Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
11-13 May 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/110) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 13, 2024, that 2 militants died in the clashes between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in the Hakurk area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on April 18, 2024.
(05/111) Suspicious Death in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2024, that Reber Soydan, a prisoner in Van F Type High-Security Prison was found dead in a single room on May 12, 2024, and prison authorities reported the cause of death as suicide while informing the family. It is reported that Reber Soydan’s body was taken to Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Dursun Odabaş Medical Hospital for autopsy.
(05/112) The Response of the Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses Regarding the Practice of Mouth Searches in Prisons…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2024, that the Directorate General of Prisons and Detention Houses responded to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Human Rights Inquiry Commission about prisoners’ inability to access treatment due to the practice of mouth search in prisons, and stated that the measures taken to ensure security during transfers are implemented by Gendarmerie Division Command and that the responsibility of this practice is not under the authority of the administration of prisons.
(05/113) Person Wounded Due to Explosion of an Object in Hakkari…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 11, 2024, that Uğur Kuşar, who was having a picnic with his friends in the rural areas of Hakkari’s Üzümcü village, was wounded when an object exploded in the area and he was taken to Hakkari Public Hospital.
(05/114) People Subjected to Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 13, 2024, that 4 people (Serhat Güney, Berat Güney, Uğur Karalar, and Cem Karalar) who were stopped at a vehicle checkpoint in the Küçükçemece district of Istanbul on May 12, 2024, were subjected to physical violence by the police officers.
It is learned that Cem Karalar reacted against a police officer’s use of offensive expressions at a checkpoint and Cem Karalar had a quarrel with the police officer and the police officers who came to the scene inflicted physical violence on 4 people in the car, handcuffed them behind their backs and used pepper spray. It is also reported that 4 people who were wounded in various parts of their bodies due to physical violence, got medical reports documenting the physical violence and filed a complaint against the police officers.
Cem Karalar stated the following in the press: “After hanging up the phone, the policewoman said ‘I will now…’ and gestured. Meanwhile, the police surrounded us and started swearing at all of us. 3 – 4 police cars arrived. Whatever the policewoman said on the phone, they started beating us all. They continued to beat us even when we were handcuffed behind our backs on the ground. They beat us so much that my teeth were broken.”
Serhat Güney stated the following in the press: “We were beaten until we were taken to the hospital. They threatened us saying, ‘We will not let you see the morning’.”
Uğur Karalar stated the following in the press: “They were beating and swearing at the same time. All we said was that the language they used was wrong.”
(05/115) Police Prevented Justice Watch Visits in Ankara…
On June 14, 2018, the Women’s Assembly of All Municipalities and Local Government Workers’ Union (TÜM BEL-SEN Women’s Assembly), members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and university students wanted to go to the front of the Ministry of Justice to visit Emine Şenyaşar, whose husband Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar were killed after a quarrel between Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary candidate İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his bodyguards and shopkeepers in Suruç district of Urfa on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024, but the group had to visit the ministry’s annex building due to the police blockade in front of the ministry.
It is learned that on the same date, Peace Mothers from Adana and Mersin came to Büklüm Street where DEM Party Headquarters is located, and started a sit-in protest due to the police blockade and Emine Şenyaşar met with Peace Mothers there.
(05/116) Police Prevented Press Statements in Van and Adana…
The police prevented the press statement which was planned to be held in front of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Provincial Building on May 10, 2024, in Van within the scope of the ‘Give Voice to Freedom’ demonstration called by the Association of Assistance and Solidarity with Families of Prisoners and Detainees (TUHAY-DER) demanding an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. Citing the ban on demonstrations and events in the province, the participants of the press statement were prevented by the police from coming to the front of the AKP provincial building, and after negotiations, the participants moved the press statement to Sanat Street and were not allowed by the police to unfurl the banner reading ‘end isolation’.
It is learned that the press statement with the same demand, which was planned to be held in front of AKP provincial office in Adana on May 10, 2024, with the call of DEM Party, Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Akdeniz Adana Association for Assistance to Families of Prisoners and Detainees (AATUHAY-DER) and Akdeniz Association for Assistance and Solidarity with Families Who Lost Relatives (AYKAY-DER), was prevented by the police and the press statement was held in İnönü Park after negotiations.
(05/117) Police Prevented the Distribution of Leaflets in Diyarbakır…
According to the news coverage of May 13, 2024, Mesopotamia Language and Culture Research Association (MED-DER), Kurdish Literary Association (Komeleya Wêjekarên Kurd), Diyarbakır Kurdish Language Institute (Enstîtuya Kurdî Amed), Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), DESTAR, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Language and Culture Commission, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Amed Labor and Democracy Platform members who were distributing leaflets at Şeyh Sait Square in Diyarbakır for May 15 Kurdish Language Day, were prevented by the police.
(05/118) Interventions against May 1st Celebrations…
It is learned that Serdar Oğuz, who was detained on May 5, 2024, for trying to march from Saraçhane to Taksim Square during May 1 celebrations in Istanbul and was released on judicial control condition on May 6, 2024, was arrested after being detained at his workplace on May 10, 2024, upon the reversal of judicial control decision. With the arrest of Serdar Oğuz, the number of people arrested for May 1 celebrations increased to 50.
(05/119) March 31st Elections…
7 of 9 people (Barış Özdinç, It is learned that Serhat Engin, Serkan Akdağ, Ferhat Çetin, Serkan Tan, Agit Kurt, and Cahit Erdal) who were detained in Hakkari on May 8, 2024, on the grounds of participating in the protests about Van, were arrested by Hakkari Penal Court of Peace on the charges of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ on May 10, 2024, and were sent to Van High-Security Prison. It is learned that 2 people (Mazlum Kurti, and Ali Sönmez) were released on house confinement.
(05/120) People Detained in Antalya…
1 of 8 people who were detained on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ during house raids in Antalya on May 8, 2024, was released on the same day. 7 people were released by Antalya Criminal Peace Judgeship on May 10, 2024, on judicial control conditions. The names of the detainees whose names are known are as follows: Fırat Eren, Mehmet Çobaner, Mehmet Deniz, Medeni Kaya, Serhat Kaya, and Yusuf Çiçek.
(05/121) People Detained in Van…
At least 30 people were detained during house raids in Van on May 13, 2024. The reason for the detentions could not be learned. The names of the detainees whose names were learned are Can Gören, Erol Sarı, Mesut Üçer, İsmet Yakut, Vedat Balık, Diyar Aslan, Cevzet Yücel, Dilgeş Aslan, Ümit Çobanhan, Kenan İldeniz, Kadir Üçer, Abdulkadir Akdağ, Şahin Öztürk, Bulut Kaynak, Azat Kaya, Özgür Duman.
(05/122) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the lawsuit filed against journalist Barış Terkoğlu in Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 27 with the complaint of Süheyb Öğüt due to some statements he made in the interview titled ‘Pelikancıların İstanbul Savaşı’ in 2019 continued on May 10, 2024. The prosecutor declared his final opinion on the case and stated that the statements in question were within the scope of freedom of thought and expression and demanded the acquittal of the journalist. The court adjourned the hearing to May 17, 2024.
(05/123) Prisoner on Trial in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2024 that, a lawsuit was filed against Gökhan Gündüz, a prisoner in Izmir Buca Kırıklar High Security Prison No 2, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ for a cartoon in a letter he sent to a friend, at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 40. The final hearing of the case will be held on May 21, 2024.
(05/124) Prisoner Unheard from After His Release From Prison…
It is learned that Human Rights Association (IHD) filed a criminal complaint about Ali Veli (19, m), a Syrian citizen who was released from Erzincan L Type Prison on March 13, 2024, and was not heard from again and whose family was threatened via video footage of him being subjected to torture; and that Mardin Public Prosecutor’s Office decided ‘no prosecution’ on the grounds that the torture took place outside the borders of the country.
Ali Veli was visited by unidentified persons during his imprisonment in Mardin E Type Prison, who showed Ali Veli photographs of his family members, asked him where his father was and threatened him. It was claimed that Ali Veli was taken to a removal center for deportation after his release from prison, but his family and relatives were not given any information about which removal center he was taken to.
(05/125) Investigation against A Mayor…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 13, 2024, that an investigation was initiated against Tunceli co-mayor Cevdet Konak on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and that Cevdet Konak was called to testify through the investigation.
(05/126) Banned Event in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 11, 2024, that the 25th Anniversary Culture and Art Event of the Dersim Associations Federation, which was to be held at Bağcılar Olympic Sports Hall on May 18, 2024, was canceled by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Sports on the grounds of repairs and maintenance at the hall.
(05/127) Exhibition Shut Down Early in Eskişehir…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2024, that the exhibition titled ‘Vallus’, organized by Ye’r Community at Eskişehir Vecihi Hürkuş Aviation Museum Hangar 2 between April 27 and May 16, 2024, with the theme of censorship, self-censorship, prevention, and restriction, was shut down early on the grounds of an event organized by Eskişehir Tepebaşı Municipality with mukhtars.
(05/128) Books Banned from a Book Fair in Erzurum…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2024, that some books of Kırmızı Kedi Publishing House, which are not subject to any ban or confiscation order, were not allowed by Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality to be brought into the 6th Eastern Anatolia Erzurum Book Fair which will be held between May 17 – 26, 2024, on the grounds that they ‘contain political content’.
(05/129) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
1 person with a finalized prison sentence was arrested on 13 May 2024 in Mersin and sent to prison.
[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.