Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 October 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/320) Trial of Human Rights Defenders…
The trial of 11 human rights defenders including 9 arrested started on October 25, 2017. The case was opened by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35.
Arrested defendants Özlem Dalkıran, Peter Steudtner, Ali Gharavi, Veli Acu, Günal Kurşun, İdil Eser and Nalan Erkem as well as defendants Nejat Taştan and Şeyhmus Özbekli who weren’t arrested were present at the court. Arrested defendant İlknur Üstün and Taner Kılıç who was arrested through another case attended the trial through SEGBİS.
MP’s, political party representatives, right organizations and also Consulates of both Germany and France followed the trial and were present in the courtroom.
Indictment asked for up to 15 years of jail term for 11 defendants due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’ and ‘acting on behalf of the illegal organization despite being a member’. Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, Attorney Taner Kılıç’s case was also combined to current trial. Kılıç has been arrested since June 2017.
Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of 8 human rights defenders with abroad travel ban conditions and lifted the judiciary control condition on defendants Nejat Taştan and Şeyhmus Özbekli. The court adjourned the hearing to November 22, 2017.
10 human rights defenders were detained during a meeting in İstanbul’s Büyükada on July 5, 2017. Their detention period was extended to 14 days and they were transferred to court on July 12, 2017. The court ruled for the arrests of Amnesty International Turkey Director İdil Eser, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly member Özlem Dalkıran, Günal Kurşun and Veli Acu from Human Rights Agenda Association, Swedish citizen Ali Garawi and German citizen Peter Steudner. The court ruled for the releases of Nalan Erkem from Helsinki Citizens Assembly, Nejat Taştan from Equal Rights Watch Association, and Şeyhmus Özbekli from Rights Initiative, with judiciary control conditions.
Following an objection from the prosecution on July 21, 2017, arrest warrants were issued for 4 human rights defenders. Therefore, İlknur Üstün and Nalan Erkem were arrested on July 23, 2017 and Nejat Taştan and Şeyhmus Özbekli were released with judiciary control conditions.
(10/321) Civillians Injured in Şırnak Explosion…
It is learned that 2 civilians were injured during an explosion on the construction site of TOKI in Şırnak, on October 25, 2017.
(10/322) Suspicious Death in Prison…
It is learned that a prisoner named Mehmet Kil (24) in Adana Kürkçüler F Type prison died on October 25, 2017. It is reported that the prison administration called Kil’s family and informed them that Kil killed himself in the prison bathroom by hanging himself with his belt.
Kil’s brother claimed that his brother did not commit suicide. Older brother revealed in his statement to press the last conversation he had with Mehmet Kil. According to this, Kil allegedly said that he had a serious argument with wardens and chief warden both verbally and physically. And he told his brother that wardens threatened him saying that only his ‘‘dead body would leave this facility’’.
It is also learned that Kil’s funeral was buried with a surrounding police blockage and police officers didn’t allow the family to accept condolences in front of their house.
(10/323) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned on October 25, 2017 that Grup Yorum band member and İdil People’s Theatre actor Özgür Gültekin who is in Silivri No 9 prison, was not allowed meet with his father who came to Turkey from abroad to visit him. Administration allegedly prevented him meeting with his father because of him not being a Turkish citizen.
It is learned from news coverage of October 26, 2017 that that female prisoners in Elazığ Type T prison were restrained from their attorney visits, phone calls, transfers to infirmaries and hospials and receiving their cargo packages, because they refused to wear name badges.
(10/324) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned on October 25, 2017 that a prisoner named Çağrı Avcı began a hunger strike in Van Type F Prison because he was placed in a solitary confinement cell 1 week ago.
It is learned from news coverage of October 25, 2017 that a prisoner named Mustafa Kocak staying in Silivri No 9 prison began a hunger strike on October 19, 2017 to protest rights violations he has been experiencing in the prison. Koçak was transferred to İzmir No 2 Type T prison against his will. Mustafa Koçak was tortured and subject to other ill-treatment on October 1, 2017 when he was detained and taken to İstanbul Police Headquarters. He was later arrested on October 4, 2017 and sent to Silivri prison. Koçak faces pressure in the prison as well, lastly, he was separated from other prisoners and put into solitary confinement.
(10/325) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with Statuary Decree’s planned for press meetings in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 25, 2017. Demonstrations of the group has been going on for several weeks. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both intervened and prevented by the police forces.
During the intervention towards the meeting at 13.30, 3 people and during the 18.00 meeting, 5 people including Veli Saçılık and Seyri Sokak collective employees reporting the incident were physically abused and detained.
Total of 8 people were detained on October 25, 2017 Yüksel street demonstrations. It is learned that police officers also prevented press members from reporting the incident. It is reported that detainees were released within the same day.
(10/326) Police Operation Towards ESP…
It is learned that 12 of 15 people detained on October 19, 2017 through an investigation towards ESP (Socialist Party of the Oppressed) were arrested. 2 of arrested people were attorneys and 2 were journalists. ETHA workers and Law Office of the Oppressed attorneys were among the arrested. Nihat Göktaş, Mehmet Aslan and SYKP member Ali Düzgün were released with judiciary control conditions.
Names of arrested defendants: ETHA editor İsminaz Temel, ETHA reporter Havva Cuştan, Attorney Özlem Gümüştaş, Attorney Sezin Uçar, ESP MYK member Özgen Sadet, Onur Binbir, Hünkar Yurtseven, İlhan Aslan, İsmail Geçkin, HDP Bağcılar District Executive Erkan Kakça, Meral Tatar, Mazlum Demirtaş.
(10/327) Journalist Detained in İstanbul…
Journalist Zeynep Kuray was detained on October 25, 2017 during a house raid to her house in İstanbul. Kuray was detained due to her social media posts.
(10/328) Detentions and Arrests…
It is learned that 24 people detained on October 23, 2017 regarding the armed assault towards a specialist corporal in Diyarbakır’s Yenişehir were released from Diyarbakır Police Headquarters on October 26, 2017. It is reported that Saliha Baran who is 80 years old and has diabetes passed out a couple of times during detention and she was made to wait on a stretcher.
HDP Hope district co-chair, writer and environmental activist Cemil Aksu was detained due to his social media posts when he went to testify in Hopa Court. Following his testimony Aksu was released. The prosecution objected and Aksu was brought to court and arrested on October 25, 2017 due to ‘endorsing crime and criminal’. Cemil Aksu is the spouse of ESP Hopa district executive Nuran Vayiç who was also arrested on October 24, 2017.
Through an Adana based investigation on October 13, 2017 and further 39 people were detained including 14 women and 1 child, during operations in 5 cities. It is learned that 18 of these detainees were arrested for ‘membership of an illegal organization’ and ‘helping and and harboring an illegal organization’ based on anonymous witnesses’ testimonies. 21 people were released with house arrests.
It is reported that 5 of 7 people detained on October 25, 2017 in Balıkesir for their social media posts were arrested by court on October 25, 2017 due to an allegation of ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. 2 people were released with judiciary control condition. Names of the arrested defendants: Ahmet Zeki Açıkgöz, Yahya Anık, Barış Özpolat, Ersin Taşdemir and Mehmet Yıldırım.
It is reported that 4 of 12 people detained on October 19, 2017 in Urfa for their social media posts were arrested by court on October 25, 2017 due to an allegation of ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. 8 people were released. Names of the arrested defendants: Mehmet Dağdelen, Reşat Ekinci, Seyfo Erbekler and one unidentified person.
It is learned that a person named Bayram Çağlar was detained during a raid to his house in Mersin on October 26, 2017. It is reported that Çağlar was sent to Mersin Police Headquarters and the reason for his detention is unknown.
(10/329) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 17 people including teachers discharged with Decree with the Force of Law were detained on October 25, 2017 through an Aksaray based investigation in 4 cities. 10 people were detained through an Istanbul based investigation during operations in 3 cities.
It is learned that 6 of 20 regular soldiers detained through a Balıkesir based investigation in 10 cities on October 16, 2017 were arrested on October 25, 2017. 14 people were released with judiciary control conditions.
It is learned that 5 of 12 people detained through a Bayburt based investigation in 10 cities on October 10, 2017 were arrested on October 25, 2017. 7 people were released with judiciary control conditions.
It is learned that 26 of 65 people detained on October 11, 2017 including regular soldiers, were arrested on October 25, 2017. Detentions took place through an Osmaniye based investigation during operations in 33 cities. 39 people were released 34 of which with judiciary control condition.
It is learned that former Ministry of External Affairs employee Arif Çelik trying to cross the Greek border illegally on October 23, 2017 was arrested by court on October 25, 2017. Arif Çelik was discharged with a Decree with the Force of Law.
It is learned that Mesut Kaçmaz and his spouse Meral Kaçmaz who were previously deported from Pakistan on October 14, 2017 and brought to Turkey, were arrested by court on October 25, 2017.
(10/330) Trial of DBP City Co-Chair
It is learned from news coverage of October 25, 2017 that the case opened against DBP Iğdır Co-Chair Ufuk Demir for making propaganda of an illegal organization with his social media posts resulted with Demir being sentenced to 3 years 9 months and 15 days. The case was opened by Iğdır Heavy Penal Court No 1. Ufur Demir was detained on March 17, 2017 in Iğdır and released 1 week later.
(10/331) Trials of Journalists…
The final hearing for the trials of 12 people including former HDP MP and grant holder of KJA journal Ayla Akat and chief news editor Helin Tolan took place on October 26, 2017. The case was opened by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 based on published articles in the journal. Following the defenses the court sentenced 3 people (Helin Tolan, Mehtap Yılmaz ve Mustafa Aşan) to 10 months imprisonment. The court acquitted the other defendants.
(10/332) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final hearing for the trials of 12 employees of education centers closed with Statuary Decrees took place on October 25, 2017. The case was opened by Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 2.. Following the defenses the court sentenced 12 people to prison terms ranging from 3 years 1 month 15 days to 8 years.
The final trial of 2 former police officers discharged with Decree with the Force of Law took place on October 25, 2017. The case was opened by Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 1. Following the defenses the court sentenced former police officer Ahmet Akçakoça to 6 years 3 months, Zahit Baydaş to 7 years 6 months. The court also released Akçakoça with judiciary control condition and ruled for the continuity of arrest for Zahit Baydaş.
The trial of 320 former soldiers including Siirt Commando Brigade Commander Ahmet Şimşek and Eruh 2nd Commando Brigade Commander Colonel İsmet Çehreli continued on October 25, 2017. 320 soldiers including 79 already arrested are accused with attempting to occupy governorate building in Siirt during July 15 coup attempt. One arrested defendant was released with judiciary control condition. The court ruled for the continuity of arrests for the remaining defendants and adjourned the hearing to December 21, 2017.
The trial of 62 people including 13 arrested continued on October 25, 2017. The case was opened by Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2. Defendants are accused of ‘membership of an illegal organization’. Following the defenses the court ruled for the continuity of arrests for all defendants and adjourned the hearing to a further date.
(10/333) Party Premise Raided by Police…
It is learned that HDP Sultanhisar district premise was raided by police officers on October 25, 2017 in Aydın. It is learned that building was empty during the raid and some photographs, posters and documents were seized.
(10/334) Curfew in Ömerli…
Governorate of Mardin declared on October 25, 2017 that the curfew implemented on 12 rural neighborhoods of Ömerli District will be lifted as of October 25, 2017, 06.00. Names of the neighborhoods with curfew are: Kaynakkaya, Pınarcık, Havuzbaşı, İkipınar, Kömürlü, Kayagöze, Harmankaya, Taşlıca, Işıkdere, Ovabaşı, Duygulu and Heybeli.
[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.