Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 June 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/339) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Çaldıran district of Van on June 15, 2020.
It is claimed that 2 civilian people died and 8 people including children got wounded in an air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Şarbajar area of Sulaymaniyah city of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on June 25, 2020.
(06/340) Civilian Person Died Due to Fire Opened by Security Forces in Van…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, a lieutenant (Y. E.) gave his official statement at Başkale District Prosecutor’s Office, in relation to the incident in Kaşkol neighbourhood where a civilian died and another got wounded. On June 15, 2020, Erhan Görür, a civilian person died and 1 person got wounded due to fire opened by security forces in Kaşkol neighbourhood of Başkale district of Van.
It is learned that Y. E. who stated “I opened the fire. I was the only person in charge. Anybody else from the staff did not fire” was released by the court with a ban on leaving the country.
It is also stated in the news reports that 10 soldiers who were also at the crime scene gave their statements at Esmerpınar Gendarmerie Command. Lawyer of Erhan Görür’s family states the following: “It is irregular and non-procedural that the defendant and witnesses are interrogated by their fellow workers. It raises a doubt that there is no effective investigation being conducted and there is something that is about to be hid”.
(06/341) Intervention to Prisoners on Death Fast in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, Didem Akman (in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison) and Özgür Karakaya (Izmir Şakran T Type Prison No 2) who were on death fast to demand a fair trial, were taken to the hospital in prison compound without their consents.
(06/342) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned on June 25, 2020 that 3 prisoners (Elif Deniz, Ronahi Sırdaş and Melek Evren) in Mardin E Type Prison went on an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to right violations in prison.
(06/343) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned on June 25, 2020 that 5 prisoners (Serhat Bulut, Emrullah Oruc, İlyas Doğan, Cahfer Sabır and Kasım Karataş) in Urfa Hilvan T Type Prison No 2 went on an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to right violations in prison.
(06/344) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, 3 prisoners (Elif Deniz, Ronahi Sırdaş and Melek Evren) who went on an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to right violations in Mardin E Type Prison were subjected to disciplinary proceedings and were penalised with 14 days of solitary cell confinement.
(06/345) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, 3 ill prisoners [98% disabled Serdal Yıldırım (27), quadriplegic Abdullah Turan (23) and Engin Aktaş (32) amputated at both hands] in Metris R Type Prison were not taken to hospital despite they were infected.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, Mehmet Faruk Engin, a prisoner in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 2 was not taken to the infirmary.
(06/346) Person Subjected to Police Violence in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that, Adil Demirtaş was subjected to physical violence of a special operation police officer with whom he had a dispute with, in Kadifekale neighbourhood of Konak district of Izmir on June 20, 2020; and that he was injured due to violence. It is reported that Adil Demirtaş made a criminal complaint against the police officer.
Adil Demirtaş states the following: “While I was having a phone conversation in front of my house, the special operation officer at the security point said ‘Get out of here, why are you having a phone conversation here’. I answered ‘I am in front of my house, there is no reason I should get out of here’. And the police officer said ‘You will get out if I said so’ and slapped me. I rolled down the stairs. I went to Kadifekale Police Station for criminal complaint. They checked me over general information system as if I was the guilty. And then they did not accept my criminal complaint application”.
(06/347) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1325 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on June 25, 2020 at 13.30 and 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(06/348) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Düzce…
On June 25, 2020, the police intervened the press declaration of Alev Şahin in order to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, in front of Düzce Governorate and detained her. Alev Şahin was released on the same day.
(06/349) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
On June 25, 2020, the press declaration of lawyers in front of Ministry of Justice, for lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal who are on death fast to demand a fair trial is prevented by private security guards of the ministry.
(06/350) Detained Co-Mayors and City Council Member in Batman…
Hatice Taş and Osman Karabulut, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-mayors of İkiköprü town of Batman who were detained in house raids in districts of Batman on June 22, 2020, are arrested by the court on June 25, 2020. Tahsin Yıldırım, HDP’s member of city council is released on judicial control conditions.
Ministry of Interior has appointed Beşiri district sub-governor as a trustee to İkiköprü town on December 7, 2019.
(06/351) Detained People in Batman…
20 of 21 people including municipality employees who were detained in house raids in Batman on June 22, 2020 are released by the court on judicial control conditions on June 25, 2020. Bayram Özalp, a municipality employee is arrested.
(06/352) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
2 people (Şeyhmus Saltan and Türki Saltan) are detained on the grounds of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’, in house raids in Diyarbakır through a Mardin based investigation on June 25, 2020. 2 people are released after statement procedures at Mardin Gendarmerie Command on the same day. It is learned that the investigation was about a photograph of these 2 people with their HPG militant soon, taken during “solution process”.
(06/353) Co-Mayor on Trial in Şırnak…
The trial of the case against Mehmet Zırığ, HDP co-mayor of Cizre district of Şırnak to where a trustee was appointed; for his speeches during a Newroz celebration, is held at Cizre Penal Court of First Instance No 3 on June 25, 2020.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to July 9, 2020.
(06/354) Journalists and Human Rights Defenders on Trial in Ankara…
The case against 11 people including journalists Sibel Hürtaş and Hayri Demir, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper employee Barış Ceyhan and Human Rights Association (İHD) executive board member Nuray Çevirmen, for their news reports and social media posts on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is held on June 25, 2020 at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 15.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to November 25, 2020.
3 people (Barış Ceyhan, Saim Serin and Lezgin Tekay) who were arrested through this case were released at the first trial held on September 6, 2018. The court has also separated the case against HDP MP Kemal Bülbül.
(06/355) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 6 journalists (Ömer Çelik, news director and Metin Yoksu, reporter of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree; Tunca Öğreten, former editor of Diken news portal; Mahir Kanaat, Birgün newspaper employee; Eray Sargın, editor in chief of Yolculuk newspaper; Derya Okatan, Etkin News Agency news director) on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 is held on June 25, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 6 journalists on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ‘blocking and breaking the information system, changing or destroying the data’, for reporting on the e-mails of Berat Albayrak, Minister of Energy and Natural Sources which were hacked by Redhack and then published on the internet.
The court adjourned the trial to December 15, 2020.
3 of 6 journalists who were detained on December 25, 2016, were arrested by the court on January 17, 2017. Ömer Çelik was released on October 24, 2017; Tunca Öğreten and Mahir Kanaat were released on December 6, 2017.
(06/356) Journalist and Other People on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 4 people including journalist Ferda Yılmazoğlu, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 on June 25, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 4 people on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘aiding an illegal organisation member’.
It is learned that Ferda Yılmazoğlu and Seyhan Çiçekli demanded to declare their personal information in Kurdish and the court did not accept and thus did not hear their testimonies. After defence hearings of the other defendants the court decided to release Teymen Öztürk and Faruk Öztürk on judicial control conditions, decided to continue detention of Ferda Yılmazoğlu and Seyhan Çiçekli and adjourned the trial to October 8, 2020.
(06/357) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against journalist Sabiha Temizkan on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on June 25, 2020. The court adjourned the trial to September 22, 2020.
(06/358) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against journalist Özgür Paksoy, for his social media share of Brazilian cartoonist Carlos Latuff’s drawing of Tahir Elçi, Diyarbakır Bar Association chair who was killed on November 28, 2015; is held at Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 7 on June 25, 2020.
After defence hearings the court sentenced Özgür Paksoy to 11 months and 20 days for ‘insulting the President’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(06/359) HDP Members and Executives on Trial in Van…
The trial of the case against 12 people with 2 arrestees including Yadişen Karabulak, HDP’s former provincial co-chair in Van, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 7 on June 25, 2020.
After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Yadişen Karabulak and Fikret Doğan and adjourned the trial to July 2, 2020.
12 people were detained on September 10, 2019 and 5 of them (HDP’s former provincial co-chair Yadişen Karabulak, HDP Women’s Assembly member Dilan Yıldız, Democratic Society Congress members Sait Kılıç, Fikret Doğan and İbrahim Sungur) were arrested on September 13, 2019. The court has released 5 people on judicial control conditions at the first trial held on February 10, 2019. Upon the prosecutor’s appeal to release, Fikret Doğan and Yadişen Karabulak were detained and arrested again on February 13, 2020, and a warrant was issued for detention of other 3 people.
(06/360) Çorlu Train Crash Case…
The trial of the case against 4 officials of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) about the train crash on July 8, 2018, in Çorlu district of Tekirdağ where 25 people died and 328 people got wounded, is held at Çorlu Heavy Penal Court No 1 on June 25, 2020. 4 officials of TCDD on trial are: Turgut Kurt, railway maintenance manager at TCDD Regional Directorate No 1 Halkalı Railway Maintenance Directorate No 14; Özkan Polat, railway maintenance and repair chief at Çerkezköy Maintenance and Repair, Celaleddin Çabuk, line maintenance and repair official at Railway Maintenance Directorate and Çetin Yıldırım, chief in charge of bridges who has signed the annual inspection report issued on May 2018.
The indictment demands jail sentence from 2 years to 15 years for defendants on the charge of ‘reckless killing and injury’.
It is reported that journalists were not allowed to enter the courtroom with their computers. It is learned that families of those who died in the crash left the court room as a reaction to the prosecutor who expresses contrary opinion with regard to arrest of defendants. Witness declarations were heard at the trial. The court ruled an accident scene investigation by a group formed of 7 experts on July 16, 2020 and adjourned the trial to November 4, 2020.
(06/361) Investigation Against Mayor…
Ministry of Interior initiated an investigation against Ercüment Çervatoğlu, Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor of Fındıklı district of Rize. It is stated in the news reports that the investigation was about changing the name of Nation’s Garden to 100th Year Atatürk Park, and the name of Nation’s Coffee House to Kazım Koyuncu Cultural Center, and “offending religious feelings by new year’s events where Santa Claus costumes were used”.
(06/362) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that access to web contents on several websites and social media accounts https://cumhuriyet.com.tr/, https://www.birgun.net/, https://www.sozcu.com.tr/, https://www.halktv.com.tr/, https://twitter.com/MTanal, https://sol.org.tr/, https://www.gercekgundem.com/, https://twitter.com/patronlar is banned on verdict of Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 7 on June 25, 2020.
(06/363) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On June 25, 2020, 7 people are detained in house raids in Hatay.
(06/364) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 21 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,458 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on June 25, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 5,046 and total number of confirmed cases is 193,115 as of June 25, 2020.
It is learned from data shared by Ankara Chamber of Medicine on June 25, 2020 that 452 health workers including 89 doctors, 47 intern doctors, 4 dentists, 1 workplace doctor, 67 nurses, 27 primary care doctors, 6 administrative personnel, 14 medical secretaries, 5 pharmacists, 2 radiology technicians, 28 emergency medical technicians, 67 cleaning workers, 7 kitchen workers, 3 security staff in Ankara tested positive for Covid-19.
It is claimed in the news coverage of June 25, 2020 that Deniz Yıldırım, a cancer patient prisoner in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1 tested positive for Covid-19.
[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.