Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
11 March 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/130) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Gendarmerie Station in Van…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 10, 2021, a woman, Fethiye Çakmak who was in the bus from Hakkari to Batman that was stopped at the check point outside of Balaban Gendarmerie Station in Gevaş district of Van, was subjected to strip search at the gendarmerie station where she was taken after criminal record check.
Fethiye Çakmak stated the following: “They wanted to see my handbag after they made us got off the bus. I said ‘I cannot open my handbag; I have personal belongings in it’. And upon them insist, I threw everything in the bag out and said ‘now take and look in it’. They called a female village guard after checking my handbag. The village guard took me to a room, and strip searched me. I was subjected to it although I rejected. When I asked for any legal basis, they said ‘shut up’ to me.”
(03/131) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 10, 2021 that, Kemal Gömi, a prisoner in Istanbul Metris R Type Prison was subjected to physical attack of another prisoner in the outdoor area. It is reported that the Forensic Medicine Institution has given a report diagnosing Kemal Gömi with schizophrenia and stating that he could not be kept in prison. It is learned that after the attack, 2-hours of outdoor time for Kemal Gömi was reduced to 1 hour and he was not allowed to see his lawyer.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 10, 2021 that, Gökhan Gündüz, a prisoner in Kırıkkale F Type Prison was transferred to Izmir Kırıklar F Type Prison No 2 under coercion.
(03/132) Police Prevention to Protest About Hunger Strikes in Prison…
The police prevented the press declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakır on March 10, 2021; which was held to draw attention to indefinite hunger strikes that started on November 27, 2020 in prisons to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. It is learned that the group held a sit-in protest upon prevention. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording the protest.
(03/133) Detained Journalist in Siirt…
Journalist Zekeriya Gözüpek is detained on a warrant, during a road-check in Veysel Karani town of Baykan district of Siirt on March 10, 2021; and is released after statement procedures on the same day.
(03/134) Detained People in Istanbul for 8 March Protests…
On March 10, 2021, 12 people are detained in house raids in Istanbul, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ in the slogans chanted at Feminist Night March in Istiklal street of Istanbul on March 8, 2021.
Some of the detained people are: İlayda Cantaş, Ebru Sert, Merve Bektaş, Zeynep Çakır, Sedef Özer, Pelin Şahin, Nimet Tanrıkulu, Besra işsever, İlknur Birol.
(03/135) Detained HDP Member in Istanbul for Social Media Posts…
On March 10, 2021, HDP member Mehmet Masyan is detained on the grounds of social media posts in house raids in Istanbul.
(03/136) Detained People in Hakkari…
2 people (B. K. and E. A.) who were detained in Hakkari on March 4, 2021, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on March 10, 2021.
(03/137) Journalist on Trial in Nagehan Alçı…
The trial of the case against journalist Nagehan Alçı, upon criminal complaint of Hakkı Yalçınkaya, judge of Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 37, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on March 10, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence from 1 year and 2 months up to 2 years and 4 months for Nagehan Alçı on the charge of ‘publicly degrading a public officer’.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 31, 2021.
(03/138) Co-Mayor on Trial in Muş…
The final trial of the case against Ülkü Karaaslan, HDP co-mayor of Varto district of Muş who was suspended and replaced by a trustee, is held at Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 10, 2021.
After defence hearings the court sentenced Ülkü Karaaslan to 2 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘successively making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
Ülkü Karaaslan was detained on December 17, 2019; arrested on December 18, 2019, and was released from prison on August 20, 2020. The Ministry of Interior appointed the sub-governor as trustee to Varto municipality on December 18, 2019.
(03/139) Co-Mayors on Trial in Van…
The trial of the case against Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan, co-mayors of Muradiye district of Van, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 7 on March 10, 2021. Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan were suspended and a trustee was appointed for district municipality.
After defence hearings the court lifted house confinement for Yılmaz Şalan and adjourned the trial to June 28, 2021.
Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan were detained on December 6, 2019; Yılmaz Şalan was arrested, Leyla Balkan was released on judicial control conditions on December 9, 2019. The Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Muradiye district on December 7, 2019.
(03/140) HDP Executive on Trial in Erzurum…
The final trial of the case against HDP Karayazı district co-chair Dinçer Polat is held at Erzurum Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 10, 2021.
Dinçer Polat joined the trial from prison and made his defence. The court sentenced Dinçer Polat to 3 years and 45 days on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ and ruled to release Dinçer Polat from prison.
(03/141) HDP Executives on Trial in Mardin…
The first trial of the case against HDP Mardin provincial co-chair Perihan Ağaoğlu and former provincial co-chair Musa Alkan, is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 on March 10, 2021.
Perihan Ağaoğlu and Musa Alkan joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence and witness hearings the court decided to release Perihan Ağaoğlu and Musa Alkan and adjourned the trial to June 25, 2021.
Perihan Ağaoğlu and Musa Alkan were detained on February 29, 2020 and were arrested on March 6, 2020.
(03/142) ESP Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Uğur Ok, Party Assembly member of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on March 10, 2021.
Uğur Ok joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention of Uğur Ok and adjourned the trial to September 21, 2021.
Uğur Ok was arrested in Istanbul on December 21, 2020.
(03/143) Investigation Against Journalist in Istanbul…
It is learned that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalist Yılmaz Özdil on the grounds of ‘publicly degrading religious values of a section of the public’, upon criminal complaint of Assoc. Professor Ebubekir Sifil in Yalova University Faculty of Islamic Sciences, for the article “Threat of the bigot”. It is learned that Yılmaz Özdil made his official statement to Press Offences Department on March 10, 2021.
(03/144) October 10 – Ankara Massacre Case…
The trial of the case against Erman Ekici and 16 fugitive defendants, for October 10 – Ankara Massacre, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 4 on March 10, 2021.
It is learned that a new court board was assigned to the case. It is reported that a relative of one of those who lost their lives in the bombing shouted “We want justice” in the courtroom, the court board wanted to take this person out, and the trial was paused after a quarrel took place between lawyers and the court board. The court then adjourned the trial to March 19, 2021.
19 defendants have been sentenced to jail sentences on August 3, 2018, at the final trial of the case on October 10 – Ankara Massacre and the case against 16 fugitives was separated.
(03/145) Police Raid to Publishing House in Istanbul…
On March 10, 2021, Ozan Publishing House in Sultangazi district of Istanbul is raided by the police. The police detained 5 people (Aslıhan Buçaklar, Emrah Yayla, Ferdi İşçi, Murat Ulusoy and Yurdagül Gümüş).
(03/146) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On March 9, 2021, 39 people are detained through an Ankara based investigation on police chief exam of 2005; 12 people are detained in Ankara on the grounds of using Bylock; 6 people are detained in a road check in Bolu; 1 person is detained in a house raid in Ankara and 5 people are detained in Edirne in an alleged attempt to illegally flee abroad.
(03/147) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 67 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 814 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on March 10, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 14,556.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 29,227 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,821,943 as of March 10, 2021.
[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.