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13 – 17 May 2021 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

13 – 17 May 2021 Daily Human Rights Report

(05/075) Operations and Attacks…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 11, 2021 that, 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Nusyabin district of Mardin on May 8, 2021.

It is learned that 1 police officer (Veli Kabalay) died and 3 police officers got wounded in an attack against special task police force in rural areas of Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı on May 13, 2021.

The Ministry of National Defence declared that 1 soldier (Yasin Özdamar) died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HGP militants during the military operation in Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on May 14, 2021.

It is claimed in the news coverage of May 16, 2021 that 1 village guard (Zeki Kaçmaz) lost his life due to accidental ignition of his gun in Pervari district of Siirt.

(05/076) Person Wounded by Security Fire in Van…

It is learned that 1 person (Hesen Elem Huli) got wounded by the fire opened by security forces on a group of Iranian citizens at the Iranian border in rural areas of Çaldıran district of Van.

(05/077) Labour Killings…

On May 13, 2021, Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 249 workers including 19 women, 8 children and 11 migrants died while working in April 2021. It is stated in the report that at least 735 workers lost their lives in the first four months of 2021, and 132 workers lost their lives from Covid-19 in April 2021.

(05/078) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…

It is learned that a person (F. B.) who was detained in Suruç district of Urfa on May 7, 2021, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment at Anti-Terror Department of Urfa Provincial Directorate of Security.

F. B., stated the following in his meeting with the lawyer: “I was detained in my house in the morning on May 7, 2021. I was brought to Anti-Terror Department, and taken to the second floor here. I was then put in a room while my eyes were blindfolded with a piece of cloth. As far as I could infer from the voices, there were 3 or 4 people in the room. They wanted me to bend on my knees, and committed verbal and physical violence to me in order to make me accept the offences they charged me with. They were kicking and slapping me at the head and body in such a way that would leave no marks. They were cursing me with humiliating words, they were talking altogether so I could not understand which one was cursing. They said ‘You will rot in here if you do not accept the charges’ to threaten me. Then they opened my eyes and brought me into the custody cell. I was taken once again, on May 9, 2021, to that room where I was put in blindfolded. I heard only one person this time, this person opened my eyes, and showed me a photograph. Although I said that I did not recognize this person, they said ‘Admit it, you know him, otherwise you will rot in here’. They threatened me with violence and with harming my wife and children. They also tried to convince me in a persuasive way. Then they took me back to the custody cell.”

It is learned that F. B. was referred to Urfa Penal Court of Peace No 3 on May 12, 2021 and the court has rejected the lawyers who wanted to file a criminal complaint on torture and ill-treatment allegations. F. B. is arrested by the court.

(05/079) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Şırnak…

It is learned that A. T., a shop owner and his son and his nephew were subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the police raiding his shop on the grounds that he did not close on time, in Cizre district of Şırnak on May 12, 2021.

(05/080) Person Subjected to Violence of Watchmen in Istanbul…

It is learned that 1 person was subjected to violence and insults of the watchmen in Fatih district of Istanbul on May 13, 2021.

(05/081) Child Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Batman…

It is learned that a 15-year-old child (V. Ş.) was subjected to physical violence of the police and watchmen, on the grounds of violating the curfew, in Salih Özdemir Park in Batman on May 13, 2021. It is reported that V. Ş. was detained on the charge of ‘resisting a public official on duty’ and was released after statement procedures.

(05/082) Person Subjected to Violence of Watchmen in Bursa…

It is learned that 1 person was subjected to physical violence of the watchmen with whom he had a quarrel with for they asked to see ID card in Osmangazi district of Bursa,

(05/083) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Siirt…

It is learned that 2 people (M. E. and B. E.) working in a bakery and 2 other people (H. İ. and Ö. F. İ.) who were at the bakery shop in Şirvan district of Siirt, were subjected to physical violence of the watchmen on May 14, 2021. It is reported that these 4 people were taken to a police station but they were not recorded as detainees; and they were released after being imposed a fine for violating the precautions against Covid-19 pandemic.

R. I., the owner of the bakery shop, stated the following: “We are responsible for several areas in terms of bread, so we were making breads. My children were forced to close the bakery, and they were beaten. The officers detaining them also beat them. And they have been threatened at the police station for not getting a medical report evidencing the violence. They have said ‘It would not be good for you and the doctor if you get a medical report’ and sent them back. And they have imposed a fine. (..) And this morning, the watchmen came again, insulted my children and said ‘You could not get a medical report evidencing the violence’. We have a complaint on this. The watchmen have said ‘This is eastern Turkey, do not mistake it with any other place. If you file any complaints, we will come and get you from your beds’. And my children could not get a report that evening because they were afraid.”

(05/084) People Subjected to Violence of Watchmen in Istanbul…

It is learned that 2 people who were in front of their houses to celebrate championship of Beşiktaş football team, in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, were subjected to physical violence of the watchmen.

(05/085) Asylum Seekers Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Izmir…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 13, 2021 that, a group of asylum seekers were subjected to physical violence of the officers at Harmandalı Repatriation Center in Izmir on May 11, 2021.

It is reported that 2 asylum seekers who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment were to be deported. It is also learned that following the lawyers’ criminal complaint, the prosecutor has referred 2 asylum seekers to the Forensic Science Institution for medical examination but they were taken there in handcuffs.

Izmir Governorate’s Office made a declaration and stated the following: “On April 10, 2021, Syrian M. S. who is here for being a threat to public order (drunk and drugged driving) and Syrian V. E. who is here for being a threat to public order (identity theft) refused to get in their rooms and resisted to the officers. The second foreigner mentioned tried to provoke others by opening the doors of other rooms. V. E., alleged to be a Palestinian but recorded as Syrian, who has started the case, squeezed the fire extinguisher at the corridor, smashed the doors and windows and damaged public property. In order to make all foreigners get into their rooms, the officers intervened in a legal framework to control the case. In addition, deportation is an administrative decision for all foreigners who violate Article 54 of the Law number 6458, and all foreigners are notified in their own language in this case.”

(05/086) People Died in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 12, 2021 that Erdal Kılınç, a prisoner in Istanbul Silivri Prison, lost his life from Covid-19.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 16, 2021 that Şerif Vatansever, a prisoner in Kocaeli T Type Prison No 2, lost his life from Covid-19.

(05/087) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2021 that, prisoners in Antep L Type Prison were not being taken to infirmary.

It is claimed in the news coverage of May 15, 2021 that, prisoners with Covid-19 symptoms are not tested in Istanbul Silivri Prison No 5.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2021 that, 17 prisoners who tested positive for Covid-19 in Istanbul Maltepe Prison No 2 are not given disinfectants and face masks, and the quarantine ward is not hygienic.

(05/088) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…

It is learned that the appeal made on May 12, 2021 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was not responded.

(05/089) People Subjected to Racist Attack in Mersin…

It is learned that a Kurdish family from Erbil visiting Mersin, was subjected to attack of a racist group in Bozyazı district of Mersin on May 14, 2021, and that 2 people were injured while 1 of them is in severe condition. It is reported that Muştaq Mahmood Kareem who was injured at the head was discharged from the hospital after being treated.

Muştaq Mahmood Kareem stated the following: “We were passing through Sırtlan position in Gözsüzce neighbourhood of Bozyazı district of Mersin, and we were taking the sharp bend there (…) My car was hit by a black car (…) One of the persons who went off that car said ‘This is Anatolian land, this is Turkey, what do you think you are doing in our lands’ as far as I understood (…) And this was the person that attacked me first. My wife and 3 children were sitting in the car while they started to attack me. There were 3 males attacking me (…) Then my wife and son got off the car to intervene. I saw one of the attackers running towards my son, but I did not see if this person beat him (…) After I was hit at the head with a stone, they tried to push me off the cliffs. They pushed me but I hold on the barriers. And they kept beating me at that time (…) And then I passed out.”

A witness, C. K., stated the following: “I was driving from Adana to Antalya, at around 4 p.m. we saw a family being beaten by 4 people who had stopped their car, near the bends of Bozyazı district of Mersin. They were attacking the man, and his son who seems to be 12 or 13 years old and they were hitting them with Stones. The man was dragged to the barriers and passed out. They tried to push him off the cliffs (…) They cursed at Kurdish people for about 5 minutes. I took the man in the car and got him to the gendarmerie point. Then we called an ambulance and sent him to hospital.”

It is learned that 3 people were detained in relation to the racist attack and 2 of them (M. F. O. and M. B.) are arrested on the charges of ‘attempt to intentional killing’, ‘damage to property’ and ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’ while 1 of them is released on judicial control conditions.

(05/090) Detained HDP Executives in Istanbul…

On May 15, 2021, the police removed the banner about hunger strikes in prison, hung on Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) office in Esenyurt district of Istanbul and detained district executive Fatih Ergün. It is learned that district co-chair Dilan Kılıç and district executives Çayan Yılmaz and Kıyas Kurt were called to make official statements. 4 people are released after statement procedures on the same day.

(05/091) Arrested Person in Istanbul for Social Media Posts…

Taylan Kulaçoğlu, who was detained on May 11, 2021 in Istanbul, on the grounds of social media posts, is arrested by the court on May 12, 2021.

(05/092) Detained People in Diyarbakır…

It is learned that 6 people are detained in relation to the attack against a police control point in Silvan district of Diyarbakır, on May 13, 2021.

(05/093) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…

Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against Deniz Yücel, Turkey representative of Die Welt newspaper; for expressions as “Kurdish [persons] die before seeing their mother” and “Genocide of the Armenians” in 2 other news reports in 2016.

The indictment demand jail sentence from 6 months up to 2 years for Deniz Yücel, on the charge of ‘publicly degrading Turkish nation and the Republic of Turkey’.

It is learned that the indictment is accepted by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance on May 12, 2021 and the first trial will be held on July 1, 2021.

(05/094) Attack to Political Party Headquarters in Ankara…

It is learned that HDP’s headquarters in Çankaya district of Ankara is attacked by a group of 3 anonymous persons on May 14, 2021. It is learned that nobody was injured but the headquarters building was damaged.

(05/095) Ban of Events in Hakkari and Rize…

Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on May 16, 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, concerts, festivals, theatre plays, screening shows, firing torches, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned for 15 days as of May 17, 2021. All events are banned in Hakkari for 361 days since June 5, 2020.

Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on May 16, 2021 and announced that all marches, protests, sit-in protests, hunger strikes, opening stands and tents, open-door and indoor assemblies, car convoys with mobile audio vehicles, collecting petitions, concerts, festivals, meetings, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, gatherings for greeting and farewell, press declarations and so on are banned for 15 days as of May 17, 2021.

(05/096) Covid-19 Pandemic…

The Ministry of Health declared that 232 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,496 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on May 12, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 13,029.

The Ministry of Health declared that 238 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,217 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on May 13, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 11,534.

The Ministry of Health declared that 242 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,102 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on May 14, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 11,394.

The Ministry of Health declared that 236 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,084 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on May 15, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 11,472.

The Ministry of Health declared that 223 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 920 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on May 16, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 10,512.

The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 44,760 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 5,117,374 as of May 16, 2021.

It is learned that radiology technician İbrahim Cömert in Istanbul lost his life from Covid-19 on May 13, 2021.

It is learned that 2 health workers (doctor Süreyya Salihustaoğlu and dentist Engin Barışık) lost their lives from Covid-19 on May 14, 2021.

It is learned that doctor Sabahattin Gül in Istanbul lost his life from Covid-19 on May 15, 2021.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2021 that 40 prisoners in Çankırı E Type Prison and 17 prisoners in Istanbul Maltepe Prison No 2, tested positive for Covid-19.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2021 that, an ill prisoner in Batman Prison tested positive for Covid-19.

[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.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.

[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT

[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari

[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.