Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 May 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/185) Person Died Under Custody…
It is learned that Metin Sucu, one of the two people detained in Istanbul on May 25, 2023, regarding the death of a 2-year-old baby who was subjected to sexual abuse, in Çaycuma district of Zonguldak, died in the police vehicle taking him to Zonguldak. It is reported that the other person in the vehicle, whose name could not be learned, claimed that Metin Sucu died as a result of torture and other ill-treatment. It is learned that 2 police officers and 1 watchman who were detained in connection with the death of detainee were arrested by the court.
(05/186) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on May 25, 2023 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
(05/187) May 14/28 2023 General Elections…
The police intervened in the people protesting the Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu in Sultangazi district of Istanbul on May 25, 2023 and detained 8 people. Detained people were released on the same day. Detained people were: Cem Yıldız, Zafer Mutlu, Ali Rıza Yücedağ, Ali Kahraman, Gazi Can, Umut Yandır, Yiğitcan Doğan, Çağdaş Aydoğdu.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 25, 2023 that, the screens at election campaign stands of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Izmit district of Kocaeli were removed by the police although the Supreme Election Board has overturned the District Election Board decision for removal of the screens.
11 people who were detained in house raids in Dargeçit and Artuklu districts of Mardin on May 24, 2023, through a Diyarbakır based investigation on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly congress, were released after statement procedures at the police. The names of detained people learned so far are: Ramazan Kalkan, Agit Kalkan, Heja Kalkan, Hividar Taş, Berivan Taş, Fırat Akar, Rojhat Altaş.
3 people (Adnan Vural, Vedat Özer and Mazlum Itmez) who were detained in Batman on May 24, 2023 through a Diyarbakır based investigation on the HDP Youth Assembly congress, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 25, 2023.
19 people including HDP executives who were detained on May 22, 2023 in operations covering 5 cities through an Ankara based investigation on Newroz celebrations, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 25, 2023. The names of detained people learned so far are: HDP Party Assembly member Bedriye Irmak and Mehmet Akıcı, Aykut Bozkuş, Ali Osman Işık, Muhammed Yasin Bağcivan, Cahit Gümüş, Ramazan Ağgöz, Hurşit Üzüm, Samet Aytaç, Kadir Aytaç, Enka Yıldırım, Kara Yusuf Doğan, Nebahat Gever, Barış Gözel, Ahmet Gözel, Halil Gözel, Mehmet Üstündağ, Ahmet Bingöl and Muhammet Sis.
Oktay Avcu who were detained upon the order of the prosecutor after filing a petition at the Mersin Courthouse, where he went to file a criminal complaint against the President regarding the videos shown at AKP rallies on May 24, 2023, was released by the court on house confinement on May 25, 2023.
(05/188) Özgür Gündem Case…
On November 3, 2020, the Penal Department No. 3 of Istanbul Regional Court has reversed the verdict of acquittal of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu, writer Ahmet Nesin and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey chair and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) chair Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, in the “Özgür Gündem case”. On July 17, 2019, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 have acquitted Erol Önderoğlu, Ahmet Nesin and Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı who were on trial for participating in “Editors in Chief on Watch” campaign to support Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree. The retrial of the case is held on May 25, 2023. The court adjourned the trial to October 12, 2023.
(05/189) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist Furkan Karabay, upon the complaint of a former lawyer of the President over a news report, is held at Istanbul Civil Court No. 44 on May 25, 2023. The court sentenced Furkan Karabay to a penalty fine of 20,000 Turkish Liras.
(05/190) HKP Chair on Trial…
The first trial of the case against the People’s Liberation Party (HKP) chair Nurullah Efe, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 52 on May 25, 2023. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to February 20, 2024.
(05/191) Metin Lokumcu Case…
The trial of the case against 13 police officers including provincial security director of Artvin and district security director of Hopa, for death of Metin Lokumcu is held at Trabzon Heavy Penal Court No. 2 on May 25, 2023, as Trabzon Penal Court of First Instance No. 2 has decided on non-jurisdiction on the case. Metin Lokumcu has lost his life due to excessive use of chemical gas by the police intervening to a press declaration in Hopa district of Artvin on May 31, 2021. It is learned that the defendant police officers did not attend the trial. The court rejected expert report and crime scene exploration requests and adjourned the trial to October 26, 2023.
(05/192) Police Officers on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case about torture and ill-treatment that journalist Erdal İmrek has been subjected to during police intervention to demonstrations held in Istanbul on May 31, 2014, to mark the first year of Gezi Park protests; is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 60 on May 25, 2023. The Constitutional Court has ruled that “prohibition of treatment incompatible with human dignity” has been violated by the police officers. The court issued detention warrant for a police officer and adjourned the trial to November 17, 2023.
(05/193) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned that a social media post containing a fake video about the CHP chair was banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No. 6 on May 23, 2023.
(05/194) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 35 people about the incidents in Sultanbeyli district of Istanbul during the 15 July coup attempt, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 28 on May 25, 2023. The court sentenced 27 people to 10 years 7 months and 15 days, 7 people to 10 years and 1 person to 12 years and 9 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court decided to release all defendants.
[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.