12-14 September 2015 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/065) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
2 police officers died and 5 police officers were wounded when a police control point was attacked with a bomb-laden vehicle on 13 September 2015 in Şırnak. 5 militants were reportedly killed during the operations conducted after the attack.
A grader was attacked with a rocket launcher on 13 September 2015 in Silvan district of Diyarbakır while closing the ditches. One police officer died, one police officer and one civilian were wounded during the attack.
Osman Saim Çetin (66) who was heavily wounded during the armed attack against a soup shop in Diyarbakır died on 12 September 2015.
A police officer was wounded when Governorate in Nusaybin district of Mardin was attacked with a bomb on 11 September 2015.
One soldier was wounded when a gendarmerie station was organised an armed attack on 12 September 2015 in Aşağı Torunoba village of Ovacık district in Tunceli.
One soldier was wounded when a Narlı Gendarmerie Station was organised an armed attack on 12 September 2015 in Çatak district in Van.
5 police officers were wounded when a bomb exploded during the passage of an armoured vehicle on 11 September 2015 in Cizre district of Şırnak.
(09/066) Cizre under Siege…
The number of persons who died during the curfew since 4 September 2015 due to firings of security forces or security forces’ prevention of the ambulances to take persons to hospital in Cizre district of Şırnak reached 21.
The curfew was suspended on 11 September 2015 upon decision of the Governorate of Şırnak. But the Governorate declared curfew again on 13 September 2015. The curfew decision was suspended the next day.
Mehmet Erdoğan (75) was shot to death by a sniper when he was going to buy bread on 12 September 2015.
Armed clashes continued on the night of 13 September 2015. Şahin Açık had heart attack and died allegedly because of excessive use of tear gas.
(09/067) Persons Killed by the Police in Diyarbakır…
Ruken Demir (18) was shot to death when the police opened fire during a demonstration staged on 11 September 2015 in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır to protest in the incidents in Cizre district of Şırnak.
(09/068) Impunity in Nezir Tekçi Case…
Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1 concluded on 11 September 2015 to hear the case against retired Colonel Ali Osman Akın and active Lieutenant Colonel Kemal Alkan launched on charges of ordering the killing of Nezir Tekçi.
The court acquitted the defendants. The indictment wanted the defendants to be sentenced for ordering the killing of Nezir Tekçi for not revealing information on PKK militants and exploding his body with a land mine.
Nezir Tekçi had been detained on 26 April 1995 in Yekmal (Aşağı Ölçek) village of Yüksekova district in Hakkari by the soldiers from Bolu 5th Commando Brigade and had disappeared since then. He had been allegedly killed by soldiers for not providing information about PKK militants in the region.
His father Halit Tekçe made the first official complaint in 1997 concerning the disappearance and Military Prosecutor in Van decided not to prosecute on 15 December 1997.
In 2010, the investigation restarted upon testimony of Yunus Şahin who was serving for compulsory military service on the day of the incident and witnessed the killing of Nezir Tekçi. Meanwhile upon official complaint by his family, a court case was launched against the soldiers in September 2011. But the case was transferred to Eskişehir for security reasons.
(09/069) Explosion in Mardin…
2 children were wounded on 12 September 2015 in Kızıltepe district of Mardin when a plastic bottle they found exploded. Tahsin Uray (9) who was heavily wounded died on 13 September 2015 in the hospital.
(09/070) Attacks against HDP and Hate Crimes throughout Turkey…
13 Kurdish workers in Taşkesti town of Mudurnu district in Bolu were attacked on 13 September 2015 by a group of racists. The attack was organised on the allegations that they were burning Turkish flag. The attackers besieged the construction area and waited for hours to lynch the workers and to set the building to fire. Although Governor of Bolu province Aydın Baruş announced that the workers were going to be sentenced, the attacked the workers. After 8 hours, Kurdish workers left the construction area with armoured vehicles.
(09/071) Torture and Ill-treatment in Custody in İstanbul…
6 members of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) who were detained after the attack by ultra-nationalists against HDP premises in Sancaktepe district of İstanbul on 15 September 2015 were reportedly subjected naked search and beatings in custody.
(09/072) Rape Threat in Custody…
M.K., (17) who was arrested after being detained during a house raid on 12 August 2015 reportedly sent a letter on the incidents in Van Security Directorate. M.K. alleged that s/he was subjected to torture and sexual assault in custody, one of the officers threatened her/him by saying “Do you want to be raped by 28 persons?”.
(09/073) persons Wounded by the Police in Diyarbakır…
The police allegedly opened fire against 3 persons during patrol on 13 September 2015 in Seyrantepe quarter of Diyarbakır. The persons were reportedly wounded and then beaten by the police before being released.
(09/074) Child on Trial in Konya …
Konya Juvenile Court No 3 continued on 11 September 2015 to hear the case against M.E.A. (16) launched on charges of “insulting the State President”. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced according to the Article 299 TPC.
The court sentenced the defendant to 11 months and 20 days’ imprisonment and suspended the sentence.
M.E.A., student in Meram Industrial Vocational School, was arrested on 24 December 2014 for insulting State President in a speech s/he made in the name of “Populist High School Students Group (Halkçı Liseliler Grubu)” during a commemoration on 23 December 2014 in Konya. S/he was released next day. Only one day after the application, Ministry of Justice gave permission to the Public Prosecutor in Konya to open a court case against M.E.A.
(09/075) News Portals Banned, Journal Premises Raided…
According to the news appeared in the press on 12 September 2015, although there was no court decision, some of the internet service providers prevented internet user from reaching the web site of daily Cumhuriyet.
The office of the weekly journal Nokta in Kağıthane district of İstanbul was raided by the police on the night of 12 September 2015. The raid was allegedly conducted in connection with an investigation concerning the cover of the 18th issue of the journal on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” and “insulting State President”. The police also seized copies of the issue. Access to twitter account of the journal was also banned by the Public Prosecutor in İstanbul.
A new domain “www.diclehaberajansi.link” of Dicle News Agency (DİHA) which was launched was also banned by Telecommunication Communication Presidency on 13 September 2015. Access to 16 domains of DİHA was previously banned.
(09/076) Protests Intervened in Adana and Mersin…
The police intervened the demonstrations staged on 13 September 2015 in Adana, Mersin and Tarsus district of Mersin to protest in the incidents in Cizre district of Şırnak. The police shot 2 persons in Tarsus and wounded. 5 persons were detained in Mersin. 2 persons were reportedly wounded by being shot by the police.
(09/077) Curfew in Diyarbakır…
Following the armed clashes started on the night of 12 September 2015 in Sur district of Diyarbakır and an attack with a rocket launcher in Silvan district which led to death of a police officer, Governorate of Diyarbakır declared curfew in the district on 13 September 2015.
The police intervened the persons who were protesting the curfew decision in Sur district and 4 persons were wounded during the intervention. Makbule Ermiş (80) was also shot at her foot when she was looking for her son on the streets.
Despite the curfew, groups of persons tried to enter the district. The police intervened the groups and Peoples’ Democratic Party MP Çağlar Demirel was wounded with a tear gas canister. The police also intervened groups in Bağlar district. M.K. was shot with a tear gas canister on their balcony and wounded.
(09/078) Human Shield Intervened…
Gendarmerie soldiers opened fire with real bullets against a group of persons who wanted to be human shield on 13 September 2015 to stop the armed clashes nearby Fis plateau in Lice district of Diyarbakır. 7 persons including a heavy one were wounded during intervention.
(09/079) Gezi Park Trials…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 13 continued on 11 September 2015 to hear the case against 35 persons launched in connection with the Gezi Park demonstrations staged near the Prime Minister’s Office in Dolmabahçe Palace on 3 June 2013.
The indictment wants the defendants including members of Beşiktaş sports club supporters group Çarşı to be sentenced aggravated life imprisonment on the allegations of “attempt to overthrow the government” and “attempt to occupy Prime Minister’s Office”.
In his opinion as to the accusations, the Public Prosecutor wanted the defendants to be acquitted. The court adjourned the hearing to 29 December 2015.
The case was allegedly launched upon complaints by police officers. But 4 police officers who did complaint against the defendants testified at the hearing on 2 April 2015 to the effect that they did not see or have any contact with the defendants during the demonstrations and withdrew their complaints.
(09/080) House Raids in İstanbul…
15 persons who were among 17 persons detained during the operation conducted against the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) were arrested on 12 September 2015 on the allegations of “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
(09/081) Mayor Discharged from Office…
Cizre Mayor Leyla İmret was discharged from office on 11 September 2015 by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. The decision was reportedly taken in connection with an interview given to a news portal published in English.
(09/082) 3. KCK/TM Main Trial in İstanbul…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued on 11 September 2015 to hear the case against 46 journalists and correspondents launched after the operation conducted on 20 December 2011 against the premises of Dicle News Agency and several other news agencies in connection with a KCK investigation.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “being member of an illegal organisation” and “being leading member of an illegal organisation”.
At the previous hearing of the case, the lawyers defended that the files of the case should be sent to the Constitutional Court on the grounds that the Temporary Article 14/4 of the Anti-terror Law and the Article 1 of the Law No 6526 on Amendments in Anti-Terror Law, Law on Criminal Procedures and in other laws were against the constitution. The court accepted the demand and decided to ask the Constitutional Court.
Since the Constitutional Court did not answer the question, the court adjourned the hearing to 15 January 2016 to wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court.
(09/083) KCK/TM Main Trial in İstanbul…
Çağlayan (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued on 11 September 2015 to hear the case against 204 persons launched after the operation conducted in 2011 in İstanbul in connection with a KCK investigation.
The court adjourned the hearing to 15 January 2015 to wait for the answer of the Constitutional Court.
(09/084) Operations throughout Turkey…
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair for Muş province Cihan Akpolat, former DBP Chair for Varto district Güven Meşe, DBP executive Selamettin Yılmaz and Mesopotamia Solidarity and Cultural Association (Mezopotamya Yakınlarını Kaybedenlerle Yardımlaşma Dayanışma ve Kültür Derneği – MEYA-DER) branch Chair in Varto district İrfan Kandemir who were detained during operations conducted in Muş and Varto district were arrested on 11 September 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted house raids on 11 September 2015 in İstanbul in connection with a “Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H) Investigation” and detained 17 persons including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members and activists.
- Şükrü Karagöz (22) who was one of 2 persons detained during house raids in Bismil district of Diyarbakır was arrested on 11 September 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Metin Ekici and Sefize Yıldırmaz who were among 5 persons detained during a road control in Malatya on the allegations of denunciation were arrested on 13 September 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Special Forces conducted house raids on 12 September 2015 in Hakkari. The houses of HDP and DBP Co-Chairs in Hakkari province were also raided and 3 persons were detained during the operations.
Mahsun Şen and Rıdvan Afşar who were detained on their way from Şırnak to Diyarbakır were arrested on 11 September 2015 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
25 persons including Rohat Özbay, Mayor of Doğubayazıt district in Ağrı, were detained on 12 September 2015 on the allegations of entering a military security zone nearby Ağrı Mountain.