Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
11 – 13 March 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/106) Earthquakes in Antep and Maraş…
According to the information recorded by Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, on February 6, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 in Şehitkamil district of Antep which struck at 04:17 local time and an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 in Ekinözü district of Maraş which struck at 13:24 local time killed at least 48,448 people as of March 13, 2023. The Ministry of Interior declared that 6,600 foreign nationals died in the earthquakes and 1,615 people could not be identified.
The Minister of Family and Social Services made a statement on March 13, 2023 and declared that a total of 1,915 unaccompanied children were registered in the system, 1,673 of them were identified and given to their families, 153 children were in the hospital, 89 children were in the institutions of the ministry, and 45 children could not be identified.
(03/107) Prevention of Relief Activities in Earthquake Region…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 12, 2023 that, the lawyers who came to the tent cities in Adıyaman to inform the earthquake survivors in legal matters, were prevented by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) officials, on the grounds of “the governor’s instruction”.
(03/108) Prosecutions and Detentions for Social Media Posts…
The General Directorate of Security announced that prosecutions were initiated against 730 people and 179 people were detained, 43 people were arrested for their social media posts about the earthquakes in Antep and Maraş, as of March 13, 2023.
(03/109) Abducted Person in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that, a person named Azad Aktaş was abducted by persons claiming to be undercover police officers, in Lice district of Diyarbakır on March 8, 2023; and was released on the same day after being forced to be a police informant.
(03/110) Evacuated Prisons…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 10, 2023, that Diyarbakır D Type Prison was evacuated due to the risk of collapse and 258 prisoners were transferred to other prisons in Diyarbakır, Batman, Elazığ and Van.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that Çankırı E Type Prison was evacuated due to the risk of collapse. The number of prisoners who were transferred to other prisons could not be learned.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that Bingöl M Type Prison was evacuated due to the risk of collapse and 263 prisoners were transferred to other prisons.
(03/111) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that, Şaban Kaygusuz, a prison with one hand and one foot in Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison No. 1 was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during hospital transfer and was taken back to the prison without being examined at hospital.
It is learned from the news coverage pf March 11, 2023 that, the prisoners transferred from Mardin E Type Prison to Erzincan T Type Prison were forcibly strip searched at the entrance.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that, in Manisa T Type Prison 22 people were kept in wards for 8 prisoners.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 12, 2023 that, the prisoners were given water only 2 hours a day in Kütahya T Type Prison.
(03/112) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on March 10, 2023 to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by families and tutelary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in Imralı Prison, in order to visit them was not responded.
(03/113) Transphobic Attack in Konya…
A transphobic attack was carried out by a group on the opening of the Konya branch of the beauty center belonging to trans woman Selin Ciğerci on March 12, 2023. It is learned that the beauty center was closed after the opening due to the attack.
(03/114) Arrested Former MP…
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa former MP İbrahim Binici, was detained in Ankara on March 11, 2023 as the 2 years and 6 months of jail sentence given in the case on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ was finalised and was arrested on the same day.
(03/115) Detained SGDF Members in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation members who were calling for the commemoration for those who lost their lives in the Gazi Massacre, and detained 2 people (Adnan Özcan and Kalender Polat) in Sultangazi district of Istanbul on March 11, 2023.
(03/116) Detained Journalist and Members and Executives of ESP, SGDF and SKM in Istanbul…
On March 12, 2023, 9 people including Etkin News Agency reporter Elif Bayburt and members and executives of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), SGDF and the Socialist Women Assemblies (SKM) were detained in house raids in Istanbul, Adana and Ankara through an Istanbul based investigation. It is learned that the detainees were restricted from lawyer visit for 24 hours. Detained people are: Deniz Aşe Akşar, Elif Bayburt, Tanya Kara, Okan Danacı, Senem Pektaş, Birkan Polat, Deniz Bahçeci, Can Papila, Devrim Barış.
(03/117) Detained HDP Executives and Other People in Izmir…
On March 13, 2023, 13 people including HDP members and executives and Peace Mothers were detained in house raids in Izmir. It is learned that the reason for detention was the event held in HDP Çimentepe office for 8 March International Women’s Day. Detained people are: HDP Izmir provincial executive Mahsun Koç, HDP Party Assembly member Mehmet Sabri Gül, Peace Mothers Sultane Yağmaken, Hediye Korkut; Ayten Gülmez, Edibe Sincar, Gülizar Dağ, Hanife Gümüş, Fatma Sürme, Nüfusa Ataç, Zeynep Çelik, Famile Arı, Elfedin Kol. It is learned that 13 people were released after statement procedures on the same day.
(03/118) Lawyer on Trial in Bursa…
The final trial of the case against lawyer Umut Beyaz, on the grounds of a social media post about the Deputy Justice Minister, is held at Bursa Heavy Penal Court No. 8 on March 7, 2023. The court sentenced Umut Beyaz to a judicial fine of 21,240 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘publicly insulting a public official’.
(03/119) People on Trial in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 11, 2023 that, the acquittal of 4 people including HDP’s former provincial executive Banu Selda Şenol, in the case opened at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No. 2 on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ was overturned by the Penal Department No. 18 of Izmir Regional Court of Justice.
(03/120) Investigation Against Academician in Yalova…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 13, 2023 that an investigation was launched by the Yalova University administration against Çiğdem Kurt, an academician at School of Foreign Languages, on the grounds of the words she said about the earthquakes during a lesson.
(03/121) Ankara JİTEM Case…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 1 has acquitted former Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar, İbrahim Şahin, Korkut Eken, Ayhan Çarkın, Ayhan Akça, Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, Ercan Ersoy, Ahmet Demirel, Ayhan Özkan, Seyfettin Lap, Enver Ulu, Uğur Şahin, Alper Tekdemir, Yusuf Yüksel, Abbas Semih Sueri, Lokman Külünk, Mahmut Yıldırım, Nurettin Güven, Muhsin Korman, on the case known as “Ankara JİTEM case”, regarding the unidentified murders committed in and around Ankara between 1993 and 1996. Ankara Regional Court Penal Department No. 1 has overturned the local court’s verdict and ruled a retrial. The retrial is held on March 10, 2023. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded acquittal for the defendants. The court adjourned the trial to May 28, 2023.
[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, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansı, Yurt, Yeni Yaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.