Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 October 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/254) Torture Allegation in Mardin…
It claimed in news coverage of October 20 2017 that a person named F.B. was forced out of his car and detained in Mardin at a search point on October 6, 2017. It is reported that police officers threatened F.B. to become a spy, and beat him when he refused. A statement by F.B. was published in media on October 20, 2017 that said: ‘‘When I refused to be a spy and told them that I didn’t know any of the names they counted, they started to threaten me saying that they will kill me. They beat me behind barriers and insulted me. They tied my hands behind my back, put me on the ground, it wasn’t enough so they tied my feet as well, one of them stepped on my head with his foot and the other one started kicking different parts of my body (head, leg, stomach). One of these kicks hit to my face was so harsh that I inevitably passed out.’’
F.B. revealed that he was beaten after he woke up and was later taken to hospital. But due to pressure of police officers, doctors refused to issue an abuse report. After examination F.B. was taken to gendarmerie and he issued a complaint about police beatings. Officers allegedly confronted F.B. after he left the gendarmerie and threatened him to drop all his complaints. It is claimed that F.B. indeed withdrew his complaint. However, police officers also issued a complaint about F.B. based on ‘insulting police officers and resisting’ therefore an investigation on F.B. began.
After an investigation was opened on himself, F.B. received a medical report for beatings and filed criminal complaints about the officers.
(10/255) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that following a harassing fire by PKK militants towards a police station of coast guard in Hatay’s Samandağ district, clashes occurred in Musa mountain. One soldier died during clashes.
(10/256) Torture and other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned on October 19, 2017 that during a sit-in prisoners organized to protest rights violations in Kırıkkale Type F prison, wardens intervened and a prisoner named Gökhan Gündüz’s arm was broken. Gökhan Gündüz filed a complaint regarding his broken arm but it was dismissed by Kırıkkale Chief Prosecution on July 24, 2017. It is learned that a case was opened against Gündüz by Kırıkkale Criminal Court of First Instance No 4, due to ‘insult’, ‘threat’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. Also, a disciplinary investigation was opened on Gündüz and he received following disciplinary punishments: banning of communication rights for shouting slogans, 10 days of solitary cell punishment for insult and threats, 5 days of solitary cell punishment for provoking other prisoners against the administration. It is also learned that Gökhan Gündüz was not treated and restrained from him medical rights.
It is claimed in news coverage of October 19, 2017 that a prisoner in Gaziantep F Type prison named Zeki Karakaş who is a cancer patient hasn’t been taken to a hospital in over 6 months.
Attorney Mehmet Altuntaş revealed in his statement to press on October 20, 2017 that his clients Ersin Okur and Deniz Özdemir along with 2 prisoners named Rıdvan and Ramazan (last names unidentified) were beaten when they refused to be searched naked in Tarsus Type T Prison. These four people were arrested about a month ago, and transferred to prison. Altuntaş stated that although the prisoner’s teeth were broken due to hits, they were taken to infirmary 2 weeks after the incident and doctors refused to issue abuse reports. Altuntaş revealed that 4 prisoners were also beaten because they refused to stand up during roll calls.
It is learned from news coverage of October 20, 2017 that a prisoner named Ruken Türemiş in Sincan Women Prison wrote a letter that included lyrics of a Kurdish song and her letter was brought back to her with a note stating ‘it is forbidden to write in any language other than Turkish’.
(10/257) Number of Prisoners Committed Suicide in 2016…
Ministry of Justice answered CHP MP Barış Yarkadaş’s question regarding the number of prisoners committed suicide in 2016 and revealed that 66 prisoners committed suicide. It has been stated that 40 of 66 prisoners committed suicide after July 15, 2017. The parliamentary question also asked which of these prisoners were academicians and other professionals discharged with Statuary Decree’s but the ministry stated that they don’t possess relevant data.
(10/258) Rejection of Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that on October 19, 2017 PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s attorneys Cengiz Yürekli, Ebru Günay and Mazlum Dinç requested from Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office to meet with him. The request was denied on the same day based on limitations regarding the convicted prisoners due to Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275. With this latest decline meeting requests with Öcalan have been denied for the 697th time.
(10/259) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with Statuary Decree’s planned for a press meeting in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 19, 2017. The resistance of the group has been going on for a certain period. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both prevented by the police forces who clocked entrance to the street by barriers.
It is learned that 5 people during the intervention towards 13.30 meeting and 3 people during the intervention towards 18.00 meeting were beaten and detained. It is reported that police prevented journalists from reporting the incident.
(10/260) People on Trial For ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ Demonstrations…
The trial of public servants discharged with Statuary Decrees attending ‘I Want My Job Back’ demonstrations in Ankara Yüksel Street started on October 19, 2017. The case was opened by Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 25 and Nazife Obay, Abidin Sırma, Veli Saçılık, Esra Özakça, Erdoğan Canpolat, Mehmet Dersulu, Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt are on trial due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’.
All defendants were present in court. KESK Co-Chair Mehmet Bozgeyik and IHD (Human Rights Association) President Öztürk Türkdoğan along with other representatives of human rights institutions and of trade unions.
Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of Nazife Onay and Abidin Sırma with judiciary control conditions and lifted the house arrest for some defendants. The court adjourned the hearing date to March 15, 2017.
Nazan Bozkurt, Esra Özakça, Acun Karadağ, Nazife Onay and Erdoğan Canpolat detained on July 6, 2017 were sentenced to house arrests on July 12, 2017.
Nazife Onay attended the I want my job back demonstrations on August 8, 2017 and got detained. She appeared in court on August 9, 2017 and got arrested due to violating her house arrest.
It is learned that a search warrant was issued Nazife Onay regarding a different case sos he was detained when she left the court and will be taken to İstanbul.
(10/261) Journalists in Detention…
It is learned that 5 reporters in Ankara from Mezopotamya and Jinnews agencies were detained on October 20, 2017 due to a denunciation. Names of the detained journalists: Selman Güzelyüz, Diren Yurtsever (Mezopotamya News Agency) and Sibel Yükler, Duygu Erol and Habibe Eren (Jinnews News Agency)
(10/262) Police Intervention Towards Public Statement in Hopa…
It is learned that police intervened the public statement organized on October 19, 2017 for protesting the detention of ESP District Chair Nurcan Vayiç and detained 14 people. Learned names of detainees: ESP Fındıklı District Chair Turgay Köse, Ramazan Korkut, Eren Dağıstanlı, Ufuk Akpınar, Mertçem Uzun, Bulent Ustabaş, Taylan Kaya, Miraç Balcıoğlu, Melike Ardanuç, Abdullah Gül, Atakan Asılbay, Efraim Vayiç and Kamil Ustabaş.
(10/263) Detention and Arrests…
It is learned that two women named Ayten Kıymak and Gülşen Kıymak detained on October 14, 2017 in Van were arrested on October 19, 2017. The reasons for their detention and arrests are unknown.
(10/264) SKYP Member Detained in İstanbul…
It is learned that Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) member Ali Düzkün was detained during a house raid on October 19, 2017 and was sent to İstanbul Chief Police Station.
(10/265) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 7 soldiers were detained on October 17, 2017.
It is learned that a person named Faruk Yıldız detained on October 6, 2017 was arrested on October 19, 2017.
It is learned that 4 of 6 people detained in Eskişehir on October 13, 2017 was arrested by court on October 19, 2017. 2 people were released with judiciary control condition.
It is learned that 4 of 6 people detained in Eskişehir on October 13, 2017 was arrested by court on October 19, 2017. 5 people were released with judiciary control condition. Through the same investgation 26 people were previously arrested and 4 people were released with judiciary control condition.
Through an Aydın based investigation 15 regular soldiers were arrested during operations in 12 cities. It is learned that 3 of these soldiers were arrested by court on October 19, 2017. 12 people remain in detention.
(10/266) Trials of HDP MP’s…
The trial of HDP Diyarbakır MP’s Çağlar Demirel, İdris Baluken and İmam Taşçıer opened by Diyarbakır Criminal Court of First Instance No 12 continued on October 20, 2017. MP’S were accused of ‘insulting a public servant regarding his duty’, ‘deliberately insulting Turkish people and Turkish Parliament’ based on their speeches on a television program. MP’s did not attend the trial. Attorneys requested transcripts of their clients’ speeches at the Parliament. The court adjourned the hearing to February 2018.
(10/267) Trial of Journalist…
The trial of Van TV employees Gülsüm Altan and Serdar Altan began on October 19, 2017. Van TV was closed with a Statuary Decree. The case was opened by Van Heavy Penal Court No 2. Following the defenses, the court acquitted both defendants as no evidence of crime was found in news defendants reported.
(10/268) Trials of Co-Mayors…
The trial of 7 people including Silvan district co-Mayor Yüksek Bodakçı continued on October 19, 2017. The case was opened by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 based on their attendance to a speech on August 15, 2017 where self-governance was declared. Prosecution requested 15 years prison sentences for Barış Gülenyüzlü, Yüksel Bodakçı, Melikşah Teke, Aynur Sümer, Hayati Cesur, Ayser Yapıcı and İsa Yanık for ‘membership of an illegal organization’.
Prosecution also requested 5 years of prison sentence for co-Mayor Yüksel Bodakçı due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ because Bodakçı wore a shirt with Öcalan’s face on it when she went to protest him being brought to Turkey on February 15, 2017. For remaining defendants, prosecution requested criminal complaints to be filed to Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecution Office for ‘deliberately provoking to committing crime’. The court adjourned the hearing to February 2018.
(10/269) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final hearing for the trial of former dean of Hitit University Engineering Faculty Prof. Dr. Halil Aykul opened by Çorum Heavy Penal Court No 2 took place on October 19, 2017. The court sentenced Aykul to 6 years 10 months 15 days for ‘forming and leading an illegal organization’.
The final hearing for the trial of 10 people including Kocatepe University Hospital former chief doctor Mehmet Ünlü opened by Afyonkarahisar Heavy Penal Court No 2 took place on October 19, 2017. The court sentenced 5 defendants to prison penalties ranging from 4 years 2 months to 12 years 9 months due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’. The court sentenced 4 defendants to prison penalties ranging from 13 years 6 months to 18 years due to ‘forming and leading an illegal organization’. One defendant was acquitted. The court also ruled for the release of defendant sentenced to 4 years 2 months.
The final hearing for the trial of former Terme District Gendarmerie Commander Cournell Hacü Gülman opened by Samsun Heavy Penal Court No 2 took place on October 19, 2017. The case was opened by Samsun 2nd Heavy Penal Court. The court sentenced Gülman to 7 years 5 months 3 days due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’.
The trial of 26 soldiers including former Sarıkamış 9th Commando Brigade Commander Murat Yetgin opened by Kars Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on October 19, 2017. 8 of the soldiers were already arrested. The case was opened by Kars 2nd Heavy Penal Court. Following the defenses the court ruled for the continuity of arrests and adjourned the hearing to a further date.
(10/270) Events Banned in City…
Governorate of Mardin declared on October 20, 2017 that all press briefings, demonstrations, marches, opening stands, hanging banners and distributing pamphlets will depend on formal permissions from Mayor’s Office between October 19, 2017 and January 16, 2018.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.