Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
03 – 05 August 2019 Daily Human Rights Report
(08/016) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 2, 2019 that, 2 HPG militants died in an air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to rural areas of Siirt’s Eruh district on July 30, 2019; 3 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Tatvan district of Bitlis on July 27, 2019.
It is learned that 1 soldier died and 4 soldiers got wounded in a clash in rural areas of Mardin’s Nusaybin district on August 3, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 3, 2019 that 3 HPG militants died in an air operation to rural areas of Ağrı’s Diyadin district on July 13, 2019; 2 militants died in another operation in the same area on July 27, 2019; and 4 militants died in a clash in rural areas of Şırnak’s Uludere district on August 2, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 4, 2019 that, 6 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Hakkari’s Yüksekova district on July 24, 2019; 2 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Tunceli’s central district on June 19, 2019; 4 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Tunceli’s central district on June 23, 2019 and 2 HPG militants died in the air operation to rural areas of Tunceli’s central district on July 18, 2019.
(08/017) Child Died in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate has stated that “a warning fire was opened for the individuals disobeying the stop warning and a bouncing bullet, which is caused by rough and rocky terrain, wounded a citizen” in the declaration made on August 2, 2019, about Vedat Ekinci (14), who died on August 1, 2019 due to fire opened from a helicopter of Turkish Armed Forces on villagers who were doing border trade and were on their way back from Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government to Derecik district of Hakkari.
Hacı Ekinci, who was with Vedat Ekinci at the time of shooting, stated the following: “We were 3 individuals with Vedat at the time of shooting. Our animals have entered the military zone so we went there too. Suddenly a soldier appeared and shot us without stop warning, they shot my cousin (Vedat) at his back. There were 3 people shooting us, one had a gun stock and others had weapons, but there were almost 10 soldiers around there. My cousin fell down, I asked soldiers for help but they did not. Vedat died in my arms.”
Lawyer Ramazan Kurt stated the following: “The Governorate claims that a warning fire was opened however, considering that the warning fire should be opened at a right angle, it is not plausible that a bullet could bounce and cause death of one and injury of another person (…) Crime scene investigation is not being conducted on the grounds of security reasons. And the offender soldiers are being interrogated by military institutions. This is unlawful, because if the offender is a police officer or a soldier, security institutions and military institutions cannot interrogate them (…) We also learned from the prosecutor’s office that the key evidence, namely the bullet was missing.”
It is also learned that the prosecutor’s office imposed a broadcast ban.
It is reported that Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu submitted a parliamentary question demanding a response from the Minister of Interior. It is asked in the parliamentary question whether the claim that a helicopter of Turkish Armed Forces opened fire on the villagers or not and if there is any investigation and prosecution is being carried on.
(08/018) Prisoner Died in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage that Tahir Çetinkaya (67), an ill prisoner kept in Sincan F Type Prison No 2, died in Ankara City Hospital. It is reported that Tahir Çetinkaya had a stroke previously in Van F Type Prison and his plea for a stay of execution was rejected on the grounds of “not meeting the conditions for probation”.
(08/019) Ill Prisoner Died…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 4, 2019 that, Aynur Uyar, a prisoner with diabetes, heart disease and with high blood pressure who was transferred from Eskişehir Çifteler Women’s Open Prison to Ayvalık Prison, was taken to hospital after her conditions deteriorate. It is learned that Aynur Uyar was brought back to prison and the prison administration gave permission for her on July 19, 2019, calling her family to get her from prison. It is reported that Aynur Uyar was taken from the prison on the same day however she died in the vehicle.
(08/020) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 3, 2019 that, Şeyhdavut Başkan, a prisoner transferred under coercion from Kayseri Bünyan Prison No 2 to Bünyan Prison No 1 is on hunger strike since July 9, 2019, demanding to be transferred back. Şeyhdavut Başkan has joined the hunger strike demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and was taken to hospital after ending the strike however, he was then taken to Bünyan Prison No 2 after hospital.
(08/021) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 2, 2019 that, Engin Çomar, a prisoner in Iskenderun T Type Prison, was subjected to physical violence of the wardens. It is reported that Engin Çomar has an eye infection due to violence and was not referred to hospital. It is stated in the news reports that prisoners who demand to be referred to hospital in Iskenderun T Type Prison were forced to sign a petition saying “I was an illegal organisation member and I regret it”.
(08/022) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on August 2, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother and tutelary along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275.
(08/023) Woman Was Forced to Be a Police Informant in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 2, 2019 that, Kader İnci, whose 2 children are in prison, were forced to be a police informant. Kader İnci made a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Izmir Branch and stated the following: “They kept calling and messaging me from time to time, to meet. I had to accept to meet them. They took me into a car when we met and kidnapped me (…) They kept me in the moving car for 3 hours and asked questions about more than 10 people (…) They told me to attend press declarations and that I would not get harmed there, and offered me to give them information from there (…) I rejected to be their informant. But they kept following me, they came to my workplace. I told them I do not want to talk to them. They forced me to do so, they told me that they would raid my workplace in case I do not talk to them (…) They put a bundle of money in my pocket but I refused to take it. They threatened me saying that I would never get out of the car if I do not take the money, and that they would catch me and force to get in the car again if I throw the money after getting off the car. They hold me on and record a video where they say ‘Do we have a deal? Yes, we do’.”
(08/024) 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 999 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on August 2, 3, and 4, 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 August 2, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on August 3, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and İlker Işık) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and İlker Işık) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on August 4, 2019, 2 people (Nazife Onay and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and İlker Işık) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on August 2, 3, and 4, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
(08/025) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 749th time on August 3, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
(08/026) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 384th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on August 3, 2019, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(08/027) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
On August 3, 2019, Feridun Osmanağaoğlu who attempted to make a press declaration to protest the ban on demonstrations at Galatasaray Square in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul is detained by police intervention. Feridun Osmanağaoğlu is released after statement procedures on the same day.
(08/028) Prevention of a Demonstration in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 2, 2019 that, the press declaration of CHP members in front of Silivri Prison, for CHP Party Assembly member and former MP Eren Erdem who is arrested for 400 days, is banned by Silivri Sub-governorate.
(08/029) Detained Doctor and Health Workers in Şırnak…
It is learned that 1 doctor and 4 health workers (N.S., Ş.E., A.K. and A.T.) were detained in house raids in Cizre district of Şırnak on August 2, 2019. 4 people are arrested by the court on August 3, 2019.
(08/030) Detained City Council Member in Mardin…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 2, 2019 that, Hikmet Erdin, AKP member of city council in Mazıdağı district of Mardin, who attended monthly council meeting with a weapon and threatened co-mayor Nalan Özaydın, saying “I am the state I will make this place collapse on you” made an official complaint against Hikmet Eres, a city council member from HDP and that Hikmet Eres was detained. Hikmet Eres was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(08/031) Detained City Council Member and Political Party Executives in Ağrı…
On August 2, 2019, district council member Mehmet Şahin Savcı from HDP and HDP district executives Orhan Tutak, Ömer Yavuz, Fatih Dilmaç, Musa Uygar, Mehmet Emin Savcı are detained in house raids in Patnos district of Ağrı. The reason of detention is unknown, and it is learned that the detainees are taken to Patnos District Police Directorate.
(08/032) Detained HDP Co-Chair in Mardin…
HDP’s Mardin provincial co-chair Eylem Amak is detained at a police check point on Diyarbakır-Mardin roadway on August 4, 2019.
(08/033) Former HDP Executive Put in Prison in Hakkari…
HDP’s former Hakkari provincial co-chair Rahmi Kurt is detained in a house raid on August 2, 2019 and put in Hakkari Prison, on the grounds of approval of sentence of 6 years and 3 months given to him on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(08/034) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On August 2, 2019, 18 people are detained in Izmir.
It is learned that a warrant is issued for 41 people including police officers on active duty through an Adana based investigation on August 3, 2019.
(08/035) Labor Killings…
On August 2, 2019, Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 163 workers including 6 children, 10 women, and 6 asylum seekers died while working in July, 2019. According to ISIG data at least 1004 workers died due to labor killings/labor accidents within the first 7 months of 2019.
[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.