10-13 October 2015 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/047) Massacre in Ankara…
A suicide bomb attack was organised in Ankara on 10 October 2015 during the “Labour, Peace and Democracy” meeting organised by Public Servants’ Unions Confederation KESK, Revolutionary Workers’ Unions Confederation DİSK, Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects TMMOB. The attack was allegedly organised by 2 persons. According to the official announcement by the Ministry of Health 97 persons died during attack. Turkish Medical Association announced the number of casualties as 105, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) as 128. 516 persons were reportedly wounded during the explosions.
The attack was organised at 10.04 am in front of Ankara Train Station where the groups gathered to march to Sıhhiye Square.
The police prevented the ambulances to reach the crime scene and used tear gas against the persons who protested and reacted against the police officers.
Since the power of the blast was high, DNA tests were needed to identify the bodies of the persons died during the explosion. The bodies of 102 persons were given to the families for interment.
Although the attackers were not identified yet, Spokesman of the temporary government Numan Kurtulmuş announced on 12 October 2015 that there were similarities with the attack in Suruç. He pointed IS/ISIS as the possible organiser of the attack. The government also declared 3 days of mourning.
HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş made a public statement and reacted that it was an attack of the state against the citizens and an official mourning cannot be accepted.
Protests were staged in several cities after massacre in Ankara. Governorate of İstanbul banned the demonstration to be held in İstanbul on 13 October 2015. The police also attacked the demonstrations organised since 10 October 2015. 90 persons in Muğla, 4 persons in Antalya, 17 persons in Kocaeli, and 64 persons n İzmir were detained during police interventions and attacks.
After the attack, Supreme Board of Radio Television imposed a broadcast ban on the attack. On the other hand Chief Public Prosecutor in Ankara declared confidentiality order for the investigation.
(10/048) Child Killed by the Police in Diyarbakır…
Helin Şen (14) was shot to death on 11 October 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır when the police opened fire against the persons who protested the operations in the district.
(10/049) Persons Died due to Excessive Use of Tear Gas by the Police…
Ahmet Abdulaziz Taruk (63) died on 11 October 2015 in Diyarbakır due to excessive use of tear gas. The police intervened a demonstration staged to protest in the Ankara massacre and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
(10/050) Children Wounded by the Police in Van…
3 children were allegedly opened fire and wounded by the polcie during operations on 9 October 2015 in Karşıyaka quarter of İpekyolu district of Van. The children allegedly escaped from an armoured vehicle during the operations.
(10/051) Person Killed by the Police in Diyarbakır…
After the curfew declaration on 9 October 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır, the police conducted operations in the district and shot Halil Tüzülerk to death when he was feeding his birds on the roof of his house.
(10/052) Person Wounded by the Police in Şırnak…
Ahmet İdiz was heavily wounded when the police opened fire during the operations on 10 October 2015 in Cudi quarter of Cizre district in Şırnak.
(10/053) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
A militant reportedly died during an armed clash that broke out on 9 October 2015 in Yüksekova district of Hakkari.
2 soldiers died during an armed clash on 11 October 2015 in Şenkaya district of Erzurum. 6 militants were allegedly killed during the operations conducted after the incident.
On 9 October 2015, Governorate of Mardin declared curfew in Abdulkadirpaşa, Fırat and Yenişehir quarters of Nusaybin district.
Governorate of Diyarbakır also declared curfew in Sur and Yenişehir districts.
A police officer was heavily wounded when PKK militants opned fire against a vehicle in Hani district of Diyarbakır on the grounds of not obeying stop warning. The police officer died in the hospital.
A police officer died, 2 police officers were wounded during an armed attack on 10 October 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır.
One Soldier died, one soldier and 2 temporary village guards were wounded during an armed clash on 12 October 2015 in the rural area of Şırnak.
Temporary village guard Cumaettin Yorulmaz (49) who was heavily wounded during an armed clash in the rural area of Silvan district in Diyarbakır died on 12 October 2015 in the hospital.
Governorate of Van announced that the implementation of temporary security zones in several regions of Çatak and Başkale districts was prolonged until 27 October 2015.
(10/054) Abdullah Cömert Case…
Balıkkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 9 October 2015 to hear the case against the police officer Ahmet Kuş (29) launched on charges of the killing Abdullah Cömert (22) with a tear gas canister on 3 June 2013 in Hatay during Gezi Park demonstrations. The case was transferred to Balıkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 for security reasons.
The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 25 years for “killing with eventual intent”. The defendant did not appear at the hearing and testified in Mersin through the SEGBİS system.
The court rejected the demand for the arrest of defendant and adjourned the hearing to 20 December 2015.
(10/055) Death in Prison…
Ali Alp incarcerated in Şakran (İzmir) T-type Prison No 2 for being convicted in a PKK case died on 10 October 2015. He was serving in prison for the last 23 years.
(10/056) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
Bülent Keneş, editor-in-chief with the daily Today’s Zaman, who was detained on 9 October 2015 when he went to Çağlayan (İstanbul) Court House to testify in connection with an investigation started against him on the allegations of “insulting State President” was released by the court. Public Prosecutor objected the release decision and Bülent Keneş was arrested on 10 October 2015.
(10/057) Web Sites Banned…
On 10 October 2015, Telecommunication Communication Directorate banned access the new domain of the news portal JİNHA “jinhaber.com.tr”. Access to “jiyan.com.tr” was also banned on 8 October 2015.
Access to new domain of Dicle News Agency “diclenews.pw/tr” was also banned. This is the 24th banned domain of DİHA.
(10/058) Activity Prevented in İzmir…
On 9 October 2015 in İzmir, the police prevented the members of Revolutionary Students Union (Devrimci Öğrenci Birliği) who wanted to commemorate Ernesto Che Guevara killing and detained 6 persons under beatings.
(10/059) Protest Intervened in İzmir…
The police intervened a group of persons who wanted to stage a protest in İzmir on 9 October 2015 on the anniversary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s leave of Syria and detained 5 persons.
(10/060) Operations throughout Turkey…
10 students who were among 19 students detained during house raids in Antalya were arrested on 9 October 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Co-Mayor of Özalp district Handan Bağcı, Vice Vo-Mayor Yardımcısı Okan Bayram and Municipality Assembly member Kasım Hazır who were detained during the raid against the municipality in Özalp district of Van were arrested on the allegations of “committing crime in the name of an illegal organisation”, “resisting security forces”, and “damaging property”.
Recep Gültepe, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair for Edremit district of Van, was also arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. 4 persons including one child who were detained in Patnos district of Ağrı and Bülent Oğul, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for Tutak district, were also arrested for the same reason.
5 persons including DBP Chair for Tekman district Berivan Polat who were among 10 persons detained during operations in Tekman district of Erzurum were arrested on 9 October 2015 on the allegations of “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.
Co-Mayor of Dicle district Abdulsamet Bilgin municipality worker İlhami Güzel who were detained during a raid in Dcle district of Diyarbakır were arrested on 9 October 2015 on the allegation of “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”.
The police conducted raids against the houses of HDP members and executives in Gaziantep and detained 10 persons. The reason of the raids was not disclosed.
The police conducted house raids on 10 October 2015 in Adana and detained 15 persons on the allegations of “taking part in unlawful demonstrations”.
Sefer Baran who was among 5 persons detained during house raids in Batman was arrested on 12 October 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
20 persons including Eda Kilis, Co-Mayor of Eruh district in Siirt, were detained during raids on 11 October 2015 in Eruh district of Siirt.
26 persons were reportedly detained during the operation conducted in Sur district of Diyarbakır.
Diba Keskin, Co-Mayor of Erciş district in Van, and 2 municipality workers were detained on the allegation of “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”.
The police conducted operations on 12 October 2015 in Ardahan and detained 16 persons on the allegations of “being member of PKK”.
Iğdır Co-Mayor Şaziye Önder, Tuzluca Co-Mayor Mehmet Gültekin, Hoşhaber Co-Mayor Ali Çam, Zübeyde Kaynar and Saniye Çark who were detained during operations conducted in Iğdır province were arrested on 12 October 2015.
The police conducted raids on 13 October 2015 in Hınıs district of Erzurum and detained Co-Mayor Hasan Basri Fırat and DBP Chair for the district Emin Aydın.