 6 years and 3 months to 8 years and 9 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 17 people.
(09/180) Ban of an Event in Istanbul…
It is learned that Grup Yorum band’s concert at Taksim Ortaoyuncuları Theatre Company in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on September 14, 2019 is banned by Beyoğlu Sub-Governorate.
(09/181) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on September 14, 2019 and announced 5 areas in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli, Yüksekova and Derecik districts as special security zones as of September 14, 2019 until September 28, 2019.
[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.