Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
15 January 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/107) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2020 that, 3 HPG militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Tutak district of Ağrı on December 6, 2019.
(01/108) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2020 that, İsmail Yılmaz, a prisoner in Elazığ F Type Prison No 2, was prevented from visit rights because he rejected to carry ID card. It is stated in the news reports that, İsmail Yılmaz is not medically treated although he has a perforated eardrum, and his notes on his defence declaration are seized by prison administration on the same ground.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2020 that 5 prisoners who were transferred from Afyon E Type Prison to Afyon T Type Prison No 1 under coercion, were subjected to physical and verbal violence of the gendarmerie personnel on duty. It is stated in the news reports that 1 prisoner’s arm was broken due to violence.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2020 that prisoners in Kocaeli Kandıra F Type Prison No 2 are taken to hospital and courthouse in single seated shuttles; and those who reject this were not taken to hospital and courthouse and thus prevented from their right of health and defence; books, magazines and newspapers sent to prisoners are not given to them; radios and writings of prisoners are seized; cultural rights of prisoners are limited and open-door time right of prisoners convicted to heavy life imprisonment is limited.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2020 that Şerafettin Demir, a prisoner who is being kept in a single ward for 3 years in Van High Security Prison, was subjected to physical violence of the wardens during search on January 10, 2020.
(01/109) 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 1162 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 14, 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 14, 2020, 2 people (Merve Demirel and Mahmut Konuk) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu 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 14, 2020. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
(01/110) Detained Priest in Mardin…
Priest Sefer Bileçen of Saint Jacob Church who was detained in Üçköy village of Nusaybin of Mardin on January 9, 2020, and was arrested on the charge of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’ on January 10, 2020, is released upon appeal of his lawyers on January 14, 2020.
(01/111) Detained TAYAD Member in Istanbul…
On January 14, 2020, Solidarity Association for Prisoners’ Families (TAYAD) member Mehmet Güvel and Nuri Cihanyandı are detained in a house raid in Istanbul. The reason of detention is unknown.
(01/112) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against journalist Mehmet Yılmaz, on the grounds of ‘insulting former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım’ in an article, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 38 on January 14, 2020. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to April 9, 2020.
(01/113) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Osman Akın, former editor in chief of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 on January 14, 2020 The prosecutor declared legal opinion and demanded sentence for Osman Akın on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court adjourned the trial to January 24, 2020.
(01/114) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Rojhat Doğru is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 8 on January 14, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for Rojhat Doğru on the charges of ‘disrupting unity and integrity of the state’, ‘intentional injury’, ‘being an illegal organisation member’, and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for protests about Kobane.
- Ö., the complainant is heard at the trial. The court adjourned the trial to March 24, 2020.
(01/115) HDP Members on Trial in Adana…
The final trial of the case against 12 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Adana provincial co-chair is held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 12 on January 14, 2020. The court acquitted 12 people.
(01/116) Labour Party Executive on Trial in Balıkesir…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Tank, Edremit district executive of Labour Party, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President on social media’, is held at Edremit Penal Court of First Instance No 1 on January 14, 2020. The court sentenced Mehmet Tank to 1 year 2 months and 17 days. The court did not convert the sentence to penalty fine and did not defer the announcement.
(01/117) Kemal Kurkut Case…
The case against police officer Y.Ş., for killing university student Kemal Kurkut by shooting him behind his back during Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır in 2017, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 on January 14, 2020. Police officer Y.Ş. is charged with ‘killing on probable intention’ and the indictment demands life imprisonment for this charge.
The expert report of Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution which argues that “the bullet hit firm ground and then entered the body” is heard at the trial. Reyhan Yalçındağ, lawyer of Kemal Kurkut’s family stated the following on this expert report: “What would one if the reports of the same institution are hundred percent different from each other? Second report is different from the first with no reason justified (…) This is suspicious for us. We think there is an intervention to this case”.
The court decided to send the case to prosecutor for legal opinion and adjourned the trial to March 24, 2020.
(01/118) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 14, 2020, 115 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 49 cities through an Izmir based investigation on Turkish Armed Forces personnel; 26 people are detained in operations covering 10 cities through an investigation on Turkish Land Forces Command; 14 people are detained in operations covering 20 cities through a Konya based investigation on Turkish Armed Forces; 30 people are detained in operations covering 16 cities through a Kocaeli based investigation.
10 people who were detained through a Konya based investigation on January 11, 2020, are released by the court provided that 7 of them will be on judicial control conditions on January 14, 2020.
(01/119) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Şeref Ayyıldız, former member of Supreme Military Court is held at Penal Department No 9 of Supreme Court on January 14, 2020. The court sentenced the defendant to 10 years on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/120) Ban of Events in Mardin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on January 14, 2020 and announced that, all open events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, festivals, concerts, delivering leaflets and so on are banned for 30 days as of January 15, 2020. This is the third time of banning all events in Mardin for 30 days since October 17, 2019.
(01/121) Suspended City Council Members…
On January 14, 2020, Ministry of Interior suspended 2city council members from HDP in Tatvan district of Bitlis on the grounds of cases and investigations against them. Suspended city council members are: Ahmet Barut and İbrahim Özdek.
[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.