Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 January 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/135) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 16, 2024, that Ferhat Günay, who is kept in Istanbul Marmara (Silivri) Prison, was subjected to strip search and physical assault of the correction officers. Ferhat Günay’s lawyer applied to Silivri Public Prosecutor’s Office about torture and ill-treatment and stated the following in the petition: “After the lawyer visit on January 2, Ferhat Günay was subjected to a pat-down search by the correction officers and when he was taken to his ward, he was first beaten by the correction officers, and although he shouted, the other wardens did not intervene and watched the client being beaten with kicks and slaps. Afterwards, he was left in his ward, but he started to feel unwell due to the beatings he had received and felt severe pain in his kidney. After he said that he was unwell and that his kidney was hurting, he was transferred to the hospital on the Marmara Prison campus, where he was taken into custody by the gendarmes and kept in custody for an unnecessary period of time and was mistreated. Afterwards, he was examined by a doctor, during the doctor’s examination, he explained all the events and wanted to file a complaint. Again, a ‘battery report’ was issued by the institution doctor stating that the client had been beaten, but it was not given to him. Günay continues to be subjected to psychological pressure from the prison guards.”
It is learned from the news coverage of January 16, 2024, that Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Edirne Prison, sent a letter to a prisoner in Kayseri Prison and the letter was seized by the letter reading commission on the grounds of using the word ‘we’ in the letter.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that letters of Bülent Parmaksız, former Central Executive Committee (MYK) member of HDP, who is kept in Ankara Sincan Prison, were not forwarded to the relevant authorities and a coat sent to Bülent Parmaksız from outside the prison was lost.
(01/136) ‘No Prosecution’ Decisions on Criminal Complaints…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that Ankara Batı Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a decision of ‘no prosecution’ for the criminal complaint filed by Rihan Kavak Özbek, a sick prisoner in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison, about not being taken to hospital on the grounds of not allowing soldiers to put their arms around her.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that Ankara Batı Public Prosecutor’s Office decided ‘no prosecution’ for the criminal complaint filed by journalist Dicle Müftüoğlu, who is kept in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison, about being taken to hospital examination in handcuffs.
(01/137) Party Member Detained in Urfa…
On January 17, 2024, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti) Youth Assembly member Hüseyin Arslan was detained in a house raid in Bozova district of Urfa. Hüseyin Arslan, who was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during detention, was released the same day with judiciary control condition after statement procedures at the police. The reason for the detention could not be learned.
(01/138) People Detained in Izmir…
It is learned that 4 people (Ö.P., C.A., Y.T., E.K.) were detained in house raids in Torbalı, Menemen, Karabağlar and Yamanlar districts of Izmir on January 16, 2024, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ through social media posts. It is reported that after statement procedures at the police, they were released by the court on judicial control condition (ban on leaving the country and signature 2 times a month) on the same day.
(01/139) Teachers Prevented from Union Activities…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that teachers working in a private school in Ümraniye district of Istanbul were subjected to pressure of the school administration for being a member of a union, and that the e-mail sent to teachers by the school administration described their union activities as ‘illegal’ and ‘against professional principles’.
(01/140) SGDF, ESP and SKM Members and Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 9 people including members and executives of Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and Socialist Women’s Assembly (SKM) continued on January 16, 2024, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 27. The court adjourned the trial to March 12, 2024.
(01/141) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Görkem Kınacı, Managing Editor and Kürşat Yılmaz, Publisher of Evrensel Newspaper, for a news article in the newspaper, continued on January 16, 2024, at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2. Presenting his final opinion on the case, the prosecutor demanded that the journalists be sentenced for ‘defamation’. The court adjourned the hearing to March 19, 2024.
(01/142) Documentary Filmmaker on Trial in Ankara…
The trial of the case against documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin continued on January 16, 2024, at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 26. The indictment demands sentence for Sibel Tekin on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The court adjourned the hearing to March 5, 2024.
(01/143) The Case of Mihraç Miroğlu…
The final trial of the case against police officer M. K., about Mihraç Miroğlu (7) who was hit by a police armoured vehicle and lost his life in İdil district of Şırnak on September 3, 2021, is held at İdil Penal Court of First Instance on January 16, 2024. The court acquitted police officer M. K. on the grounds that Mihraç Miroğlu was at fault.
(01/144) Person on Trial in Samsun…
The ‘insult’ case against Emir Karakum, who was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of correction officers in Samsun Bafra T Type Prison, was held on January 16, 2024, at Samsun Bafra Penal Court of First Instance No 3. The court sentenced Emir Karakum to 10 months imprisonment and ruled to convert the prison sentence into a judicial fine.
(01/145) People Under Investigation Due to Social Media Posts…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accepted the objection to the decision of ‘no grounds for investigation’ against two people, M.G. and U.A., who allegedly stated on social media posts that they wanted to join the Israeli army, and decided to take statements of two people on the charge of “disclosing information on the security and political interests of the Republic of Turkey”.
(01/146) Constitutional Court Decision on the Violations at the Funeral of Aysel Tuğluk’s Mother…
On January 16, 2024, the Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled on the application on the violation of the right to ‘respect for private life’ in relation to the attack that took place in Ankara İncek Cemetery during the burial of the mother of former HDP Deputy Co-Chair Aysel Tuğluk on September 13, 2017. The Constitutional Court ruled that there was no violation of rights in the attack.
(01/147) Dismissed Teacher…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2024, that in his speech during the Republic Day ceremony at her school in Antalya, a teacher named E. K. said: “On the one hand, those who sacrificed their lives 100 years ago for the Republic, and on the other hand, those who are trying to destroy it today, who are trying to make everyone believe in the fairy tale of the Turkish Century. Well, where are you while all this is happening?” It is learned that the teacher named E. K. was dismissed by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE).
(01/148) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
It is learned that 32 people were detained in operations covering 10 cities on January 17, 2024.
[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.