1-2 February 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/001) Curfew in Cizre…
The curfew in Cizre district of Şırnak reached its 52nd day as of 2 January 2016.
On 1 February 2016, bodies of 4 males and 1 female were found in 2 separate houses on Reyhan street in Cudi quarter. The persons were not identified and the bodies were taken to Şırnak State Hospital for forensic examination.
Another body was reportedly found on 2 January 2016 on Gülüşük street.
(02/002) Attacks against Curfew Protests…
The police intervened a group of persons who staged a protest on 1 February 2016 in Dağlıoğlu quarter of Adana. Murat Daşkan (19) was shot to death during the armed clash that broke out after the intervention.
Eyewitnesses testified to the effect that the police followed Murat Daşkan to a blind street and allegedly shot him to death.
Kadir Çalışkan (20) was also shot at back and wounded during the incidents.
The police intervened a group of protesters on 30 January 2016 in Barbaros quarter of Adana. The police opened fire to disperse the crowd and shot the child Mahmur Can Çakır. He was hospitalised, but died in the hospital.
5 Members of İstanbul Youth Coordination of Peoples’ Democratic Congress (Halkların Demokratik Kongresi – HDK) occupied the Provincial Directorate of Health on 1 February 2016. The protesters and Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Elif Çetiner were detained.
(02/003) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
Gendarmerie Lieutenant Recep Erdoğan, Non-commissioned Officer Nusret Atmaca, Specialist Sergeant Bekir Şimşek, Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Sercan Bulak and Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Hüseyin Şerbetçi died during the clashes on 2 February 2016 in Sur district of Diyarbakır. 4 soldiers and 3 police officers were also wounded during the armed clashes.
3 police officers were wounded when a bomb exploded during the passage of an armoured police vehicle on 1 February 2016 in İdil district of Şırnak.
Governorate of Hakkari announced on that hundreds of regions in Yüksekova, Şemdinli and Çukurca districts of the province were decided to be temporary security zones for 15 days until 17 February 22016. Entrance of civilians to the security zones was also banned.
(02/004) Death in Military Barracks…
According to the news appeared in the press, Ersin Aras (30) who was serving for the compulsory military service in Kağızman district of Kars was subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the barracks and caught pneumonia. He reportedly died on 26 January 2016.
Ersin Aras informed his family that he was repeatedly sentenced to non-judicial punishments and he was forced to stand in the cold allegedly for fake sick leave attempts.
He was hospitalised for coughs and weakness and diagnosed terminal pneumonia.
After the diagnosis he was given a report certifying disability for military service. He was hospitalised to a hospital in Ankara to wait for heart implantation, but died in the hospital.
(02/005) JİTEM Cases Combined…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, 5th Penal Chamber at the Court of Cassation decided to combine the gendarmerie intelligence service JİTEM case against 16 defendants including 5 on-the-run defendants launched in connection with the killings of 26 persons in Diyarbakır and neighbouring provinces and the Musa Anter case. The case will be heard in Ankara.
(02/006) Torture and Ill-treatment in Şırnak…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, 24 persons including Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Nedim Oruç who were detained on 6 January 2016 in Silopi district of Şırnak were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in custody. The detainees were reportedly beaten, hosed with cold water and subjected to assault. The victims made official complaint against the perpetrators.
(02/007) Person Offered to Become an Informant…
Kadir Karabak organised a press conference on 26 January 2016 at the premises of Human Rights Association (HRA) İstanbul branch and announced that he was offered by “National Intelligence Service members” to become an informant. He was also threatened to death when rejected the demand.
(02/008) Persons on Trial in Adana…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, a court case was launched against Mahmut Arslan and Mevlit Kutli for taking part in folklore dancing during self-governance celebration on 7 September 2015 in Adana.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” and Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2 will start to hear the case on 17 March 2016.
(02/009) TV Producers on Trial…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, a court case was launched 4 TV producers and presenters on charges of “insulting the State President”. The case was launched in connection with the newscast “Kanal D Haber Günaydın” aired on 30 September 2015 and presented by İrfan Değirmenci on Kanal D (Channel D).
The indictment wants the anchor İrfan Değirmenci, Kanal D news chief editor Süleyman Sarılar, news director Fevzi Yeniçeri and news editor Ali Ekber Aydın to be sentenced for showing a placard saying “Murderer Erdoğan” more than 2 times while covering a meeting of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş in Germany. Bakırköy (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 39 will start to hear the case.
(02/010) Former MP Convicted…
Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 32 concluded on 1 February 2016 to hear the case against former MP Hüseyin Aygün launched on charges of “insulting public officer” by calling the Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu “IS/ISIS-lover”.
The court sentenced Hüseyin Aygün to 1 year and 11 months’ imprisonment under the articles 125 and 216 TPC.
(02/011) Self-Governance Case in Diyarbakır…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, a court case was launched against 6 persons including remanded Co-Mayors of Sur district Seyit Narin and Fatma Şık Barut. The case was launched in connection with the self-governance declaration on 14 August 2015. 4 defendants are remanded in this case.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “attempting to disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of the state” and Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 will start to hear the case.
(02/012) Co-Mayor on Trial…
According to the news appeared in the press on 1 February 2016, a court case was launched against Mardin Co-Mayor Ahmet Türk in connection with his political activities and meetings. The indictment wants him to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 18 years for “being member of an illegal organisation”, “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”, and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 will start to hear the case.
(02/013) Operations throughout Turkey…
Sultan Mızrak, Nahide Yeniyurt, Hüseyin Kına and Fahrettin Baki who were among 5 persons detained during the operations conducted in Şemdinli district of Hakkari were arrested on 1 February 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair for Araklı district Sait Güvenç, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for Araklı district Yılmaz Direk, HDP executive Tuncay Direk and Mesut Kaya who were detained in Bingöl were arrested also on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
8 persons who were among 11 persons detained during the house raids conducted in Tunceli were arrested on 1 February 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.