Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
28 December 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/260) Person Who Lost His Life due to Police Gunfire…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 28, 2023, that N.B. died due to police gunfire for not obeying a ‘stop’ warning in Izmir. The Governorate of Izmir made an announcement and stated the following: “N.B., born in 1991, was caught during the control carried out by the traffic police teams in the Karabağlar district of Izmir on December 27, 2023, at 20.50, with a finalized prison sentence of 33 years for the crime of ‘Theft of property kept in buildings or annexes’, and tried to escape while he was being transferred to Izmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital for necessary health checks, was caught by the police officer on duty during the chase, and was accidentally shot during the scuffle that took place in the meantime. Despite all interventions at the hospital, N.B. could not be saved and died as of 11.10 pm.”
(12/261) Racist Attack in Ankara…
On December 27, 2023, a group gathered in front of DEM Parti Headquarters in Ankara, shouting racist and sexist slogans, and dispersed after leaving a yellow body bag in front of the party building.
(12/262) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made on December 22, 2023, to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in Imralı Prison, to visit them was not responded to.
(12/263) Police Intervention Against Protests in Ankara, Tunceli, Urfa and Istanbul…
On December 27, 2023, the police intervened against the statement of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti) Ankara Provincial Organization in front of the Ankara Provincial Building against Turkey’s military operations to Northeast Syria and attacks against the DEM Parti by using physical and verbal violence. It is learned that no one was detained during the intervention.
On December 27, 2023, the police intervened against the press statement of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Tunceli Provincial Organization and DEM Parti Dersim Provincial Organization against the operations in Northeast Syria and detained 6 people (Nazlı Çelik, Düzgün Erdoğan, Özcan Ateş, Özgür Söylemez, Ferhat Yıldız and Cemal Güngörmüș). All detainees were released after statement procedures at the police.
The police intervened against the press statement made in front of the DEM Party Ceylanpınar District Organization in the Ceylanpınar district of Urfa for the same reason and detained 10 people. 9 of the detainees (DEM Parti District Co-Chair Hizni Kılıç and Celal Şahin, Sedat Aydın, Abdullah Rabindüz, Mehmet Ceylan, Mehmet Ali Aslan, Cemil Tuncer, Feyzi Bulut and Zeliha Güvenç) were released after the statement procedures at the police. It is learned that the detention period of Mehmet Naci Yılmaz was extended by one day.
The police intervened against the press statement of Marmara Association for Solidarity with Prisoners’ Families (MATUHAYDER), which was held on December 27, 2023, in front of Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul to protest Turkish military operations in Northern and Eastern Syria and to demand an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and detained 15 people by using physical and verbal violence. Detained people were released after statement procedures at the police on December 28, 2023.
(12/264) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Izmir…
On December 27, 2023, the police intervened the press declaration of End the Occupation in Palestine Platform in Konak district of Izmir, to protest Israel’s attacks on Palestine and Turkey’s attacks on Northeast Syria and detained 21 people by using physical violence. It is learned that detainees were released on the same day.
(12/265) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the members of TİP who were holding a press declaration in Ankara on December 27, 2023 to protest Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13’s decision not to release Can Atalay, Hatay MP of Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), despite the Constitutional Court’s second violation decision. It is learned that no one was detained during the intervention.
(12/266) Person Detained in Erzurum…
On December 27, 2023, Erzurum Hınıs Penal Court of Peace issued a judicial control measure against Ruşen F., one of 208 people who were detained on the allegations of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘financing an illegal organization’ within the operations launched in 32 cities on December 26, 2023. As part of the judicial control measure, Ruşen F. was ordered to sign in at the nearest police station 3 days a week, to be banned from traveling abroad, and to post a photo of a Turkish flag on her social media accounts every day during the judicial control measure. It is learned that the Diyarbakır Bar Association filed a complaint to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).
(12/267) Person Detained in Batman…
Sakine Kaya, who was detained in a house raid in Batman on December 26, 2023, was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ on December 27, 2023.
(12/268) Journalist Under Investigation in Istanbul…
Journalist Can Ataklı, against whom an investigation was launched due to his social media posts on the deaths of soldiers in the operations of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) within the borders of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY), was released by the court on December 27, 2023, on judicial control condition.
(12/269) Journalist Under Investigation in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 27, 2023, that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalist Sibel Hürtaş, who was detained and subjected to torture and ill-treatment by the police while she was following the protests against Multiple Bar Associations Law in Ankara, on the grounds that she used the expression ‘torturer’ against a police officer in the lawsuit filed at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 37 on the grounds that she committed the crime of ‘resisting to prevent duty’ upon the complaint of the police officers on duty, and that Hürtaş went to the police station and gave her statement.
(12/270) Journalist on Trial in Urfa…
On December 27, 2023, the first hearing of the case against journalist Mehmet Yetim, who reported on the allegations of an attack on DEVA Party’s election vehicle before the May 14, 2023 elections, on the charge of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ was held at Şanlıurfa Penal Court of First Instance No 1. The court acquitted Mehmet Yetim.
(12/271) The Case of Yusuf Akın…
The court acquitted the defendants in the case related to the death of Yusuf Akın, a plumber in Heybeli village of Mardin’s Nusaybin district on December 20, 2011. The Constitutional Court ruled that Yusuf Akın’s right to life was violated and sent the case file to Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 for retrial. The retrial of the case against accused soldiers K. E. O., S. T., B. Y., Y. E. K., D. G. at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 started on September 15, 2022.
At the hearing of the case held on December 28, 2023, the court rejected the request for the defendants’ arrest and decided to write to Nusaybin District Gendarmerie Command to conduct a reconnaissance at the scene. The hearing was adjourned to a later date.
(12/272) The Case of Can Atalay…
Following the violation decision of the Constitutional Court on the application of TİP Hatay MP Can Atalay, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison for ‘aiding the overthrow of the government’ at the Gezi Trial’s final hearing on April 25, 2022 and whose sentence was upheld by the Court of Cassation’s Penal Department No. 2, the Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 sent the file to the Court of Cassation’s Penal Department No. 3 on the grounds that the Court of Cassation has the authority to decide. The Penal Chamber 3 decided on the case on November 8, 2023, and refused to comply with the Constitutional Court’s violation decision on the grounds that it violated the constitution and exceeded its authority, and ruled to file a criminal complaint against the members of the Constitutional Court who issued the violation decision. The second individual application made to the Constitutional Court by the lawyers of Can Atalay was discussed by the General Assembly of the Constitutional Court on December 21, 2023, and it was decided by a majority of votes that the right to be elected and to engage in political activity and the right to personal liberty and security were violated. Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 13 decided to send the file back to the Court of Cassation for a decision on Can Atalay.
(12/273) People on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay, co-mayors of Diyarbakır’s Kulp district, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) district co-chair Mehmet Abidin Karaman, Kulp Municipality Public Works Director Şener Aktaş, Mehmet Emin Ay, whose mayoral candidacy from HDP was rejected by the Supreme Election Board, and Kulp Municipality Assembly member Yücel Çete, Ümit Fidan and Kendal Barut, who were added to the file later, continued at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on December 27, 2023 with the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’, ‘intentional killing, unauthorized possession or possession of dangerous substances’, ‘disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state’, ‘praising the crime and the criminal’, ‘killing by fire, flood, destruction, sinking, bombing or using nuclear, biological, chemical weapons’. The court adjourned the hearing to March 1, 2024.
(12/274) The Case of Mehmet Sincar…
The retrial of Cihan Yıldız for the killing of Democracy Party (DEP) Batman MP Mehmet Sincar on September 4, 1993, continued on December 27, 2023 at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 6. The court adjourned the hearing to June 6, 2024.
(12/275) Union Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against the Bread Producers’ Union President Cihan Kolivar on the grounds of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility’, ‘insulting the President’ and ‘degrading Turkish nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey, and the bodies and organs of the state’ due to his statement “Bread is the staple food of stupid societies. Since our society is saturated with bread, we have been under such rulers for 20 years.” and his social media posts, continued at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 17 on December 27, 2023. The court adjourned the hearing to April 17, 2024.
(12/276) Banned Protest of Workers…
The hearing of the case filed at Urfa Labour Court No 2 was held on December 27, 2023, on the grounds that the protests started by Özak Tekstil workers on November 27, 2023, at the entrance of Urfa Organized Industrial Zone to get their labor rights disrupted production. The court decided to write a writ to the Provincial Security Directorate and Provincial Gendarmerie Command to stop the protests around the factory and adjourned the hearing to January 31, 2024.
(12/277) Administrative Fines for TV Channels…
On December 28, 2023, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) held its regular weekly meeting and issued program suspensions and administrative fines to 6 different channels:
Fox TV channel was given an administrative fine and two program suspensions on the grounds that the series ” Kızıl Goncalar” was ‘contrary to the national and moral values of the society’.
Halk TV was given two separate administrative fines by RTÜK for allegedly presenting ‘the act of terrorism, its perpetrators and victims in a way that would serve the aims of terrorism’ in a program and for expressions about LGBTI+s in another program.
SZC TV was given an administrative fine by RTÜK for ‘violating the principle of impartiality’ in a program.
Tele1 TV was given 3 separate administrative fines by RTÜK for ‘humiliating people’ and ‘praising crime and criminals’ in 3 different programs.
KRT TV was given an administrative fine by RTÜK for ‘humiliating people’ in a program on the grounds of statements about the Minister of Health.
TGRT TV was given an administrative fine by RTÜK for ‘secret commercial communication’ due to the Starbucks cup appearing in the news.
(12/278) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned that news reports on the abuse of many children by Erkan Kösedağ, Ağrı Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism, were banned on December 27, 2023, by Ağrı Penal Court of Peace on the grounds of “harming the personal rights of family members”. It is also stated that journalist Metin Cihan’s 15 posts on the subject were also banned to access.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 28, 2023, that 3 news reports on https://www.sabah.com.tr and https://www.takvim.com.tr, about IBB and IETT and mentioning a CHP Istanbul MP, were banned to access by Bodrum Penal Court of Peace No 2 on December 26, 2023 and the content was ordered to be deleted.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 28, 2023, that news reports on https://www.birgun.net, https://www.evrensel.net and https://www.sozcu.com.tr about the marriage of a 13-year-old girl were banned to access by Konya Beyşehir Penal Court of Peace on December 11, 2023, on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 28, 2023, that various news reports about Mustafa Doğan İnal, former lawyer of the President of the Republic, on https://yesilgazete.org, https://artigercek.com and https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr, were banned to access by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 3 on December 22, 2023, on the grounds of violation of personal rights, and that these news reports were ordered to be deleted.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 28, 2023, that various news reports on https://www.birgun.net and https://www.alanyagazetesi.com.tr about Ekrem Kalan, former rector of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University who was dismissed due to bribery allegations against him, were banned from access by Antalya Penal Court of Peace No. 3 on December 13, 2023 on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
[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.