11-14 March 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/079) Curfew in İdil…
After the completion of the operations in İdil district of Şırnak, the curfew reached its 27th day as of 14 March 2016. Between 10 March and 13 March, 10 bodies were identified in İdil. 21 bodies are still in Mardin State Hospital to be identified.
The identified persons were announced as Abdullah Ecevit (39), Mete Ağırhan (15), Ahmet Varlı (15), Servet (Serkan) Yıldız (19), Sozdar Gasyak (18), Veli Aşar (18), Yunus Aslan (26), Tajdin Gasyak (18), Okan Emektar and Şevki Geldisöz.
The bodies of 9 persons who were killed during the operations on 10 March 2016 in İdil were reportedly taken to Şanlıurfa State Hospital. 2 of the persons were identified as Hacı Karakaş and Ramazan Gümüş (14).
On 13 March 2016, one of the 9 bodies in Kızıltepe State Hospital was reportedly identified as Harun Dündar (18).
(03/080) Curfew in Cizre…
The night-curfew in in Cizre district of Şırnak reached its 12 day as of 14 March 2016.
According to the news appeared in the press on 13 March 2016, the bodies of 13 unidentified persons were buried. The bodies were kept in the temporary Forensic Institute at the Habur Border Gate. The number of the burial of unidentified bodies reached 33 in Habur. 38 bodies were identified and taken by the families. 6 bodies are still waiting to be identified.
On 11 March 2016, the bodies of Hüseyin Kaya and Emin İdin were identified and taken by their families.
(03/081) Curfew in Sur…
The curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır was suspended on 95th day of the implementation. The decision was taken on the grounds that the operations in the district were halted.
According to the news appeared in the press, the clashes and operations continued after the suspension of the curfew. Bodies of 7 persons were taken to Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital after a clash that broke out on 11 March 2016 in the district. One of the bodies was identified as Gülistan Aysal (21) by her family. Another body was reportedly taken from Sur on 12 March 2016.
On 13 March 2016, one of the bodies was identified as Fırat Çelik (Xebat Andok) (25).
6 persons were also identified as Dilber Bozkurt, Mehmet Abdullah Yalvarma, Mahsun Gürkan, Mazlum Karakoç, Cüneyt Aydemiş, Eşref Polat.
Mahsun Gürkan was one of 2 YDG-H militants who were on the street when Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson Tahir Elçi was killed on 28 November 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır. According to the photograph shared on the social media, his body was reportedly smashed with a caterpillar tread of an armoured vehicle.
Mehmet Yakoğlu (26), Sedat Nurioğlu (21), Ferhat Yurttepe (16) Mahsun Saruhan (20), Yunus Özak (28), Ferit Özbek (36), Ahmet Karatay (30), Baran Aslan (18), Ömer Atalay (27) who were among 13 persons detained in Sur district were arrested on 12 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”, “attempting to overthrow constitutional order”, and “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”. The number of the arrested persons in Sur reached 30.
Sub-governorate of Sur suspended curfew on 12 March 2016 on Gazi Boulevard and on 4 streets in Cevatpaşa and Dabanoğlu quarters.
(03/082) Curfew in Nusaybin…
Governorate of Mardin announced on 13 March 2016 that curfew will be imposed in the city starting from 12.00pm and Security Forces will conduct operations.
4 persons were reportedly wounded when armoured vehicles opened fire in the city centre before the start of the curfew on 13 March 2016.
(03/083) Curfew in Yüksekova…
Governorate of Hakkari announced on 13 March 2016 that curfew will be imposed in the city starting from 10.00pm and Security Forces will conduct operations.
Orman quarter and Kışla quarter were allegedly attacked with howitzers before the start of the curfew. JİNHA correspondent Gülfidan Ataman and 3 persons were reportedly wounded during the attacks.
(03/084) Curfew in Şırnak…
Governorate of Şırnak announced on 14 March 2016 that curfew will be imposed in the city starting from 11.00pm and Security Forces will conduct operations.
(03/085) Bomb Attack in Ankara…
A suicidal bomb attack was organised on 13 March 2016 nearby the bus stops on Kızılay Square in Ankara. According to the official announcement, 37 persons were killed and 125 persons were wounded.
The vehicle used during the attack was determined to be stolen from Viranşehir district of Şanlıurfa. RTÜK (supreme board of radio and television) immediately imposed temporary ban on publication about the attack. Telecommunication Communication Directorate (TİB) also banned access to facebook and twitter.
The names of 34 persons who were killed during the attack were announced as:
Bağdat Çermik, Muharrem Çermik, Ayşe Bilgilioğlu, Perihan Çermik, Mehmet Yurtsever, Turgay Bulut, Fehmi Çetinkaya, Murat Gül, Hamide Sibel Çetinkaya, Berkay Baş, Erdem Soydan, Taner Kılıç, Feyza Acısu, Sevinç Gökay, Kerim Sağlam, Ferah Önder, Oğuzhan Dura, Sümeyra Çakmak, Destina Peri Parlak, Cemal Özdiker, Kemal Kalıç, Yaşar Durakoğlu, Kemal Bulut, Elif Gizem Akkaya, Ozan Can Akkuş, Atakan Eray Özyol, Nusrettin Can Çalkınsın, Zeynep Başak Gürsoy, Elvin Buğra Arslan, Mehmet Alan, Eyüp Ulaş, Dorukhan Yusuf Özdemir, Mehmet Emir Çakır, polis memuru Nevzat Alagöz.
(03/086) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
General Staff announced that a soldier died who was wounded during the operations in Sur district of Diyarbakır on 18 February 2016 died on 10 March 2016 in hospital in Ankara.
4 police officers were wounded when a bomb exploded on 12 March 2016 during the passage of an armoured police vehicle in Abdulkadirpaşa quarter of Nusaybin district in Mardin.
Governorate of Batman announced on 11 March 2016 that 24 regions in Sason, Kozluk and Hasankeyf districts of the province were decided to be temporary security zones for 10 months until 31 December 2016. Entrance of civilians to the security zones was also banned.
(03/087) Lütfullah Tacik Case…
Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 10 March 2016 to hear the case against police officers in connection with the death of Afghani refugee Lütfullah Tacik (17) as a result of beatings on 31 May 2015 in Van. The indictment wants the police officer Serdar Oran to be sentenced for “simple wounding and causing death by intentional wounding” and the police officer Hasan Özgür Özdemir for “misconduct of duty”.
Ekrem Duman, interpreter at Foreigners Department Child and Youth Centre, testified at the hearing. The court adjourned the hearing to 21 April 2016 for the completion of deficient documents.
Lütfullah Tacik (17) who was detained by the soldiers on 16 May 2014 while trying to pass the border illegally in Iğdır and transferred to the Repatriation Centre of the Foreigner’s Department in Van on 26 May 2014 to be deported was beaten by a police officer for lying about his age.
Lütfullah Tacik had cerebral haemorrhage when the police officer Serdar Oran working at Illegal Migration and Human Trafficking Department of Foreigners Department beat him. He was hospitalised, but died on 31 May 2014.
(03/088) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 March 2016, 5 prisoners who were on hunger strike in Siverek (Şanlıurfa) T-type Prison to protest in the curfews were reportedly transferred to other prisons.
40 prisoners incarcerated in Ağrı M-type Prison were also transferred on 10 March 2016 for the same reason.
According to the news appeared in the press on 11 March 2016, 46 prisoners incarcerated in Diyarbakır D-type Prison were transferred to various prisons after the escape of 6 prisoners from the prison.
13 female prisoners incarcerated in Diyarbakır E-type Prison were also transferred on 13 March 2016.
(03/089) News Agency Seized…
İstanbul Peace Penal Judge No 10 appointed a trustee to take over management of Cihan Medya Dağıtım A.Ş., Irmak Radyo TV Hizmetleri A.Ş. and Dünya Dağıtım A.Ş. which owns media outlets that are critical of the government. The decision was allegedly taken on the grounds that the companies were related to so-called Gülenist terror organisation “Parallel State Structure” (FETÖ/PDY).
(03/090) Web Site Banned…
On 13 March 2016, Telecommunication Communication Directorate (TİB) banned access to the new domain “sendika9.org” of the web portal sendika.org. The number of the banned domains of sendika.org reached 10.
(03/091) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 March 2016, a court case was launched against Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) Chairperson Kani Beko for the expression he used during a public statement concerning the bomb attack on 20 July 2015 in Suruç. Harun Reşit Çümen, former editor-in-chief of the daily Zaman, is also on trial in the same case for publishing the statement in the paper.
Bakırköy (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance will start to hear the case.
(03/092) Person on Trial on the allegations of Insulting State President…
Aliağa (İzmir) Penal Court of First Instance started on 11 March 2016 to hear the case against Tamer Karaman launched on charges of “insulting State President” with the messages he shared on facebook.
After the identification and testimony of Tamer Karaman and Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations, the court sentenced the defendant to 11 months and 20 days’ imprisonment.
(03/093) TV Channel Blacked Out…
According to the news appeared in the press on 11 March 2016, RTÜK (supreme board of radio and television) imposed 10 days blackout ban on Özgür Gün TV for broadcasting a programme about Silopi People’s Assembly Co-Chair Pakize Nayır, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Assembly member Sêvê Demir and KJA activist Fatma Uyar who were killed during the blockade in Silopi.
(03/094) Correspondent on Trial in İstanbul…
İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 started on 11 March 2016 to hear the case against Hayri Tunç, correspondent with the news portal jiyan.org, who was arrested on 2 February 2016 in İstanbul on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
After the identification and testimony of Hayri Tunç, the court decided to release the defendant to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to a later date for the completion of deficient documents.
(03/095) Persons Convicted inAdana for Social Media Messages…
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 March 2016, Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2 concluded to hear the case against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members Cemal Demir and Agit Bakır launched for the messages they shared on facebook. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
After the final defence, the court sentenced the defendants to 2 years and 6 months imprisonment under the Article 7/2 of Anti-Terror Law.
(03/096) Protesters on Trial in İstanbul…
5 Members of İstanbul Youth Coordination of Peoples’ Democratic Congress (Halkların Demokratik Kongresi – HDK) occupied the Provincial Directorate of Health on 1 February 2016 to protest in the curfew and operation in Sur and Cizre districts. The protesters and Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Elif Çetiner were detained after the protest.
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 March 2016, a court case waslaunched against HDK members Sunay Yavuz, Yağmur Emekdar, Zeynep Öztürk, Dilan Yılmaz, Şeyma Ustaoğlu, and DİHA correspondent Elif Çetiner. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”. Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 13 will start to hear the case on 12 May 2016.
(03/097) Berkin Elvan Protests Attacked…
The police attacked a group of persons with tear gas and water cannons when they wanted to stage a demonstration on 11 March 2016 in Tuzluçayır quarter of Ankara to commemorate the killing of Berkin Elvan by the police. At least 15 persons were detained during the police interventions.
People’s Law Office announced on 10 March 2016 that Berkin Elvan was allegedly shot by the police officer Emin Yıldız.
(03/098) Detentions and Arrests…
Gendarmerie soldiers raided on 10 March 2016 Kora village in Ardahan and detained Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for Ardahan province Hakan Demirbaş.
The police conducted house raids on 10 March 2016 in Bursa and detained Peoples’ Democratic Party member Nazlı Bana, and Sevda Kaya, Zeynep Canbolat, Fatma Ada, Cengiz Çelik, Akın Taş and H.A. (17).
The detainee Nazlı Bana was arrested on the same day on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The students Dilek Karakaş, Beritan İnan, Muazzez Kaya, Reşit Bilgiç, Şükrü Özalp, Serhat Açıktepe, Ahmet Varlı, Hüseyin Tosun who were previously detained in Malatya were arrested on 10 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. Fikri Karakuş who was also detained in Tunceli was also arrested on 10 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Security Forces conducted house raids in Gevaş district of Van and detained DBP Gevaş Co-Chair for Gevaş district Bülent Danış, HDP Co-Chair for Gevaş district Nevzat Altındağ, and Bedriye Öner, Municipality Assembly members Serpil Sezer, Hayrettin Baydar, and DBP executive for the district Nevzat Nihal. The detainees were arrested on 10 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
12 HDP members in Saruhanlı district of MAnisa, 25 university students in Giresun were detained during the house raids conducted on 11 March 2016. 9 students who were among 20 students detained in Afyon were arrested on 11 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
11 students who were among 28 persons detained during house raids conducted in Sivas were arrested on 12 March 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Security Forces conducted house raids on 12 March 2016 in Artuklu and Kızıltepe districts of Mardin and detained 11 DBP members including DBP Co-Chairs for the districts.
Halis Gültekin, Municipality Assembly member in Doğubayazıt district of Van, was arrested on 12 March 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
10 persons including HDP Co-Chairs for İzmir province Cavit Uğur and Dilek Aykan who were among 24 persons detained during house raids conducted in İzmir were arrested on 12 March 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Tevfik Kaçar who was detained when visiting his big brother DBP executive Refik Kaçar for being arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” was also arrested on the allegations of “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.
Özkan Gülesen, Atakan Gülesen, Önder Arğun, Ömer Aslan, Mehmet Gülsever and Yusuf Çağala who were among 12 persons detained during the raids conducted in Kocaeli against the houses of HDP members were arrested on 11 March 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.