Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
30 April 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/229) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 30, 2024, that Esra Solin Dal, one of the 9 journalists who were detained in house raids in Istanbul, Ankara, and Urfa on April 23, 2024, through an investigation initiated in 2022, was forced to strip search during detention.
(04/230) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 29, 2024, that Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Party Assembly member Muhsin Aydoğdu, who was detained in house raids in Urfa on April 26, 2024, was subjected to physical violence of the police officers for shouting slogans during his transfer to the prosecutor’s office on April 29, 2024. It is also reported in the news that Muhsin Aydoğdu and DEM Party Youth Assembly member Ömer Kıstak, who were detained through the same investigation, were kept in handcuffs behind their backs in the corridor of the courthouse.
(04/231) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 30, 2024, that in Van High-Security Prison, the prison administration banned prisoners from sitting side by side with their family members during open visits and forced women visitors to undergo detailed searches which may even amount to harassment.
(04/232) Interventions against the May 1st Celebrations…
The Governorate of Istanbul announced in a press release titled ‘May 1 Measures’ on April 30, 2024, that public transportation on highways will be restricted as of 04.00 on May 1, 2024, sea and rail system transportation will be restricted as of 05.30 on May 1, 2024, and some routes in Fatih, Beyoğlu, Şişli and Beşiktaş districts will be closed to transportation as of 05.30 on May 1, 2024.
(04/233) Journalist Detained in Istanbul…
Journalist Ekim Veysioğlu, who was detained on April 28, 2024, on the allegations of ‘resisting to prevent the execution of duty’ and ‘violation of privacy’ while covering the moments when a woman refugee was detained at the entrance of Mecidiyeköy metro station in the Şişli district of Istanbul and was subjected to physical violence, was released on judicial control conditions by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on April 29, 2024.
(04/234) Party Executive and Member Arrested in Urfa…
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Party Assembly (PM) member Muhsin Aydoğdu and DEM Party Youth Assembly member Ömer Kıstak, who were detained in house raids in Urfa on April 26, 2024, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on April 29, 2024, on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’.
It is reported that Zozan Polat and Mahmut Çoban, who were detained through the same investigation, were released on judicial control conditions by the Penal Court of Peace on April 29, 2024.
(04/235) Party Executive Detained in Izmir due to Social Media Posts…
Social Freedom Party (TÖP) Spokespersons Board member Juliana Gözen was detained in a house raid in Izmir on April 30, 2024, on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ through her social media posts. Juliana Gözen was released on judicial control conditions by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on the same day after statement procedures.
(04/236) People Detained in Şırnak…
19 people who were detained in house raids in Cizre on April 26, 2024, through an investigation by Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ were released by the court on judicial control conditions on April 29, 2024.
(04/237) People Detained in Mersin…
On April 29, 2024, 2 people (Yoldaş Aba and Sedat Aba) were detained in house raids in the Akdeniz district of Mersin. The reason for detention is not known.
(04/238) People Detained in Şırnak…
4 people (Mehmet Atabey, Metin Mendez, Ahmet Kaygusuz and Hamit Ayan) were detained in house raids in Şırnak on April 30, 2024. The reason for the detention could not be learned.
(04/239) People Detained in Istanbul…
It is learned that 5 people were detained through an investigation by Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. 24-hour lawyer visit restriction was imposed and the names of detainees are unknown.
(04/240) Police Officer on Trial in Istanbul…
On April 30, 2024, the final trial of the case against police officer S. K., regarding the torture and ill-treatment a person named S. G. was subjected to after being detained on June 16, 2022, resulting in permanent loss of function in one of his limbs, was held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 39. The court sentenced police officer S. K. to 5 years 7 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘injury aggravated by consequence’.
(04/241) Police Officer on Trial in Diyarbakır…
On April 30, 2024, the retrial of the case against Şahin Öner, who lost his life when he was hit by an armoured police vehicle during the protests organized in Diyarbakır on February 10, 2013, to mark the anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s return to Turkey, started again after the Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 1 reversed the sentence of 4 years, 5 months and 10 days given to the driver of the armored vehicle, police officer S. K., on the grounds of ‘incomplete investigation and research’ by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals. The indictment demands a sentence for the police officer on the charge of ‘causing death with conscious negligence’. The court rejected the demand for the arrest of the defendant police officer S. K. and adjourned the trial to October 9, 2024.
(04/242) Journalist on Trial in Ağrı…
The trial of the case against Abdullah Kaya, reporter of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, was held at Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2 on April 30, 2024. The indictment demands a sentence for the journalist on the charges of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and ‘aiding an illegal organization’. The court adjourned the trial to June 25, 2024.
(04/243) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The retrial of the case against Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar, Yıldıray Oğur, Tuncay Opçin and Mehmet Baransu, former employees of Taraf newspaper, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 continued on April 29, 2024 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 2 after the sentences given to the journalists in the case were overturned by Penal Department 27 of Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals on October 10, 2022. The indictment demands a sentence for the journalists on the charges of ‘destroying, misusing and fraudulently obtaining documents related to the security of the state’ and ‘disclosing and obtaining documents related to the security of the state that should remain confidential’. The court accepted the request of the Ministry of National Defense to join the case and adjourned the hearing to December 2, 2024.
(04/244) Journalist Under Investigation due to Social Media Posts in Tekirdağ…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 29, 2024, that an investigation was initiated against journalist Cesim İlhan on the grounds of ‘inciting hatred and hostility among public’ through his social media posts and that he gave his official statement at Çerkezköy Kızılpınar Gendarmerie Station in Tekirdağ on April 26, 2024.
(04/245) Lawyers on Trial in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 30, 2024, that Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 18 gave 12 years each to lawyer Selçuk Kozağaçlı, chair of Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Barkın Timtik, lawyer of People’s Law Office (Halkın Hukuk Bürosu), on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, and Penal Department No 3 of the Court of Cassation upheld the sentence of 11 years and 3 months for Selçuk Kozağaçlı. 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation Criminal Chamber upheld the sentences of other lawyers (Alper Tunga Saral, Güçlü Sevimli, Efkan Bolaç, Gülvin Aydın Savran, Güray Dağ, Metin Narin, Mümin Özgür Gider, Nazan Betül Vangölü Kozağaçlı, Oya Aslan, Özgür Yılmaz, Rahim Yılmaz, Selda Kaya Yılmaz, Serhan Arıkanoğlu, Sevgi Özer Sönmez and Taylan Tanay) and ruled that the case file be sent to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Cassation to be forwarded to the relevant authority. The court also rejected the appeal against the decision to defer the announcement of the verdict against Şükriye Erden and Naciye Demir.
Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 18 sentenced Özgür Gider, Rahim Yılmaz, Selda Yılmaz, Alper Tunga Saral, Gülbin Aydın, Güray Dağ, Efkan Bolaç, Serhan Arıkanoğlu, Nazan Betül Vangölü Kozağaçlı, Güçlü Sevili and Sevgi Özer Sönmez to 6 years and 3 months, Oya Aslan to 10 years and 6 months, Barkın Timtik and Selçuk Kozağaçlı to 12 years in prison for ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ on 11 November 2022. The court sentenced Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Barkın Timtik, Nazan Betül Vangölü Kozağaçlı, Gülbin Aydın, Güçlü Sevimli, Şükriye Erden, Özgür Yılmaz, Naciye Demir for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The court also decided to drop the case against Ebru Timtik, who lost her life.
(04/246) Association Members and Lawyers on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 49 people, including 11 lawyers from Lawyers’ Association for Freedom (ÖHD) and 38 members of Association for Solidarity with Families of Detainees (TUAD) which was closed down by the Decree Law continued on April 30, 2024, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14. The court adjourned the trial to July 4, 2024.
(04/247) People on Trial in Erzurum…
On April 29, 2024, Erzurum Penal Court of First Instance No 7 continued to hear the case against 28 people in relation to the assault with stones against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu during a rally in Erzurum on May 7, 2023. The indictment demands a sentence for the defendants on the charges of ‘attempted intentional injury with a weapon’ and ‘attempted simple injury with a weapon’. The court adjourned the trial to June 24, 2024.
(04/248) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
On April 30, 2024, the trial of H. K., who allegedly sent threatening and insulting messages to Istanbul Governor Davut Gül’s phone number, continued at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court. The indictment demands a sentence for H. K. on the charges of ‘attempted plunder by compelling another person not to resist the delivery or receipt of goods’, ‘unlawful acquisition or dissemination of personal data’, ‘blackmail’ and ‘insulting a public official for his duty’. The court released H. K. on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to a later date.
[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.