Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
26 April 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/189) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Hakkari…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 26, 2024, that shepherds and 1 other person were strip-searched by security forces on the grounds of operations in rural areas of Aşağı and Yukarı Tiloran villages of Yüksekova district of Hakkari. It is unknown how many shepherds were subjected to strip searches.
(04/190) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 26, 2024, that Abdulalim Kaya (81, m), an ill prisoner in Elazığ R Type Prison, who has a 93% disability report issued by Siirt Education and Research Hospital, is kept in a single room although he cannot meet his vital needs on his own due to health problems. İsmail Kaya stated that his father was transferred to Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution a month ago (in March) and said the following to the press: “They took my father to Istanbul a month ago. My father was handcuffed and blindfolded from the prison to Istanbul. My father told us; ‘They didn’t open my eyes even for a second. When I asked a soldier, ‘Where are we now?’ he said, ‘Uncle, you are in Istanbul. They gave a report saying ‘he can stay in prison’ to a person who is sick and cannot meet his needs”.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 26, 2024, that prisoners in Bayburt M Type Prison had hygiene problems due to continuous blockage of sink and toilet drains in the new ward where they were placed due to lack of space in wards.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 26, 2024, that 10 prisoners (Ayşe Kayra, Esma Başkale, Rahşan Aydın, Mesil Demiralp, Azime Işık, Mehtap Kıyar, Hediye Öztürk, Figen Şahin, and Esmer Ayas) including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Izmir provincial co-chair Berna Çelik, were sentenced to 11 days of solitary confinement each in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison for participating in the hunger strike in prisons across Turkey demanding an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. It is learned that prisoners who have been kept in ward A-8 since April 2, 2024, were threatened by a correction officer every 15 minutes by showing them wet towel and that food and garbage belonging to prisoners were scattered during ward searches 3 times a month.
(04/191) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made April 26, 2024, to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family and tutelary along with the families and tutelary of Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded to.
(04/192) Interventions against Newroz Events…
30 people who were detained in house raids in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on April 25, 2024, on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for the clothes and accessories they wore during Newroz celebrations, were released after statement procedures on the same day.
(04/193) March 31st Elections…
On 29 March 2024, 4 people (Mazlum Pala, Murat Duran, Sabahattin Sakiroğlu and Adem Çiçek) who were arrested during the police intervention against the protests in central district of Hakkari against the decision of Van Provincial Election Board to give the mandate to Abdulahat Arvas, the candidate of Justice and Development Party (AKP) who came second in the election, were released after their appeal to Yüksekova Criminal Peace Judgeship was accepted.
(04/194) Party Executive and Member Detained in Urfa…
DEM Party Assembly member Muhsin Aydoğdu and DEM Party Youth Assembly member Ömer Kıstak were detained in house raids in Urfa on April 26, 2024. It is reported that cell phones belonging to Muhsin Aydoğdu’s parents were seized during the house raids. The reason for the detention could not be learned.
(04/195) Party Executive Detained in Batman…
DEM Party Batman Provincial Co-Chair Mustafa Mesut Tekik was detained on April 25, 2024, within the scope of the investigation that led to the police raid on the provincial organization building. Mustafa Mesut Tekik was released the same day after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office.
(04/196) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The trial of the case against Semra Güzel, former Diyarbakır MP of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who was detained on September 2, 2022, after her immunity was lifted and was arrested by the court on September 3, 2022, was held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 22 on April 25, 2024. The court decided to continue the arrest of Semra Güzel and adjourned the trial to July 1, 2024.
(04/197) Metropolitan Municipality Mayor on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the lawsuit filed against 7 people including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu due to ‘bid rigging’ continued on April 25, 2024, at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance. The court adjourned the hearing to May 31, 2024.
(04/198) Party Executives and Members on Trial…
The trial of the case against Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Deputy Co-Chair Ebru Yiğit, Central Executive Committee (MYK) member Deniz Aktaş and party members Nurcan Gülbudak and Mert Unay continued on April 25, 2024 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14. Presenting the final opinion on the case, the prosecutor’s office demanded a sentence for 4 people on the charges of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘unauthorized possession of dangerous substances’. The court decided to continue detention of Mert Unay and adjourned the trial to May 22, 2024.
4 people were detained under torture and ill-treatment during house raids on August 22, 2022 and then arrested. Nurcan Güllübudak was released at the first hearing of the case, Ebru Yiğit and Deniz Aktaş were released at the hearing held on May 17, 2023. Mert Unay was released on July 6, 2023 with house confinement judicial control measure and was arrested again on October 18, 2023 on the grounds that he violated the ban on him.
(04/199) Journalists Detained in Istanbul, Ankara and Urfa…
It is learned that Enes Sezgin, Saliha Aras, Yeşim Alıcı, Beste Argat Balcı, Şirin Ermiş and Doğan Kaynak, among the 9 journalists who were detained in house raids in Istanbul, Ankara and Urfa on April 23, 2024 through an investigation initiated in 2022, were released on judicial control conditions on April 26, 2024. It is learned that Mezopotamya Agency reporters Esra Solin Dal, Mehmet Aslan and journalist Erdoğan Alayumat were referred to the criminal peace judgeship for arrest.
(04/200) Journalist on Trial in Hakkari…
The first trial of the case against journalist Nimet Ölmez, on the grounds of insulting Justice and Development Party (AKP) Hakkari Provincial Chair in her social media posts, started on April 25, 2024, at Hakkari Penal Court of First Instance No 1. The court acquitted the journalist at the first hearing.
(04/201) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Karşı Mahalle news website reporter Sezgin Kartal continued on April 25, 2024, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22. The prosecutor declared his final opinion on the case and demanded a sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The court adjourned the hearing to June 25, 2024.
Sezgin Kartal was detained on January 10, 2023, arrested on January 13, 2023 and released on June 22, 2023.
(04/202) Journalists on Trial in Ankara…
On April 25, 2024, Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 71 continued to hear the case against journalists Deniz Nazlım, Sibel Yükler and Yıldız Tar, who were detained under torture and ill-treatment while protesting the arrest of their colleagues at Ulus Square in Altındağ district of Ankara on July 5, 2022, on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’. The court adjourned the trial to September 19, 2024.
(04/203) Journalists on Trial in Ankara…
The trial of the case against 11 journalists for 149 news reports in Jinnews and Mezopotamya News Agency (MA) continued on April 25, 2024 at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 4. The prosecutor declared his final opinion on the case and demanded 11 journalists to be sentenced for ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The court ruled to lift the judicial control measures against the journalists and adjourned the trial to July 3, 2024.
11 journalists were detained on October 25, 2022 and 9 journalists (MA Managing Editor Diren Yurtsever, MA reporters Berivan Altan, Deniz Nazlım, Selman Güzelyüz, Hakan Yalçın, Ceylan Şahinli, Emrullah Acar and Jinnews reporters Habibe Eren and Öznur Değer) were arrested by the court on October 29, 2022; 2 people (Zemo Ağgöz and Mehmet Günhan) were released on judicial control conditions. The 9 arrested journalists were released at the first hearing of the case on May 16, 2023.
(04/204) Boğaziçi University Students on Trial…
The trial of the case against 7 students of Boğaziçi University, on the grounds of the picture of Kaaba in the exhibition opened within the protests against the rector appointed to Boğaziçi University, was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 21 on April 26, 2024. The indictment demands a sentence for 7 people on the charge of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility’. The court adjourned the trial to September 27, 2024.
(04/205) People on Trial in Mardin…
The final trial of the case against 15 people on the grounds of press statements, funerals and condolence visits in Mardin, was held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2 on April 25, 2024. The court sentenced Mehmet Fatih Öztürk, Hevlet Öncü,Ğazal Batırhan and Hasip Özdemir to 6 years and 3 months each on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, ruled for the acquittal of Hamit Güngör, Burhan Abiç, Adile Zengin, Çetin Elik, Selma Şahin, İbrahim Yıldırım, Seydo Solhan. The court acquitted Nezir Turgay and Ferhan Türkoğlu on the charges of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and Abdüllatif Zengin and Celal Malgir on the charges of ‘disrupting the unity and integrity of the state and the country’ and ‘looting by taking advantage of the intimidating power of criminal organizations’.
(04/206) Person on Trial in Urfa…
On April 25, 2024, the case against Emine Şenyaşar, whose husband Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar were killed after a quarrel between Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP candidate İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his bodyguards and shopkeepers in Suruç district of Urfa on June 14, 2018, was held on Urfa Penal Court of First Instance No 5. The indictment demands a sentence for Emine Şenyaşar on the charge of ‘publicly humiliating the judicial organs of the state’. The prosecutor declared his final opinion on the case and demanded the dismissal of the case because Emine Şenyaşar is on trial at Urfa Penal Court of First Instance No 4 with a similar accusation and the cases are duplicated. The court decided to send a writ to Urfa Penal Court of First Instance No 4 for the consolidation of the cases and adjourned the trial to May 9, 2024.
(04/207) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the case against Ahmet Bostancı, on the grounds of insulting Atatürk in his social media posts, was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 13 on April 25, 2024. The court sentenced Ahmet Bostancı to 3 years and 9 months for ‘publicly insulting the memory of Atatürk’.
Ahmet Bostancı was detained on the allegation that he said on social media “We left the mosque shouting ‘Alhamdulillah, you can’t pray to an infidel’ after Atatürk was prayed to in a mosque in Istanbul. He was arrested by the criminal peace judgeship on November 11, 2024 on charges of ‘opposing the Law on Crimes Committed Against Atatürk’ and ‘insulting the Turkish nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, the institutions and organs of the state’ and was released on January 16, 2024.
(04/208) Book Confiscated by the Police Despite No Decree of Seizure…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 25, 2024, that, among 9 journalists who were detained in house raids on April 23, 2024, through an Istanbul-based investigation initiated in 2022, a book titled ‘Kürt Siyasetinin Mor Rengi’ written by Gültan Kışanak, former Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality, was seized by the police on the grounds of ‘there is a confiscation order on the book’.
On November 24, 2022, Izmir Criminal Peace Judgeship No. 2 ordered the banning of the book written by Gültan Kışanak in Kocaeli F Type Prison No. 1 in Kandıra and the confiscation of the distributed works. Upon the objection of the lawyers, Izmir Criminal Peace Judgeship No. 3 ruled on May 29, 2023, to lift the ban on the book and the order for the confiscation of the distributed works.
(04/209) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on 26 April 2024 that 2 people were detained while trying to cross the border illegally.
[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.