Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 February 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/228) Person Died in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 13, 2021 that Ersoy Karamustafa, a prisoner kept in Manisa T Type Prison, lost his life from Covid-19.
(02/229) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) made a declaration on February 17, 2021 and stated that, Dilek Hatipoğlu, Hakkari co-mayor, who was transferred from Ankara Sinan Prison to Van T Type Prison on February 12, 2021 rejected to strip search at the entrance of prison, and that she was subjected to strip search by the correction officers using physical violence against her.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, prisoners in Düzce T Type Prison were subjected to verbal violence of the correction officers during ward searches.
(02/230) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 16, 2021 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of the ban for Abdullah Öcalan which prevents lawyer visits for 6 months.
(02/231) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, HDP Youth Assembly member Muhammed Ünal was subjected to physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment under custody at Istanbul Directorate of Security. Muhammed Ünal was arrested on February 7, 2021 for the protests against new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University, and he was released upon appeal on February 12, 2021.
Muhammed Ünal stated the following: “At the security directorate, they asked me questions, ‘Why did you come to Boğaziçi? Who sent you? Why are you here, what is your purpose? Who are you working for?’ and said ‘If you help us we will help you too’. (…) When I asked them whether these questions are within the official statement, they responded ‘No, we are having a casual conversation’. I told them it was a criminal act what they do, and I will not speak without my lawyer and use the right to remain silent. And then I was subjected to physical and psychological violence and torture.”
(02/232) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration about “Women Universities” plan of the government, at Kuğulu Park in Çankaya district of Ankara on February 16, 2021; and detained 10 people by using physical violence. It is learned that the police prevented journalists. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(02/233) Detained People in Muş…
2 of 9 people (Bilgin Kaya and Belkıs Taş) who were detained on February 15, 2021 in Varto district of Muş, are arrested by the court on February 16, 2021. It is learned that 1 person (Leyla Gümgüm) is released on judicial control conditions while 6 people are still under custody.
(02/234) Detained HDP Members in Kocaeli…
13 members of HDP who were detained in Kocaeli on February 12, 2021 are released by the court on judicial control members on February 16, 2021.
(02/235) Detained People in Adana…
20 people who were detained in Adana on February 13, 2021 are released by the court on February 16, 2021 provided that 10 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(02/236) Detained People in Mersin…
7 people (Arif Adalı, İsmail İnan, Songül Eriş, Agit Elçi, Özgür Kutlu, İsmail Sınacı and Nebi Yıldız) who were detained in Mersin are released by the court on February 16, 2021 provided that 6 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(02/237) Detained People in Ağrı…
On February 15, 2021, 28 people were detained on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ‘being an illegal organisation member’. 6 children who were among them are released on February 16, 2021; 22 people are still under custody.
(02/238) Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The first trial of the case against Fatih Gönül, former employee of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 25 on February 16, 2021.
Fatih Gönül joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court released Fatih Gönül and adjourned the trial to May 27, 2021.
(02/239) Journalists on Trial in Van…
It is learned that Van Heavy Penal Court No 5 accepted the indictment of Van Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalists Adnan Bilen, Cemil Uğur, Şehriban Abi, Nazan Sala and Zeynep Durgut; who have made news about torture and ill-treatment that Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut were subjected to. The first trial will be held on April 2, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for 5 journalists on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Adnan Bilen, Cemil Uğur, Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala were arrested on October 9, 2020. Zeynep Durgut was detained on December 17, 2020 and was released afterwards.
(02/240) Journalist and DTK Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Gün TV channel former managing editor Barış Barıştıran, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) executive board member Hilmi Aydoğdu and Mustafa Çukur is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 8 on February 16, 2021. 3 people are charged with ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ for broadcasting DTK congress on Gün TV channel on March 26, 2016.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for Mustafa Çukur and Barış Barıştıran on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, and demanded acquittal for Hilmi Aydoğdu. The court adjourned the trial to March 16, 2021.
(02/241) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial case against 22 people, on the charge of ‘resisting the police’, during the police raid to Gündem newspaper on August 16, 2016, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 5 on February 16, 2021. The court adjourned the trial to April 22, 2021.
(02/242) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against İsmail Çoban, former executive editor of Azadiya Welat newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 on February 16, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for İsmail Çoban on the charge of ‘successively making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for the news reports published.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to May 4, 2021.
(02/243) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 56 people, who were detained in Kadıköy district of Istanbul in the police intervention against the protest at the 5th year of Suruç Massacre, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 31 on February 16, 2021. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to June 29, 2021.
(02/244) Person on Trial for Social Media Posts in Hatay…
The final trial of the case against Fatma Güreş, Arsuz district co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), for her social media posts about the military operation of Turkish Armed Forces to north and east Syria, is held at Hatay Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 16, 2021. The court acquitted Fatma Güreş.
(02/245) Threats Against Parliamentary Member…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu receives death threats.
(02/246) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports on cancellation of urban transformation Project in Üsküdar district of Istanbul, published on https://diken.com.tr and the website of Istanbul-Büyükkent branch of Chamber of Architects http://www.mimarist.org are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 8 on February 16, 2021.
(02/247) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 16, 2021, 13 people are detained in house raids in Ankara.
(02/248) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 90 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 658 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 16, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 7,906.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 27,652 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,602,034 as of February 16, 2021.
It is learned that doctor Halil Onalt in Istanbul lost his life due to Covid-19 on February 16, 2021.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, Ali Osman Köse, a prisoner in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 1, tested positive for Covid-19.
[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, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, 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.