Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
1 November 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/001) Curfews Since 16 August 2015…
According to the information gathered by the HRFT Documentation Centre, between 16 August 2015 and 1 November 2017, there have been at least 268 officially confirmed round-the-clock [all daylong] and open-ended curfews in 11 cities and at least 47 districts of Turkey. The relevant cities and districts that curfews implemented are as follow: DİYARBAKIR (145 times), MARDİN (45 times), HAKKÂRİ (23 times), ŞIRNAK (13 times), BİTLİS (13 times), MUŞ (7 times), BİNGÖL (7 times), TUNCELİ (6 times), BATMAN (5 times), ELAZIĞ (2 times) and SİİRT (2 times).
In addition to these, as of 11 August 2017, there has been at least 9 curfews declarad in various villages and flatlands of Şemdinli district of Hakkâri, and Hizan, Güroymak, Mutki and Central districts of Bitlis with limitations on time (implemented only in between the designated hours). These curfews, which are declared within limitations, are not included in abovementioned data.
According to the 2014 population census, at least 1 million 809 thousand residents have been affected by these curfews and fundamental rights of these people such as right to liberty and security of person; right to privacy, family, home or correspondence; freedom of assembly and association; freedom of religion; freedom of receive and impart information; right to reserve of property; right to education and especially right to life; right to health and prohibition of torture are explicitly violated.
(11/002) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned through news coverage of October 31, 2017 that 5 militants died during clashes between armed forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Diyarbakır’s Lice district on October 20, 2017.
(11/003) Women Beaten on the Street by Police Officer in Alanya…
It is learned that the police officer who was arrested for beating a Kirghiz woman (40) named R.A. on the street on October 5, 2017, was released on October 27, 2017 following the appeal of his attorney.
The first trial of police officers İsmet Kafadar and İsmail Uzar regarding the beating of R.A. will take place on November 9, 2017. Officers are accused with ‘abusing the force of public service to injure someone who is not able to defend her(him)self.’
(11/004) Tortue and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of October 31, 2017 that ill prisoner Özcan Çıra staying in Menemen Type T prison was beaten by wardens and restrained from going to the infirmary.
It is learned from news coverage of October 31, 2017 that a prisoner named Hıdır Bakır in Tekirdağ No 2 Type F Prison was beaten by wardens in front of prison prosecutor and prison principal on October 20, 2017. He was then sent to isolation cell. It is learned that there were bruises and scars on Hıdır Bkır’s face due to beating. It is learned that Hıdır Bakır was beaten once again by wardens on October 27, 2017 as well.
(11/005) Hunger-strike in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of October 31, 2017 that a prisoner named Hakan Tunç staying in a singular cell in Van Type T Prison started an indefinite hunger strike 10 days ago in order to protest the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan and rights violations in prisons.
(11/006) Rejection of Meeting with Öcalan…
It is learned that on October 31, 2017 PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s attorneys Mazlum Dinç, Cengiz Yürekli and Mehdi Öztüzün requested from Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office to meet with him. The request was denied on the same day based on limitations regarding the convicted prisoners due to Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275. With this latest decline meeting requests with Öcalan have been denied for the 700th time. Öcalan’s last meeting with his attorneys was on July 27, 2011.
(11/007) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with Statuary Decree’s planned for press meetings in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 31, 2017. Demonstrations of the group has been going on for several months. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both intervened and prevented by the police forces.
It is learned that 2 people during the intervention towards the meeting at 13.30 on and 5 people during the 18.00 meeting were detained.
In total, 7 people were detained on October 31, 2017 Yüksel street demonstrations. It is learned that police officers also prevented press members from reporting the incident. It is reported that detainees were released within the same day.
(11/008) People on Trial in İstanbul for Solidarity with Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça…
The final trial of Dilek Doğan’s mother Aysel Doğan and Hasan Ferit Gedik’s mother Nuray Gedik took place on October 31, 2017. Both were in a hunger strike to support Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça and thus were accused with ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. The case was opened by İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29. The court acquitted both defendants and lifted their overseas travel ban.
(11/009) Osman Kavala Arrested…
Anadolu Kültür Holding Chair, TESEV Board Member, Helsinki Citizens Assembly member businessperson Osman Kavala who was detained at Istanbul Atatürk airport on October 19, 2017 was arrested on November 1, 2017 by court. Kavala is accused with ‘attempting to overthrow constitutional order’ and ‘attempting to overthrow the government’.
(11/010) Detention and Arrests…
It is learned that on October 31, 2017 member of Assembly of Peace Mothers Nahide Ormanlı (60) was arrested after her detention in Şırnak due to a final arrest order. Supreme Court recently approved Nahide Ormanlı’s 4 years 8 months’ jail sentence based on the accusation of ‘aiding an illegal organization despite not being a member’ due to various demonstrations and events she attended. Ormanlı was in jail for two and half years and she’s been told that she will need to be imprisoned for 1 year 3 months more.
It is learned that 3 people were detained during house raids in Aydın’s Didim district on October 31, 2017. Names of the detained: Cesim Çelik, Abidin Çelik and Ersin Çakırbey.
It is reported that 3 HDP members were detained during house raids in Osmaniye on November 1, 2017. Names of the detained: Kamuran Babrak, Abdullah Turhan and Birsen Karataş.
(11/011) Detentions for ‘Insulting the President’…
It is reported that a person named G.S. detained in Adana for ‘insulting the President’ was arrested by court on October 30, 2017.
It is learned that a person named O.Ç. was detained on October 31, 2017 in Bodrum district of Muğla due to ‘insulting the President’ through social media posts.
(11/012) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 19 people during operations in 13 cities through a Diyarbakır based investigation were detained. 4 executives of 2 companies in Antalya who were replaced by trustees were detained. 18 people including teachers and soldiers were detained during operations in 11 cities through a Siirt based investigation. 28 people including 24 soldiers in Kocaeli were detained. 14 people including regular soldiers were detained during operations in 8 cities through an İzmir based investigation.
It is learned that 42 of 61 people detained on October 20, 2017 through an investigation towards Kaynak Holding were arrested by court on October 31, 2017. 19 people were released 9 of which with judiciary control conditions.
It is learned that 3 of 17 people detained through a Sivas based investigation were arrested by court on October 31, 2017. 3 people were released with judiciary control conditions. 2 of the people previously detained through the same investigation were arrested and 3 were released with judiciary control conditions. 6 people remain in detention.
It is learned that 27 of 32 people detained through an Afyon based investigation were arrested by court on October 31, 2017.5 people were released with judiciary control conditions.
(11/013) Cumhuriyet Newspaper Case…
The trial of 20 defendants including Cumhuriyet’s President of Executive Board Akın Atalay, journalists Kadri Atalay and Ahmet Şık who are among the arrested 5 defendants, continued October 31, 2017, in the court room built outside Silivri Prison. The case was opened by İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 27. Following the hearings of defendants’ testimonies and attorney’s defenses, the court ruled for the continuity of arrests for Editor in Chief Murat Sabuncu, President of Executive Board Akın Atalay, reporter Ahmet Şık and accountants Emre İper and Ahmet Kemal Aydoğdu and adjourned the trial date to December 25, 2017.
Murat Sabuncu, Kadri Gürsel, Musa Kart, Güray Öz, Mustafa Kemal Güngör, Turhan Günay, Bülent Utku, Önder Çelik and Hakan Kara were detained on October 31, 2016 and arrested on November 4, 2016. Akın Atalay was arrested on November 12, 2016 and Ahmet Şık on December 30, 2016.
At the first trial of the case on July 24, 2017 Güray Öz, Hakan Kara, Musa Kart, Turhan Günay, Bülent Utku, Mustafa Kemal Güngör and Önder Çelik were released. Kadri Gürsel was released on the second trial on September 25, 2017.
(11/014) Trials of HDP MP’s…
The final trial of HDP Diyarbakır MP Ziya Pir took place on November 1, 2017. The case was opened by Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 7 regarding a speech Pir made in September 28, 2015 about the raid of DİHA, Azadiya Welat, Aram Publishing and Kurdi-Der’s building and detention of 32 people within the building. The court sentenced Ziya Pir to 11 months 20 days due to ‘insulting public servant about the service’ and postponed the penalty.
It is learned that Gaziantep Reginal Court Court overruled the decision on HDP Hakkari MP Abdullah Zeydan by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. Zeydan was sentenced to 8 years 1 month 15 days due to ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organization’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’.
(11/015) Trials in Ankara…
The trial of 15 people including one journalist and university students continued October 31, 2017. The case was opened by Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 19 regarding the charity concert organized to help people living in tents in Şırnak. Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of 3 arrested defendants, lifted the judiciary control condition on defendants previously released and adjourned the hearing to January 2018.
(11/016) Trials of Union Members in İzmir …
The final trial of SES İzmir co-chair Hülya Baran Ulaşoğlu and other members Ahmet Ulaşoğlu, Nevin Çoban and Seda Balkan, regarding the distribution of ‘No’ brochures in the cafeteria of Atatürk Education and Research Hospital before the constitutional referendum, took place on October 31, 2017. The case was opened by İzmir 25th Penal Court of First Instance. The court ruled for the acquittanced of all defendants.
(11/017) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final trial of 9 defendants including 5 arrested took place on October 31, 2017. The case was opened by Bayburt Heavy Penal Court. The court sentenced 7 defendants to jail sentences of 6 years, 3 months as well as 9 years 9 months. The court also ruled for the release of one defendant.
The final trial of former soldier İbrahim Beytekin who was discharged with a Statuary Decree took place on October 31, 2017. The case was opened by Maraş Heavy Penal Court No 3. Beytekin was sentenced to 6 years 3 months due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’.
(11/018) Investigation on Hopa House of People …
It is reported that an investigation began on the Gender Studies workshop for children organized by Hopa House of People Center in 2016. The investigation was initiated by district directorate of national education due to workshop being ‘obscenity.’
[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.