Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 November 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/220) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Batman…
It is learned from the news coverage of 22 November 2024 that, people who were detained in Batman on 4 November 2024, on the grounds of protests in Batman against the decision to dismiss co-mayors of Mardin, Batman, and the Halfeti district of Urfa and appoint trustees to replace them, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody and were made to listen to racist songs.
There was violence in the detention vehicles. We received information to this effect. People whose testimonies we interrogated told us this. While those whose detention period was extended were taken to the medical report, they were made to bend their heads in such a way that their heads were brought between their legs. They were subjected to violence all the way to the hospital. They were subjected to violence both on the way to and from the hospital. They were made to listen to racist songs, they were made to listen to the song ‘Ölürüm Türkiyem’. They were subjected to swearing. At the entrance of the courthouse, they were handcuffed behind their backs and brought with their heads bowed. In other words, from detention, security, hospital, and the courthouse, this situation that violates human dignity occurred. A mother, for whom there was no detention warrant (during the house raids), was subjected to violence. We were informed that her right eye was damaged and her face was swollen. Again, a disabled citizen was attacked by a dog. 11 stitches were needed. In almost all of the house raids, practices amounting to torture took place’.
(11/221) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison were subjected to a disciplinary proceeding initiated by the prison administration and were penalized with a ban on lawyer visits for 6 months.
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, 5 prisoners in Şırnak T Type Prison were sentenced to deprivation or restriction of means of communication and deprivation of visitors, 2 of 5 prisoners (Uğur Temel and İskan Özlü) were also sentenced to solitary confinement after disciplinary proceedings initiated by the prison administration on the grounds of ‘making noise and not obeying the prison order’.
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, correction officers in Şırnak T Type Prison pressured prisoners not to speak Kurdish by saying ‘You should not speak Kurdish and you will answer us in Turkish’ and that there are hygiene problems in prison.
(11/222) Prevention of Right to Access Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, some prisoners in Şırnak T Type Prison were not referred to hospital for 1 year.
(11/223) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, Servet Özgün, a prisoner in Erzincan High-Security Prison, started a hunger strike on 28 September 2024, demanding transfer to a prison close to his family.
(11/224) Meeting Requests with Abdullah Öcalan not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made on November 21, 2024, to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by lawyers in order to visit their clients PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
It is learned that the appeal made on November 22, 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.
(11/225) Party Executives Arrested in Istanbul…
Rojda Yılmaz and Abdullah Arınan, Esenyurt district co-chairs of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), who were detained in Istanbul on November 18, 2024, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on November 21, 2024, on the charges of “making propaganda for an illegal organization” and “being a member of an illegal organization”.
(11/226) Journalist Detained…
Journalist Gökhan Özbek announced on his social media account on 21 November 2024 that he was detained. The journalist was released after statement procedures at the police on the same date.
(11/227) People Detained for Protests Against the Trustee Decisions in Batman…
Ahmet Şiray, Co-Chair of Batman Branch of Human Rights Association (IHD), stated on 22 November 2024 that at least 300 people were detained in Batman since 4 November 2024 for the protests against the decision to dismiss co-mayors of Mardin, Batman, and the Halfeti district of Urfa and appoint trustees in their place, and that 40 people including 15 children were arrested.
(11/228) Person Arrested for Attacking a Party Building…
E.Z. (23, m), who attacked Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul Beylikdüzü district office on 16 November 2024 and caused material damage, was arrested by Büyükçekmece Criminal Peace Judgeship No 4 on 21 November 2024 on the charge of ‘damaging buildings, facilities or property used by political parties or professional organizations’.
(11/229) Journalists Under Investigation…
It is learned from the news coverage of 22 November 2024 that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalists Fatih Altaylı and İsmail Saymaz on the grounds of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’, on the grounds of their statements in a news report and a program.
(11/230) 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, continued on November 21, 2024 at Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2. 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 30 January 2025.
(11/231) Journalist on Trial in Şırnak…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 21, 2024 that, the jail sentence of 3 years 1 month and 15 days given by Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 15, 2019 to journalist Özgür Paksoy, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for sharing 16 news reports he made in 2014 on social media, was approved by the Court of Cassation on June 11, 2024.
(11/232) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the retrial of the case against Osman Akın, managing editor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, on the grounds of a news article published on 1 March 2019, was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on 22 November 2024. The court acquitted Osman Akın on the charge of ‘publicly degrading the military or police organization of the state’.
The final trial of the case against Osman Akın was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on 9 January 2020 and the court sentenced the journalist to 5 months imprisonment and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(11/233) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the retrial of the case against İnan Kızılkaya, Editor-in-Chief of Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree on 31 May 2016, and İhsan Çaralan, who participated in the ‘Editor-in-Chief on Duty’ campaign to support Özgür Gündem and became Editor-in-Chief for 1 day, on the allegation of ‘insulting the President’, was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on 22 November 2024. The court decided to dismiss the case.
At the final trial of the case against İnan Kızılkaya, İhsan Çaralan and Hüseyin Aykol, former co-editor-in-chief of Özgür Gündem newspaper, held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on October 25, 2018, the court sentenced İnan Kızılkaya and Hüseyin Aykol to 1 year and 9 months each for ‘insulting the President’ and İhsan Çaralan to 1 year imprisonment for the same charge and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The Constitutional Court (AYM) ruled that İhsan Çaralan and İnan Kızılkaya’s freedom of thought and expression were violated. It is reported in the news that the application made by Hüseyin Aykol is still being examined by the Constitutional Court.
(11/234) The Case Against a Newspaper…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, a complaint was filed against BirGün newspaper on the grounds of the news article titled ‘Witness of the 10 October trial: We were distributing aid through IHH’ news report, upon the complaint of Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), and the Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance No 26 has reversed the verdict of Istanbul Regional Court of First Instance Civil Chamber No 4 on the grounds that “the news report was within the scope of freedom of press and freedom of expression” and the court ruled to dismiss the lawsuit for moral damages.
(11/235) Former Co-Mayor and Others on Trial…
The final trial of the case against 15 people including Mehmet Sıddık Akış, former co-mayor of Hakkari Municipality who was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior on June 3, 2024, and replaced by Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik as trustee, for a march they participated in, was held at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 1 on November 20, 2024. The court sentenced Mehmet Sıddık Akış to 7 years and 6 months for ‘committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization without being a member of it’ and 1 year and 6 months for ‘opposing the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’, for a total of 9 years. It is not known what the court ruled for the other 14 people.
Mehmet Sıddık Akış, who was elected as Hakkari co-mayor in 31 March 2024 local elections, was detained on 3 June 2024. At the final hearing of the case against him at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 1 held on 5 June 2024, the court sentenced the co-mayor to 19 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and Mehmet Sıddık Akış was arrested.
(11/236) Soldier on Trial in Sakarya…
The final trial of the case against Colonel Fahri Can Çağlar, Chief of Staff of 7th Commando Brigade, about sexual assault of 11 soldiers in Sakarya 7th Commando Brigade, was held at Sakarya Heavy Penal Court No 4 on 21 November 2024. The court sentenced Fahri Can Çağlar to 42 years and 6 months on the charge of sexual assault against 10 people, acquitted him on the charge of sexual assault against 1 soldier, and decided to continue detention.
(11/237) People on Trial for Racist Attack Against a Church in Eskişehir…
On 21 November 2024, the final hearing of the case against Aykut K. and Halil D., who forced their way into Eskişehir Protestant Church in the Tepebaşı district of Eskişehir in November 2023 by using violence and who threatened the pastor of the church, Artun Tokatlı, by saying ‘Are you Jewish or Israeli? I will burn you’, was held on 21 November 2024 at Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 7. The court sentenced 2 people to 1 year and 8 months each for ‘threatening more than one person’ and postponed the sentence, dismissed the charge of ‘violation of workplace inviolability’ due to the withdrawal of the complaint by pastor Artun Tokatlı, and acquitted them on the charge of ‘inciting the public to hatred and hostility’.
(11/238) Trustees Appointed to Municipalities…
Cevdet Konak, the elected co-mayor of Tunceli Municipality from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior on 22 November 2024 and Tunceli Governor Bülent Tekbıyıkoğlu was appointed as a trustee.
Mustafa Sarıgül, the elected mayor of Tunceli Ovacık Municipality from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior on 22 November 2024 and Ovacık District Governor Hüseyin Şamil Sözen was appointed as trustee.
The Ministry of Interior announced on 22 November 2024 that the trustees were appointed due to the prison sentences and ongoing investigations against the mayors.
(11/239) Constitutional Court Decision on Torture and Other Ill-Treatment Under Custody…
According to the news coverage of 21 November 2024, the Constitutional Court evaluated the individual application of İsmail Kardaş, who was detained during the police intervention against a protest in front of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality on 19 April 2011 and arrested on 22 July 2011, on the grounds that he was subjected to physical violence by the police in custody and in the hospital where he was taken and that he was injured in a way that could not be remedied by simple medical intervention, the court ruled that ‘the allegation of violation of the prohibition of ill-treatment is admissible’ and ‘the material and procedural aspects of the prohibition of torture were violated’, ‘a copy of the verdict shall be sent to Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 6 and Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for the elimination of the consequences of the violation of the prohibition of torture’, and ‘the applicant shall be paid 300.000 TRY non-pecuniary damage’.
The case against the police officers on the charge of ‘intentional injury’ in relation to torture and ill-treatment to which İsmail Kardaş was subjected to, was referred to Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 11 on 25 April 2016 and the court decided to dismiss the case on the grounds that the acts in question could constitute the crime of torture. The case was referred to Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 6 and the court acquitted the defendant police officers on 26 September 2018 on the grounds of ‘lack of conclusive evidence’. Although this decision was reversed on 21 March 2019, the investigation against the defendant police officers was not concluded.
(11/240) Discriminatory and Transphobic Practice by the Ministry of Health…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, according to the Regulation on Market Control of Medicinal Products for Human Use and Foods for Special Medical Purposes published in the Official Gazette on 21 November 2024, some medicines commonly used by transgender people for hormone replacement therapy were subjected to e-prescription practice on the grounds of ‘preventing abuse and protecting public health’ and the supply of these medicines was restricted by Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency of the Ministry of Health.
On 20 November, the Association for Combating Hate Crimes stated the following regarding these restrictions: “The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) introduced a new regulation on testosterone-containing drugs, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and drugs containing 2 mg or more estrogen, claiming to “protect public health and prevent possible abuses” and restricted access to these drugs. However, we see that this regulation is a clear violation of trans people’s right to health and reflects a transphobic policy (…) This system deepens violations of trans people’s rights by restricting their living spaces, bodies and now their access to health. Hormone treatment is vital for the lives of trans people. However, these restrictions will make the already economically and psychologically exhausting processes even more difficult. Bureaucratic obstacles such as prescribing through the Reçetem System and drug supply quotas will make it impossible for transgender people to access medication safely. This will not only violate the right to access health services but will also push transgender people to precarious paths and expose them to exorbitant prices”.
[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.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[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.