Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
30 January Daily Human Rights Report
(01/322) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 29, 2019 that, Mehmet Yıldırım, a prisoner kept in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2, was subjected to physical violence of the wardens, for he greeted another prisoner while he was being transferred to the courthouse for a trial. It is reported that Mehmet Yıldırım’s eyeglasses were broken and he has bruises and swelling on his face and body due to physical violence. It is also stated in the news reports that Mehmet Yıldırım was not taken to prison infirmary although he demanded so, and thus he could not get a medical report evidencing the violence.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 29, 2019 that Rıza Özçolak, a prisoner from İzmir Kırıklar Prison No 1, wrote a letter about right violations and problems he was subjected to in prison, which was also covered on press; prison administration made an official complaint against him due to the letter, and Rıza Özçolak gave official statement to the prosecutor’s office upon the complaint.
(01/323) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned that Eren Erdem, former MP of Republican People’s Party (CHP) who is kept in Silivri Prison, went on a hunger strike for “being kept in prison unjustly”, on January 29, 2019. Eren Erdem was released on judicial control conditions by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23, on the trial held on January 7, 2019 however, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office objected to the release of Eren Erdem on the grounds of “suspicion of escape”, to Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 as the higher court, which accepted the objection and thus Eren Erdem was not released from the prison.
(01/324) 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 812 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 29, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 29, 2019, 3 people (Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 29, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/325) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on January 29, 2019, and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 78th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(01/326) Detained Co-Mayor Candidate and Other People in Şırnak and Van…
On January 29, 2019, 15 people including Berivan Kutlu, co-mayor candidate of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) for Cizre district; and Zeynep İdin and Ayfer Şahin Bilici, both 8-months pregnant women, are detained in house raids in central and Cizre districts of Şırnak and in Van through a Şırnak based investigation. The names of detained people are: Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Şırnak co-chair Ayşe Altay, Şirin Kılınç, Nuriye Bilir, Emine Erkuş, Taybet Bilgi, Kumru Yörük, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) affiliate Union of General Services Workers of Turkey Şırnak co-chair Zeynep İdin, Saadet İdin, Berivan Kutlu, Leyla Kılınç, Zahide Külter, Ayşe İrmez, Leyla İstek, Sibel Erk and Ayfer Şahin Bilici.
It is learned that pregnant women Zeynep İdin and Ayfer Şahin Bilici were released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office on the same day.
(01/327) Arrested Employee of HDP in Urfa for Social Media Posts…
On January 29, 2018, Veysi Kaplan, an employee for HDP is detained in a house raid in Eyyübiye district of Urfa, for social media posts, and he is arrested by the court on the same day.
(01/328) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 4 academicians (Research Assistant Seval Gülen, Professor Ayşe Nüket Eralp, Assist. Professor Zeynep Kadirbeyoğlu and Professor Oya Köymen) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on January 29, 2019. The court has rejected the demand for consolidation of cases against academicians at the previous trial however, cancelling its interim decision, the court decided to consolidate 4 cases this time. The trial of the case will be held on May 16, 2019.
The case against Assoc. Professor İpek Yürekli from Istanbul Technical University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on January 29, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to February 26, 2019.
(01/329) Prisoner on Trial for Death of Another Prisoner in Prison…
The case against prisoner Emre Ödük, for death of Emrah İlhan who died in Silivri L Type Prison No 5 on April 10, 2017, started to be held on Silivri Penal Court of First Instance No 1 on January 29, 2019.
The indictment demands Emre Ödük to be sentenced for ‘reckless killing’.
After defence hearings and complainant declarations, the court adjourned the trial to July 16, 2019.
(01/330) Municipal Police Chief on Trial for Committing Violence Against a Public Employee…
The case against Tayfun Karali, former chief of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Municipal Police, on the grounds of slapping municipal police officer Kenan Fidan and causing him to faint, started to be held on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 30 on January 29, 2019.
The indictment demands jail sentence from 6 months up to 1 year and 6 months for Tayfun Karali, on the charge of ‘intentional injury on account of a public officer misusing his influence’.
It is learned that Tayfun Karali admits that he has slapped Kenan Fidan, in his defence declaration.
The footage of Tayfun Karali, former chief of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Municipal Police, slapping Kenan Fidan who then fainted due to physical violence, after a quarrel nearby a road in Kartal district of Istanbul on December 21, 2017, was covered by media.
(01/331) ECHR Decision on Ebru Dinçer…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 29, 2019 that, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concluded on the application of Ebru Dinçer, whose face and body was burned in Istanbul Bakırköy Prison, during the operation against prisons on December 19, 2000. It is learned that ECHR verdict states that Turkey has violated the ban on torture and sentenced Turkey to pay 20.000 Euro for immaterial damages.
(01/332) Teacher on Trial for ‘Insulting Atatürk’…
The final trial of the case against Murat K., a teacher, on the charge of ‘insulting Atatürk in social media posts’, is held on Malatya Penal Court of First Instance No 5 on January 29, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 10 months for ‘publicly denigrating the memory of Ataturk’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(01/333) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 29, 2019, 31 people including former executives of trade unions which were closed by state of emergency decrees, are detained in house raids in Ankara.
Brigadier general Edip Akgülay, former commander of Combined Air Operations Centre in Eskişehir, who was detained on January 26, 2019 in Eskişehir is arrested by the court on January 26, 2019.
(01/334) Journalist Ayşe Düzkan is Received into Prison…
Journalist Ayşe Düzkan, went into prison on January 29, 2019, to serve 1 year and 6 months’ time as the approved sentence given to her on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on the case for participating in “Editors in Chief on Watch” campaign to support Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.