Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
12 – 14 August 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(08/063) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Bitlis…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 12, 2023 that, a person named Kerem Arvas who was detained in a house raid in Söğütlü village of Tatvan district of Bitlis during an operation of the security forces was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the gendarmerie and was injured.
The lawyer of Kerem Arvas stated the following to the press: “During his detention, Kerem was kicked many times in the face and abdomen. We first photographed him, and then he was taken to the hospital and it was found that he had two cracks in his ribs. And as a result of these efforts, a report of assault was received. We will file a criminal complaint against the law enforcement based on this assault report on Monday.”
(08/064) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 12, 2023 that, 4 prisoners (Zuhal Sürücü, Esra Soyaktaş, Hiyem Yolcu, Birgül Mızrak) in Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison were transferred to other prisons under coercion.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 13, 2023 thar 14 prisoners (Mukaddes Kubilay, Zeynep Bingöl, Rozerin Kurt, Özlem Demir, Sedef Demir, Sermin Demirbağ, Sabite Ekinci, Jiyan Ateş, Rojda Erez, Hanım Yıldırım, Necla Yıldız, Dilan Oynaş, Berrin Sarı, Medine Yaklav) in Ankara Sincan Prison were not released from prison although they have served their full sentence.
(08/065) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 12, 2023 that, an ill prisoner named Önder Poyraz in Erzurum Dumlu Prison No. 2 was not receiving treatment.
(08/066) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 12, 2023 that, a prisoner named Nedim Öztürk in Ankara Sincan F Type Prison No. 2 was on hunger strike since April 24, 2023, demanding to be transferred to another prison and an end to right violations.
(08/067) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on August 11, 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.
(08/068) Police Intervention to Press Declaration in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration of Saturday Mothers/People held at the Galatasaray Square of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on August 12, 2023, and detained 31 people including the Human Rights Association (HRA) chair Eren Keskin, the HRA Istanbul branch chair Gülseren Yoleri, the HRFT General Secretary Coşkun Üsterci and the HRFT executive board member Ümit Efe by using physical violence. It is reported that 19 people including Eren Keskin, Gülseren Yoleri, Coşkun Üsterci and Oya Ersoy were handcuffed behind their backs. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording the intervention. Detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day. Detained people were: Hanife Yıldız, Mikail Kırbayır, İkbal Eren, Maside Ocak, Yılmaz Haksever, Adil Can Ocak, Eren Keskin, Gülseren Yoleri, Leman Yurtsever, Coşkun Üsterci, Ümit Efe, Davut Arslan, Eray Gözütok, Sinan Aktağ, Nilay Kuş, Ceren Günel, Beyza Karasakal, Betül Karasakal, Ensari Korkmaz, Dilek Azgın, Gülseren Güngördü, Oya Ersoy, Hatice Onaran, Nazım Dikbaş, İsmail Yücel, Zehra Demir, Gülendam Özdemir, Hüseyin Ocak, Coşkun Aciz, Emrah Taştan and Meryem Bars.
(08/069) Police Intervention to Support Declaration in for Saturday Mothers…
The police intervened in the press declaration held in Adana on August 12, 2023 to support Saturday Mothers/People, on the grounds of the governorate’s ban and detained 39 people including the HRA Adana branch chair, political party and union executives by using physical violence. Detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day. Detained people were: the HRA Adana branch chair lawyer Yakup Aktaş, the TRA central executive board member lawyer İlhan Öngör, the HRA executives Belgin Işık, Havin Ölmez, Aziz Sarı, Osman Filiztek, Teberdar Elik, the HRA member Mevlüt Kaya, the Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen) Adana branch chair Hüseyin Kaya, the Health and Social Service Employees’ Union (SES) Adana branch chair Dr. Enis Akyüz, the Media, Communication and Postal Employees’ Union (Haber-Sen) Adana branch chair Ahmet Aydoğan, the Municipality and Local Administration Services Employees’ Union (Tüm Bel-Sen) Adana branch chair Mehmet Çelik, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) provincial co-chair Helin Kaya, HDP executives Saniye Seçgin, Taylan Çelik, Nezir Algel, Nihat Doğaner, Çetin Eye, Nuran Özdeş, Ahmet Akdoğan, Aydın Varol, Şükran Efetürk, Osman Güven, Nimet Tekin, the Labour Party member lawyer Tugay Bek, the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) provincial chair Hakan Çayan, Adana Environment Platform spokesperson Yaşar Gökoğlu, Hamit Çelik, Helin Yaşar, Hüseyin Karabulut, Onurcan Gürbüz, Ahmet Kaya an d Akdeniz Culture and Art Association members Osman Polat and Zeki Sekin.
(08/070) Gendarmerie Intervention to Defenders in Muğla…
It is learned that the gendarmerie prevented bringing 2 portable toilettes to the area where the rights defenders and residents protesting the lignite mine intended to be established in Akbelen Forest in Milas district of Muğla, and that 2 people who were bringing them were detained.
(08/071) Police Intervention to YSP’s Protest in Siirt…
The police prevented the press declaration of the Greens and Left Future Party (YSP) regarding the water problem in Siirt on August 11, 2023.
(08/072) Police Intervention to Protest in Antep…
The police prevented the march of Şireci Textile workers in Antep on August 12, 2023 to protest the low pay raise. The United Textile and Leather Workers’ Union (BIRTEK-SEN) chair Mehmet Türkmen was detained over the company owner’s complaint and was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(08/073) Police Intervention to Bicycle Riding in Muş…
20 people who were riding bicycles as part of a campaign of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSP) Youth Assembly in Muş were detained on August 12, 2023. Detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day.
(08/074) German Deputy Detained in Antalya…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 13, 2023 that the German Left Party deputy Gökay Akbulut was detained at Antalya Airport on August 3, 2023, on the grounds of an investigation of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, and was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(08/075) Detained People in Bitlis…
It is learned that 8 people (Serkan İpek, Kerem Arvas, Heybet Çelik, Veli Çelik, Mustafa Tedbirli, Necip Tedbirli, Galip İpek, Hikmet Tedbirli) were detained in house raids in Söğütlü (Peyindas) village of Tatvan district of Bitlis during an operation of the security forces and were taken to the gendarmerie station. It is stated in the news reports that no news was received from 2 people (Ekrem Arvas and Fetullah Arvas) who were also reported to be detained.
(08/076) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that 10 people were detained in house raids in Diyarbakır on August 14, 2023. The reason for detention could not be learned.
(08/077) Detained People in Adana…
It is learned that at least 6 people (Mehmet Öztemel, Caner Abo, Fırat Bahadır, Ozan Mamuk, Ladin Mamuk and Dilan Erbek) were detained in house raids in Adana on August 14, 2023. The reason for detention could not be learned.
(08/078) Prevention of Right to Defense in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 14, 2023, that the written defense in Kurdish given by the prisoner named Mehdi Baştimur for the disciplinary investigation opened against him on the grounds that he shouted slogans in Ankara Sincan High Security Prison No. 2 was not accepted by the prison administration. It was stated that “Since there are petitions in Turkish that you have written to our institution directorate and official authorities, it has been clearly determined that you know enough Turkish to explain your point.”
(08/079) Targeted Religious Ritual…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 14, 2023 that the racist groups were targeting the Feast of the Blessed Virgin, which will be held for the tenth time in the Sümela Monastery in Maçka district of Trabzon, and demanded that it be cancelled.
(08/080) Academics Targeted by Phobic Groups…
It is learned that 11 academicians who wrote the article “Endocrinological Approach to Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: Experience of a Pediatric Endocrinology Department in a Tertiary Center in Turkey” published in a peer-reviewed international journal called “Journal of Clinical Research in Pediatric Endocrinology” were targeted by phobic groups by publishing their photographs.
(08/081) Ban of Events in Adana and Van…
Adana Governorate’s Office made a declaration on August 11, 2023 and banned marches, press declarations, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, opening tents and stands, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on for 1 day as of August 12, 2023.
Van Governorate’s Office made a declaration on August 11, 2023 and banned press declarations, sit-in protests, opening tents and stands, collecting petitions, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on for 2 days as of August 12, 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: 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, Kaos GL.