23-29 February 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/130) Curfew in Cizre…
The curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak where the operations of Security Forces concluded reached its 73rd day as of 23 February 2016.
The bodies of 8 unidentified persons were reportedly found on 22 February 2016 on Narin street in Cudi quarter.
The bodies were taken to Şırnak State Hospital and 2 of the persons were identified as Mehmet Yılmaz (23) ve Cihat Altun (22).
(02/131) Persons Killed in Mersin…
2 persons were killed on 22 February 2016 in Kale quarter Derik district of Mardin when Security Forces opened fire. Although curfew was not imposed in Derik, clashes, blockade and military operations are on-going in the district.
One of the killed persons was identified as Ercan Sayan (27).
(02/132) Bomb Attack in Ankara…
According to the DNA test results dating 22 February 2016, the suicide bomb attack on 17 February 2016 in Ankara was organised by Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) member Abdülbaki Sömer.
The number of the casualties reached 29 when Aydın Dedegil died on 23 February 2016 in the hospital.
(02/133) Detentions and Arrests…
The police conducted operations on 22 February 2016 in Ergani district of Diyarbakır and detained 7 persons. The reason of the operations was not disclosed.
The soldiers raided Helbînî village of Halfeti district in Şanlıurfa and reportedly detained Haci Yalçınkaya ve Sariye Yalçınkaya on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
University student Ersin Baran was detained in Van when s/he went to the faculty in 100th Year University to attend a class.
Co-Mayors for Derik district in Mardin Sabahat Çetin Kaya and Abdulkerim Erdem, Vice-Mayor Murat Özüçalışır, Municipality Assembly members Yaşar Acabey and Mustafa Kutlar, municipality worker Erem Koyuncu were detained during the operations conducted in Derik district of Mardin.
(02/134) Curfew in Cizre…
The curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak where the operations of Security Forces concluded reached its 74th day as of 24 February 2016.
2 bodies kept in Habur Border Gate were identified on 23 February 2016 Emel Ayhan and Murat Şimşek.
5 persons were reportedly buried in Şırnak without being identified.
(02/135) Curfew in İdil…
The curfew and operations in İdil district and Dirsekli village of Şırnak reached 8th day as of 24 February 2016. The curfew was imposed on 16 February 2016.
- Sadık Bozderi (57) suffering from heart disease and waiting for an ambulance in his home for the last 5 days in Atakent quarter was found dead on 23 February 2016. He was shot at chest. There were no barricades and ditches in Atakent quarter.
Another unidentified body was found on the same day.
(02/136) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
According to the official announcement, Specialist Sergeant Selçuk Dost was killed during an armed clash on 23 February 2016 in Sur district of Diyarbakır.
Specialist Sergeant Yetkin Erşan who was shot and wounded on 8 February 2016 in Sur reportedly died on 23 February 2016 in the hospital in Ankara.
3 militants were reportedly killed and 5 soldiers were wounded during an armed clash that broke out on 22 February 2016 in Derik district of Mardin.
(02/137) Bomb Attack in İstanbul…
A German citizen who was wounded during the suicide bomb attack on 12 January 2016 on Sultanahmet Square in İstanbul reportedly died on 23 February 2016 in Germany. The number of the casualties reached 12.
(02/138) Tevfik Caner Ertay Investigation…
Tevfik Caner Ertay, member of People’s Houses in Eskişehir, was detained on 2 June 2014 during Gezi Park demonstrations in Eskişehir. He was taken to a car park; his arm and leg were broken under torture. He was also put in the trunk of a police vehicle and kept there for hours.
Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 4 continued on 3 February 2015 to hear the case against the police officers Adem Arslan, Ahmet Kızıl and İzzet Erkan. The indictment wants Adem Arslan and Ahmet Kızıl to be sentenced to at least 8 years of imprisonment, İzzet Erkan to at least 4 years of imprisonment for intentional wounding. The court decided not to be responsible with the case on the grounds that the offence was torture not wounding and sent the files of the case to Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court.
Heavy Penal Court on duty dealt with the case on 22 February 2016 and sent the files of the case to Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 4 on the ground of not to being responsible with the case.
(02/139) Torture in Custody Case in İzmir…
İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 6 started on 23 February to hear the retrial of 4 police officers for torturing F.C. in custody and F.C. for insulting the police officers.
On 13 May 2015, the court sentenced the police officers Beyit S. and Hakan Y. who did torture F.C. were sentenced to 1 year and months’ imprisonment for “simple wound within the limits of use of force”. The remaining 2 police officers Tekin D. and Nevzat A. were acquitted. The court sentenced F.C. to a fine of TL 8,840 for “insult” and suspended the execution of the sentence. But the Court of Cassation quashed the verdict.
The court adjourned the hearing for the preparation of Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations.
On 16 July 2011, F.C. (37) was beaten and detained in İzmir for not having an ID. He was taken to Karabağlar Police Station and a civilian dressed police officer continued to beat him, he was also subjected to sexual assault. According to the recordings disclosed on 9 December 2011, the remaining police officer did not intervene the incident, but kept watching.
After the incident, the police officers made official complaint against F.C. for resisting and insulting public officers. A court case was launched against him on charges of “wounding police officer” and “insulting police officer” with the demand of 6.5 years’ imprisonment.
Though the recordings proved the torture, the indictment dating 28 November 2011 against the police officers T.D., N.A., H.Y. and B.S. only wanted them to be sentenced to terms of imprisonment up to 1.5 years for “simple wound within the limits of use of force”. During the trial the police officers were also accused of “threat” and the expected sentence increased to terms of imprisonment up to 6 years.
İzmir Peace Penal Court No 17 started on 15 February 2014 to hear the case and decided not to be responsible with the case on the grounds the accusation was changed. The files were sent to Penal Court of First Instance.
İzmir Penal Court of First Instance No 12 ruled that the offence was torture and decided not to be responsible with the case. And the files were sent to Heavy Penal Court and the cases against the police officers and F.C. were combined.
(02/140) Journalist Threatened in Şırnak…
On 23 February 2016, M. Halil Ötün, worker with the daily Azadiya Welat in Şırnak, was allegedly threatened to death by civilian dressed police officers by pointing a gun at his head. He was reportedly said “We will kill you if you keep distributing these papers!”.
(02/141) Person on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
Aydın Penal Court of First Instance No 3 continued on 23 February 2016 to hear the case against the physician Bilgin Çiftçi launched for sharing a photo on social media showing the resemblance of State President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Lord of the Rings character Gollum.
The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced according to the Article 299 TPC for “insulting the State President”. The court decided to wait for the expert report to determine whether Gollum was a bad character in the novel and adjourned the hearing to 12 May 2016.
(02/142) Protesters on Trial in Ağrı…
Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 1 started on 23 February 2016 to hear the case against 14 public servants launched for taking part in a demonstration staged in Ağrı to protest in the Suruç Massacre. The public servants were suspended from duty by the Ağrı Governor Musa Işın. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “committing crime in the name of an illegal organisation without being a member of the organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
After the identification and testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to 29 March 2016.
(02/143) Protest Intervened in Muğla…
The police intervened 4 university student women who wanted to open a banner on the roof of a multi-storey car park on 23 February 2016 in Muğla to protest in the violence against women. The protesters were detained on the allegations of “staging an unauthorized protest”.
(02/144) KCK Trial in Ağrı…
Doğubayazıt (Ağrı) Heavy Penal Court started on 23 February 2016 to hear the case against 20 persons launched after operations conducted in 2012 in Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı in connection with a “KCK Investigation”. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The defendant did not appear before the court and the court adjourned the hearing to 10 May 2016 for the completion of deficient documents.
(02/145) Detentions and Arrests…
The police conducted house raids on 23 February 2016 and detained 9 persons including 4 children who visited the condolence tent for Abdülbaki Sömer who organised suicide bomb attack on 17 February 2016 in Ankara.
The police also raided the condolence tent on the same day and detained 8 persons.
Co-Mayor for Silopi district in Şırnak province Emine Esmer and her driver Cemal Yiğit were detained on 23 February 2016 during a road control in Silopi.
6 persons who were among 10 persons detained during house raids in Şanlıurfa were arrested on 23 February 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation.
Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Mazlum Dolan, Sinem Ateş, Fatma Ateş, Fahrettin Ateş ile Ekrem Karatay who left Sur district of Diyarbakır when a secure corridor was opened during the clashes were arrested on 23 February 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police continued operations on 23 February 2016 against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP). 9 persons in Adana, 4 persons in Hizan district of Bitlis, DBP Co-Chair for Ergani district in Diyarbakır province Şeyhmus Doku in Ergani, and 22 persons in Kocaeli were detained during the operations.
DBP executive for the district Sabri Akçan who was detained during a house raid in Kiğı district of Bingöl was arrested on 23 February 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” through social media.
(02/146) Curfew and massacre in Cizre…
The curfew and military operations in Şırnak province, Cizre district entered its 79th day on 29 February 2016. The crisis desk that had been established concerning the people massacred in Cizre declared that on 26 February 2016 the number of corpses that had been taken to hospital had reached 178, 101 of which were awaiting to be identified.
Of the people that had been trapped in the cellars of three houses and had been killed in attacks of the security forces the corpse of Mehmet Yavuzer, member of the Party of Democratic Regions’ parliament, was identified in Mardin on 24 February 2016. The corpse of Cihan Karaman who despite an interim decision of the ECHR died because he was not taken to a hospital was identified in Mardin on 24 February 2016. In addition the corpses of Rıdvan Ekinci, Kenan Adıgüzel and Beşenk Kolanç were identified in Mardin and handed over to their families on 25 February 2016.
On 24 February 2016 it was learned that ten of the corpses that had been taken to the temporary forensic institution at the border station Habur of Silopi district had been identified. The name of the 10 people are: Tuğba Eminoğlu, Erdal Şahin, Rohat Aktaş, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Azadiya Welat, Adil Küçük, Selim Turay, Mahmut Duymak, Umut Ürek, Mahsun Erdoğan, Ramazan İşçi and Metin Karane.
On 25 February 2016 the corpses of 10 people kept in the morgue of Yeşilkent Cemetery in Gaziantep were identified. The name of 9 people who the families identified are: Dersim Aksoy, İslam Balıkesir, Ömer Baran, Nusreddin Bayar, Mustafa Gasyak, Ali Fırat Kalkan, Kasım Yana, İzzet Gündüz, member of YPS, Berjin Demirkaya and Sakine Siray.
On 25 February 2016 it was learned that Güler Eroğlu who allegedly had been killed by police officers in Diyarbakır, but later was identified as someone else, actually died being trapped in a cellar in Cizre. In addition the corpse of the YPS member Velat Zal who had been killed in Cizre was buried after having been identified near Habur border station.
Of the corpses that had been taken out of the cellars in Cizre and had been taken to Şanlıurfa those of Star Özkül and Hasan Ayaz (15) were handed over to their families on 25 February 2016. On 25 February 2016 it was revealed that three corpses that had been held in Şırnak State Hospital in order to be identified had on order of the governor in Şırnak been taken to Özveren village, close to Balveren town and had been buried there.
With the burial of the last three corpses being held at Şırnak State Hospital no more corpses remained there.
Murat Şimşek (16) who had been killed in the cellar of the third house in Sur district was identified by the family and handed over to them in order to be buried in Nusaybin on 25 February 2016. Of the corpses in Gaziantep the DNA test for Dersim Aksoy was finalized and his family received the corpse on 26 February 2016. On 27 February 2016 the families of Murat Tunç, Yılmaz Geçim, Mesut Özer and Cengiz Gerem identified the corpses at Habur Border Station where they had been held.
On 28 February 2016 it was established that the DNA tests resulted in identifying Mehmet Tunç, co-chair of the people’s parliament in Cizre and his brother Orhan Tunç. Pieces of the remains of Veysi Bademkıran who had been killed Cizre were sent to two different hospitals. On 27 February 2016 the pieces in Mardin were sent to his home town Diyarbakır. On 27 February 2016 the corpses of Yasemin Çıkmaz and another 12 persons who had burnt to death in the cellars they had been trapped in, were buried in Cizre.
During the massacre in Cizre the corpse of Hülya Aksoy had mistakenly been confused with Derya Koç and buried in Erzurum-Karayazı district. On 27 February 2016 her corpse was taken from the cemetery and handed over to her family. The corpse of Derya Koç had been identified at Habur Border Station by her family and she had been handed over to them.
(02/147) Curfew in Sur…
The curfew in Diyarbakır province, Sur district and military operations entered its 81st day on 29 February 2016.
It was expressed that the situation of about 200 people being trapped in the cellars of various houses was getting worse. The governor of Diyarbakır stated that despite announcements to leave the houses nobody had shown up and alleged that there were no civilians among the trapped people.
(02/148) Curfew in İdil…
The curfew in Şırnak province, İdil district and military operations that had been announced on 16 February 2016 entered its 13th day. On 23 February 2016 it was learned that the corpse that was found belonged to Vedat Gürbüz, born in İdil.
(02/149) Person killed by police officers in Mardin…
On 24 February 2016 police teams shot at a vehicle near Diîmê village, Kızıltepe district, Mardin province allegedly because the car did not stop. A woman in the car that had no identity card was killed. It was alleged that the 2 people were PKK militants. One of them, H.A. was arrested on 27 February 2016.
(02/150) Person killed by police officers in Diyarbakır…
On 27 February 2016 the police intervened in a demonstration in Diyarbakır demanding an end to the curfew in Sur. Police officers shot Abdullah Yılmaz (22) in his head. He died in hospital.
(02/151) Person killed by police officers in Mardin…
On 24 February 2016 special police forces shot at Cemal Nerzgiz in Mardin-Nusaybin district, where the curfew had ended but the blockade and attacks of security forces continued. He was taken to hospital.
(02/152) Operations, Attacks in the South-east…
It was announced that in the region of Cehennem Deresi, near Hespist village in Şırnak-İdil district an air strike was launched on 24 February 2016 and 12 militants were killed.
In Diyarbakır-Sur district where the clashes continued sergeant Burhan Kaplan was shot to death by a sniper on 25 February 2016; 2 soldiers were wounded. On 24 February 2016 the sergeants Mustafa Hakan Kacar and Osman Kablan were shot to death in Sur.
It was declared that the name of the YPS militant who was killed in a clash in Sur on 23 February 2016 was Erdal Tekin.
On 25 February 2016 the civilian dressed sergeant Ömer Koca was attacked in Şırnak, Ömer Kabak Square and killed by a bullet to his head.
It was announced that on 25 February 2016 a clash occurred in Sur and one soldier was killed and another one was wounded. On 26 February 2016 an explosion occurred in Şırnak-İdil district when an armoured vehicle passed. 7 members of a special force were wounded. On 27 February 2016 clashes occurred in İdil injuring one soldier and one police officer. In a clash that happened in Sur on 28 February 2016 lieutenant Cihan Çalışkan was killed by a rifle of a sniper. Again on 28 February 2016 rockets were fired at an armoured vehicle of the police in Nusaybin resulting in the death of a member of a special police unit and injuries of two members.
(02/153) Continuation of a case of extra-judicial execution…
The court case in Ankara against bureaucrats and members of a special police unit in which Mehmet Ağar is defendant number one on charges of 18 extra-judicial executions continued on 26 February 2016.
In the hearing against 19 defendants Ankara Heavy Penal Court 1 listened to Tuncay Özkan and the deputy chair of Vatan Party, Hikmet Çiçek and decided to hear Veli Küçük, former Minister of the Interior Nahit Menteşe and former Ankara chief of police, Orhan Taşanlar as witness and adjourned the hearing to 17 June 2016.
(02/154) Pressure in the Prisons…
On 25 February 2016 it was learned that the author Sevan Nişanyan, imprisoned in Söke (Aydın) T Type Prison was punished with 11 days’ solitary confinement because he had provided an unauthorized device of an internet provider into prison.
(02/155) TV channel ordered to stop publication…
On demand of the chief republican prosecutor in Ankara, Ramazan Dinç the publication of the station İMC TV was banned by the General Directorate of TÜRKSAT on 26 February 2016.
(02/156) Writer on trial for having insulted the State President…
On 26 February 2016 it was learned that the columnist Cengiz Çandar was on trial in connection with 7 articles in which he allegedly insulted the State President. The trial against Cengiz Çandar charged with an offence of Article 299 TPC will start on 7 April 2016 at Bakırköy Peace Court 2.
(02/157) Detentions, arrests and investigations on insulting the State President…
On 24 February 2016 police officers raided a house in İstanbul-Küçükçekmece district and detained A.Ş. (13) for having insulted the State President.
Gizem Yerik, living in Bursa-Mudanya district was arrested on 27 February 2016 on charges of having insulted the State President in internet messages.
(02/158) People on trial in Batman…
On 27 February 2016 it was learned that the indictment against 54 people who had participated in a press conference during which self administration had been announced and that demanded aggravated life imprisonment for having broken the unity of the State and the entity of the country had been accepted. The trial against the 54 people including the co-mayors of Batman, Sabri Özdemir and Gülistan Akel will start at Batman Heavy Penal Court on 4 April 2016.
(02/159) Detentions and arrests…
On 24 February 2016 Muhammed Yusuf Keskin, editor-in-chief of the journal Patriotic Youth who had been detained during an operation in Diyarbakır was arrested on charges of membership of an illegal organization for notes and phone numbers found in his notebook.
In Mardin-Nusaybin district Şerzan Falay and in Ağrı-Doğubayazıt district Tanju Güllü were arrested on the same charges on 24 February 2016.
Of the 14 people that had been detained during house raids in İstanbul because of messages in their facebook accounts 11 were arrested on 25 February 2016 on charges of having made propaganda for an illegal organization.
On 25 February 2016 a funeral was held for Erdal Şahin who had been killed in Cizre. Police teams intervened with gas bombs and detained 30 people including 3 minors.
On 25 February 2016 Aydın Keskin who had been detained in the centre of Muş-Bulanık district was arrested for being a member of an illegal organization.
Seracettin Hessas, co-chair of HDP in Yunusemre district who had been detained in Manisa was arrested on 25 February 2016 on charges of being a member of an illegal organization and having made propaganda for it.
On 25 February 2016 5 of 6 students of Sakarya University who had been detained during house raids in Sakarya were arrested on charges of being members of an illegal organization.
On 25 February 2016 police operations were conducted in various cities. In Erzurum-Çat district, Karabey village 9 people were detained, in Van the DBP co-chair in Van, Ökkeş Kawa; in Muş-Varto district, Qerqerut (Sazlıca) village E.B. (17); in Mardin-Derik district 8 people including the co-mayors of the town were detained. Of the detainees the co-mayors of Derik, Abdulkerim Erdem and Sabahat Çetinkaya and the deputy co-mayor Cebrail Parıltılı were arrested on 26 February 2016 on charges being members of an illegal organization.
In Muş E.B. was arrested on 26 February 2016.
Reşit Teymur, co-chair of the DBP in Siirt who had been detained in Siirt was arrested on 26 February 2016 for having supporting an illegal organization.
3 people including the representative of Support and Solidarity with families who had lost relatives in Mesopotamia (MEYA-DER) in Erciş, Tekin Hezer who had been detained during house raids in Van were arrested on 26 February 2016 on the basis of the testimony of a secret witness.
Of the 22 people that had been detained in Kocaeli 8 people including the ESP representative in Gebze, Adıgüzel and the co chair of the HDP in the province, Hikmet Koçak were arrested on 26 February 2016 on charges of being members of an illegal organization.
On 28 February 2016 HDP member Merve Aydoğan was detained in Adana and the same day she was arrested by a court on charges of being a member of an illegal organization.
Songül Öğmen, co-chair of the Federation of Associations of Solidarity with Families of Prisoners (TUHAD-FED) who had been detained in Hakkari-Yüksekova district was arrested on court’s order on 28 February 2016.
1-4 March 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/001) Curfew in Cizre…
The curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak where the operations of Security Forces concluded reached its 80th day as of 1 March 2016.
Governorate of Şırnak announced night-curfew to be imposed between 19.30 and 05.00 stating on 2 March 2016. The start of night-curfew in Silopi district was also announced as 19.30.
According to the news appeared in the press on 29 February 2016, The bodies of 7 persons killed in Cizre whose bodies were among 20 unidentified bodies were kept in Gaziantep Forensic Institute were buried after the completion of 15 days following the amendments in the Regulation on Forensic Institutes.
The bodies of 6 unidentified persons which were among 27 bodies brought to Mardin were buried in Mardin.
The body of Ferhat Karaduman who was buried by the family turned out to be the body of Yılmaz Geçim. The body of Ferhat Karaduman was taken by the family on 29 February 2016.
2 unidentified bodies were found on 2 March 2016.
(03/002) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
3 soldiers were abounded during an armed clash on 1 March 2016 in İdil district of Şırnak where curfew was imposed.
(03/003) Impunity in Vartinis Massacre Case…
Kırıkkale Heavy Penal Court concluded on 1 March 2016 to hear the case against Hasköy Gendarmerie Station Commander Captain B.K., Infantry First Lieutenant H.A., Gökyazı Gendarmerie Station Commander Master-Sergeant T.N. and Special Operations Division Deputy Director Ş.U. who were on duty on 17 May 1993 when house of a family had been set to fire in Vartinis (Altınova) town of Korkut district in Muş on the grounds that the family was “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.
the Public Prosecutor wanted H.A., T.N. and Ş.U to be acquitted and B.K. to be sentenced. In his opinion as to the accusations, the Public Prosecutor wanted at the previous hearing of the case the defendants to be sentenced for “killing by omission”. The court acquitted all the defendants.
Nasır Öğüt (43), his wife Eşref Öğüt (43), their children Sevim Öğüt (13), Sevda Öğüt (12), Şakir Öğüt (11), Mehmet Şirin Öğüt (8), Cihat Öğüt, Aycan Öğüt (1), and Cihan Öğüt (4) had died during the fire and the indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced 9 times to life imprisonment. The indictment was prepared by Public Prosecutor in Muş, but the case was transferred to Kırıkkale for alleged security reasons.
(03/004) Hasan Ferit Case…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued on 29 February 2016 to hear the case concerning the killing of Hasan Ferit Gedik on 30 September 2013 during the armed attack by drug dealers against the members of People’s Front (Halk Cephesi) in Gülsuyu quarter of Maltepe district in İstanbul. 35 defendants including 8 remanded defendants are on trial for being involved in the incidents on 28-29-30 September 2013.
At the close hearing, the court adjourned the hearing to 21 March 2016 for the transcription of the CD provided by Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TİB) and testimonies of witnesses.
(03/005) Editors on Trial…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 14 continued on 1 March 2016 to hear the case against editor-in-chief with the Nokta magazine Cevheri Güven and managing editor of the magazine Murat Çapan launched in connection with the cover page of the 24th issue of the magazine.
Cevheri Güven and Murat Çapan who were detained during the raid conducted against the premises of the weekly Nokta in İstanbul on 2 November 2015 after the confiscation decision for the 24th issue of the magazine were arrested according to the Article 214 TPC on the allegations of “inciting an armed uprising against the government”. The defendants were released at the hearing on 29 December 2016 to be tried without remand. The indictment wants the editors to be sentenced terms of imprisonment up to 20 years.
After the Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations, the court adjourned the hearing to a later date for the preparation of the defence as to the accusations.
(03/006) Persons on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 29 February 2016, Yalova Penal Court of First Instance No 3 concluded to hear the case against 15 persons launched on charges of “insulting the State President” by shouting the slogan “Thief, Murderer Erdoğan” during a demonstration organised by Joint June Movement (Birleşik Haziran Hareketi) on 13 May 2014 to protest in the killings of 301 miners in Soma district of Manisa.
After the final defence as to the accusations, the court acquitted all the defendants on the grounds that the elements of crime did not materialise.
(03/007) Children on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 March 2016, Diyarbakır Juvenile Court No 1 concluded to hear the case against the children R.Y. (12) and R.T. (13) launched on charges of “insulting the State President” by tearing a poster of the State President in Diyarbakır.
The court acquitted the children on the grounds that the elements of crime were not materialised. The indictment wanted the children to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 2 years and 4 months. The indictment also wanted the children to be placed in a foster home according to the Law on Children Protection.
(03/008) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
Peoples’ Democratic Party Co-Chair for central district in Siirt province Benda Erdemci was detained on 29 February 2016 on the allegations of “insulting the State President”.
(03/009) Workers Action Intervened in Bursa…
The police intervened a group of workers of Renault Automotive Company in Bursa who closed Mudanya road for solidarity with fired workers. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and detained 20 workers.
(03/010) Gezi Park Trials…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 12 concluded on 1 March 2016 to hear the case against 26 persons launched in connection with the Gezi Park demonstrations in Ankara. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “damaging public property” and “resisting security forces”.
After the testimonies of the defendants and complainants, the court acquitted all the defendants.
(03/011) Political Party Executives on Trial in İzmir…
Yiannis Bournous, Member of the Political Secretariat of SYRIZA / Greece, took part and gave a speech during the meeting of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on Gündoğdu Square in İzmir before the elections on 7 June 2015. A court case was launched against 7 executives of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) for not informing officials about the speech of Yiannis Bournous.
İzmir Penal Court of First Instance No 22 continued on 29 February 2016 to hear the case. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. The court adjourned the hearing to a later date for the preparation of the defence.
(03/012) March Intervened in Ankara…
The police attacked a group of People’s Front (Halk Cephesi) on 1 March 2016 in Mamak district of Ankara when they wanted to stage a demonstration to protest in the urban transformation in Küçükarmutlu quarter of İstanbul. 15 persons were detained during the police intervention.
(03/013) Gezi Park Trials…
İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 5 continued on 1 March 2016 to hear the case against 94 persons launched in connection with the Gezi Park demonstrations in İzmir. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “damaging public property” and “resisting security forces”.
After the testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to a later date for the completion of the testimonies.
(03/014) KCK Trial in Hakkari…
Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 1 continued on 1 March 2016 to hear the case against 22 persons. The defendants were released after being detained in 2011 in Hakkari in connection with a “KCK Investigation”.
After the continuation of the testimonies of the present defendants, the court ordered 12 defendants to be forcibly brought before the court and adjourned the hearing to 19 April 2016.
(03/015) Persons on Trial in Ankara…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 March 2016, Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 concluded to hear the case against Labour Party (EMEP) Vice-Chair Şükran Doğan, Yasemin Öztürk and Ali Özkan launched on charges of “being member of an illegal organisation”. The defendants were indicted for their activities during the foundation of Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK).
The court followed the Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations and acquitted the defendants.
(03/016) Detentions and Arrests…
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for Van province Caziye Duman was detained on 29 February 2016 when s/he was leaving the partyy premises.
DBP Co-Chair for Malazgirt district Ethem Keklik who was detained during a road control on his way from Malazgirt to Muş was arrested on 29 February 2016 on the grounds that his conviction in a court case was approved by the Court of Cassation.
The police conducted house raids on 1 March 2016 in İstanbul and detained 10 executives and members of United Revolutionary Party (Birleşik Devrimci Parti).
(03/017) Curfew in Cizre…
The night-curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak where the operations of Security Forces concluded reached its 2nd day as of 4 March 2016.
YPS member Abbas Güllübahçe, Azad Yılmaz, Agit Küçük, Harun Barın, YPS member Doğan Çalış, Hacı Külte (13), Çimen Tankan, İsmail Çetin, Murat Erdin and Hasan Tağ who bodies were kept in the temporary Forensic Institute in Habur Border Gate were identified on 2 March 2016.
The body found on 2 March 2016 in a chest in a house in Cudi quarter was identified as Sahip Edin.
One of the 6 bodies brought to Malatya was identified on 2 March 2016 as Sabri Sezgin.
2 persons including 1 child were wounded when the ruins of a building exploded on 2 March 2016 in Cudi quarter.
(03/018) Curfew in İdil…
The curfew and operations in İdil district and Dirsekli village of Şırnak reached 17th day as of 4 March 2016. The curfew was imposed on 16 February 2016.
The bodies of 2 unidentified persons were found on 2 March 2016 in Turgut Özal quarter where the clashes intensified.
2 more bodies were reportedly found on 3 March 2016 in the same quarter.
(03/019) Curfew in Sur…
The curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır reached its 85th day as of 4 March 2016.
Marches were organised on 2 March 2016 from several quarters of Diyarbakır to reach some 200 person stuck in the basement of a building in Sur district. Governorate of Diyarbakır announced before the marches that the blockade in 6 quarters of Sur was extended to whole Sur district and banned access of everyone to the district besides residents of Sur.
The police dispersed the marching groups by using tear gas and water cannons. 34 persons were reportedly detained during the police interventions.
After the negotiations with the officials, Security Forces suspended the operations in Sur and 8 persons including a 4-month-old baby and a heavily wounded person left Sur district.
On 3 March 2016, 33 persons left Sur and the body of a male was found.
3 persons were reportedly wounded when a house was shot with a bomb in Sur district. The bomb was allegedly thrown by Security Forces.
(03/020) Armed Attacks in İstanbul…
5 separate armed attacks were organised against police officers on 3 March 2016 in İstanbul.
Service vehicle of Riot Police Department was attacked in Bayrampaşa district with hand grenades and weapons. 2 police officers were wounded during the attack. 2 attackers escaped and took shelter in a building. Security Forces organised an operation against the apartment and both attackers were killed allegedly during an armed clash.
DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) claimed the attack and announced the attackers as Berna Yılmaz and Çiğdem Yahşi.
Police posts in Esenler, Sarıyer, Okmeydanı and Beyoğlu were also organised armed attacks. No casualties were reported and the attacks were not claimed.
(03/021) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
1 police officer was wounded during an armed clash that broke out on 2 March 2016 in Turgut Özal quarter of İdil district in Şırnak.
1 police officer and 1 soldier were reportedly wounded during armed clashes on 2 March 2016 in Hasırlı and Savaş quarters of Sur district in Diyarbakır.
3 soldiers and 8 militants reportedly died during an armed clash on 3 March 2016 in Dargeçit district of Mardin.
2 specialist sergeants were shot by snipers on 3 March 2016 in Sur district. Fatih Efiloğlu died in the hospital.
Regional Traffic Division and lodging buildings next to the division in Nusaybin district of Mardin were attacked on 4 March 2016 with bomb vehicle, long barreled weapons and rocket launchers. 2 police officers died and 35 persons including civilians were wounded.
(03/022) Suspicious Private Death…
Doğan Kuşdemir (27) who was serving for the compulsory military service in Alaşehir district of Manisa allegedly committed suicide on 2 March 2016 by hanging himself.
(03/023) Medeni Yıldırım Case…
Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 continued on 2 March 2016 to hear the case against one soldier launched for the killing of Medeni Yıldırım on 28 June 2013 during a demonstration against the construction of a new gendarmerie outpost in the Kayacik village of Lice district in Diyarbakır. The defendant testified at the hearing through SEGBİS teleconference system. After the defence as to the accusations, the court adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(03/024) Police Officers on Trial in İstanbul for Violence…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 7 continued on 2 March 2016 to hear the case against police officers Ömer Serdar Küçükibrahimoğlu and Fatih Zahter. The case was launched upon official complaint by Gökçe Algan whose collar bone was broken when being targeted by an anti-riot water cannon vehicle TOMA during Gezi Park demonstrations in İstanbul. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “intentional wounding” and “misconduct of duty”.
The defendant Ömer Serdar Küçükibrahimoğlu testified at the hearing through SEGBİS teleconference system. The court ruled for the continuation of evidence collection and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(03/025) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 2 March 2016, writer Sevan Nişanyan who was sentenced to 11 days’ cell confinement in Söke (Aydın) T-type Prison was also given additional 6 days’ cell confinement on the allegations of “offering bribe to guards”.
(03/026) Investigations, Detentions and Arrests on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
Serkan Sedat Günay, produceder with the radio station Burç FM, was detained on 2 March 2016 in İstanbul on the allegations of “insulting the State President” on his show on the radio.
(03/027) Journalist on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 3 started on 2 March 2016 to hear the case against journalist Arzu Yıldız launched on charges of “insulting the State President” for the expressions she used on social media.
After the identification and testimony of Arzu Yıldız, the court adjourned the hearing to a later date for the continuation of the defence.
(03/028) Persons on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting State President…
İzmir Penal Court of First Instance No 3 concluded on 3 March 2016 to hear the case against Osman Seçkin Can, Meltem Ayvalı and Erdem Şahin launched on charges of “insulting the State President” by using the expression “dictator Erdoğan” during a public statement on 12 March 2015 in İzmir.
The court acquitted all the defendants on the grounds that the elements of crime were not materialised.
(03/029) Workers Detained…
22 workers of Renault Automotive Company in Bursa who staged an action for solidarity with fired workers were detained during house raids conducted on 2 March 2016.
(03/030) Environmentalist on Trial in Tokat…
According to the news appeared in the press on 2 March 2016, a court case was launched against 54 persons in connection with a protests against hydro-electricity power plants in Tokat. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced terms of imprisonment up to 16 years for “damaging public property” and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
The gendarmerie intervened the villagers who wanted to stage a march on 15 March 2015 to protest in the construction of 3 hydro-electricity power plants on Çekerek river in Zile district of Tokat. The soldiers dispersed the crowd by using tear gas.
Zile (Tokat) Penal Court of First Instance will start to hear the case on 10 May 2016.
(03/031) Protest Intervened in Ankara…
The police intervened a group of Revolutionary High School Students (DEV-LİS) members who closed a road on 2 March 2016 in Ankara to protest in the operations against United Revolutionary Party (Birleşik Devrimci Parti). 6 DEV-LİS members were detained under beatings.
(03/032) Mayors, Municipality Workers and Political Party Executives on Trial in Hakkari…
Hakkari Heavy Penal Court continued on 2 March 2016 to hear the case against 11 persons including Co-Mayors in Hakkari province Nurullah Çiftçi and Dilek Hatipoğlu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair for Central district in Hakkari province İsmail Sihat Kaya, and Hakkari Municipality Bınevş Women’s Centre worker Hamide Özer launched on the allegations of “disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”. The defendants were arrested after a public statement on self-governance.
After the Public Prosecutor’s opinion as to the accusations, the court decided for the continuation of arrests of 6 defendants and adjourned the hearing to 25 March 2016.
(03/033) Detentions and Arrests…
Gendarmerie soldiers conducted house raids on 2 March 2016 in Hoşhaber town of Iğdır and detained 13 persons including Hoşhaber Co-mayor Nurcan Paran on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted operations on 2 Marc 2016 in Muradiye district of Van and detained Muradiye Co-Mayor Safure Güneş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for the district Vahdettin Uca and Emrah Gültaş. At least 10 persons in Mersin, 4 persons in Bitlis, and 2 persons in Ağrı were also detained during the operations.
Hakkari Union of Chamber of Merchants and Craftsmen Chairperson Mikail Atan was arrested on 2 March 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Nergis Okan, Alaattin Tüzel, İsmet Balcı and Zinê Ötünç who were detained during the raids in Şanlıurfa were arrested on 2 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Çekdar Özer, Doğan Peker, Saffet Demircan and Hüsnü Kadir Demir who were among 6 students detained during house raids n Mersin were arrested on 3 March 2016 on the allegations of “committing crime in the name of an illegal organisation without being a member of the organisation”.
Peopple’s Assembly Co-Chair for Yüksekova district Eş Başkanı Sibel Çapraz who was wounded when Security Forces opened fire during the operations on 28 November 2015 in Yüksekova district of Hakkari was arrested after her treatment in İstanbul on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(03/034) Workers Death…
Worker’s Health and Job Safety Assembly announced on 3 March 2016 that at least 140 workers died in February 2016 during work accidents due to untaken security measures. At least 255 workers died in first 2 months of 2016.