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16 January 2020 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

16 January 2020 Daily Human Rights Report

(01/122) Prisoner Died in Prison…

It is learned that Nurcan Bakır, who was transferred from Gebze Women’s Prison to Balıkesir Burhaniye T Type Prison under coercion, after the hunger strikes in prisons to demand end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, killed herself on January 15, 2020. It is learned that Nurcan Bakır had a phone call with her family a day before killing herself and said “I will not keep silent against oppression”. 

(01/123) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of January 15, 2020 that, Murat Bilen and Bahattin Çelebi, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 1 on November 21, 2019, because they rejected wardens’ physical violence against another prisoner (Şerko Genco). Murat Bilen’s lawyer stated the following: “My client and another prisoner, Bahattin Çelebi had a meeting with prison administrator about oppression and arbitrary practices in prison. While they were going back to their wards, they saw that another prisoner Şerko Genco is being dragged on the floor by wardens who almost broke his arm and intervened. They were then seriously beaten and taken to Tarsus Public Hospital. They made an official complaint afterwards but cannot get any results. On the contrary, they are prevented from family visit rights for one month as a penalty.”

It is learned from the news coverage of January 15, 2020 that in Ağrı Patnos L Type prison food given to prisoners is not enough, and prisoners are not given hot water. It is also claimed in the news reports that food given to prisoners contain bugs.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 15, 2020 that, bathrooms and restrooms and common use areas in Diyarbakır T Type Prison are recorded by surveillance cameras. It is also stated in the news reports that mails and packages sent to prisoners are not given to them, the number of books is limited to 10 per prisoner, and hot water is given only for 1 hour a week for a ward for 13 prisoners.

(01/124) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of January 15, 2020 that Hüseyin Aşkan, a prisoner with dental cavities due to hunger strike in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison is not given medical care.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 15, 2020 that prisoners in Diyarbakır T Type Prison are forced to strip search when referred to hospital and that prisoners who reject to this are not taken to hospital.

(01/125) 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 1163 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 15, 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 15, 2020, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 4 people (Mehmet Dersulu, Nazan Bozkurt, Sercan Çakır and Sinan Yanbal) were detained. It is learned that the police handcuffed Sercan Çakır behind his back during intervention at 18.00. Sercan Çakır is on hunger strike for 17 days.

Thus in total 6 people were detained by the police intervening press declarations in Yüksel Street on January 15, 2020. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.

(01/126) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…

The police intervened the march of Zeynep Koçak and Hasan Koçak to Ministry of Justice in Ankara on January 15, 2020 and detained 2 people. Zeynep Koçak and Hasan Koçak are parents of Mustafa Koçak who is on death fast demanding a fair trial for 197 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison.

(01/127) Detained HDP Executives in Ankara and Istanbul…

On January 15, 2020, 5 people are detained in Ankara and 1 person is detained in Istanbul through an investigation on executives and members of People’s Democratic Party (HDP). HDP Ankara provincial executive Zeliha Ünlü, HDP Mamak district executive Remziye Güçlü, HDP Mamak former district co-chair Lale Ekmen, Peace Mother Gülistan Ozgan and Democratic Alewi Association Mamak district executive Hüsniye Kart are detained in Ankara; Rukiye Şen is detained in Istanbul. It is learned that Rukiye Şen will be taken to Ankara.

(01/128) Co-Mayor on Trial in Diyarbakır…

The first trial of the case against Keziban Yılmaz, co-mayor of Kayapınar district, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on January 15, 2020. Keziban Yılmaz was elected from HDP and then was suspended by Ministry of Interior.

Keziban Yılmaz joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. It is learned that the court limited the number of defence lawyers to 3. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Keziban Yılmaz and adjourned the trial to March 2, 2020.  

(01/129) HDP Executive on Trial in Şırnak…

The final trial of the case against Güler Tunç, HDP Cizre district executive, for her social media posts is held at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 3 on January 15, 2020. The court sentenced Güler Tunç to 10 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.

(01/130) Journalist on Trial in Mersin…

The final trial of the case against İsmail Çoban, editor in chief of Azadiya Welat, the Kurdish newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 7 on January 15, 2020. The court sentenced İsmail Çoban to 7 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.

(01/131) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

The final trial of the case against Hüseyin Yıldırım, former chair of Justice Academy and former member of Supreme Court, is held at Penal Department No 9 of Supreme Court on January 15, 2020. The court sentenced the defendant to 17 years and 4 months on the charge of ‘leading an illegal organisation’.

(01/132) Armed Assault to HDP Office…

On January 15, 2020, an unknown person fired a gun up in the air seven times in front of HDP provincial office in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul. It is learned that nobody gets injured due to attack and that the assaulter turned himself in and is detained by the police.

[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.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.

[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT

[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari

[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.