11-13 May 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/054) Curfew in Cizre…
The body of Cizre People’s Assembly Co-Chair Asya Yüksel who was stuck in one of the 3 basements during the night-curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak was identified on 10 May 2016.
A.A. (5) and her/his father T.A. were wounded when an object A.A. found nearby cemetery exploded on 12 May 2016 in Cizre.
(05/055) Impunity in Extra-judicial Execution Investigation…
As a part of the operations conducted throughout Turkey, the police conducted a house raid on 25 July 2015 in Bağclar district of İstanbul in connection with a DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party – Front) investigation. Günay Özarslan was shot to death by the police during the raid. 15 were found on the body of Günay Özarslan during the examination in Forensic Institute.
The police did not allow for 2 days the funeral of Günay Özarslan to be organised in Gazi quarter of İstanbul and used fire arms to disperse the crowd. At least 4 persons were wounded during the interventions. After the negotiations on 27 July 2015, Günay Özarslan was buried after funeral ceremony in the quarter.
According to the news appeared in the press on 11 May 2016, Public Prosecutor in İstanbul decided not to prosecute police officer who involved the incident. The decision was taken on the grounds that the action of the police officers was within the limits of self-defence and the police officers opened fire relying on the possible harm against the police or civilians.
(05/056) Bomb Attack in Diyarbakır…
5 persons died and at least 30 persons were wounded when a bomb vehicle exploded on 12 May 2016 in Sarıkamış quarter on Diyarbakır-Hani road.
(05/057) Bomb Attack in İstanbul…
9 persons including 6 soldiers were wounded when a bomb vehicle exploded during the passage of a military service vehicle on 12 May 2016 in Sancaktepe district of İstanbul.
(05/058) Bomb Attack in Diyarbakır…
3 persons died and 45 persons including 12 police officers were wounded ahen an armoured vehicle was attack with a bomb vehicle on 10 May 2016 in Diyarbakır. The persons who died during the attack were Mehmet Argul and Bismil Municipality Assembly members Tufan Tunç and Zafer Koluman detained during the operations conducted in Bismil district of Diyarbakır.
(05/059) Stop Warning…
1 person was killed and 1 person was wounded when the police opened fire against vehicle on 11 May 2016 in Şanlıurfa on the allegations that the driver did not obey the stop warning. The person killed allegedly was PKK militant Cüneyt Aydar (29).
(05/060) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
YPS General Coordination announced on 10 May 2016 that YPS members İsa Yılmaz (Dilhat) and Behlül Güngen (Murat) were killed during the armed clashed in Şırnak.
1 gendarmerie soldier was reportedly killed during the armed clashes on 10 May 2016 in Şırnak.
YPS member Ahmet Gökalp who was killed during the clashes in Sur district of Dİyarbakır was buried on 10 May 2016.
5 soldiers were wounded when a bomb exploded on 10 May 2016 during the passage of an armoured vehicle in Midyat district of Mardin.
1 gendarmerie soldier who was among 2 soldiers wounded during the clashes on 9 May 2016 in Şırnak reportedly died in the hospital.
According to the news appeared in the press on 10 May 2016, 5 persons who were killed during the operations in Sur district of Diyarbakır and transferred to Gaziantep were identified after DNA tests. The persons who were buried on 16 April 2016 were identified as Mahmut Oruç, Turgay Girçek, Cihat Morgül, Gündüz Akmeşe and Halit Güneş.
1 police officer was reportedly killed during the armed clash that broke out on 11 May 2016 in Bahçelievler quarter of Şırnak.
Police officer Kemal Çokgüler was organised an armed attack on 11 May 2016 in Ceylanpınar quarter of Şanlıurfa on his way back home. The police officer was heavily wounded during the attack.
1 gendarmerie soldier who was wounded during an armed clash on 5 May 2016 in Nusaybin district of Mardin died on 12 May 2016 in the hospital in Ankara.
6 soldiers were killed and 8 soldiers were wounded when a military base was attacked on 13 May 2016 nearby Aşita village of Çukurca district in Hakkari. A helicopter allegedly crashed while going to the military base for support and 2 soldiers died.
(05/061) Pressures in Prisons…
5 prisoners incarcerated in Van M-type Prison were reportedly transferred on 11 May 2016 to prisons in several provinces without their demands.
(05/062) Political Party Executive on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
Düzce Penal Court of First Instance No 6 started on 11 May 2016 to hear the case against Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair for central district in Düzce province Aydın Dursun. The was launched on charges of “insulting State President” for putting up a banner with the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s own expressions.
After the identification and testimony of Aydın Dursun, the court adjourned the hearing to alter date.
(05/063) Person on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
Bursa Penal Court of First Instance No 2 concluded on 11 May 2016 to hear the case against Gizem Yerik launched on charges of “insulting the State President” with the messages on the internet on 27 February 2016.
The court sentenced the defendant to 4 years 8 months and 20 days’ imprisonment under the Article 299 TPC and released the defendant relying on the period served in prison during the trial.
(05/064) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 continued on 10 May 2016 to hear the case against Jin News Agency (JINHA) correspondent Beritan Canözer who was arrested on 19 December 2015 on the allegations of “aiding an illegal organisation” after being detained while following a demonstration staged to protest in the curfew and blockade in Sur district of Diyarbakır. She was released at the previous hearing to be tried without remand.
After the final defence of the defendant as to the accusations, the court sentenced Beritan Canözer to 1 year and 4 months’ imprisonment under the Article 7/2 of Anti-Terror Law for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
(05/065) Journalist on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 2 started on 10 May 2016 to hear the case against Özgür Mumcu, columnist with the daily Cumhuriyet, launched on charges of “insulting the State President” for the expressions he used in his column on 18 May 2015.
After the testimony of the defendant as to the accusations, the court acquitted Özgür Mumcu on the grounds that the elements of crime were not materialised.
(05/066) Persons on Trial in Batman for Self-Governance Declaration…
Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 continued on 10 May 2016 to hear the case against 7 persons Co-Mayors in Silvan district Yüksel Bodakçı and Melikşah Teke launched in connection with the self-governance declaration in Silvan district of Diyarbakır. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for “attempting to disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of the state”.
After the defence as to the accusations, the court adjourned the hearing to 8 September 2016.
(05/067) Protesters on Trial…
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 curfews in the Southeast. The protesters opened a banner saying “You have the blood of Sur and Cizre on your hands; you will be defeated (Sur’un Cizre’nin kanı üzerinizde kaybedeceksiniz)”. The protesters and Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Elif Çetiner were detained and a court case was launched against the protesters.
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 13 started on 13 May 2016 to hear the case against Sunay Yavuz, Yağmur Emekdar, Zeynep Öztürk, Dilan Yılmaz, Şeyma Ustaoğlu and DİHA correspondent Elif Çetiner. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “being member of an illegal organisation”, “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
The court acquitted all the defendant at the first hearing of the case on the allegations that the elements of crime were not materialised.
(05/068) Detentions and Arrests…
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Kamuran Yüksek was arrested on 13 May 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police raided Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) premises on 10 May 2016 in Denizli and detained at least 20 persons.
The police conducted house raids in Malatya and detained 10 İnönü University students. 7 students were arrested on 11 May 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Mehmet Özer (22) who was detained during a raid conducted by the gendarmerie in Tarsus district of Mersin in connection with a “Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H) Investigation” was arrested on 10 May 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Mesut Tanış, worker in premises of HDP in Siirt, was detained on 10 May 2016 when he left the premises to buy drinking water.
The police detained 9 students of Yüzüncü Yıl University in Van on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” during the graduation ceremony on 10 May 2016.
Security Forces conducted operations on 11 May 2016 in Şırnak province. 6 persons in Silopi district and 4 persons in İdil district were detained during the operations.
12 villagers were reportedly detained in Çukurca district of Hakkari.
4 persons including HDP Co-Chair for İdil district Ayten Erden who were detained in İdil district of Şırnak were arrested on 12 May 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted operations on 12 May 2016 in Şanlıurfa province and detained 24 persons including DBP members in Siverek, Suruç and Ceylanpınar districts.
Dicle News Agancy (DİHA) correspondents Nedim Türfent and Şermin Soydan were detained on 12 May 2015 during a road control in Van.
HDP Co-Chair for Hakkari province Metin Besi detained on 12 May 2016 in HDP premises.