24-25 March 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/176) Curfew in Sur…
After the completion of the military operations in Sur district of Diyarbakır, the curfew reached its 105th day as of 24 March 2016.
YPS members Mehmet Ramazan/Muhammed Abdullah Yalvarma and Cüneyt Aydemir whose bodies were kept in Malatya Forensic Institute were identified by their families on 23 March 2016.
(03/177) Curfew in İdil…
After the completion of the military operations in İdil district of Şırnak, the curfew reached its 37th day as of 24 March 2016. The woman with the first name Asya who died during the operations was reportedly buried on 24 March 2016.
(03/178) Curfew in Yüksekova…
The blockade and military operations in Yüksekova district of Hakkari reached its 11th day as of 24 March 2016.
A group of 81 persons stuck in Cumhuriyet quarter due to the clashes were reportedly evacuated from the quarter on 23 March 2016. One of them was detained after ID check.
(03/179) Prisoner set himself to Fire…
The prisoner Mehmet Karahan who started hunger strike on 3 March 2016 in Edirne F-type Prison to protest in the operations and curfews reportedly set himself to fire on 21 March 2016 in his cell. Mehmet Karahan was hospitalised.
(03/180) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 23 March 2016, 14 prisoners incarcerated in Kırıkkale F-type Prison were transferred to prisons in Bolu, Bandırma and Düzce.
(03/181) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 23 March 2016, Arzu Gezer, Zana Karabağa, Melike Aktaş incarcerated in Afyon E-type Prison after being arrested during the operations against members and supporters of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Afyon were transferred to Şakran (İzmir) T-type Prison without their demands.
Arzu Gezer, Zana Karabağa, Melike Aktaş were in the same cell with ordinary criminals in Afyon E-type Prison and they were reportedly threatened by the prisoners.
(03/182) Newroz Celebrations…
The police intervened the Newroz celebration organised by Kocaeli University students on 23 March 2016 and detained 10 students. Another group of students who wanted to protest the incident were also intervened by the police and 7 students were detained under beatings.
Security Forces also prevented Newroz celebration organised by Harran University students in Şanlıurfa and detained 20students.
5 persons who were detained after the Newroz celebrations on 20 March 2016 in Siverek district of Şanlıurfa were arrested on 23 March 2016 on the allegations of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “insulting the State President”, and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(03/183) Detentions and Arrests…
The police conducted house raids on 23 March 2016 in Eruh district of Siirt and detained 12 persons including Eruh Co-Mayor Eda Kilis on the allegations of “being member of the city assembly of KCK”.
On 22 March 2016, the police raided People’s Assembly in Huzurevleri quarter of Diyarbakır and detained 9 persons including People’s Assembly Co-Chair Muhittin Yıldız.
Security Forces conducted operations on 23 March 2016 in connection with the investigations against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions party (DBP). 23 persons were detained during the operations in Antalya, Mardin, Manisa and Muş.
Handan Karakaş, Doğan Kesen, Evin Gökdere, Leyla İldeniz, Ercan Tikan, Emrah Sucu, Aydın Erensayın and Sevim Sılık who were among 22 persons detained during house raids in İzmir were arrested on 23 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Ahmet Çelik, Sefer Bakay and Dilan Bakay in Gevaş district of Van and 11 students in Ağrı who were detained during operations were arrested on 23 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(03/184) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
2 police officers were killed and 1 police officer was wounded during an armed clash on 24 March 2016 in Gazipaşa quarter of Şırnak where operations and curfew are on-going.
YPS members Salih Batmaz (Mazlum) and Ömer Aslan’ın (Rohat Van) were reportedly killed during an armed clash on 22 March 2016 in Yeşilyurt quarter of Şırnak.
On 24 March 2016, 2 separate bomb attacks were organised against military vehicles in Nusaybin district of Mardin. 2 gendarmerie soldiers died and 9 soldiers were wounded during the attacks.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MP İbrahim Ayhan made a public statement on 25 March 2016 and declared that 5 YPS militants were killed during armed clashes in Nusaybin and the bodies were left on the street.
Mermer Gendarmerie Station on Diyarbakır-Lice road was attacked on 24 March 2016 with a bomb vehicle. An armed clash also broke out after the attack. According to the official announcement by the General Staff, 3 soldiers died and 24 soldiers were wounded during the attack.
RTÜK (supreme board of radio and television) imposed temporary ban on publication about the attack.
(03/185) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 24 March 2016, 11 prisoners incarcerated in Diyarbakır D-type Prison were transferred to Şakran (İzmir) T-type Prison without their demands.
(03/186) “Return to Life” Prisons Operation Case…
İstanul Heavy Penal Court No 13 continued on 24 March 2016 to hear the case against 157 gendarmerie soldiers including the commander Colonel Burhan Ergin in connection with the operation conducted in Bayrampaşa Prison as a part of “Return to Life” prisons operation conducted on 19 December 2000 in 20 prisons. 32 persons died during the “Return to Life” operations and 12 prisoners died during the operation in Bayrampaşa Prison.
The defendants Cemil Korkmaz, Vedat Ceylan and Hayrettin Çiftçi were present at the hearing. The court ordered 8 defendants who did not appear before the court and testify to be taken forcibly to the next hearing and adjourned the hearing to 22 September 2016.
(03/187) Person on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 44 concluded on 24 March 2016 to hear the case against Bülent Keneş, editor-in-chief with the daily Today’s Zaman, launched for “insulting the State President” with the twits he shared.
The court sentenced Bülent Keneş to 2 years and 7 months’ imprisonment under the Article 299 TPC.
Bülent Keneş 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. He was released again on 14 November 2015 upon objection of his lawyers.
(03/188) Protest Intervened in İstanbul…
The police prevented Black Sea Technical University students who wanted to stage a protest on 24 March 2016 during a publicity meeting for non-profit organisations in Trabzon after the arrest of the teacher Muammer B. (54) for raping male students in Ensar Foundation’s houses in Karaman. The police detained the women under arrests. 22 students were detained.
(03/189) Detentions and Arrests…
The police conducted house raids on 24 March 2016 in Pülümür and Hozat districts of Tunceli and detained 7 persons.
Turgut Demir and Mehmet Emin Aral who were among 6 persons detained during operations in Mersin were arrested on 24 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted operations on 24 March 2016 in Antaya and detained 11 persons on the allegations of “being member of Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H)”.
Nasrettin Oral and Sümeyye Akar who were detained in Dargeçit district of Mardin were arrested on 24 March 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.