Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
13 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/134) Person Threatened in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 12, 2019 that, Muhlis Bozdemir, former Sultanbeyli district co-chair of People’s Democratic Party (HDP), was threatened by people claim to be intelligence officers saying “We will stick a bullet in your head if we see you going to HDP again”, and was forced to be police informer by those people. Muhlis Bozdemir made a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office on February 12, 2019.
(02/135) Relatives of Defendant Being Subjected to Physical Violence in the Courtroom…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 12, 2019 that, in the courtroom where a case against defendant G.E. in Silvan district of Diyarbakır, a quarrel took place between relatives of G.E. and the court board after the court announces the verdict and that, the police coming into the courtroom committed physical violence against G.E., Dilan Elma, Devran Güler, Ferman Elma and a person named Melek with unknown surname and then detained these people.
(02/136) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 12, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 789th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(02/137) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 825 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 12, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 12, 2019, 2 people (Mahmut Konuk and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 12, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/138) Police Intervention Against HDP’s March in Hakkari…
The police intervened against the march of members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including MP’s, to support the hunger strike against isolation, to be held in Hakkari on February 12, 2019. It is learned that HDP Hakkari provincial co-chair Sinan Kaya, Çukurca district co-mayor candidate Abubekir Kanar and Emine Armut, Hasan Engin, Emin Ertuş and Kenan Kaya were detained.
(02/139) Detention of PSAKD Kartal Branch Former Chair…
Songül Tunçdemir, former chair of Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association (PSAKD) Kartal branch is detained in a house raid in Istanbul on February 12, 2019. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/140) Detained HDP Member in Malatya…
On February 12, 2019 HDP member Ali Gelgeç, Ali Gürbüz and a person named Müslüm are detained in a house raid in Malatya. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/141) Prevention of People Going to Ankara…
It is learned that the buses of people including families of prisoners on hunger strike, who want to go to Ankara to participate in weekly parliamentary group meeting of HDP on February 12, 2019, were stopped while leaving Mersin and Istanbul cities, on the grounds of “We have the instructions to do so”. It is also reported that the bus coming from Adana for the same reason was stopped before entering Ankara.
(02/142) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Hilal Akan Zeybek from 29 Mayıs University and Bülent Bilmez from Bilgi University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 12, 2019. The court adjourned both trials to October 22, 2019.
The separate cases against 6 academicians (Research Assistants Şenay Çınar and Zeynep Arıkan Yılmaz, Lecturer Sakine Çil and Assist. Professor Meltem Gürle from Boğaziçi University, Hatice Kurtuluş Aydal from Istanbul University and Gülsün Güvenli from Galatasaray University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 are held on February 12, 2019. The court adjourned the trials of the cases against Şenay Çınar, Zeynep Arıkan and Meltem Gürle to June 13, 2019. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Sakine Çil to February 26, 2019. The court sentenced Hatice Kurtuluş Aydal to 1 year and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The court sentenced Gülsün Güvenli to 1 year and 3 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The court also imposed the obligation to Gülsün Güvenli to visit and offer condolences to Gökçen Çamur, whose husband died due to an attack of PKK in Şemdinli district of Hakkari on August 5, 2015.
The case against Professor Bülent Tanju for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 is held on February 12, 2019. The court sentenced Bülent Tanju to 1 year and 3 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(02/143) Academician on Trial for Social Media Posts…
The final trial of the case against academician and lawyer Hanifi Barış, signatory of the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media’ on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 is held on February 12, 2019. Hanifi Barış attended the trial to make his defence. The court sentenced Hanifi Barış to 1 year and 8 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
Hanifi Barış was arrested on July 4, 2018 and was released on the first trial held on September 18, 2018 on judicial control conditions and with a ban on leaving the country.
(02/144) Suruç Massacre Case…
The case on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5, for the massacre in Suruç where 33 people died on July 20, 2015, continued to be held on February 12, 2019. After complainant declarations and defence hearings the court decided to continue detention for Yakup Şahin, the only arrested defendant of the case, and adjourned the trial to May 9, 2019.
(02/145) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 12, 2019, a detention warrant is issued for 1112 people through an Ankara based investigation on deputy police chief examination in 2010. 641 people are detained in operations covering 76 cities.
On February 12, 2019, 12 people are detained in house raids in Ankara; 9 people are detained in operations covering 6 cities through a Tokat based investigation; and 1 person is detained on a warrant, in a house raid in Adana.
(02/146) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Uslu, former member of the Supreme Court, is held on Penal Department No 9 of the Supreme Court on February 12, 2019. The court sentenced Mehmet Uslu to 13 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(02/147) March 31, 2019 Elections…
On February 12, 2019, 3 members of HDP are detained in house raids in Siirt. It is learned that 2 of detained people are, HDP information technologies specialist Cemal Turhan and local administration projects specialist Eşref Tekin, who revealed that almost 12.000 voters’ information was deleted from electoral registration in Siirt.
It is learned that the gendarmerie closed down a coffeehouse in Bayrambaşı neighbourhood of Silvan district of Diyarbakır, where HDP’s co-mayor candidates were planning to visit for electoral campaign on February 12, 2019.
(02/148) Curfew in Lice…
Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on February 12, 2019 and announced curfew in 21 villages of Lice district as of 06.00 on February 12, 2019 until a further notice. Diyarbakır Governorate made another declaration on the same day and lifted the curfew as of 24.00. The villages under curfew are: Arıklı, Güçlü, Uçarı, Ziyaret, Serince, Kayacık, Ortaç, Yalaza, Çavundur, Dolunay, Bağlan, Kabakaya, Çağdaş, Dibekköy, Yolçatı, Tepe, Budak, Sığınak, Kıyıköy, Dallıca and Damar villages.
(02/149) Ban on Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on February 12, 2019 and banned all actions and events in city such as open-door meetings and closed meetings, press declarations, sit-in protests etc. as of February 11, 2019 until February 25, 2019.
(02/150) Ban on Events in Antep…
Antep Governorate made a declaration on February 12, 2019 and banned events in city such as open-door meetings, press declarations, opening booths, petition campaigns, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, opening tents, sit-in protests and wearing distinguishing aprons and vests, as of February 12, 2019 until February 19, 2019.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.