Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
09 – 11 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/106) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 9, 2019 that house of Aslan family in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır was raided by the police on February 8, 2019. It is reported that residents of the house were subjected to the physical violence of the police and children in the house were hold guns to their heads.
Adalet Aslan (42) reported the following in her statements covered by the news reports: “When I went to my brother-in-law’s house they have pushed him on the ground. They were insulting him and beating him. They beat my brother-in-law’s daughter-in-law too. They messed the house up completely. I and my brother-in-law have children at the age of 13. They put guns to our children’s heads. The children were frightened. When I wanted to go near to them one of the police said ‘do not talk women, do not raise your head, I will smash your brain’. They put me down. 6 of them were stepping on me. They said ‘you will not talk’.”
It is learned that Sedrettin Aslan was detained after the raid, on the grounds of a detention warrant.
(02/107) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
The monitoring report of Free Lawyers Platform after the survey visit to Van T Type Prison is covered by the news reports on February 8, 2019. It is learned from the report that, prisoners were subjected to strip search at the entrance of the prison and those rejecting it were subjected to physical violence of the wardens and then were put in solitary cells. It is also stated in the report that, wards of prisoner were changed arbitrarily and prisoners who reject it were also subjected to physical violence too; and magazines, newspapers and books demanded by prisoners were not given to them although there were no ban or prohibition on them.
(02/108) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 8, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysi 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.
It is also learned from the news reports that Prison Disciplinary Board has given to Abdullah Öcalan and Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım penalty of prohibition from visit rights for 3 months and the penalty was finalised on February 1, 2019.
(02/109) 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 824 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 8, 9, and 10, 2019 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 February 8, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 2 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt 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 February 9, 2019, 2 people (Dağhan Beşli and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (İlker Işık and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 10, 2019, 2 people (Umutcan Aybak and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (İlker Işık and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 8, 9, and 10, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/110) 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 February 8, 2019, and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 82nd time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(02/111) 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 February 9, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police. It is reported that 2 people (Deniz Yılmaz and Bülent Özgül) were detained in police intervention.
(02/112) Police Intervention Against 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 724th time on February 9, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP’s Oya Ersoy, Hüda Kaya, and Musa Piroğlu, and Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu and CHP’s mayor candidate for Beyoğlu district Alper Taş as well as 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. It is reported that the police blockaded the street of IHD Istanbul office too.
(02/113) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 359th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on February 9, 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.
(02/114) Arrested HDP Executive in Antalya…
Basri Kartal, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Kepez district executive who was detained on February 7, 2019 in Antalya, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media posts’, is arrested by the court on February 8, 2019.
(02/115) Workers Who Were Subjected to Torture and “You Will See the Power of the Turk” Expressions Are on Trial…
Mehmet Gezen and İlyas Yorgun, were 2 of 52 workers who were subjected to physical and verbal torture with expressions “What did this state do to you? You will see the power of the Turk”, while they were forced to lay down on their faces and were handcuffed behind their backs at the police station where they were taken to after being detained in a raid to a construction site in Yüksekova district of Hakkari on August 5, 2015. It is learned from the news coverage of February 9, 2019 that the final trial of the case against Mehmet Gezen and İlyas Yorgun on Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 was held on January 18, 2019. The court sentenced Mehmet Gezen and İlyas Yorgun to 28 years each on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘obtaining, carrying and keeping weapon and ammunition’.
It is learned that the investigation on the torture that workers were subjected to was not concluded yet. Nedim Türfent, reporter of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, who revealed and the footage of the torture was sentenced to 8 years and 9 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(02/116) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against Assist. Professor İnci Solak from Ankara University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 8, 2019.The court rejected the demand for lack of venue decision and adjourned the trial to April 22, 2019.
(02/117) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The re-trial of Gülser Yıldırım, former Mardin MP of People’s Democratic Party (HDP), on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 started to be held on February 8, 2019. Mardin Heavy Penal Court has sentenced Gülser Yıldırım to 7 years and 6 months however, Gaziantep Regional Court reversed the verdict. Gülser Yıldırım did not join the trial due to health problems. The court did not accept Gülser Yıldırım’s excuse for not joining the trial.
The lawyers stated that speeches included in the indictment as the subject of charges are in the scope of chair immunity and the legal proceedings should be ended. The court rejected this demand.
The court demanded defence as to accusations, and the lawyers stated that they will not declare the defence as to accusations until Gülser Yıldırım does so.
The court announced the verdict without hearing Gülser Yıldırım’s defence and sentenced Gülser Yıldırım to 7 years and 6 months likewise before and decided to continue detention for Gülser Yıldırım.
(02/118) Cameraman on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Kemal Demir, cameraman of TV 10 channel which was closed down by a state of emergency decree is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 on February 8, 2019. The court released Kemal Demir on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to May 2, 2019.
Kemal Demir was detained on November 25, 2017 and was arrested on December 1, 2017.
On the first trial of the case, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 has sent the case file to Mersin Heavy Penal Court based on lack of venue decision and Mersin Heavy Penal Court has sent the case to the Supreme Court on the same basis. The Supreme Court decided to hold the trials on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28.
(02/119) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 8, 2019, 9 people are detained in house raids in Denizli and 5 people are detained in house raids in Antalya.
9 of 16 people including military members on active duty who were detained through a Kars based investigation are arrested by the court on February 8, 2019. It is learned that 6 people were released on judicial control conditions and 1 person was still under custody.
On February 9, 2019, 27 people are detained in house raids in Antalya, and 21 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 13 cities through a Trabzon based investigation.
(02/120) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against major general Şaban Umut, former deputy undersecretary of The Ministry of Defence, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 19 is held on February 8, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 15 years and 10 months on the charge of ‘aiding to the attempt to abolish the constitutional order’ and decided to continue detention.
The final trial of the case against former judges Habil Kahraman, Mustafa Gürbüz, Harun Kablama, Rıfat Tokdemir on Penal Department No 16 of The Supreme Court is held on February 8, 2019. The court sentenced Habil Kahraman to 10 years, Mustafa Gürbüz to 8 years and 9 months, Harun Kablama to 10 years and Rıfat Tokdemir to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘misuse of public duty’.
The final trial of the case against Sami Solak on Aydın Heavy Penal Court No 3 is held on February 8, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 10 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and decided to continue detention.
The final trial of the case against former prosecutor Mecit Yıldırım and his spouse former judge Sultan Yıldırım, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on February 8, 2019. The court sentenced Mecit Yıldırım to 8 years and 4 months and Sultan Yıldırım to 6 years and 8 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and decided to continue detention for Mecit Yıldırım.
(02/121) Ban of Event in Adana…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 10, 2019 that Adana Governorate banned The Kurdish Theatre Days, organized by the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Adana provincial organization, which was to be held on February 10-13, 2019, on the grounds of ‘threatening public security’.
(02/122) March 31, 2019 Elections…
Sabri Özdemir, HDP’s co-mayor candidate for Batman, was detained at 16 Mayıs City Stadium, where he went to watch the game of Batman Petrolspor and Ergene Velimeşespor football clubs on February 10, 2019. IT is learned that Sabri Özdemir was detained due to the quarrel with a police officer of Anti-Terror Department of Batman Security Directorate who prohibits Sabri Özdemir from entering to the dress circle for not having his name on the list, and that Sabri Özdemir was released after statement procedures on the same day.
[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, YeniYaşam, 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.