Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
08 January 2019 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/065) Allegation of Being Forced to be a Police Informer in Istanbul…
It is claimed in the news reports of January 6, 2019 that, Bahar Uluk, a member of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) who was detained in Istanbul on January 2, 2019, was subjected to psychological pressure and forced to be a police informer under the threat of death.
(01/066) People Being Forced to be Police Informers in Adana…
It is claimed in the news reports of January 7, 2019 that, HDP Adana Youth Assembly members were called by unknown people who represent themselves as “intelligence officer” and were forced to be police informers.
Barış Aydın, who was one of Youth Assembly members called by these people stated that the person on the phone said “We know you well. You have grown up since then. Let us meet if you are not busy. Do not confuse me with the police. I am intelligence officer. Let us meet outside. Let us come and take you from your workplace. It has nothing to do with you. We will talk to you on another issue.”
Mahmut Kaplan, who was called by the same number stated the following in the news reports: “The caller told ‘I am an intelligence officer I want to meet you for 5 minutes’. But I did not accept to meet”.
(01/067) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 7, 2019 that 22 prisoners from Tarsus T Type Prisons No 1 and 2 and from Urfa T Type Prisons No 1 and 2, went on an indefinite hunger strike on January 5, 2019, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The names of prisoners on hunger strike are:
- Tarsus T Type Prison No 1: Erdal Emeç, Fatih Bingöl, Deniz Özdemir, Fesih Tekin, Murat Karaaslan, Halis Yiğit and Serhat Yıldırım (7 prisoners);
- Tarsus T Type Prison No 2: Çetin Ulu, Hayrullah Turan and Mervan Sungur (3 prisoners);
- Urfa T Type Prison No 1: Uğur Toğyıldız, Selman Büyüktop, Ömer Kaya, Mahmut Öngör, Kemal Yiğit, Semra Akhan, Sabiha Önder (7 prisoners);
- Urfa T Type Prison No 2: Sinan Çelik, Ali Erdem, Rıza Yüksekbağ, Muhammed İlgün, Enver Kanmaz (5 prisoners).
(01/068) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 7, 2019 that in Tarsus T Type Prisons No 1 and 2, petitions written by prisoners were not put into process or were not sent to respondent bodies; prisoners were threatened by wardens; prisoners on hunger strike were not given lemon, salt, sugar and vitamins; and prisoners’ families were punished with prevention from visits.
It is learned from the news coverage of January 7, 2019 that, 5 prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison No 2 were transferred to prisons in Trabzon and Rize under coercion, for going on hunger strike. The names of transferred prisoners are: Nevzat Çapkın, Vezir Kayar, Orhan Can, Ferzende Çiçek and Mahsun Bilen.
(01/069) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 786 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on January 3, 2019 at 13.30, and at 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on January 3, 2019, 2 people (Derviş Lermi and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Derviş Lermi) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on January 3, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(01/070) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on January 7, 2019, and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 71st time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(01/071) Police Intervention Against TOKI Workers’ Protest in Ankara…
On January 7, 2019, the police intervened into workers of TOKİ construction who are picketing at Güvenpark in Kızılay, Ankara, for not receiving their wages for a while; and detained 5 workers along with 5 members of Socialist Revolutionary Youth who support the workers and Devin Asyalı, reporter of Gazete Yolculuk newspaper. It is learned that detained people were released after being fined to 320 Turkish Liras each, on the grounds of violating ‘The Law of Misdemeanour’
(01/072) Detained Executive of HDP in Antalya…
HDP’s Party Assembly member Bedriye Yorgun and İzzet Karadağ are detained while leaving HDP’s Antalya office on January 7, 2019. The reason for detention is unknown.
(11/073) Police Raid to HDP’s District Office in Diyarbakır…
The police raided HDP’s Sur district office in Diyarbakır, where a poster of Leyla Güven was hung outside; and took off the poster as well was the banner with “Strengthen the Resistance in Prisons” expression on. It is learned that HDP Sur district co-chair Mehmet Ali Altunkaynak and an executive of HDP named Murat (unknown surname) were detained.
(01/074) People Detained in Urfa for Social Media Posts…
2 of 3 people who were detained on January 6, 2019, for social media posts, are arrested by the court on January 7, 2019. 1 person is released. The names of arrested people are: Müslüm Bayram and Faruk Pişkin.
(01/075) Musicians Detained in Urfa…
2 of 9 musicians who were detained in Viranşehir district of Urfa, on the grounds of the songs they sing at wedding ceremonies, are arrested by the court on January 7, 2019, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. 7 people are released on judicial control conditions. The names of arrested musicians are: Mehmet Yol and Alican Temel. Musicians released on judicial control conditions are: Hozan Abdullah Sar, Mehmet Ali Sancak, Turan Demir, Mesut Deril, Ferhat Adliyan, Hacı Kırmızı, Cemil Dağdelen.
(01/076) Publisher on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The indictment of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office against Ramazan Ölçen, publisher of Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat newspaper which was closed down by the state of emergency no 675 issued on October 30, 2016; is accepted by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on January 7, 2019. The indictment demands jail penalty from 7 years and 6 months to 15 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/077) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against Sara Kaya from Democratic Regions Party (DBP), co-mayor of Nusaybin district of Mardin, is held on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on January 7, 2019. Sara Kaya joined the trial via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Sara Kaya and adjourned the trial to March 27, 2019.
Sara Kaya was detained on January 13, 2017 and was arrested by the court on January 26, 2017. The Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to Nusaybin Municipality on September 11, 2016.
(11/078) Former CHP MP on Trial…
The case against 12 people including Eren Erdem, former CHP MP and former executive editor of Karşı newspaper; Turan Ababey, grant holder of the newspaper; and journalist Kutlu Esendemir, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on January 7, 2019. Eren Erdem joined the trial via sound and vision system from Silivri Prison. After defence hearings the court decided to release Eren Erdem on judicial control conditions.
Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 accepted as the higher court the appeal of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office on ‘suspicion of escape’, and issued a detention warrant. Thus Eren Erdem was not released from the prison.
Eren Erdem was detained on June 29, 2018 on a warrant issued by the court and then was arrested. The case against Eren Erdem on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 was consolidated with the case of Karşı newspaper on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23.
(01/079) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 7, 2019, 41 people are detained in operations covering 41 cities through an Ankara based investigation; 29 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 16 cities through an İzmir based investigation; and 8 people are detained in Van.
10 of 23 people including military members on active duty who were detained through a Konya based investigation are arrested by the court on January 7, 2019. 2 people are released after statement procedures at the police. 11 people were arrested through the same investigation on January 4, 2019.
(01/080) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against former major Savaş Bayrakdar, on Adana Heavy Penal Court No 13 is held on January 13, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(01/081) Curfew in Lice…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on January 7, 2019 and announced curfew in 2 villages of Lice district as of 06.00 on January 7, 2019 until a further notice. The curfew is lifted as of 24.00 on the same day by a second announcement. The curfew is announced and lifted on following villages: Güçlü and Gökçe.
(01/082) Curfew in Kocaköy…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on January 7, 2019 and announced curfew in 3 villages of Kocaköy district as of 06.00 on January 7, 2019 until a further notice. The curfew is lifted as of 24.00 on the same day by a second announcement. The curfew is announced and lifted on following villages: Şaklat, Yazıköy and Anbar.
(01/083) Curfew in Hani…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on January 7, 2019 and announced curfew in 5 villages of Hani district as of 06.00 on January 7, 2019 until a further notice. The curfew is lifted as of 24.00 on the same day by a second announcement. The curfew is announced and lifted on following villages: Uzunlar, Serenköy, Kırım, Yayvan and Soylu.
(01/084) Special Security Zone in Hatay…
Hatay Governorate made a declaration and announced that areas in Syrian border in Reyhanlı, Yayladağı, Altunözü, Kırıkhan and Hassa districts are special security zones from January 9 to January 23, 2019 for 15 days.
[1]The reports on the human rights violations of the Documentation Center are claims unless they are certified. The claim of violation either is certified through thoroughly investigations of HRFT Documentation Center, including by judicial verdicts, and becomes a definite data or it is not included to the annual report.
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[5] Daily Human Rights Reports are prepared on the information gathered by the Documentation Center from its own network and the following dailies and internet portals: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.