19-23 March 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/154) Curfew in Bağlar…
The curfew in Kaynartepe quarter of Bağlar district of Diyarbakır lifted on its 7th day as of 21 March 2016. The curfew was imposed after the clashes on 14 March 2016.
(03/155) Curfew in İdil…
After the completion of the military operations in İdil district of Şırnak, the curfew reached its 34th day as of 21 March 2016. The bodies of İbrahim Çelebi and Burhan Baydemir were identified on 20 March 2016 by their families.
(03/156) Curfew in Cizre…
The night-curfew in in Cizre district of Şırnak reached its 19th day as of 21 March 2016.
According to the news appeared in the press on 19 March 2016, 5 bodies kept in the hospitals were identified as M. Ata Kalaycı, Güler Akıl, Hanife İdim, Tahir Çelik and Ahmet Yılmaz following the DNA tests.
(03/157) Curfew in Yüksekova…
The bloackade and military operations in Yüksekova district of Hakkari reached its 8th day as of 21 March 2016.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MPs announced on 109 March 2016 relying on the statements of the witness that civilians in Eski Kışla, Mezarlık and Orman quarters were in urgent situation and many persons allegedly were killed with chemical gas.
(03/168) Suicide Bomb Attack in İstanbul…
A suicide bomb attack was organised on 19 March 2016 against a group of tourist on İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu district of İstanbul. The attack was organised by IS/ISIS member Mehmet Öztürk (24). Israeli tourists Simha Simon Demri, Yonathan Suher and Avraham Godman, Iranian Ali Rıza Khalman died; 39 persons including 12 foreigners were wounded during the attack. RTÜK (supreme board of radio and television) immediately imposed temporary ban on publication about the attack.
(03/159) Armed Attack in İzmir…
2 soldiers were wounded when a military vehicle was opened fire on 19 March 2016 in Kemalpaşa district of İzmir.
(03/160) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
1 police officer was killed and 6 police officers were abounded during ared clash on 18 March 2016 in Nusaybin district of Mardin where curfew was imposed.
1 police officer and 2 soldiers were killed, 3 police officers were wounded during an armed clash that broke out on 19 March 2016.
1 soldier, 1 police officer, YPS militants Nesim Atabey and Mehmet Temizer were died, 7 police officers were wounded during the clashes on 20 March 2016 in Nusaybin.
1 soldier reportedly died during an armed clash on 20 March 2016 in Şırnak.
(03/161) Newroz Celebrations…
The bans on Newroz celebrations continued on 18March 2016.
On 18 March 2016, Governorates of Manisa, Kırşehir, Aydın, Sivas, Eskişehir, Adıyaman, Tekirdağ and Denizli banned Newroz celebrations.
Despite bans, people gathered on 18 March 2016 in several provinces to celebrate Newroz and the police intervened the groups.
The police intervened the celebrations on 18 March 2016 in Yeşilkent quarter of Avcılar district in İstanbul and attacked the crowd by using tear gas. Mehmet Yanağ had heart attack and died due to excessive use of tear gas.
Felek Esen (19) was shot and wounded when the police opened fire to disperse the crowd on 19 March 2016 in Demirtaş quarter of Mersin.
On 18 March 2016, the police also attacked the groups in Malazgirt district of Muş, Bismil and Silvan distict of Diyarbakır by using tear gas and water cannons. At least 42 persons were detained under beatings during the attacks.
The police prevented people who wanted to take part in the Newroz celebrations on 20 March 2016 on Market Place in Bakrköy district of İstanbul on the grounds that the Governorate banned the celebrations. 164 persons were detained during the police intervention.
Minister of Interior Affairs Efkan Ala made a public announcement on 20 March 2016 concerning the Newroz celebrations and stated that all the Newroz celebrations were banned except celebrations in 19 provinces and districts.
Efkan Ala also announced that 120 thousand police officers and 80 thousand gendarmerie soldiers were appointed in connection with the Newroz celebrations.
(03/162) Person on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 18 March 2016, Malatya Penal Court of First Instance No 2 concluded to hear the case against artists Kutsal Evcimen and Sinan Güngör launched on charges of “insulting the State President” for the expressions they used during the Folk Song Festival in 2014 in Arguvan district of Malatya.
The court sentenced Kutsal Evcimen to 11 months and 20 days’ imprisonment under the Article 299 TPC and acquitted Sinan Güngör.
(03/163) Protest Intervened in İstanbul…
7 members of Revolutionary Youth Federation (Devrimci Gençlik Federasyonu – DEV-GENÇ) were detained when they staged a sit-in action in front of the Metris T-Type Prison on 18 March 2016 to protest in the arrest of 3 academics for signing the “Academics for Peace” petition.
(03/164) Political Party Premises Attacked in İstanbul…
On 20 March 2016, unidentified persons attacked the premises of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Bayrampaşa district of İstanbul. The attack caused material damage.
(03/165) Detentions and Arrests…
The police continued the operations on 18-19-20 March 2016 against the members and executives of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP).
During the house raids conducted in Büyükçekmece, Sarıyer and Sancaktepe districts of İstanbul, at least 10 persons were detained.
The police conducted house raids in Siirt and detained 30 persons including DBP executives.
At least 8 persons were reportedly detained during the operations in Yalova. 3 persons in Karayazı district of Erzurum, 12 persons in Bursa, 17 persons in Adana, 26 persons in Gaziantep were also detained during the operations.
Nihat Şimşek and Yüksel Kişi who were among 3 persons detained in Karayazı district of Erzurum were arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
3 persons in Kumçatı town of Şırnak, HDP executive Ufuk Kurtulmaz in Mersin, at least 10 students in Osmaniye were reportedly detained during the operations.
Ufuk Kurtulmaz was arrested on 20 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
13 children who were among 24 persons detained during the operations in Antalya were arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Hasan Öner, Vedat Barut, Soner Taşkıran, Muhammed Ergül, Murat Opçin, Yunus Ergül, Ahmet Kaya, Serhat Çark, Dilan Demir, Rahmi Orak who were among 17 persons detained during the operations in Denizli were arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
10 persons including HDP Co-Chairs for Manisa province Hatice Aslan and Sait Taycı were arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Seher Karaaslan who was detained in Salihli district of Manisa was arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
The police raided DBP premises in Ağrı and detained 25 persons including DBP Co-Chairs for the province Hanım Yıldırım and Barış Demir. The detainees were arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
6 HDP activists who were detained in Kırşehir were arrested on 18 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Lokman Akılçağı, Serhat Koç and Onur Mert who were among 8 persons detained in Tatvan district of Bitlis were arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted house raids on 19 March 2016 in Seyrantepe quarter of Van and detained 6 persons. 27 persons were also detained in İstanbul during the raids.
5 persons who were among 38 persons detained during the operations in Aydın were arrested on 19 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
HDP Co-Chair for Bağcılar district in İstanbul province Cevdet Halim who was detained during a house raid conducted after the raid of HDP premises in Bağcılar district was arrested on 19 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
9 persons who were among 24 persons detained during house raids in Antalya were arrested on 19 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
19 members and executives of HDP in İzmir, 3 HDP executives in Manisa, 7 members of Mount Ağrı Students’ Association (Ağrı Dağı Öğrenci Derneği) in Ağrı, 6 persons in Tarsus district of Mersin, 6 persons in Tatvan district of Bitlis were detained during the operations on 20 March 2016.
HDP Co-Chair for Adıyaman province Zeliha Karınca, DBP Co-Chair for Adıyaman province Rıza Bilgiç, MEYA-DER (solidarity association for people who lost their relatives in Mesopotamia) executive Sabri Bilgi, Ali Oğuz, Doğan Abacı, İzzet Karadağ who were detained during house raids in Adıayaman were arrested on 20 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
DBP executive for Silopi district of Şırnak province Musa Çetin was arrested on 20 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. 6 persons who were detained in Şanlıurfa were also arrested on 20 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
HDP Co-Chair for Karaçoban district of Erzurum province Mehmet Tilki who was detained during a house raid was arrested on 20 March 2016 on the allegations of “aiding an illegal organisation”.
(03/166) Curfew in Sur…
After the completion of the military operations in Sur district of Diyarbakır, the curfew reached its 104th day as of 23 March 2016.
According to the news appeared in the press on 22 March 2016, alleged YPS member Sinan Suman whose body was kept in Elazığ Forensic Institute was identified by his family.
5 bodies found in Sur were reportedly brought to Malatya Forensic Institute on 22 March 2016.
(03/167) Curfew in Cizre…
The night-curfew in in Cizre district of Şırnak reached its 21st day as of 23 March 2016.
According to the news appeared in the press on 22 March 2016, Halil Çelik, Hamza İdim and Mehmet Kalaycı whose bodies were kept in Şanlıurfa were identified after DNA tests.
(03/168) Curfew in İdil…
After the completion of the military operations in İdil district of Şırnak, the curfew reached its 36th day as of 23 March 2016. The bodies of Vasfi Kaya and Fidan Arslan were identified on 22 March 2016 by their families.
(03/169) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
2 police officers and 4 soldiers were killed, 2 soldiers were wounded during the armed clashes that broke out on 21 March 2016 in Nusaybin district of Mardin where curfew was imposed and operations of Security Forces are on-going.
2 soldiers, 1 police officer, and YPS members Abdullah Ak, Şahin Yılmaz and Cemal Mevlude were killed, 7 soldiers and 3 police officers were wounded during the clashes on 22 March 2016.
According to the announcement on 21 March 2016, YPS-JİN member Gurbet Kaya was killed in Şırnak.
1 police officer and 2 soldiers were reportedly killed when a bomb exploded during the passage of an armoured vehicle on 22 March 2016 in Yüksekova district of Hakkari. 1 police officer and 8 soldiers were also wounded during the explosion. 3 YPS members were reportedly killed during the armed clash that broke out after the explosion.
(03/170) Bomb Attack in Ankara…
Feyyaz Aydın who was wounded during the suicide bomb attack on 13 March 2016 on Kızılay Square in Anakara died on 21 March 2016 in the hospital.
(03/171) Hasan Ferit Gedik Case…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued on 21 March 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 decided to release 6 defendants to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to 13 April 2016 for the transcription of the CD provided by Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TİB) and testimonies of witnesses.
(03/172) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 22 March 2016, 11 prisoners incarcerated in Diyarbakır D-type Prison were transferred to Bandırma (Balıkesir) T-type Prison without their demand.
(03/173) Newroz Celebrations…
8 persons who were detained during the police intervention against the Newroz celebration in Başakşehir district of İstanbul were arrested on 21 March 2016 on the allegations of “acting in the name of an illegal organisation”. 10 persons who were detained in Bakırköy were also arrested on 21 March 2016 on the allegations of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
39 person were detained during the Newroz celebrations in İzmir, Hatay and Adana. 7 persons in Hatay, 8 persons in İzmir, and 3 persons including a child in Adana were arrested on 22 March 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(03/174) Persons on Trial in İstanbul…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 14 started on 22 March 2016 to hear the case against Mutlu Tatar and Enes Kaya. The defendants who were detained during house raids in İstanbul were arrested on 7 October 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” for distributing brochures of HDP.
After the identification and testimonies of the defendants, the court decided to release Mutlu Tatar to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(03/175) Detentions and Arrests…
The polcie conducted house raids on 21 March 2016 in Varto district of Muş and detained 8 persons including Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Murat Aydın.
26 persons including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chairs for Van province Caziye Duman and Ökkeş Kava who were detained during the operations against DBP in Van were arrested on 21 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The Public Prosecutor in İstanbul objected the release of 31 persons including 9 lawyers who were detained on 16 March 2016 in İstanbul. Peace Penal Judge No 1 ordered on 22 March 2016 arrest of 21 persons including the lawyers Hüseyin Boğatekin, Ramazan Demir, Ayşe Acinikli and Ayşe Gösterişlioğlu. After the decision, Hüseyin Boğatekin and Ayşe Gösterişlioğlu were arrested at Çağlayan Court House.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair for central district in Yalova province Ahmet Kutlay and HDP executive for the district Veysel Sarıkaş who were among 8 persons detained during operations against HDP were arrested on 22 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. 17 persons were also arrested on the same day on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
HDP executives for Manisa province Mehmet Şinasi Zorbay, Mazhar Çelik and Adnan Mankan who were detained for distributing leaflets for the Newroz celebrations in Manisa were arrested on 21 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
18 persons including 9 children who were detained during house raids in Gaziantep were arrested on 22 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Şırnak Muncipality Drector of Technical Works Abdurrezak Yıldız who was detained in Balveren town of Şırnak was arrested on 21 March 2016.
DBP Co-Chair for Dargeçit district in Mardin province Abdurrahman Arslan, Hazni Arslan, Rıdvan Gündüz, Ömer Gezer and Mesut Ağırman who were detained during house raids were also arrested on 21 March 2016.
8 students fromTunceli University who were detained during house raids were arrested on 21 March 2016 in connection with public statement they took part since 2014.
Gülan Elma and İlhan Başaran in Silvan district of Diyarbakır, Avşin Sancar Ayvar in Ankara were arrested on 21 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Figen Ovat, Erhan Polat, Emin Arslan, Mehmet Sabri Gül, Recep Kuru and Mehmet Baki Özmen who were among 12 persons detained during operations against HDP were arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
13 students from Ankara University were detained on 22 March 2016 when they wanted to put up a placard in Cebci Campus of the university. Students were reportedly detained for the expression “saray” (the Palaca) they used on the placard.