Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
12 October 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/143) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that one village guard died during a bomb attack in Diyarbakır’s Silvan district. Ranger was heavily injured on October 7, 2017 and died on October 11, 217.
It is learned from news coverage of October 11, 2017 that one HPG militant died during an air strike on Hakkari’s Çukurça’s district on April 25, 2017.
It is reported that one sergeant died during an attack by PKK militant towards armed forces in Hakkari’s Çukurca district on October 11, 2017.
(10/144) Civilian Death in Şemdinli…
After a civilian died due to open fire from armed forces towards his car at a vehicle control point in Şemdinli Yüksekova road, injured Kerim Zerender who was also in the car spoke about the incident and said: ‘‘We made a turn from Şemdinli towards Yüksekova direction, a turn we made many times before while on that road. Once we turned we heard the screaming of soldiers. Then they opened fire at the car. We were still driving. When bullets hit Çetin we made the accident. I don’t remember the rest.’’
It is reported that Zender’s treatment continues at Şemdinli State Hospital and police officers wait in front of his room.
(10/145) Number of Militants Dead Through İHA Operations…
According to the statement made by Minister of İnternal Affairs Süleyman Soylu on October 11, 2017, between January and October within 2017, UAVs made 11 thousand 321 hours of flights. Through UAV operations, 294 militants died.
(10/146) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with Statuary Decree’s planned for press meetings in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 11, 2017. Demonstrations of the group has been going on for several weeks. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both prevented by the police forces who clocked entrance to the street by barriers.
It is learned that 3 people at the 13.00 meeting were physically abused and detained.
It is reported that during the 18.00 meeting, police officers sprayed tear gas from talking distance to both Veli Saçılık and TKP Chair Erkan Baş’s faces and physically abused Saçılık who fell on the ground. It is also reported that during the intervention police stepped on Saçılık’s amputated arm and Saçılık had marks on his leg because of rubber bullets. Police chief allegedly told police officers to ‘spray tear gas to journalists recording footage also’. Journalists recording detention of Saçlık were also dispersed with tear gas and rubber bullets.
4 detentions occurred on October 11, 2017.
(10/147) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
On October 2, 2017 prisoners in Tarsus Type T Prison including journalist Erdoğan Alaymut were physically abused, forced to strip naked and sent to isolation cells when they refused to be counted on foot. Attorney Tugay Bek spoke with his clients in the prison and declared that administration issued disciplinary penalties to prisoners. Erdoğan Alaymut and Zeki Çiçek were punished with 3-days in solitary confinement cells. All prisoners were restrained from having visitors for one month. Attorney Bek also added that no procedure was applied for the criminal complaints he filed on behalf of prisoners who were harassed.
Attorney Tugay Bek also revealed that again in Tarsus Type T prison, prisoner Soncan Gedik has been in solitary confinement for 13 days and prisoner Kasım Elçik has been in solitary confinement for 24 days despite both prisoners received no disciplinary penalties. Bek revealed that both prisoners refused to stand up during counting, therefor they were both handcuffed from their backs and put into solitary confinement cells naked after they were physically abused. Soncan Gedik is reportedly unable to use her left arm due to abuse. Kasım Elçik was transferred to prison due to high blood pressure but he was beaten when he refused to be searched naked when he got back from the hospital.
It is learned from news coverage of October 11, 2017 that prisoner wards in İskenderun type M Prison were raided and prisoners were physically abused during the raids. Also, photographs belonging to prisoners were teared.
(10/148) Number of Prison Personnel Under Investigation for ‘Ill-Treatment’…
HDP Muş MP and TBMM Human Rights Commission member Burcu Çelik submitted a parliamentary question regarding the number of prison personnel under investigation for ill-treatment, between 2007 and 2017. Ministry of Justice revealed that the number of personnel under investigation in 3 thousand 216.
(10/149) Detentions in Ankara Numune Hospital…
It is learned that 5 people including Beyza Gülmen and Acun Karadağ, waiting in front of Anakara Numune Hospital where Nuriye Gülmen is kept was detained after police intervention on October 11, 2017. Detainees were released within the same day. Names of the detainees were: Acun Karadağ, Beyza Gülmen, Celil Aslan, Perihan Pulat, Şükriye Ercan.
(10/150) Former MP Detained…
Former HDP Bitlis MP Hüseyin Zenderlioğlu was detained on October 11, 2017 in Atatürk Airport when he was returning from abroad. The detention was due to a case filed against Zenderlioğlu in Diyarbakır. He was released following his testimony.
(10/151) Detention and Arrests…
It is learned that 11 of 13 people detained through house raids in İstanbul on September 28, 2017 were arrested on October 11, 2017 due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ and ‘membership of an illegal organization’. 2 people were released with judiciary control condition. Names of the detainees: Davut Demir, Zeynep Kayra, Hüseyin Kayra, Mizgin Akman, Şahin Özyıldırım, Vedat Çelik, Mustafa Berke, Serhat Kızıltaş, Mahmut Zeren, Serkan Kaya, Suzan Ejderha. Ceylan Keleş and Kadriye Kol were released with judiciary control conditions.
Former Deputy Chair of Batman Municipality Hürriyet Kaytar was detained on October 12, 2017 because a warrant of arrest was issued. Kaytar was dismissed from her position after a trustee was appointed to Batman Municipality. Hürriyet Kaytar was detained on August 15, 2017 and was later released. After the objection from the prosecution, Kaytar was issued with a warrant of arrest.
It is learned that a child named S.O.(16) was detained in Adana on October 11, 2017. Police officers claimed that the chid carried 9 molotov cocktails with himself while he was detained.
It is learned that HDP District Co-Chair Cemil Aksu was detained on October 11, 2017 in Artvin, Hopa due to his social media posts. He was released within the same day.
(10/152) Police Operation Towards DHKPC…
It is learned that 11 people detained on October 4, 2017 through an Istanbul based ‘DHKPC investigation’ were arrested on October 11, 2017. Names of arrested detainees are: Hatice Kalkan, Onur Duran, Camal Şahin, Cengiz Kırlangıç, Deniz Kocamış, Harran Aydın, Aysun Kaşdaş, Haydar Yıldırım, Ayşe Lerzan Caner, Hasan Kaşkır, Nevzat Özer.
(10/153) Police Operation Towards MKP…
It is learned that 7 people including Bursa People of Dersim Association President Hediye Zengin, were detained on October 12, 2017 due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ through their social media posts.
(10/154) People Under Detention Without a Trial for 28 Months…
It is learned that Mehmet Bozkurt, Ziya Özbay, Cemil Rızaoğlu, İbrahim Bobilik and Baran Çağlı who were detained on July 5, 2017 in Ağrı, Doğubayazıt district through operations on TUHAD-DER, DTK and HDP members were still not sent to court. 5 arrested detainees were firstly sent to Ağrı Type M Prison and later transferred to İzmir Kırıklar No 2 Type F Prison where they stayed for a year. On June 9, 2017 Ziya Özbay and Mehmet Bozkurt were sent to Alanya Type Prison, and İbrahim Bobilik was sent t ovan Type T Prison. Cemil rızaoğlu and Baran Çağlı are reportedly still in Kırıklar No 2 Type F prison.
(10/155) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 13 medical personnel expelled from their jobs with Statuary Decrees, one police officer in İzmir, 36 people in Konya, 12 people in Tokat were detained. Also, 54 of 75 military personnel issued with detention requests and 36 of 75 people issued with detention requests were detained on October 11, 2017.
It is learned that on October 11, 2017 detention requests have been issued for 17 former SGK personnel and operations began to capture these people.
It is learned that 2 of 7 people detained for trying to cross Greek border illegally on October 10, 2017 were arrested on October 11, 2017. 2 people were released by the prosecution and 2 were released by the court. One person was transferred to Tokat about another investigation.
It is learned that Mihalgazi District Mufti A.Y. detained in Eskişehir was arrested on October 11, 2017 due to alleged ByLock usage.
It is reported that 12 of 26 teachers who were expelled on October 5, 2017 with Statuary Decrees were arrested on October 11, 2017. 9 teachers were released with judiciary control conditions. 5 teachers remain under detention.
4 of 14 people detained through an Uşak based investigation on October 5, 2017 were arrested on October 11, 2017 due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’. Previously 10 people were detained through the same investigation.
16 of 92 people detained through a Tekirdağ based investigation on September 29, 2017
It is learned that 16 of 92 people detained including regular soldiers, on September 20, 2017 through a Tekirdağ based investigation, were arrested by the court on October 11, 2017. 65 were released 61 of which with judiciary control conditions. Previously through the same investigation, 3 of 9 people sent to court were arrested. 6 were released, 5 of them with judiciary control conditions. It is reported that 2 people remain in detention.
(10/156) Trial of Journalists…
The trial of 18 people including 14 arrested detainees such as journalist Ömer Ulaş Sezgin and ETHA translator Meşale Tolu continued on October 11, 2017. The case was opened by İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29. Defendant attorneys objected to the fact that court judge was also the presiding judge that ordered arrests for defendants during interrogation. Attorneys requested another judge citing that the same judge must not be allowed to take on the trial. The court overruled this request saying: ‘Declare that the ruling of the judge is not valid. And then make your objection.’
Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of 8 people including journalist Ömer Ulaş Sezgin. The court ruled for the continuity of arrests for 6 defendants including Germany citizen Meşale Tolu who is in prison along with her 3 year old child. The court adjourned the trial date to December 18, 2017.
18 defendants on trial were detained on April 30, 2017 through an operation towards ESP and SGDF members. 14 of them were arrested on May 6, 2017.
(10/157) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final trial of a teacher named Ender Çelik who was discharged with a Statuary Decree, took place on October 11, 2017. Following the defenses, the court sentenced Çelik to 12 years 6 months due to ‘forming and leading an illegal organization’.
(10/158) Curfew in Silvan…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on October 11, 2017 an open ended curfew that will be imposed on 15 neighborhoods in Silvan district beginning from October 12, 2017 at 6:00. Neighborhoods with curfews are: Kazandağı, Demirkuyu, Özlüce, Esenyol, Darıseven, Usluca, Boğazönü, Toklar, Kalemli, Taraklı, Çatak, Gürpınar, Dönenkaya, Çalönü and Tarımova.
(10/159) Banned Books…
It is learned that based on Kahta Public Prosecution Office’s request on october 2, 2017, Kahta Penal Court of Peace gave an order for 3 books to be banned. Books are: Fehim Taştekin’s Rojava: Kürtlerin Zamanı (Rojava: The Time of Kurds), Faysal Dağlı’s ‘Birakuji: Kürtlerin İç Savaşı’ (Birakuji: Civil War of Kurds) and Aytekin Gezici’s ‘Kürt Tarihi’ (History of Kurds). It is reported that the court considred Taştekin’s book as an ‘illegal organization’.
(10/160) Blocked Website…
It is learned that Information Technologies and Communication Committee (BTK) blocked acces to www.demokrasi43.com website that belongs to Özgürlükçü Demokrasi website.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.