10 November 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/109) Allegation of Abduction in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 9, 2020 that, Çağlar Deniz Gündüz, a former member of Party Assembly of Revolutionary Party was abducted by persons claimed to be police officers, in Kadıköy district of Istanbul. It was declared on November 10, 2020 that Çağlar Deniz Gündüz was kept at Istanbul Security Directorate Office.
A person who was with Çağlar Deniz Gündüz at the time of incident, stated the following: “It happened around 18:20 in the evening. We were walking on Halitağa Street in Kadıköy and a Fiat Linea brand car stopped us, 3 people got off the car. They did not give any information about themselves and directly walked towards Çağlar. When I intervened, 2 people tried to take me away from there. I resisted and a quarrel took place. At that time, 3 people who got off the car took Çağlar in the car and went. They were police officers from Anti-Terror Department. Our lawyers are looking for Çağlar in several police stations but we did not receive any news so far.”
(11/110) Person Forced to be a Police Informant Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 9, 2020 that, Ahmet Ayva who was detained on November 7, 2020, was subjected to pressure and threats to be a police informant, at Istanbul Security Directorate where he was kept under custody. A press declaration is held at Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office on November 9, 2020 and lawyer Sezin Uçar stated the following: “Our client was forced to be a police informant when he was detained. It is an unlawful way of interrogation (…) We demand investigation against those who commit this crime”.
(11/111) Torture and Ill-Treatment During Police Raid in Şırnak…
It is learned from the news coverage that, during the police raid to the house of Güler Tunç, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) district co-chair in Cizre district of Şırnak on November 9, 2020, Esmer Tunç, who was at home at that time, was pulled a gun towards her head by the police. It is reported that the police raided the house of Cihan Ölmez on the same day, and pulled a gun towards Kudret Adıyaman in that house.
Esmer Tunç stated the following: “We woke up for morning prayer at 5 a.m. The door rumbled while we were about to start prayers. The door was not being knocked, it was being broke. We went to the door, and saw that the police were at the door. We said, ‘wait we will open the door’. But they broke the door open (…) Güler lives at the second floor, they went to her home and broke her door too (…) I wanted to get in to get my grandchild Bêkes but the balcony, the yard and all of the neighbourhood was blocked by special operations police. (…) I reacted to this, and they pulled a gun towards my head as soon as I spoke. They said ‘shut up’ and pulled a gun to me. I did not stop talking and I said ‘I will not get into the house’. Then they pushed me harshly into the house. My grandchild was afraid, he came and held on me, I said ‘it is okay’. Then I wanted to go upstairs to see Güler. They said ‘go inside’ and pulled a gun towards me again.”
Kudret Adıyaman stated the following: “We were sleeping when the police arrived. When I went to the door the police broke the door and the windows. They pulled a gun towards my head and said ‘lay down’. I did what they said. I was unconscious for about 10 seconds.”
(11/112) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned that Şemsettin Kargılı, a prisoner in Antep H Type Prison who exposed the right violations in prison to the public, is penalised with prevention of visit rights for 1 month, as a result of disciplinary proceedings against him.
(11/113) Detained Co-Mayor, District Council Members and Other People in Şırnak…
On November 9, 2020, 10 people including co-mayor and district council members are detained in house raids in Şırnak. The reason of detention is unknown. Detained people are: Cizre district co-mayor Berivan Kutlu, district council members Ali Tanış, Mesut Üçkaç, Mesut Nart, Sabri Erdoğmuş, Aziz Uygur, HDP district co-chair Güler Tunç, HDP members Cihan Ölmez, Reşit Çağlı and Emin Kalkan.
(11/114) Detained Union Members in Diyarbakır…
28 members of Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen) were detained through an investigation against Democratic Society Congress (DTK) in Diyarbakır on November 6, 2020. On November 9, 2020, 17 of them are referred to the court. The court arrested 1 person (Abbas Şahin) and released 16 people ın judicial control conditions.
Released people are: Devrim Durucan, Mehmet Edip Erdoğdu, Şenay Koç, Zeynep Kaya, Kasım Aydın, Yıldırım Arslan, Saliha Zorlu, Recep Şimşek, Mehmet Baydemir, Mehmet Emin Yücel, Halis Kızılırmak, Ezgi Çelik, Mehmet Arda, Fatih Mutlu, Pelda Sevim and Murat Derince.
11 people who were detained through the same investigation were released after statement procedures on November 6, and 7, 2020.
Thus, 1 person is arrested through this investigation and 27 people are released provided that 16 people will be on judicial control conditions.
(11/115) Detained People in Mardin…
4 of 13 people who were detained in Mardin through an investigation against Democratic Society Congress on October 30, 2020, are referred to the court on November 9, 2020. It is learned that 2 people (Hasip Aktaş and Ahmet İnci) are arrested on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and 2 people (Hatice Kalkan and Hüsnü Ağırman) are released on judicial control conditions.
1 person was arrested through the same investigation and 8 people including Ayşe Gökkan, spokesperson of Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA) were released.
(11/116) Detained HDP Executives in Osmaniye…
HDP’s Osmaniye provincial co-chairs Kadriye Töre and Ali Coşkun, who were detained on November 4, 2020, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 9, 2020.
(11/117) Detained SKM Spokesperson in Istanbul…
Deniz Aktaş, spokesperson of Socialist Women’s Assemblies is detained at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport on November 9, 2020. It is learned that the reason of detention is an investigation against her for protests about trustee appointment to Van city. Deniz Aktaş is released after statement procedures. It is learned from the news reports that Deniz Aktaş has given her official statement through this investigation however she was detained for additional testimony.
(11/118) Detained People in Urfa…
2 people (Mahmut Şaşmaz and Eyüp Cin) who were detained in Viranşehir on November 3, 2020 are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 9, 2020.
(11/119) Detained Trans Women in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 9, 2020 that 18 trans women living in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul are detained by the police on the grounds of “precautions for Covid-19”.
It is learned that 18 trans women were kept under custody for a night and were released after statement procedures at the police.
(11/120) Journalist and Political Party Executives on Trial in Ağrı…
The trial of the case against 5 people, including journalist Aziz Oruç and HDP Doğubayazıt district co-chair Abdullah Ekelek, is held at Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2 on November 9, 2020.
Aziz Oruç joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court released Aziz Oruç and adjourned the trial to April 16, 2021.
Aziz Oruç and Abdullah Ekelek were detained on December 11, 2019, on Ağrı-Doğubayazıt roadway, while İkram Müftüoğlu was detained on the same day in a house raid. Abdullah Ekelek and İkram Müftüoğlu were arrested on December 13, 2019; Aziz Oruç was arrested on December 18, 2019. Abdullah Ekelek and İkram Müftüoğlu were released at the first trial held on July 21, 2020.
(11/121) Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The first trial against Oda TV Ankara news director Müyesser Yıldız, Tele 1 TV channel Ankara correspondent İsmail Dükel, and Erdal Baran is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 26 on November 9, 2020.
The indictment demands jail sentence from 6 years and 3 months to 17 years and 6 months for 3 people on the charge of ‘disclosure of information relating to the security of the state’.
After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Erdal Baran and to release Müyesser Yıldız. The court rejected to lift the ban on leaving the country for İsmail Dükel and adjourned the trial to January 6, 2021.
3 people were detained on June 8, 2020; Müyesser Yıldız and Erdal Baran were arrested by the court and İsmail Dükel was released on judicial control conditions on June 11, 2020.
(11/122) Journalist on Trial in Izmir…
The trial of the case against Mezopotamya News Agency reporter Ruken Demir, on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ which was planned to be held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 19 on November 9, 2020, is adjourned due to damage of the courthouse at Izmir earthquake.
Ruken Demir was detained on November 12, 2019 and was arrested by the court on November 16, 2019. Ruken Demir was released at the first trial held on March 5, 2020.
(11/123) Dismissal of an Academician in Adıyaman…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 2, 2020 that, Adem Yıldırım, a research assistant of Adıyaman University Faculty of Education, was subjected to a disciplinary proceeding because of translating the interview with Rojava People Assembly co-chair Ebdulselam Ehmed, which was published on a magazine in 2014; and that he was suspended from his duty in the university on March 3, 2020. Adem Yıldırım is dismissed by Supreme Disciplinary Board of the Council of Higher Education and his dismissal is submitted to Adıyaman University on October 22, 2020.
(11/124) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 85 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 2,576 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 9, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 10,972 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 396,831 as of November 9, 2020.
It is learned that Murat Esen, a member of Health and Social Service Employees’ Union (SES) in Diyarbakır, and Mehmet Mollamahmutoğlu, a member of SES union in Hakkari died from Covid-19 on November 9, 2020.