Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
09 May 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/060) People on Trial for Reacting to Military Operation to Afrin…
Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared the indictment about 11 people for ‘publicly inciting people to hatred’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ in the press declaration organised by HDP, HDK and DTK representatives on February 4, 2018, on Turkish Armed Forces operation to Afrin. The indictment demands jail sentence for 11 people up to 8 years. The names of 11 people are: co-spokespeople of People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) Professor Onur Hamzaoğlu and Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, HDP former co-chair Serpil Kemalbay, Revolutionist Party chair Musa Piroğlu, The Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Ahmet Kaya, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) deputy chair and Socialist Women’s Assembly (SKM) spokesperson Fadime Çelebi, DBP deputy co-chair Hacer Özdemir, Socialist Solidarity Platform spokesperson Kezban Konukçu Kok, the Greens and Left for the Future Party co-chairs Naci Sönmez and Özlem Eylem Tuncaeli.
(05/061) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that 1 soldier died in a clash in Sare Batin region in Northern Iraq.
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Genç district of Bingöl on March 18, 2018.
(05/062) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that Nurullah Doğan, a prisoner in Elazığ Prison No 1, who was subjected to physical violence of the wardens because of greeting a friend in prison, cannot see his mother Torun Doğan in visits despite of the permission of the prosecutor’s office.
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that DBP Ömerli district former co-chair Esma Yıldız who is in Urfa T Type Prison No 2, cannot get medicine for her 10-months old baby with asthma. Esma Yıldız’s husband Mihri Yıldız stated that 33 people stays in wards for 12 people, prisoners get poisoned due to dirty water, visiting hours of the prisoners are limited and his wife cannot get supplementary food and medicine for her baby.
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that transfer demands of an LGBTI+ prisoner from Erzincan T Type Prison is not accepted due to the gender identity of the prisoner. The prisoner sent a letter to Civil Society in the Penal System Association (CISST) and stated that transfer decisions to Balıkesir T Type Prison, Rize L Type Prison and Kayseri T Type Prison No 2 respectively but none of them were executed.
(05/063) The Ill Prisoner Released…
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that Özgür Halk magazine employee Devrim Ayık, who was released on house confinement conditions on May 7, 2018 due to having colon cancer, is detained again on May 8, 2018. It is learned that Devrim Ayık is detained while he was leaving Antalya L Type Prison, and the reason for detention was another investigation.
(05/064) Disabled Prisoner Not Being Released…
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that Mevlüde Başdaş, a prisoner from Şakran Women’s Prison is not being released in spite of being 86% disabled. Mevlüde Başdaş’s son Metin Başdaş stated that her mother has medical reports on being disabled and ill, yet she was not being released.
(05/065) 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 8, 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 8, 2018, 4 people (Acun Karadağ, Gülnaz Bozkurt, Derviş Lemi and Eser Budak) and at 18.00 4 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt, Simge Aksan and İlker Işık) were detained.
Thus in total 8 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 8, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(05/066) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The cases against academicians Biriz Gonca Berksoy and Tülay Erkan (retired) from Istanbul University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on May 8, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned both trials to November 6, 2018.
The case against Assoc. Professor İnci Özkan Kerestecioğlu for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 started to be held on May 8, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to November 6, 2018.
The cases against Professor Hacer Ansal (Işık University) and Assoc. Professor M. B. (Kadir Has University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 started to be held on May 8, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 30, 2018.
(05/067) Elections on June 24, 2018….
2 of 8 people who were detained for the armed assault to IYI Party members (including IYI Party Bağcılar district chair) on May 6, 2018 in Bağcılar district of Istanbul, are arrested by the court on May 8, 2018. 6 people are released after procedures at the police.
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that, the house of Mehmet Aslan, member of IYI Party founders’ committee, was shot in Beykoz, Istanbul on May 6, 2018. It is learned that Mehmet Aslan was called to the police station for testifying.
(05 / 068) Trial of People Evacuated from Sur…
The case against 44 people (including 23 arrestees) who were evacuated from Sur district of Diyarbakır where they were stuck due to curfew and clashes in February and March, 2016, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5, is held on May 8, 2018.
After defence hearings, the court decided continuation of detention for arrested defendants Baran Aslan, Ahmet Karatay, Sinem Ateş, Burhan Balta, İhsan Biter, Helin Yapıcı, İhsan Karatay, Mehmet Şirin Kaya, Ümit Özkan, Mehmet Yakoğlu, Yunus Özak, Mesut Akgül, Sedat Nurioğlu, Yusuf Boz, Ömer Atalay, Dılşad Şengül, Mehmet Çoreşoğlu, Rihan Kavak Özbek, Mahsun Saruhan, Ekrem Karatay, Mehmet Şirin Arat, Metin Karadoğan and Mehmet Salih Ateş.
The court also decided to make an official complaint to Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecution Office about Abdulhadin Yasul, the lawyer of defendant İhsan Biter, for his expressions during the trials as “We have submitted the documents about my client’s being captured” and adjourned the trial to September 25, 2018.
(05/069) People on Trial for Social Media Posts in Istanbul…
The case against 10 people including 9 arrestees (including İshak Karakaş, Halkın Nabzı newspaper executive editor and Artı Gerçek author) on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28, for their social media posts about Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is held on May 8, 2018. After defence hearings the court released 9 arrestees on juridical control conditions and ban on leaving the country, and adjourned the trial to September 18, 2018.
(05 / 070) Soldier on Trial in Kayseri…
The final trial of the case against private soldier C. S. from Kayseri Commando Brigade No 1, for the expressions he was alleged to use after death of 14 soldiers by a bombing attack in Kayseri on December 17, 2016, on Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on May 8, 2018. It was claimed that C. S. said “Soldiers are not martyred, they die” and “PKK members are not terrorists they are guerrillas”. The court sentenced C. S. to 10 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred of the announcement of the verdict.
(05/071) Journalists Being Threatened in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from news coverage of May 8, 2018 that Jinnews reporters Durket Süren and Nurcan Yalçın were threatened by the police as “Help us, be informants, otherwise we will come here as long as you work here”. Human Rights Association Diyarbakır branch made a press declaration and stated that imposition and force on journalists to be informants and threats against them are rising. Nurcan Yalçın stated that she was at Anti-Terror Department on May 5, 2018, where she was called to testify, and after her lawyer left the department she was threatened by 2 people to be an informant. Durket Süren was detained in Lice district of Diyarbakır on March 1, 2018 and was released by the court on probation on March 5, 2018.
(05/072) Journalist and 2 People on Trial in Batman…
The case against Şerife Oruç, reporter of DİHA which was closed down by the state of emergency decree, and 2 more people on Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on May 8, 2018. Journalist Şerife Oruç was detained with Muzaffer Tunç and Emrah Oruç on July 3, 2016 and all three were arrested by the court on July 5, 2018. After defence hearings the court decided on continuation of detention for 3 defendants, separation of the case of Muzaffer Tunç from that of Şerife Oruç. The court also decided to bring the witnesses forcefully to the next trial and adjourned the trial to July 9, 2018.
(05/073) Police Officer on Trial in Mersin for Feray Şahin’s Death…
The case against police officer Fatih Burak Aykut for Feray Şahin’s death on September 19, 2017 in Mersin, on Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on May 8, 2018. Fatih Burak Aykut attended the trial via sound and vision system due to being arrested. After defence hearings the court decided to expect the responses of writs to Forensic Medicine Institution and Apple Tech. and continuation of detention for the defendant. The court adjourned the trial to June 19, 2018.
(05/074) HDP PM’s on Trial…
The final trial of the case against HDP Ağrı PM’s Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir and Berdan Öztürk on Erzurum Heavy Penal Court No 2 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on May 8, 2018. The court acquitted Berdan Öztürk and sentenced Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir to 1 year and 8 monhts for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred of the announcement of the verdict.
The case against HDP Istanbul PM and former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş on Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 7 for ‘insulting the government of Republic of Turkey publicly’ is held on May 8, 2018. The court decided to submit the case to Ankara First Instance on duty based on the decision of Penal Department No 5 of the Supreme Court.
(05/075) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
Lawyer Sibel Sevinç Deveci is detained on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for Fethullahist organisation’ on her social media posts, on May 8, 2018. It is learned that Sibel Sevinç Deveci was taken to Anti-Terror Department of Istanbul Police Headquarters.
On May 8, 2018, 36 people in Afyon, 13 people in Antalya, 6 people in operations covering 3 cities through an Erzurum based investigation, 18 people in operations covering 12 cities through a Batman based investigation, 14 soldiers in operations covering 9 cities through a Samsun based investigation, 10 people in operations covering 4 cities through a Denizli based investigation, 6 people in operations covering 34 cities through a Konya based investigation.
On May 8, 2018, Ö.İ., consultant of Kaynak Company which was closed down by the state of emergency decree, and his wife are detained (due to a detention warrant) in Aliağa district of İzmir for attempting illegally flee to Greece.
(05/076) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Hasan Hüseyin Eryiğit, former sub-governor of Kurşunlu, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 is held on May 8, 2018. The court sentenced Eryiğit to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against 4 defendants on Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No 4 is held on May 8, 2018. The court sentenced 1 defendant to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’, 1 defendant to 2 years and 1 month for ‘aiding an illegal organisation’. The court sentenced 1 defendant to 3 years and 9 months (on effective remorse law conditions) and 1 defendant to 1 year 6 months and 22 days.
The case against journalist Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu on Kütahya Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on May 8, 2018. Akkaşoğlu’s demand for being released due to having health problems and no suspicion to escape is rejected by the court. The court decided on continuation of detention and adjourned the trial.
The final trial of the case against Birol İbili, former 4th degree police chief, on İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 14 is held on May 8, 2018. The court sentenced Birol İbili to 9 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The final trial of the case against Hakan Aydın, former chief of Narcotic Department in Istanbul Police Headquarters in 2010, on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on May 5, 2018. The court sentenced Hakan Aydın to 6 years 10 months and 15 days for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. Hakan Aydın was among interrogators of Onur Yaser Can, who was subjected to undressed search in a police station in 2010 and killed himself afterwards. Çiğdem Şat, the lawyer of Onur Yaser Can’s family, made an application to be the joint attorney of the case on October 20, 2017 stating that “the police team led by Hakan Aydın implemented torture and ill-treatment to Onur Yaser Can during the interrogation and Onur Yaser Can was subjected to the sexual harassment of the police team”, and her application was approved.
(05 / 077) Special Security Area in Bingöl…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration and announced that 30 areas with given coordinates in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts of Hakkari are special security areas between May 9 and May 30, 2018.
[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.