20 October 2015 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/077) Ankara Massacre…
On 19 October 2015, publication ban on the bomb attack in Ankara which led to death of 100 persons was lifted upon demand of Chief Public Prosecutor in Ankara. Public Prosecutor’s office made a public statement after the decision.
According to the statement, one of the attackers was identified as Yunus Emre Alagöz. He was from Adıyaman and brother of Suruç suicide bomber Abdurrahman Alagöz.
Public Prosecutor also stated that the other attacker was visually determined and will be identified.
(10/078) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
A specialist sergeant was wounded when he stepped on a land mine during the continuing operations on 19 October 2015 in Dağlıca region of Yüksekova district in Hakkari.
(10/079) Kızıltepe JİTEM Case…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 5 continued on 19 October 2015 to hear the case against 9 persons including former Diyarbakır Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Eşref Hatipoğlu and former Kızıltepe Gendarmerie Deputy Commander Hasan Atilla Uğur launched in connection with the disappearances of 22 persons in detention and/or killings by unidentified persons in Mardin and its districts between the years 1992 and 1996. 4 soldiers and 5 village guards are on trial in this case.
Similar to the previous cases concerning disappearances in detention, killings by unidentified persons and extra-judicial executions, the lawyers of the defendants applied to the Court of Cassation to transfer the case to another province for security measures. The Court of Cassation decided to send the case to Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 5.
The court ruled at a previous hearing to send the files of the case to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) relying on the position of the Eşref Hatipoğlu and Hasan Atilla Uğur on the day of crime. Since the HSYK did not reply, the court adjourned the hearing to 15 January 2016.
(10/080) Impunity in Abdülkadir Çakmak Investigation…
According to the news appeared in the press on 20 October 2015, Public Prosecutor in Diyarbakır declared to proceed no further in the investigation concerning the killing of Abdülkadir Çakmak (17). He was shot at head and chest by the police on 16 December 2014 during an intervention against a demonstration staged in Sur district of Diyarbakır.
(10/081) Lawyer Beaten in Police Station and Indicted…
Lawyer Bülent Kurt was subjected to physical assault on 22 September 2015 in Aksaray Police Station in İstanbul when he went to the station to get information about the situation of his clients.
After the incident Bülent Kurt made an official complaint against the police officers. On the other hand, police officers also filed complaint against Bülent Kurt. Public Prosecutor decided not to prosecute Bülent Kurt on the grounds that the expert’s report relying on the video recordings of the incident certified that Bülent Kurt was subjected to violence. But Ministry of Justice gave permission for the trial of Bülent Kurt on the grounds that “he resisted the security forces”.
According to the news appeared in the press on 15 October 2015, Çağlayan Heavy Penal Court continued both cases. In his opinion as to the accusations, the Public Prosecutor demanded Bülent Kurt to be sentenced for “resisting security forces” and 2 police officers “misconducted of duty”. Public Prosecutor also wanted decrease in the demanded sentence for the police officers on the grounds that Bülent Kurt did not show his ID during the incident. The court adjourned the hearing to 18 December 2015 for the preparation of defence as to the accusations.
(10/082) Operation against HRFT Founder…
On 19 October 2015, Bakırköy (İstanbul) Penal Court of Peace Judge issued a warrant against the Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey founder Tahir Elçi for the expression “PKK is not a terrorist organisation” he used on a TV show.
Anti-Terror branch police officers and Special Forces came to the Diyarbakır Bar Association on 20 October 2015 at 02.20 AM. Since there was no court decision to raid and/or search the bar association, the police waited Tahir Elçi in front of the building. Tahir Elçi was detained and transferred to Bakırköy Court House in İstanbul.
(10/083) 1 November Elections…
Ağrı Penal Court of Peace Judge decided on 19 October 2015 to seize the brochures of the election declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and banned the distribution of the declaration for the expression “self-governance” used in the declaration.
Unidentified persons organised armed attacks on the night of 19 October 2015 against the election offices of HDP in Başıbüyük and Esenkent quarters of Esenler district in İstanbul. The attacks caused material damage.
(10/084) Operations throughout Turkey…
The police conducted house raids on 19 October 2015 in Saruhan district of Manisa and detained 14 persons including members of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). Hamdullah Doğan, HDP executive for Şanlıurfa, was also detained.
Abdullah Ateş and Mehmet Çelik who were among 4 persons detained during house raids in Iğdır were arrested on 19 October 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Bilal Demirbaş who was among 27 persons detained in Lice district of Diyarbakır for taking part in a human shield activity was arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) member Behrem Işık and Goma Elo (Yalkaya) village headman Engin Kaya were also arrested in Taşlıçay district of Ağrı on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
DBP executives Çetin Yalçın and Rızgan Turan in Tekman district of Erzurum were detained on 19 October 2015 during a road control while entering Karayazı district.