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7 – 9 March 2020 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

7 – 9 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report

(03/090) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Ankara…

It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2020 that, 80 people who were detained on February 28, 2020 in Ankara, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at Ankara Directorate of Security.

It is learned that lawyers who went to Ankara Directorate of Security, through Human Rights Center of Ankara Bar Association, were not allowed to see detained people.

It is also learned that detained people were not taken to hospital for medical examination. It is reported that a physician came for examination and said “I cannot do anything in case of no physical marks of violence”.

Expressions of one of detained people who applied to Human Rights Center of Ankara Bar Association, reports following: “[The person reports that] s/he was detained on February 28, 2020; s/he was interrogated 6 times under custody under the name of ‘interview’; on March 3, 2020, s/he was wakened from sleep at around 11 or 12 p.m. and was taken to a room at second floor where there was around 5 people in; s/he was forced to take off clothes apart of underwear and was handcuffed behind the back; a bag was covered to the head which made the person out of breath for 30 seconds and this was repeated 3 or 4 times; people in the room wearing gloves threatened the person saying ‘we will remove your nails with the pincer if you do not talk, we do not want your blood on us’ and showing a pair of pincers; and during the ‘interview’ on March 4, 2020, s/he was punched at stomach and chin, was forced to wait on foot, and was subjected to insulting words and swears.”

(03/091) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of March 7, 2020 that, a prisoner named Muhammed Fadullah Kamış was being kept in solitary cell in Erzurum E Type Prison. It is also stated that persons claiming themselves to be intelligence officers came to his cell and Muhammed Fadullah Kamış was forced to give statements against other people.

It is claimed on the news coverage of March 7, 2020 that, Oda TV news editor Barış Pehlivan who was arrested on March 6, 2020 was subjected to physical violence of the wardens at the entrance of Silivri Prison. Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office made a declaration on the same day denying the claims: “The case was inspected by Silivri Prison Prosecutor’s Office. According to the examinations and reviews of security footage, it was concluded that arrestee Barış Pehlivan was not battered, not subjected to verbal and physical ill-treatment.”

It is learned from the news coverage of March 8, 2020 that, open visit which was announced by Ministry of Justice for 8 March International Women’s Day was not done at Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison on the grounds of “shortage of employees”.

(03/092) Interventions and Preventions to 8 March International Women’s Day Events…

On March 6, 2020, the police intervened Labour Party (EMEP) members distributing leaflets for 8 March International Women’s Day in Çanakkale and detained 5 people. It is learned that the reason of detention is anti-war expressions on the leaflets.

It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2020 that banners of Labour Party held in Fındıklı district of Rize were banned and removed by Rize Public Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds of the word “war” was involved.

It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2020 that 8 March banners of Labour Party in Dikili district of Izmir were banned by sub-governorate on the grounds that they were “damaging national security, public order, national unity and integrity”.

It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2020 that, the feast organized by People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Osmaniye was not allowed by governorate.

It is learned that members of Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA) and HDP distributing leaflets for 8 March meeting in Batman on March 7, 2020 were stopped by the police and were given penalty fine of 400 Turkish Liras per person according to the Law of Misdemeanour.

Istanbul Governorate banned Feminist Night March which was to be held on Istiklal Street on March 8, 2020. The police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to intervene women gathering on Sıraselviler Street. It is reported that the police intervened journalists and forced them away the street. It is learned that at least 32 women including Gazete Yolculuk reporter Buse Söğütlü and 2 journalists were detained. Detained people are released on March 9, 2020.

(03/093) 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 1216 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 6, and 7, 2020 at 13.30, and forced people away from the monument.

The police intervened the press declaration at 13.30 on March 8, 2020 and detained 4 people (Nuriye Gülmen, Merve Demirel, Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin). Detained people are released on the same day.

(03/094) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…

The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, at Khalkedon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on March 7, 2020 and detained 2 people (Zeynep Koçak and Hasan Koçak). Mustafa Koçak is on death fast for 250 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison, to demand a fair trial. İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek have gone on a hunger strike on June 18, 2019 and İbrahim Gökçek turned his strike to a death fast on January 3, 2020 and Helin Bölek did it so on January 20, 2020.

(03/095) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…

Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 780th time on March 7, 2020. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders with HRFT president Şebnem Korur Fincancı and families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.

(03/096) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…

“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 415th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on March 7, 2020, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.

(03/097) Arrested Journalists in Istanbul…

Yeni Yaşam newspaper’s executive editor Mehmet Ferhat Çelik, managing editor Aydın Keser and editor Semiha Alankuş, and Yeniçağ newspaper author Murat Ağırel who were called for giving official statements by Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office on March 6, 2020, through an investigation on the news reports about a national intelligence officer who were died in Libya and was buried in Manisa, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on the same day.

Upon objection of the Prosecutor’s Office, Mehmet Ferhat Çelik, Aydın Keser and Murat Ağırel were detained again and are arrested on March 8, 2020.

Oda TV website’s executive editor Barış Pehlivan was also called for statement on March 6, 2020, and was arrested by the court on the same day.

Oda TV news editor Barış Terkoğlu and journalist Hülya Kılınç were detained through the same investigation on March 4, 2020 and were arrested on March 5, 2020.

(03/098) Arrested Journalist in Ankara…

Rudaw TV reporter Rawin Sterk Yıldız who was detained in Edirne while reporting on asylum seekers at the border on February 29, 2020, and was taken to Ankara afterwards, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on March 6, 2020.

(03/099) Detained People in Istanbul for Social Media Posts…

6 people who were detained in Istanbul on March 5, 2020, on the grounds of social media posts on the attack to Turkish Armed Forces in Idlib city of Syria where 33 soldiers died; are released by the court on judicial control conditions on March 6, 2020.

(03/100) Detained People in Mardin…

On March 6, 2020, 5 people (Cabbar Gündüz, Mustafa Kılıç, Meki Eroğlu, Davut Okumuş and Metin Ortak) are detained in house raids in Savur district of Mardin. It is learned that the reason of detention is protests, demonstrations and political activities they participated in 2014 and 2015.

(03/101) Detained HDP Executives and Other People in Mardin…

8 of 10 people who were detained in house raids in Mardin on February 29, 2020 are released after statement procedures at the police on March 6, 2020. The reason of detention was protests, demonstrations and political activities they participated in 2014 and 2015. People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Mardin provincial co-chair Perihan Ağaoğlu and former co-chair Musa Alkan are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.

(03/102) Detained People in Urfa…

On March 6, 2020, 3 people are detained in house raids in Suruç district of Urfa, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. Names of detained people are unknown.

(03/103) Former Co-Mayor on Trial…

The case against Sara Kaya, former co-mayor of Nusaybin district of Mardin, is held on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on March 6, 2020. Sara Kaya joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system.

The court decided to continue detention of Sara Kaya and adjourned the trial to May 4, 2020.

Sara Kaya was detained on January 13, 2017 and was arrested by the court on January 26, 2017. Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to Nusaybin district on September 11, 2016.

(03/104) People on Trial in Urfa…

The trial of the case against 30 people including 9 arrestees, on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held at Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 6, 2020.

The court released 2 people (Hikmet Evin and Kemal Kudin) and decided to continue detention of 7 people (Ahmet Yenilmez, Feridun Günbeği, Leyla Mümin, Mehmet Kültür, Muzaffer Çakmak, Songül Arpa and Vahit Akgün) and adjourned the trial to April 17, 2020. 30 people were detained on October 9, 2019, when military operation of Turkish Armed Forces to north and south Syria has started.

(03/105) People on Trial in Ankara…

The final trial of the case against 27 people, for participating in the march on February 24, 2015 in Ankara, for Özgecan Aslan, who was raped and killed in Mersin; is held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 5 on March 6, 2020. The court acquitted 27 people. It is learned that the court stated that “demonstrations and meetings with peaceful purposes and freedom of expression are indispensable elements of democracy and these rights are guaranteed in the Constitution”.

(03/106) The Case on Sürmi İnce’s Death in Hakkari…

On March 6, 2020, Erzurum Regional Court has concluded on the appeal of 3 years and 4 months’ sentence given by Yüksekova Heavy Penal Court to specialised sergeant Ali Dağkıran, for Sürmi İnce’s (55) death due to gunfire of military members in Yüksekova district of Hakkari. The court reversed the verdict, for the sentence given was found high, and send the case to Yüksekova Heavy Penal Court for retrial. It is learned that the first trial will be held on April 14, 2020.

On July 18, 2017, Sürmi İnce died due to gunfire shot by military members, while she was carrying food for her children in Büyükçiftlik town of Yüksekova.

(03/107) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On March 7, 2020, 1 person is detained in Istanbul

(03/108) Labor Killings…

Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 131 workers including 2 children, 3 women, and 2 refugees died while working in February 2020.

(03/110) Ban of Events in Muğla…

Muğla Governorate announced on March 5, 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 under the topic of “No to War”, are banned for 10 days as of March 5, 2020.

(03/111) Proceedings Against Parliamentary Members…

It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2020 that, 55 proceedings demanding lift of impunity of 28 parliamentary members from Republican People’s Party (CHP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) are submitted to Grand National Assembly.

Parliamentary members subjected to proceedings are:

  • HDP co-chair and Istanbul MP Pervin Buldan (2 proceedings)
  • HDP Van MP Sezai Temelli (8 proceedings)
  • HDP Istanbul MP Saruhan Oluç (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Mardin MP Ebru Günay (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven (4 proceedings)
  • HDP Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk (4 proceedings)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP İmam Taşçıer (2 proceedings)
  • HDP Istanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Batman MP Necdet İpekyüz (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Istanbul MP Hüda Kaya (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun (3 proceedings)
  • HDP Tunceli MP Alican Önlü (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Urfa MP Ömer Öcalan (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Van MP Murat Sarısaç (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Urfa MP Ayşe Sürücü (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Muş MP Mensur Işık (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Muş MP Şevin Coşkun (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel (2 proceedings)
  • HDP Muş MP Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit (3 proceedings)
  • HDP Van MP Muazzez Orhan (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Musa Farisoğulları (1 proceeding)
  • HDP Diyarbakır MP Saliha Aydeniz (6 proceeding)
  • CHP group deputy chair and Sakarya MP Engin Özkoç (3 proceedings)
  • CHP group deputy chair and Manisa MP (1 proceeding)
  • CHP Ordu MP (1 proceeding)
  • CHP Sivas MP Ulaş Karasu (1 proceeding)
  • CHP Konya MP Abdüllatif Şener (1 proceeding).

[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, 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.