Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
13 – 15 February 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/167) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of Defence announced that during the clashes within operation “Claw-Eagle 2” in Gara area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on February 14, 2021, 13 people including soldiers and police officers who were abducted by PKK at different times, lost their lives. The names of some of them are: Specialised sergeant Hüseyin Sarı, police officer Sedat Yabalak, master sergeant Semih Özbey, private soldier Adil Kavaklı, police officer Vedat Kaya, private soldier Süleyman Sungur, private soldier Mevlüt Kahveci, private soldier Müslüm Altunbaş and Aydın Köse and Salih Kanca (positions not declared).
(02/168) Suicide Attempt in Prison…
It is claimed in the news coverage of February 12, 2021 that, Mahmut Yıldız, a prisoner in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison No 3 attempted suicide on February 3, 2021, to protest isolation practice in prisons. It is stated in the news reports that Mahmut Yıldız is in life-critical condition and is kept in Çiğli Public Hospital.
(02/169) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 11, 2021 that, 5 prisoners in Mersin Tarsus Prison Compound are transferred to other prisons under coercion. It is stated that 3 prisoners (Gökhan Çetin and 2 prisoners) were transferred to Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison and 2 prisoners (Vedat Bektaş and Selahattin Ortaç) are transferred to Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison.
(02/170) Police Interventions to Protests Against New Rector Appointment to Boğaziçi University…
The police intervened the press declaration in Bursa on February 12, 2021, to protest the new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University by the President. The police detained 19 people including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Party Assembly member Yüksel Akgün and journalists Ozan Kaplanoğlu, Nur Derya and Gökay Küpeli by using physical violence. It is learned that Ozan Kaplanoğlu’s shoulder was dislocated due to violence. 3 children who were among detainees were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day, 16 other detainees are released after statement procedures on February 14, 2021.
9 people who gathered outside of Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on February 11, 2021to support 5 people who were detained on the grounds of wall writings to protest the new rector appointment to Boğaziçi University and arrest of students and were detained by the police. 9 people are released by the court on judicial control conditions on February 12, 2021.
(02/171) Detained People for Protests Against New Rector Appointment to Boğaziçi University…
HDP Youth Assembly member Muhammed Ünal and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University student Beyza Buldağ, who were arrested on February 7, 2021, for social media posts about the new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University by the President and arrest of students, are released from prison upon their lawyers’ appeal on February 12, 2021.
3 members of Community Houses who were detained in house raids following the demonstration that was held in Esenyurt district of Istanbul to protest the police intervention to supporters outside of Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on February 11, 2021; are released by the court on judicial control conditions on February 12, 2021.
(02/172) Detained HDP Executives, Members and Other People…
HDP Law and Human Rights Committee made a declaration on February 14, 2021 and stated that 143 members and executives of HDP are detained between February 12 and 14, 2021.
On February 15, 2021 the Ministry of Interior declared that 718 people including HDP’s provincial and district co-chairs are detained in operations covering 40 cities through “PKK/KCK” investigations.
(02/173) Detained City Council Member in Bitlis…
Ekrem Yalçın, city council from HDP in Güroymak district of Bitlis who was detained on February 9, 2021 is released by the court on judicial control conditions on February 12, 2021.
(02/174) Detained Co-Mayor, City Council Member and HDP Executives in Batman…
8 people including Gülistan Sönük, HDP co-mayor of Bekirhan town and city council members Şükran Çotak, İdris Yalçın, Suat Öztekin are detained in Batman on February 14, 2021.
Gülistan Sönük, Şükran Çotak, İdris Yalçın and Suat Öztekin are released after statement procedures at the gendarmerie on the same day. It is learned that 4 people (HDP district executive Tayfun Güney, HDP provincial executive Murat Kılıç, HDP Youth Assembly members Mehmet Emin Salman and Seyid Ali Doğan) are still under custody.
(02/175) Detained People in Antep…
It is learned that a detention warrant is issued for 60 people through an Antep based investigation against former members and executives of Rojava Solidarity Association which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), Mezopotamya Association for Solidarity with Families Who Lost Their Relatives (MEYA-DER), Mezopotamya Cultural Center (MKM) and Kurdî-Der. On February 13, 2021, 29 people including HDP provincial co-chair Ethem Ünal and 2 lawyers were detained in house raids in Antep.
It is learned that 11 people are released on February 13 and 14, 2021 while 18 people are still under custody.
Some of the detainees were: Ethem Ünal, Mustafa Denktaş, Bülent Şahin, Halil İpek, Abdulhakim Yılmazsoy, Ramazan Demir, Selma Avşar, Emin Külter, Osman Girgin, Perişan Akın, Maruf Yüce, Mustafa Bilen, Osman Özkan, Osman Bilgiç, Halim Tekin, Abdurahman Aksoy, Arif Selçuk, Mehmet Saçlı, Selahattin Karagöz, Ali Taş, İslim Deniz, Mustafa Şahin, İbrahim Demir.
(02/176) Detained HDP Executive and Other People in Konya for Social Media Posts…
7 people including Süleyman İnan, former district co-chair of HDP in Kulu, who were detained for social media posts, on February 11, 2021 in Konya, are released after statement procedures at the police on February 12, 2021.
Detained people were: Süleyman İnan, İsmet Üçler, Osman Ekici, Erdal Taşkıran, Mustafa Yılmaz, Hasan Oyucu, Ekrem Söğüt.
(02/177) Detained HDP Executives in Kars…
On February 12, 2021, 6 people including HDP provincial co-chair Sevda Subaşı and HDP executives Zeki Şur and Mahmut Nadiroğlu are detained in house raids in Kars.
(02/178) Detained HDP Members in Kocaeli…
On February 12, 2021, 13 people including HDP members are detained in house raids in Kocaeli. Some of the detained people are: Saki Ermiş, Şirin Ermiş, Ömer Aslan, İbrahim Güler, Güney Meriç, Erkan Macak, Sezgin Güler, Rodi Babayiğit, Hakan Karakoç.
(02/179) Detained EMEP Executive in Malatya…
Nejdet Bali, provincial executive of the Labour Party (EMEP) is detained in Malatya on February 12, 2021. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/180) Detained HDP Member in Şırnak…
On February 13, 2021, Mustafa Dal, a member of HDP, is detained in a house raid in Cizre district of Şırnak. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/181) Detained HDP Members and Executives in Aydın…
On February 14, 2021, 9 members and executives of HDP are detained in house raids in Aydın. Detained people are: HDP Party Assembly member Ayfer Demirer, provincial co-chair Aysel Bahtiyar Ünsel, Didim district co-chair Mehtap Bozkurt, Söke co-chair Sadegül Akalın, provincail executive Neslihan Arviş, Saadet Açık, Azize Ergün, Nazlı Boza and HDP member Söylemez Akalın.
(02/182) Detained HDP Executives in Yalova…
On February 14, 2021, 8 executives of HDP (Mahsun Köroğlu, Ömer Polat, Bedrettin Seziş, Kamuran Özkartal, Mehmet Kıran, Azat Güner, Ömer Faruk Çetin, Mehmet Taş) are detained in house raids in Yalova.
(02/183) Detained HDP Executive in Mersin…
Songül Eriş, HDP’s provincial executive, is detained in a house raid in Mersin on February 14, 2021.
(02/184) Detained Musicians in Mersin…
On February 13, 2021, musicians Arif Adalı and İsmail İnan are detained in house raids in Mersin. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/185) Detained People in Bitlis…
2 of 9 people [Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) former provincial co-chair Şahin Çoban and 1 more person] who were detained through a Bitlis based investigation are arrested by the court on February 12, 2021; while 7 people (H. T., Ş. T., C. İ., A. Y., L. B., T. B. and E. Y.) are released on judicial control conditions.
(02/186) Detained People in Istanbul…
On February 13, 2021, 20 people are detained in house raids in Istanbul, on the grounds of planning a demonstration on February 15, the date when PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey. Some of the detained people are: Murat Yaşa, Erkan Çakan, Mazlum Özbey, Erdoğan Özbey, Tugay Özbey, Ayhan Ekmekçi, İzzet Özmen, Mazlum Kaya, Ahmet Kaya, Ömer Geyik, Barış Koşar, Ramazan Özdemir, İbrahim Güler, Murat Metin, Zehra Yılmaz.
(02/187) Detained People in Urfa…
On February 12, 2021, 17 people are detained in house raids in 10 cities through an Urfa based investigation, on the grounds of planning a demonstration on February 15, the date when PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey.
(02/188) Detained People in Adana for Social Media Posts…
5 people (F. Ş., M. K., H. T., A. S. and S. B.) who were detained in Adana on February 13, 2021 on the grounds of making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on the same day.
(02/189) Detained People in Adana for Social Media Posts…
2 people who were detained in Adana on February 13, 2021 on the grounds of making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media, are referred to the court on the same day. It is learned that Müslüm Oruç is released on house confinement while the other person (M. S.) is released on judicial control conditions.
(02/190) Detained People in Diyarbakır for Social Media Posts…
On February 14, 2021, 7 people (Ahmet Alpaslan, Behçet Ekinci, Hacı Baş, Mazlum Burur, Şivan Erdal, Ahmet Celil Önen and Burhan Gizlenmiş) are detained in Diyarbakır, on the grounds of social media posts. It is learned that 1 of the detainees who is a cancer patient is released.
(02/191) Detained People in Adana…
On February 13, 2021, 25 people are detained in house raids in Adana, on the grounds of planning a demonstration on February 15, the date when PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was brought to Turkey.
(02/192) Detained Person in Tunceli…
Veli Yıldız, who was detained in a house raid in Pülümür district of Tunceli on February 11, 2021, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on February 12, 2021.
(02/193) Detained People in Van…
On February 14, 2021, 27 people are detained in house raids in Van. Some of the detainees are: Azat İtah, Cengiz Kiye, Ozan Kiye, Eray Kiye, Serhat Dinç, Yusuf Öztunç, Mustafa Kaplan.
(02/194) Detained Person in Maraş…
It is learned that a person (O. T.) who is alleged to say “I do not recognize the Grand National Assembly, I do not recognize the state”, to Mahir Ünal, Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chair while he was having a public visit in Maraş on February 12, 2021; is detained. It is reported that O. T. is detained for “degrading Turkish Nation, State of Turkish Republic, Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the judicial bodies of the State” as regulated in the Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code.
(02/195) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The trial of the case against Mehmet Demir, Batman city co-mayor who was suspended and replaced with a trustee, is held at Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 12, 2021.
Mehmet Demir joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court released Mehmet Demir and adjourned the trial to June 4, 2021.
Mehmet Demir was detained on July 21, 2021 and was arrested on July 22, 2021.
(02/196) Police Raid to a Political Party Office in Aydın…
It is learned that provincial office of HDP in Aydın was raided and searched by the police through an investigation against HDP members and executives on February 14, 2021.
(02/197) Investigation Against Parliamentary Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 14, 2021 that, Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against HDP Istanbul MP Hüda Kaya and HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, for their declarations on 13 people including soldiers and police officers who were abducted by PKK at different times, lost their lives in the military operation in Gare area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
(02/198) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on February 12, 2021 and announced that all meetings, open-door assemblies, demonstrations, marches, sit-in protests, human chains, op-ed stands, public sessions, any kind of audio-visual activities with mobile audio-visual vehicles, hunger strikes, opening stands, collecting petitions, flying sky lanterns or balloons, commemorations (except for public institutions), concerts, festivals, theatre plays, screening shows, firing torches, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned for 15 days as of February 15, 2021.
(02/199) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports about the complaint filed against the person who is alleged to say “I am a man of Presidential Complex. I am the state”, published on https://www.birgun.net/, https://halktv.com.tr, https://odatv4.com websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Elazığ Keban Penal Court of Peace on February 10, 2021.
(02/200) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 12, 2021, 14 people are detained in Istanbul and 2 people are detained in Ankara.
(02/201) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 97 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 667 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 12, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 7,763.
The Ministry of Health declared that 93 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 671 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 13, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 7,706.
The Ministry of Health declared that 94 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 666 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 14, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 6,287.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 27,471 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,586,183 as of February 14, 2021.
It is learned that Kemal Derim, a pharmacy technician in Tekirdağ, lost his life from Covid-19 on February 12, 2021.
It is learned that 4 health workers (Professor Kaya Kılıç in Istanbul, pharmacy technician Sakine Kılıç in Antep, physiotherapist Adem Hacıoğlu in Zonguldak and anaesthesia technician Talat Aydemir in Kütahya) lost their lives from Covid-19 on February 14, 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.