Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
8 – 10 September 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/085) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 7, 2018 that 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Çukurca district of Hakkari on September 3, 2018.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 8, 2018 that the forest fire continuing in Kutudere area of Tunceli for about a week died down due to rain. Security forces have prevented people from fighting the fire on the grounds that the area is special security zone.
Hakkari Governorate announced that, 1 soldier died due to roll over of a military armoured vehicle in Hakkari on September 9, 2018.
(09/086) Person Being Subjected to Police Violence in Amasya…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 7, 2018 that Hasan Ayyıldız, a building manager in Merzifon district of Amasya, was subjected to physical violence by 4 police officers after a quarrel between him and a newly moved resident about usage of the lift. Hasan Ayyıldız stated the following: “The police officers arrived and squeezed my arm while they were taking me to the police car. I told them they should not do so because it hurts me. The police officers started to beat me after I warn them so”. Hasan Ayyıldız also expressed that the police used pepper spray during detention, he was detained by being handcuffed behind his back and was kept under custody for 1 day.
It is learned that Hasan Ayyıldız has a medical report evidencing the police violence he was subjected to and made an official complaint against the police officers.
(09/087) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 7, 2018 that, Fırat Can, a prisoner who was transferred from Antalya L Type Prison to Denizli T Type Prison was being kept in a solitary cell and his demand to be put in a ward was rejected by the prison administration.
It is claimed in the news coverage of September 7, 2018 that, in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, notes and writings of prisoners are seized during searches, books and letters in Kurdish are not given to prisoners on the grounds of lack of translator, communication rights of prisoners are prevented and prisoners are forced to strip search at the entrance of the prison.
(09/088) Coercion to Uniforms and Reactions Against This…
The press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on September 8, 2018 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police. It is reported that 1 person (Halil İbrahim Şener) was detained in police intervention.
(09/089) 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 7, 8, and 9, 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 September 7, 2018, 3 people (Alev Şahin, Mehmet Dersulu and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Alev Şahin and Emir Karakum) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 8, 2018, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 9, 2018, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin) were detained.
Thus in total 14 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 7, 8, and 9, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(09/090) 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 7, 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.
(09/091) Police Intervention Against Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers to gather for the 702nd time who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place. Upon police prevention, the group including parliament members, representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people gather in front of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office and started to march. The police prevented the march too. It is learned that Hanife Yılmaz, a member of disappeared people’s families, fainted and a police officer said her “Do not show off get up”. After being prevented again, Saturday Mothers and their supporters had a sit-in protest and made the press declaration there.
It is learned that families of disappeared people and Human Rights Association Istanbul branch will make an official complaint on September 10, 2018, against Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, Sub-governor of Beyoğlu district Savaş Ünlü and the police officers on charge, for the ban on sit-in protests of Saturday Mothers at Galatasaray Square, the police violence during police intervention against sit-in protests, and Minister of Interior Süleyman Solylu’s expressions against Saturday Mothers.
(09/092) Prevention of Protest in Ankara…
The press declaration organized by People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara branch in Sakarya Street in Ankara on September 8, 2018, to protest the sentences given to Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of HDP and to Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former Ankara PM, is prevented by the police. It is learned that the police chief on charge said HDP MP’s “There is no state of emergency but there is special authority of the governorate given by the assembly”, during the tension about prevention.
(09/093) Prevention of Event in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 8, 2018 that Ankara Governorate responded the application for Mamak Coal Yard Gathering which was planned to be held for the 6th time this year by Community Houses (Halkevleri), as “not appropriate”.
(09/094) People Detained for Social Media Posts in Şırnak…
It is learned that 22 people are detained for social media posts, in house raids in central, Silopi and Cizre districts of Şırnak on September 9, 2018.
(09/095) People Detained for Social Media Posts in Konya…
1 person (M. D.) out of 7 people who were detained in Cihanbeyli district of Konya on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media posts’, is arrested by the court on September 7, 2018. 6 people are released, provided that 1 person on juridical control conditions.
(09/096) Detained People in Mersin…
It is learned that at least 5 people are detained in house raids in Akdeniz district of Mersin on September 7, 2018. It is reported that 5 people are taken to Mersin Police Headquarters however the reason for detention is unknown.
(09/097) Former HDP Co-Chair and Former MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair and Istanbul MP of HDP, and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former Ankara MP, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26, for their speeches at Newroz celebration in Istanbul in 2013, is held on September 7, 2018. Selahattin Demirtaş attended the trial via sound and vision system, Sırrı Süreyya attended the trial in the courtroom. Selahattin Demirtaş stated that, the legal opinion of the prosecutor was submitted him only 2 days before the trial and that the defence he made previously on Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court No 2 was added to the case file, and expressed that he will not defence himself against the opinions as to accusations. Defence lawyers demanded that, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26, to which the case was sent by Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court 2 as a decision of rejection, and that the legal opinion of the prosecutor should be renewed after collecting the evidence.
The court decided not to hear the defence of Sırrı Süreyya Önder, because he made his defence during the 6th trial of the case, and rejected the demand for Selahattin Demirtaş’s defence hearing.
The court then asked for the last stand of Selahattin Demirtaş. Demirtaş stated that he preferred to attend the trial via sound and vision system. Demirtaş also expressed that the prosecution gave the legal opinion as to accusations without expert report on the speeches which are matter of dispute in this case, and without hearing his defence. It is reported that the chief judge interrupted Selahattin Demirtaş for several times and asked him to cut his defence short.
After Sırrı Süreyya Önder’s last stand, the court decided to sentence Selahattin Demirtaş former co-chair of HDP to 4 years and 8 months and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former Ankara MP to 3 years and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court did not postpone the sentences.
(09/098) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 46 journalists, known as “KCK Press Case” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 3, is held on September 7, 2018. The court approved the demand for revoking the decision of seizing the passports of journalists and adjourned the trial to January 11, 2019.
(09/099) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 7, 2018, 2 people are detained through a Tokat based investigation.
19 of 25 lieutenants who were detained through an Ankara based investigation on General Command of Gendarmerie personnel, are arrested by the court on September 7, 2018. 5 people are released on juridical control conditions. It is learned that 1 person who wants to benefit from effective remorse law is taken to the police headquarters to be re-interrogated.
On September 7, 2018, 10 people including former teachers and 1 public employee who were dismissed by state of emergency decrees, are detained in a house raid in Kayseri on the grounds of ‘organizing a secret meeting’. It is learned that 10 people had been arrested previously and put in prisons; and then were released pending the trials. It is reported that 2 people more were detained through the same investigation.
2 of 4 people (3 sergeants and 1 teacher who were dismissed by state of emergency laws) who were detained through a Sivas based investigation are arrested by the court on September 7, 2018. 2 people are released on juridical control conditions.
On September 8, 2018 2 people are detained on the charge of using ByLock in Edirne.
On September 9, 2018, 13 people including lieutenants on active duty are detained in operations covering 10 cities through an Isparta based investigation; and 9 people are detained in Balıkesir in alleged attempt to illegally flee.
(09/100) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against director Ali Avcı on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 is held on September 7, 2018. The court sentenced Ali Avcı to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trials of the separate cases against 6 people for leaking the questions of Public Personnel Selection Exam in 2010, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on September 7, 2018. The court sentenced 5 defendants to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court also sentenced 1 defendant to 3 years 1 month and 15 days and fine penalty for ‘chain fraud towards public institutions’. The court acquitted 1 defendant.
[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.