Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
04 May 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/013) Military Operation to Afrin…
On May 3, 2018, 1 soldier died and 1 soldier got injured as a result of an explosion during mine sweeping as a part of Afrin operation of Turkish Armed Forces.
(05/014) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of May 3, 2018 that a prisoner named Nurullah Doğan in Elazığ F Type Prison No 1, was subjected to physical violence of wardens in a room without camera, because he greeted a friend on the corridor while he was going to deliver a package for himself and then he was put into a single cell. It is reported that Nurullah Doğan demanded to visit the doctor but his demand was rejected.
(05/015) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on May 3, 2018 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 limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 752nd time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(05/016) 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 for a while to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 3, 2018 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on May 3, 2018, 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Simge Aksan, Mehmet Dersulu and İlker Işık) and at 18.00 6 people (Acun Karadağ, Simge Aksan, Nazan Bozkurt, Derviş Lermi, İlker Işık and Armağan Özbaş) were detained.
Thus in total 10 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 3, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
In addition, Ankara Medical Chamber, Human Rights Association, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services (SES) made a press declaration in Ankara Medical Chamber Headquarters on May 3, 2018.
(05/017) Detained Journalist in Mersin…
İsmail Çoban, former editor in chief of Azadiya Welat, who was detained in Mersin through a Diyarbakır based investigation on April 23, 2018, is arrested by the court on May 3, 2018.
(05/018) Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation Co-Chair is Arrested…
Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) Co-chair Ceren Çoban, who was detained on May 2, 2018 in Ankara is arrested by the court on May 3, 2018.
It is learned from news coverage of May 3, 2018 that Ceren Çoban and SGDF central executive board member Deniz Bahçeci were forced to get in a vehicle by undercover police while their faces were being covered and handcuffed behind their backs. It is reported that Ceren Çoban and Deniz Bahçeci were subjected to verbal and physical violence in the vehicle. After a half an hour in the vehicle, Ceren Çoban was taken to Ankara Police Headquarters Anti-Terror Department, and Deniz Bahçeci was taken off the vehicle with handcuffs. Deniz Bahçeci was kidnapped in Ankara on October 9, 2017 by people who call themselves Public Security Team (KGT).
(005/019) Detained HDP Members and Executives…
10 of 41 people (including Cengiz Çiçek, district co-chair of HDP) who were detained in a police raid to HDP Güngören district office in Istanbul during a public meeting on April 28, 2018, are detained by the court for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on May 3, 2018. The names of arrestees are: Cengiz Çiçek, Gönül Karaman, Keziban Bulak, Gülsimet Önal, Kazım Köse, Yusuf Kesik, Ömer Özkan, Mehmet Emin Kılıçarslan, Halit İpekyüz and Yüksel Seyithan. 31 people were released the same day they were detained.
(005/020) Detained Executives and Members of Socialist Party of the Oppressed…
6 of 8 people who were detained in house raids through an investigation on Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) in Istanbul on April 27, 2018, are arrested by the court on May 3, 2018. 2 people are released on juridical control conditions. The names of arrestees are: ESP council board member Ümmühan Özdemir, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association Zeytinburnu executive Hasan Kılık and Ersin Sedefoğlu, Mustafa Kubilay Sever, Engin Sinağ, Gönül Gören. The names of people released on juridical control conditions are: Kerem Bükre and HDP Bağcılar district executive Erkan Çevikcan.
(05/021) Detentions and Arrests…
It is learned that in house raids in İdil district of Şırnak on May 3, 2018, a person named Adil Geçgel is detained. It is learned that Adil Geçgel was taken to İdil Police Headquarters, however the reason for detention is unknown.
(05/022) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The final trial of the cases against 2 academicians (Mahmut Çınar and Gizem Sayın) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ started to be held on May 3, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned both trials to October 9, 2018.
(05/023) Actress on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’…
The case against actress Selin Şekerci, for ‘insulting the President’ in her social media posts in 2013, on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 44, is held on May 3, 2018. The indictment demands jail penalty up to 4 years and 4 months for Selin Şekerci. After defence hearings the court decided to start case examination for decision and adjourned the trial.
(005/024) Cases on Reactions to Afrin Operation…
The case against HDP Antep co-chair Atiye Okay for her social media posts about Afrin operation of Turkish Armed Forces, on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 8, started on May 3, 2018. After defence hearings the court decided on continuation of detention for Atiye Okay and adjourned the trial to May 11, 2018.
(05/025) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On May 3, 2018, 14 military members in operations covering 14 cities through a Konya based investigation, 12 people in Hatay, 12 people in operations covering 5 cities through an Elazığ based investigation are detained.
Mustafa Sarıgedik and Yasemin Sarıgedik, 2 former judges, dismissed by the state of emergency decree, who were detained for attempting to flee to Greece illegally in Bodrum district of Muğla, are arrested by the court on May 3, 2018.
5 of 8 people who were detained through an Izmir based investigation on April 27, 2018, are arrested by the court on May 3, 2018. 3 people are released on juridical control conditions.
(04/026) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against former Major General Mehmet Cahit Bakır, also former commander of Turkish Force in Afghanistan, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 21 is held on May 3, 2018. The court sentenced Mehmet Cahit Bakır to 12 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against former prosecutor İlyas Çolaklar (dismissed by the state of emergency decree) on Gaziantep Heavy Penal Court No 8 is held on May 3, 2018. The court sentenced İlyas Çolaklar to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Mevlut Özbahçe on Şanlıurfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on May 3, 2018. The court sentenced İlyas Çolaklar to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against 44 former police officers dismissed by the state of emergency decree (including 3rd and 4th degree chiefs) on Denizli Heavy Penal Court No 3 is held on May 3, 2018. The court sentenced 32 defendants for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ to jail penalties differing from 2 years and 6 months to 8 years and 9 months. The court acquitted 9 defendants and separated the cases of 3 defendants.
(05/027) Elections on June 24, 2018….
On May 3, 2018, a group alleged to be AKP members attacked the petition stand in Kızılay, Ankara, for Temel Karamollaoğlu, the President candidate of Saadet Party. It is reported that nobody was injured, and the stand was damaged. It is learned that Saadet Party members made an official complaint about the attackers who were detained.
(05/028) Event Prevented in Izmir…
It is learned from news coverage of May 3, 2018 that “LGBTİ+ Basic Concepts” event of Buca Municipality City Council Equality Assembly and Dokuz Eylül University Law Faculty Human Rights Club, which was planned to be held in campus was cancelled by Dokuz Eylül University for security reasons.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.