12-15 July 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/016) Persons on Trial in Mersin…
Mersin Penal Court of First Instance No 14 started on 13 July 2016 to hear the case against 21 persons including Secretary General of the federation of public servants’ unions KESK Hasan Toprak launched in connection with a public statement in front of the Mersin Court House.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”. After the identification and testimonies of the present defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to 31 October 2016 for the completion of testimonies.
(07/017) Persons on Trial in İzmir…
İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 2 started on 13 July 2016 to hear the case against 29 persons including HRFT board member Coşkun Üsterci. The defendants were detained following a public statement by the İzmir Peace Block on 8 February 2016 concerning the massacre in Cizre and were released after a while. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” and “violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations”.
After the identification and first testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to 24 November 2016 for the completion of deficient documents.
(07/018) Co-Mayor Dismissed from Duty…
Co-Mayors for Mazıdağı district of Mardin province Necla Yıldırım and Ali Özkan were dismissed from duty upon decision of the Ministry of Interior Affairs dating 14 July 2016.
(07/019) Persons on Trial on the Allegations of Insulting the State President…
According to the news appeared in the press on 14 July 2016, Beykoz (İstanbul) Penal Court of First Instance No 3 continued to hear the case against Deniz Durak and Nida Karabağ launched on charges of “insulting the State President”. The case was launched in connection with a public statement in Beykoz district of İstanbul in connection with the massacre in Ankara on 10 October 2016.
The court decided to suspend the judicial control decision for Deniz Durak. The court also ruled judicial control decision against Nida Karabağ who did not appear and testify before the court. The court adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(07/020) Armed Clash in Şanlıurfa…
Hüseyin Doğukan Erdoğan (17) opened fire against police officers on 11 July 2016 in Şanlıurfa following a dispute for ID control in bus terminal. 3 police officers were killed and 3 police officers were wounded during the incident. The attacker reportedly committed suicide after the incident.
(07/021) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
Governorate of Hakkari imposed curfew in Öveç village and its hamlets in Şemdinli district for 3 days on the grounds of military operations to be conducted in the region.
2 police officers were wounded when a police vehicle was opened fire on 11 july 2016 in Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır.
3 police officers were wounded when security forces were attacked on 11 July 2016 in Dereli district of Giresun.
2 civilians including a child were wounded when the military base in Şeyh Turki Tepesi and police station in İnönü quarter were attacked on 15 July 2016 in Siirt.
Governorate of Şırnak imposed curfew on 13 July 2016 in Roboski and Bejûh villages in Uludere district on the grounds of military operations to be conducted in the region.
Governorate of Diyarbakır imposed curfew on 14 July 2016 in 16 villages in Silvan district on the grounds of military operations to be conducted in the region.
5 militants were reportedly killed following the curfew.
Governorate of Mardin imposed curfew on 15 July 2016 in 22 villages in Artuklu, Mazıdağı and Derik districts on the grounds of military operations to be conducted in the region.
(07/022) Detentions and Arrests…
Security Forces conducted operations against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) in Diyadin district of Ağrı. 25 persons were detained during the operations.
11 persons including Deputy Mayor for the district Mustafa Alpaslan who were among detainees were arrested on 14 July 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
9 persons including Co-Mayor of Özalp district in Van province Şerafettin Özalp were detained during the house raids conducted on 12 July 2016.
G.L. (17-male) who was detained in Silopi district of Şırnak was arrested on 11 July 2016 on the allegations of “attempting to disrupt the unity and territorial integrity of the state”.
4 persons who were among 10 members of Democratic Rights Federation (DHF) detained during operations in Adana and Hatay were arrested on 14 July 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted house raids on 13 July 2016 in various districts of İzmir in connection with a “Patriotic Revolutionary Youth Movement (YDG-H) Investigation” and detained 11 persons.
4 persons were detained during house raids in Roboski village of Şırnak where curfew was imposed.
8 persons who were among 10 persons detained during house raid in Karlıova district of Bingöl were arrested on 13 July 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
(07/023) Persons Killed during Curfews…
The bodies of 56 persons who were killed during the curfews in Silopi and Cizre districts of Şırnak were buried on 11 July 2016 for not being identified.
The body of YPS member Mehmet Giçer (Şerzan) who was killed during the clashes in Şırnak was identified on 12 July 2016.
(07/024) Condition of Prisoners…
HDP Chair for Kağızman district in Kars province Kemal Avcı who was arrested in April 2016 after his conviction in a court case for “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” was confirmed by the Court of Cassation was released on 11 July 2016 from Silivri (İstanbul) L-type Prison No 2 relying on the medical report certifying that he was suffering from stomach cancer. He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.
(07/025) Death in Prison…
Aydın İpkin (37) incarcerated in Adıyaman E-type Prison allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell on 14 July 2016.
(07/026) Person Convicted in Ankara…
According to the news appeared in the press on 14 July 2016, Sincan (Ankara) Heavy Penal Court No 2 concluded to hear the case against Jiyan Arıkboğa launched on charges of “being member of an illegal organisation”. Jiyan Arıkboğa was arrested in Ankara during medical treatment when a mine exploded in Kobanê. He was in Kobanê for the reconstruction of the city.
The court sentenced Jiyan Arıkboğa to 7 years and 8 months’ imprisonment for “being member of an illegal organisation” and “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”. Jiyan Arıkboğa was released with judicial control decision.
(07/027) Mayor, Municipality and Political Party Executives on Trial for Self-Governance Declarations…
Erciş (Van) Heavy Penal Court started on 14 July 2016 to hear the case against 23 persons including Erciş Co-Mayor Diba Keskin launched on charges of ““disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”. Diba Keskin was arrested on 15 October 2015 for “taking part in the declaration of self-governance” and transferred to Sincan (Ankara) Women’s Prison. She was suspended from duty on 28 October 2015 by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. 11 defendants are remanded in this case.
After the testimonies of the remanded defendants through SEGBİS teleconference system, the court decided for the continuation of the arrest of the remanded defendants and adjourned the hearing to 6 September.
(07/028) Suicide/Murder Attempt in Prison…
On 14 July 2016, İbrahim Özlü (23) incarcerated in Siirt E-type Prison was found heavşly wounded in his cell. His throat was cut.
(07/029) Correspondent on Trial in Gaziantep…
Gaziantep Heavy Penal Court No 2 started on 14 July 2016 to hear the case against Dicle News Agency (DİHA) correspondent Mehmet Hakkı Yılmaz. He was detained on 1 May 2016 for reporting the bomb attack in Gaziantep and arrested on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
After the identification and first testimony, the court decided to release the defendant to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to a later date.
(07/030) Mardin JİTEM Case…a
Adıyaman Heavy Penal Court No 1 continued on 14 July 2016 to hear the case against 18 defendants launched in connection with the killings and crimes committed by the gendarmerie intelligence service JİTEM members in Dargeçit district of Mardin. The case was transferred from Midyat district of Mardin to Adıyaman for security measures.
After the defence as to the accusations, the court adjourned the hearing to 3 October 2016 to hear the defendant former Gendarmerie Commander Dargeçit district Mehmet Tire.
The indictment concerning the killings of 8 persons including 3 children and one solider was accepted by Midyat (Mardin) Heavy Penal Court. The persons had been found dead after having been detained by gendarmerie intelligence JİTEM between 30 October 1995 and 3 November 1995 in Dargeçit district of Mardin or killed by unidentified persons.
Former Mardin Gendarmerie Commander Hurşit İmren, former Dargeçit Gendarmerie Commander Mehmet Tire, Gendarmerie Station Commander Mahmut Yılmaz, Gendarmerie Station Vice-Commander Haydar Topçam and driver in Gendarmerie Station Kerim Şahin were indicted in the case.
Süleyman Seyhan (57), Nedim Akyön (16), Mehmet Emin Aslan (19), Seyhan Doğan (14), Davut Altınkaynak (13), Abdurrahman Olcay (20), Abdurrahman Coşkun (21) had been detained by gendarmerie intelligence JİTEM between 30 October 1995 and 3 November 1995 during operations conducted in Dargeçit and its villages on the allegations of “aiding PKK” and taken to Dargeçit Gendarmerie Station.
According to the indictment, 7 persons had been detained during house raids by gendarmerie soldiers along with the temporary village guards. They had been killed under torture and thrown in lime pit. Specialist Sergeant Bilal Batırır (25) who had witnessed the killings and informed officials had been also killed and burnt in a coal bunker.
The body of Abdurrahman Olcay (20) was found on 10 June 2013 and his body was given to his family right after the report of the Forensic Institute.
The indictment wants Hurşit İmren, former mayor candidate of Democrat Party for Gümüşlük town of Bodrum district in Muğla, and Çepni Beldesi, mayor for Çepni town in Sivas from Republican Party, 8 times to be sentenced to life imprisonment for “murder and instigating to murder”.
Mahmut Yılmaz was asked 6 times to be sentenced to life imprisonment for “murder”, Haydar Topçam 3 times, Kerim Şahin 6 times to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
(07/031) Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Case…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 8 continued on 12 July 2016 to hear the case against Mehmet Görkem Demirbaş (19) and Cengiz Aktaş launched in connection with the killing of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş (21). On 2 June 2013, the defendants drove their car into the crowd during a Gezi Park demonstration in Ümraniye district of İstanbul and caused the death of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş.
The lawyers of Ayvalıtaş family objected the expert’s report alleging that Mehmet Ayvalıtaş was the only and fully negligent during the incident. The court adjourned the hearing to 26 October 2016.
(07/032) Lawyers on Trial…
İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 continued on 12 July 2016 to hear the case against Law Office of the Oppressed lawyers Özlem Gümüştaş and Sezin Uçar on the allegations of “being member of the illegal organisation Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (MLKP)”.
The case was reportedly launched upon reports by National Intelligence Service (MİT) and in connection with the cases they following and the meetings they took part. The court rejected the demand recusation of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 10 November 2016.
(07/033) Ekrem Kaçeroğlu Case…
İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 8 continued on 13 July 2016 to hear the case against 4 persons without remand launched in connection with lynching Ekrem Kaçaroğlu (38). The indictment wants the defendants Reşit A. (29), Kubilay A. (19), Suat D. and Murat K. (27) to be sentenced to life imprisonment for “intentional killing” according to the Article 81 TPC.
Ekrem Kaçaroğlu (38) who was shot and heavily wounded by the police on 7 October 2014 during a demonstration in Bornova district of İzmir was lynched by civilians. He died on 19 October 2014 at the hospital.
The court decided the footages of the incident to be recovered and to be examined by the gendarmerie criminal laboratory before further crime scene investigation. The court also rejected the demand for the arrest of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 16 November 2016.
(07/034) Persons on Trial in İzmir…
İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 started on 13 July 2016 to hear the case 11 members of United Revolutionary Party (Birleşik Devrimci Parti) who were detained during the house raids conducted in İstanbul. 5 defendants were remanded in this trial.
The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for “being member of an illegal organisation”. After the identification and first testimonies of the defendants, the court decided to release İstanbul Chair of the party Selim Polat, Vedat Türk, Yasin Aydın, Ahmet Sebat to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to 4 October 2016.
(07/035) Hasan Ferit Gedik Case…
Anadolu (İstanbul) Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued on 13 July 2016 to hear the case concerning the killing of Hasan Ferit Gedik on 30 September 2013 during the armed attack by drug dealers against the members of People’s Front (Halk Cephesi) in Gülsuyu quarter of Maltepe district in İstanbul. 35 defendants including 6 remanded defendants are on trial for being involved in the incidents on 28-29-30 September 2013.
At the close hearing, the court decided for the continuation of the arrests 6 remanded defendants and adjourned the hearing to 26 September 2016.