Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
7 September 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/064) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 6, 2018 that, 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Gümüşhane on August 20, 2018.
(09/065) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
Mehmet Pakdemirli, former rector of Celal Bayar University who has been kept in prison since August 11, 2016, stated the violations of rights he is subjected to in prison in his letter to Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. Mehmet Pakdemirli expressed that in Manisa E Type Prison where he was kept for 14 months, the dirty water leak on the ceilings was not fixed by the prison administration; he was subjected to strip search at the entrance of Manisa T Type Prison where he was transferred afterwards; he was kept in a solitary cell in Manisa T Type Prison; the medication he brought along to Manisa T Type Prison were thrown away by a warden and this was not investigated despite of his official complaint; requests written by prisoners were destroyed without being registered; he witnessed the screams of people that he supposes to be beaten in rooms called padded cells near his solitary cell; and he was banned from visits for 6 months.
(09/066) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
Mehmet Pakdemirli, former rector of Celal Bayar University who has been kept in prison since August 11, 2016, also stated in his letter to Human Rights Foundation of Turkey that, right to health of prisoners including himself is prevented; a prisoner named Mehmet Özbir’s hand was amputated and Günay Yıldız, another prisoner, lost his eye due to not being medically treated on time.
(09/067) Disciplinary Proceedings Against Journalist in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 6, 2018 that, drafted poems and short stories of journalist Uğur Yılmaz, who is being kept in Elazığ T Type Prison, were seized; and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Uğur Yılmaz for these drafts on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(09/068) 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 September 6, 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 August 28, 2018, 3 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt, Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 3 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt and Mahir Kılıç) were detained.
Thus in total 6 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 6, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(09/069) 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 September 6, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day.
(09/070) Detained HDP Executives in Hatay…
Muhsine Taşan and Ahmet Çahan, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) İskenderun district co-chairs who were detained in house raids in central and İskenderun districts of Hatay on September 4, 2018, are released by the court on juridical control conditions on September 6, 2018.
(09/071) Detained People for ‘Social Media Posts’ in Izmir…
On September 6, 2018, 11 people including Şahin Çoban, HDP’s PM candidate for Balıkesir, are detained on the grounds of social media posts, in house raids in Izmir. The names of detainees known so far are: Şahin Çoban, Mikail, Nuri Gök, Yetim, Turan Güleç and Bayram Yıldırım.
(09/072) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against 5 people including Seferi Yılmaz, co-mayor of Şemdinli district of Hakkari and Cabbar Taş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Şemdinli district former co-chair, on Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 1 on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, is held on September 6, 2018. Seferi Yılmaz attended the trial via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court releases Seferi Yılmaz on juridical control conditions and adjourned the trial to December 18, 2018. Co-mayor Seferi Yılmaz was detained on December 3, 2017 and was arrested on December 6, 2017.
(09 /073) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 2 academicians (lecturer Sakine Çil and Assist. Professor Meltem Gürle from Boğaziçi University) 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’ is held on September 6, 2018. The lawyers demanded immediate acquittal, otherwise consolidation of the case with the one on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13, and that legal proceedings to be continued according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code. The court decided to ask Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 for required documents in order to continue according to Article 301, and rejected other demands and adjourned the trial to February 12, 2019.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Professor L. N. and Professor Ayşe Gül Altınay from Sabancı University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on September 6, 2018. The lawyers demanded immediate acquittal, otherwise consolidation of the case with the one on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13, and that legal proceedings to be continued according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code. The court decided to ask Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 for required documents in order to continue according to Article 301, and rejected other demands. The court adjourned trial of Professor L. N. to September 27, 2018, and adjourned the trial of Professor Ayşe Gül Altınay to December 11, 2018.
(09/074) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Fatih Polat, Evrensel newspaper executive editor, on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2, for a news report (“High school student is detained during the class”) published in the newspaper on the grounds that ‘publishing the identity on a periodical’ is held on September 6, 2018. The court assessed Fatih Polat to a fine of 10.000 Turkish Liras.
(09/075) Journalists on Trial in Ankara…
The case against 12 people (3 of which are arrested) including journalists Sibel Hürtaş, Hayri Demir, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper employee Barış Ceyhan and Human Rights Association (IHD) central executive board member Nuray Çevirmen, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 15, for news reports and social media posts on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, started to be held on September 6, 2018. It is learned that journalists to follow the case were not allowed in the court room.
Barış Ceyhan, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper employee who was arrested on this case, stated in his defence that he was kept in a 2-meters cell in Sincan M Type Prison for 17 days after being arrested, and that he was subjected to physical and psychological violence by wardens. Barış Ceyhan’s lawyer also stated that he was made target for other prisoners by wardens and thus he was subjected to verbal attacks of other prisoners.
Lezgin Tekay, another arrested defendant stated that he was subjected to physical violence during detention.
After defence hearings, the court released 3 arrested defendants (Barış Ceyhan, Saim Serin and Lezgin Tekay) with a ban on leaving the country; and decided to continue the ban on leaving the country for other defendants and to lift the probation rule of daily signature requirement for them. The court also decided to separate the case of HDP PM Kemal Bülbül and adjourned the trial to November 22, 2018.
(09/076) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Hamide Yiğit, author of Sendika.org news portal, on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2, as per Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code, for her book “Tekmili Birden IŞİD- El Kaide’den IŞİD’e; Amerika için Cihat” (ISIS All-in-One – From Al-Qaida to ISIS; Jihad for America) is held on September 6, 2018. The court sentenced Hamide Yiğit to 5 months for ‘publicly insulting the government, judicial bodies, law enforcement and military departments’ and converted the jail penalty to a fine of 3.000 Turkish Liras.
The case about the same book on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2, upon the complaints made by Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), Berat Albayrak, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources back then and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is held on September 6, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to November 15, 2018.
(09/077) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Pelin Ünker, reporter of Cumhuriyet newspaper and Orhan Erinç, chair of the executive board of Cumhuriyet Foundation, on Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 24, upon complaints made by former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım and his sons, for the news reports on “Paradise Papers”, is held on September 6, 2018. The court decided to continue the proceedings after the final decisions of penal suits on the same issue.
(09/078) Lawyers from ÖHD on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 12 lawyers from Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, and 37 members and executives of Federation of Prisoners Families Law and Solidarity Associations (TUHAD-FED) which was also closed down by a state of emergency decree, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 is held on September 6, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to December 11, 2018.
(09/079) People on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’ in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Beyza Metin, former chair of The Chamber of Electrical Engineers Istanbul Branch, Erdoğan Demir, Gürsel Kaya, Mehmet Şamil Altan, Nebile Irmak Çetin and Önder Atay, for a press declaration in front of Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal on October 13, 2015, to protest October 10, Ankara Terminal massacre, on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 15 is held on September 6, 2018. The court sentenced Beyza Metin, Erdoğan Demir, Gürsel Kaya and Mehmet Şamil Altan to 11 months and 20 days each and converted the jail penalty to a fine of 7.000 Turkish Liras per person. The court sentenced Nebile Irmak Çetin and Önder Atay to 11 months and 20 days also, and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(09/080) HDP Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Mehmet Genç, HDP Kadıköy district executive on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on September 6, 2018. After defence hearings the court released Mehmet Genç and adjourned the trial.
(09/081) SGDF Co-Chair on Trial in Ankara…
Ceren Çoban, co-chair of Federation of Socialist Youth Associations, is released by an interim decision on September 6, 2018 upon the objection made by lawyers. Ceren Çoban was detained in Ankara on May 3, 2018 and was arrested afterwards.
(09/082) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 6, 2018, 5 people including 1 nominee judge who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, 1 assistant expert and 3 lawyers are detained in house raids in Tokat.
(09/083) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against journalist Nazlı Ilıcak on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 on the claim that she shared classified material which was removed from Turkish Presidency of General Staff records and annihilated on her “Military Intelligence and Tahşiye Group” article on Bugün newspaper published on January 2, 2015, continued to be held on September 6, 2018. Nazlı Ilıcak attended the trial via sound and vision system from the prison and made her defence. The prosecutor declared the legal opinion on the case and demanded lifetime imprisonment of Nazlı Ilıcak for ‘declaring confidential information on state security on the purpose of espionage’. The court decided to give time for defence as to accusations and adjourned the trial.
(09/084) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Mesut Hançerkıran, a former teacher who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, on Antep Heavy Penal Court No 8 is held on September 6, 2018. The court sentenced Mesut Hançerkıran to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
[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, 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.