Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 – 20 May 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/146) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that a lieutenant (Ferhat Çiftçi) died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Kağızman district of Kars on May 18, 2020.
It is learned that 1 soldier (Halil Çakır) who got wounded in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Çukurca district of Hakkari on May 12, 2020, died in hospital on May 18, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2020 that, 2 HPG militants died in an air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Hakurk area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on May 12, 2020.
(05/147) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2020 that in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 7, 39 and 43 people are kept in 2 wards for 7 people each.
(05/148) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) Istanbul branch made a declaration on May 18, 2020 and announced that referrals to hospitals is ended in Izmir Kırıklar F Type Prison No 1.
It is claimed in the news coverage of May 19, 2020 that a prisoner who tested positive for Covid-19 in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 7, was given only flu medicine and was sent back to the ward where 39 prisoners are kept.
(05/149) Food Poisoning in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2020 that 6 prisoners in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison got food poisoning. It is stated in the news reports that 1 prisoner who is in serious condition is taken to hospital.
(05/150) 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 1288 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 18, 2020 at 18.00, and detained 1 person (Mehmet Dersulu) on the grounds of violating the curfew as a precaution for Covid-19.
The police intervened the press declaration on May 19, 2020 at 13.30, and detained 1 person (Nazan Bozkurt) on the grounds of violating the curfew as a precaution for Covid-19.
(05/151) Police Intervention to a Protest in Hatay…
The police intervened the press declaration at Abdullah Cömert Park in Samandağ district of Hatay on May 18, 2020, about Edibe Özçelik who had a heart attack when her house was raided by the police in Samandağ district of Hatay and who died on January 20, 2020; and detained 2 people (Edibe Özçelik’s sons Servet Özçelik and Ümit Özçelik) by using physical violence. Detained people are released on the same day.
The police intervened the press declaration for the same reason held in the same place on May 19, 2020 and detained 3 people (Güney Arslan, Servet Özçelik and Ümit Özçelik) by using physical violence. Detained people are released on the same day.
(05/152) Detained Co-Mayor in Iğdır…
Yaşar Akkuş, HDP co-mayor of Iğdır who was suspended and detained on May 15, 2020 is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on May 18, 2020.
Co-mayor Eylem Çelik is released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 20, 2020.
(05/153) Detained Co-Mayors in Siirt…
Berivan Helen Işık and Peymandara Turhan, HDP co-mayors of Siirt; Baran Akgül and Esmer Baran Turhan, HDP co-mayors of Kurtalan district of Siirt, Ramazan Sarsılmaz and Özden Gülmez Turhan, HDP co-mayors of Baykan district of Siirt, who were suspended and detained on May 15, 2020, are referred to the court on May 19, 2020.
The court released Berivan Helen Işık, Ramazan Sarsılmaz, Özden Gülmez and Baran Akgül on house confinement conditions.
Peymandara Turhan and Esmer Baran Turhan are released on judicial control conditions.
(05/154) Detained Political Party Executive and Municipality Employees in Siirt…
Siirt Municipality employees Eşref Tekin, Gülçin Köneş and Beşir Aksu, and Resul Kaçar who was elected as Siirt co-mayor but was not certificated due to being dismissed from his job by a state of emergency decree; have been detained in house raids in Siirt on May 14, 2020. 4 people are released on judicial control conditions on May 19, 2020.
(05/155) The Case Against People Who Were Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2020 that, Urfa Public Prosecutor’s office made a non-prosecution decision for 37 of 55 people, who have been detained after the clash between security forces and HPG militants in Dergili neighbourhood of Halfeti district of Urfa where 1 soldier and 2 militants died on May 18, 2019. It is learned that the indictment against 18 people including 13 arrestees is accepted by Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5.
The photographs showing detainees who were handcuffed behind their backs and faced down on the garden of Urfa Police Headquarters were covered by the press. Detained people were also subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody. It is stated in the news reports that Urfa Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against 3 gendarmerie personnel, in relation to torture allegations.
Urfa Bar Association Executive Board member and Human Rights Coordinator Mevlut Güneş stated the following on torture and ill-treatment under custody: “Marks of sexual torture are established by medical reports and declarations of female detainees. Several torture methods such as kicking, electric shocks, battering could be seen. After detained people applied to us, we had a meeting with Public Prosecutor’s Office and an investigation is initiated against torturers. The investigation is going on very slowly. An expert report on footage of these 3 gendarmerie personnel is prepared. The report is however ambiguous. There are some expressions stating no marks of torture. After our commission objected the report and prosecution body did not regard the report, footage is sent to Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution.”
(05/156) Detained Journalist and Other Person…
Taylan Kulaçoğlu and “Red” journal executive editor Hakan Gülseven who were detained through a Balıkesir based investigation on the grounds of ‘provoking to commit a crime’ and ‘praising offence and offender’, on May 17, 2020, are released by the court with a ban of leaving the city, on May 19, 2020.
(05/157) Detained Person in Antalya for Social Media Posts…
Photographer Fırat Erez who was detained in Antalya on May 17, 2020, on the grounds of ‘insulting religious values in social media posts’, is arrested by the court on May 19, 2020.
(05/158) Detained Person in Şırnak…
Mehmet Ayas, who was detained in Silopi district of Şırnak, on the grounds on ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on May 17, 2020, is released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 19, 2020.
(05/159) Investigation Against HDP Executive…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2020 that, Van Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation on the grounds of ‘provoking hatred and hostility among people’, against HDP Party Assembly member Hatice Büşra Kuyun who was abducted in Van; for she held a press declaration after being abducted and released. It is learned that Hatice Büşra Kuyun gave her official statement through the investigation.
(05/160) Prevention from Municipality of an Aid Campaign…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2020 that, the campaign stands of Chamber of Merchants and Craftsmen to support citizens who experience negative effects of Covid-19 pandemic in Şemdinli district of Hakkari, was intervened by municipality police of Şemdinli and the stand was seized by them.
(05/161) Ban of Events in Tunceli…
Tunceli Governorate announced on May 17, 2020 that, all events such as open-door and in-door meetings, marches, press declarations, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, delivering leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned as of May 18 until May 24, 2020, on the grounds of trustee appointments and suspension of HDP co-mayors.
(05/162) Broadcast Ban for a Radio Channel…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2020, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued the programme of Nihat Sırdar on Kafa radio channel with a broadcast ban for three times, on the grounds of an audience message saying “I did my own chips at home. Beer would be good with it”.
(05/163) Non-Prosecution Decision on Death of Gökhan Açıkkollu…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2020 that, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office made a non-prosecution decision on death of Gökhan Açıkkollu on August 5, 2016 under custody. Gökhan Açıkkollu was subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody. It is claimed in the news reports that the prosecutor’s office did not hear the witnesses stating that Gökhan Açıkkollu was subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody; did not examine the video footage of 13 days during which Gökhan Açıkkollu was under custody; and did not consider additional post-mortem autopsy report as an evidence.
Gökhan Açıkkollu was a dismissed teacher by a state of emergency decree, and was reinstated on February 7, 2018, after he lost his life.
(05/164) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 31 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,158 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 18, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 28 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,022 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 19, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 4,199 and total number of confirmed cases is 151,615 as of May 19, 2020.
On May 18, 2020, the ban on exit and entrance of vehicles for 15 provinces including 14 metropolitan cities (Ankara, Balıkesir, Bursa, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Sakarya, Samsun, Van and Zonguldak) is extended for 15 days.
It is announced on May 18, 2020 that as a precaution for Covid-19, a curfew will be effective for all 81 cities during Ramadan Feast on May 23-26, 2020.
[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.