Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
10-13 March 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/119) Assault in Hakkari…
AKP Chair to Esendere sub-district Tayfun Ayhan and Murat Ayhan were assaulted in front of their home. Murat Ayhan lost his life and Tayfun Ayhan was severely injured as a result of this assault. Esendere is a sub-district of Hakkari’s Yuksekova district.
(03/120) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
According to the news appeared in press, bodies of 8 PKK militants who were reportedly killed during military operations in Lice countryside were brought to the morgue of Diyarbakır Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital. 6 bodies were brought to Bingol State Hospital. Two of the bodies which were brought to Diyarbakır Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital belong to Zelal Mava and Edip Yetüt.
A military operation was reportedly started in the countryside of Sırnak’s Uludere district. The region is bombed from land and air.
A military operation was reportedly started in Tunceli’s Hozat district. The region is bombed from land and air. Military units were landed ion the hills of the region.
(03/121) Suspicious Death in Military…
Hüseyin Agirtmis, a 21 years old private in Edirne, was reportedly committed suicide by firing his chest. According to the news appeared in the press, the gun which was used by Agirtmis was not given even to the specialist sergeants. His body was sent to Istanbul Institution of Forensic Medicine.
(03/122) Allegation of Missing in Custody…
7 persons named Servet Sayin, Mehmet Sukru Sayin, Mehmet Sirin Sayin, Deyap Sayin, Cekdar Sayin, Amed Sayin and Cemalettin Tekin were detained in Elmali village of Mardin’s Artuklu district. According to the news appeared in the press, their relatives cannot get information about where they are being held.
(03/123) Torture in Custody…
Nuriye Gulmen, Semih Ozakca and Acun Karadag, who were expelled via a Decree with the Force of Law, were detained on 9 March 2017 after a press meeting at Turkish Grand National Assembly and were taken to Ankara Anti-Terror Branch.
According to the news appeared in the press, they face torture and ill-treatment in custody. When the police wanted to take their finger prints, Gulmen refused this on the ground that their finger prints were taken during their previous detentions. Gulmen’s finger prints were forcibly taken. As a consequence of this, Gulmen could not move her arm. Ozakca was handcuffed from behind and was taken to a detention center which had been converted from a sport center.
Also, Nuriye Gulmen and Semih Ozakca started the hunger strike which was announced to start on 11 March 2017.
Akcadag was brought to court on 10 March 2017 and was released with a judicial control condition.
(03/124) Constitutional Referendum…
In spite of the decision of Supreme Electoral Council about the demands of relocation of ballot boxes in Cizre, Sur and Yuksekova before the 1 November 2015 elections, Bitlis Provincial Electoral Council cancelled the decision of Tatvan District Electoral Council which turned down the demands of the police and gendarme for the relocation of the ballot boxes. Bitlis Provincial Electoral Council relocate the ballot boxes in the villages of Tatvan.
The police raided on 10 March 2017 the houses of university students who had protested the YES convoy in Izmir. 3 persons were reportedly detained. 2 of them were released in the same day, one of them were brought to court on 11 March 2017 and was released with a judicial control condition.
5 persons were detained on 9 March 2017 in Giresun while distributing NO leaflets.
(03/125) Hunger Strike in Prison…
According to the news appeared in the press, 10 prisoners in Van F Type Prison started a hunger strike on 8 March 2017. The demands of the hunger strike are end to the isolation on Abdullah Ocalan and end to the violation of rights in prisons. The names of the prisoners who are on hunger strike are as follows: Gani Kaya, Mahsun Yüksekdağ, Dilgeş Yaşar, İlyas Yorgun, Mesut Yabalak, Abdullah Kaya, Yunus Konak, Kerem Karagöz, İsmail Berke, Taner Aslan.
(03/126) Torture and other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
According to the news appeared in press, the prisoners in Bandırma T Type Prison No 1 receive medical examination while theirs hands are cuffed. Also the books and magazines which were sent to the prisoners are not given to them; the visitors of the prisoners subject to the verbal violence of the prison guards and the social, cultural and sportive rights of the prisoners are restricted.
According to the news appeared in press on 10 March 2017, the prisoners who were transferred to Corum L Type Prion from other prisoners against their will and demand are kept in cells. Also a beating unit is reportedly organized in the prison. This unit is beating and insulting the prisoners.
According to the news appeared in press on 10 March 2017, a woman who went to Sakran Prison as a visitor witnessed that a pregnant woman, who was also a visitor, was beaten by prison guards.
(03/127) Human Rights Advocate Detained…
Chair of Van Branch of Human Rights Association (IHD) Murat Melet was detained on 10 March 2017 at Van Ferit Melen Airport on the ground that he has to give statement.
(03/128) Protest Intervened in Ankara…
Polis intervened on 11 March 2017 in Ankara to the protest which has reached its 123rd day. Esra Özakça, Veli Saçılık, Özkan Karataş, Acun Karadağ, Deniz Aydın, Eren Şahin and Perihan Pulat were forcibly detained.
(03/129) Artist Arrested…
Artist Aram Serhat, who was detained on 8 March 2017 in Elazig, was arrested on 10 March 2017 for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’ 8 persons who were detained with Serhat were also arrested. The names of the person who were arrested are as follows: Yılmaz Gülaşkı, Selahattin Demirkapu, Ramazan Karaman, Mahmut Karakoyun, Deniz Canpolat, Cumali Karabal, Ali Haydar Kılıç ve Ahmet Arif Gurses.
(03/130) Journalist Detained…
Journalist Ergin Caglar was detained on 10 March 2017 on Urfa-Adiyaman highway during a control. The reason of his detention is an arrest warrant concerning him. He was released with a judicial control condition on 11 March 2017 after giving his statement via SEGBIS.
(03/131) Poet Detained…
Poet Mehmet Akdogan was detained on 9 March 2017 in Diyarbakır during a house raid.
(03/132) Detentions and Arrests…
Co-Chair of Diyarbakır Branch of Mesopotamia Cooperation, Solidarity with the Families Who Had Lost Their Relatives Association (MEYA-DER) Ayse Dicle was detained on 9 March 2017 in Diyarbakır.
Member of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Party Assembly Medya Tagay was detained on 10 March 2017 in Batman. Tagay was taken to Batman Police Headquarter.
4 persons were detained on 9 March 2017 in Diyarbakir during house raids. The names of the detainees are as follows: Nizamettin Azat, Bahri Erdem, Hayrettin Satar and Saliha Bakır.
Sabiha Aktas was detained on 9 March 2017 in Elazig.
5 persons, including a member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Party Assembly Cemil Erdem, were detained on 9 March 2017 in Ankara during house raids for their social media shares. The names of the detainees are as follows: Cemil Erdem, Ahmet Özçelik, Veysi Çelik, Gülistan Tekin, İsmail Türk.
24 persons who were detained on 7 March 2017 for registering to Kurdi-Der were released with a judicial control condition.
4 persons who were detained on 4 March 2017 for listening to Kurdish music on picnic were brought to court on 10 March 2017 and 2 of them were arrested for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’ The names of the persons who were arrested are as follows: Bayram Adıyaman and Çetin Can Çakmak.
HDP Co-Chair for Siirt Abdullah Cetin was detained on 9 March 2017 during house raid.
3 persons named E.E., S.K. and S.C. were detained on 11 March 2017 during house raids in 3 districts of Istanbul.
Hasim Gezer was detained on 11 March 2017 in Dargecit district of Mardin during house raid.
(03/133) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
Arrest warrants were issued on 11 March 20147 in Istanbul for 89 police officials who were expelled via a Decree with the Force of Law. 62 of them were detained.
Arrest warrants were issued on 9 March 2017 for 84 persons. 46 of them were detained in an Ankara centered police operation.
26 persons were detained on 10 March 2017 in an Aksaray centered police operation for ‘using ByLock.’
(03/134) Gündem Case…
İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against Faruk Balıkçı, Dicle Anter, Derya Okatan, Kumru Başer ve Ayşe Batumlu. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for being chief editor on duty of the daily Ozgur Gundem. Following the defenses, the court announced the verdict.
Faruk Balcı was fined 6,000 TL for “publishing the announcement of an illegal organization.’
Dicle Anter was fined 7,000 TL for “publishing the announcement of an illegal organization.’
Derya Okatan was fined 7,000 TL for “publishing the announcement of an illegal organization.’
Kumru Baser was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment. The court deferred the announcement of the verdict.
Ayse Batumlu was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment. The court deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(03/135) HDP MP on Trial…
Bakirkoy Penal Court of First Instance No 7 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for insulting the then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Demirtas participated the hearing via SEGBIS and made his defense. Following the defenses, the court decided to take in to consideration the claim that the lifting of immunities of the MPs is against the constitution. The hearing was adjourned to 3 May 2017.
(03/136) Journalist and Writer Hasan Cemal on Trial…
Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against journalist and writer Hasan Cemal. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for his articles series titled “The Journal of Retreat” which was published on T24 internet portal in 2013. Cemal participated the hearing and made his defense. After the defense, the prosecutor expressed his final opinion concerning the case and wanted the defendant to be sentenced for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’ The court adjourned the hearing to 31 March 2017.
(03/137) Academics on Trial in Mersin…
Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against Assistant Professor Hakan Mertcan and Research Fellow Esin Gulsen and Assistant Professor Selim Cakmaklı. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’ The defendants are among the signatories to the “Academics for Peace” petition. The prosecutor expressed his final opinion concerning the case. The court adjourned the hearing to 10 April 2017.
(03/138) HDP Members on Trial in Istanbul…
Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against 15 HDP members and executives. After the defenses, the court released 8 defendants to be tried without a remand and adjourned the hearing to 13 June 2017.
(03/139) Termination of the Party Membership of HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdag…
The Vice-Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals dropped on 9 March 2017 the information concerning the party membership and duty record of HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdag from the registry of the Court of Appeals.
(03/140) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
Samsun Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 9 March 2017 hearing the case against 42 persons. 16 of the defendants are being tried with a remand. Following the defenses, the court released 6 defendants to be tried without a remand an adjourned the hearing.
(03/141) Party Premise Raided by the Police…
DBP provincial premise was raided and searched on 11 March 2017 by the police. The police confiscated the posters, banners and hard drives of the computers. The DBP Co-Chair for Bingol Yavuz Kıtay was reportedly detained by the police.