Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
13 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/148) Military Operation to North and East Syria…
Urfa Governorate made a declaration on March 12, 2020 and announced that 1 soldier (Beyazıt Bestami Buluş) died in an attack to a military control point in Resulayn city of Syria.
(03/149) Attack to a Police Vehicle in Istanbul…
On March 11, 2020, 1 police officer got wounded in an attack to a police vehicle in Küçükçekmece district of Istanbul. It is learned that Peoples’ United Revolution Movement (HBDH) took responsibility of the attack.
(03/150) Intervention to Grup Yorum Band Members on Hunger Strike…
It is learned that Grup Yorum band members İbrahim Gökçek (on hunger strike for 269 days) and Helin Bölek (on hunger strike for 266 days) who were forcefully hospitalized on March 11, 2020, by order of Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 18, are taken to intensive care unit on March 12, 2020, based on hospital board’s decision. The court has ordered forcefully hospitalization according to Article 432 of Turkish Civil Code. It is reported that attendants and lawyers of İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek were forced out of hospital wards.
(03/151) Intervention to Mustafa Koçak on Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 13, 2020 that, Mustafa Koçak who is on hunger strike for 254 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison, to demand a fair trial, is taken to Şakran Campus Hospital under coercion on March 12, 2020. The details and degree of medical intervention is unknown since Mustafa Koçak is prevented from seeing his family and lawyers.
(03/152) Detained People in Istanbul…
On March 11, 2020, 8 people (Betül Varan, Seher Adıgüzel, Eren Erdem, İbrahim Gökçek’s brother Onur Gökçek, Fırat Kıl, Beyhan Gün, Cemile Temizkalp, Ulaş Baran) who came to Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital to visit Grup Yorum members İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, are detained. İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, who are on death fast, have been forcefully hospitalized.
(03/153) Abduction in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 12, 2020 that, Ahmet Kaya, a member of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) was abducted in Ankara on March 9, 2020 by persons who claim themselves as police officers and intelligence officers and was forced to be a police informant.
Ahmet Kaya had a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Headquarters in Ankara and stated the following: “I was going to meet a friend at around 2 or 3 p.m. and somebody rushed out and introduced himself as a police officer. He asked me to get in a car with them. When I asked what was that about he said they wanted to talk. They forced me into the car and took to a solitary place in Etimesgut. They interrogated me in the car for almost 2 or 3 hours and wanted me to cooperate with them (…) I rejected them certainly. Then they blackmailed me saying ‘We would take you, and say you come through Rojava, and you would stay in prison for years’.”
It is learned that Ahmet Kaya will make an official complaint to the prosecutor’s office.
(03/154) Afghani Person was Subjected to Racist Attack in Konya…
It is learned that an Afghani person, fishing on a lake, had a quarrel with a person who says “Are you bringing corona virus here” and was stabbed by this person. It is learned that Afghani person was heavily wounded and was taken to Beyşehir Public Hospital and U. G., the attacker, was detained.
(03/155) 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 1220 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 12, 2020 at 13.30, and forced people away from the monument.
(03/156) Detained Co-Mayor in Şırnak…
Berivan Kutlu, co-mayor of Cizre district of Şırnak, is detained through an Urfa based investigation on March 12, 2020. Berivan Kutlu was suspended by Ministry of Interior on October 29, 2020. It is learned that Berivan Kutlu was taken to Urfa.
(03/157) Detained City Council Member in Urfa…
İbrahim Ayyıldız, city council member of Siverek district of Urfa from HDP, is detained on March 12, 2020.
(03/158) Detained Lawyers, Political Party Executives and Members and Other People through an Urfa Based Investigation…
On March 12, 2020, at least 33 people including lawyers, HDP executives and members and 12 wardens of Siverek T Type Prison are detained in operations in Urfa, Van, Şırnak, Batman and Diyarbakır through an Urfa based investigation. It is learned that warrants are issued for 103 people.
It is learned that Mizgin Çay Yavuz, one of detainees, has a 50-days-old baby and she is allowed to breastfeed her baby only in certain times determined by authorities.
(03/159) Detained People in Malatya for Social Media Posts…
On March 12, 2020 3 people (A. Ş., Lütif Aslan, Mehmet Halici) are detained for social media posts, in Malatya. It is learned that A. Ş. came to Turkey from England for his father’s funeral.
(03/160) Detained People in Muş for Social Media Posts…
It is learned that 2 people are detained in Muş on March 12, 2020, on the grounds of ‘social media posts about corona virus’.
(03/161) Human Rights Defender on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against Raci Bilici, Human Rights Association (IHD) central executive board member, for preparing reports on right violations for the association between years of 2011 and 2014, participating in meetings of right defenders and activities of Democratic Society Congress (DTK), is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 12, 2020.
The court sentenced Raci Bilici to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(03/162) Journalist on Trial in Antalya…
The trial of the case against Engin Korkmaz, Progressive Journalists’ Association Akdeniz branch chair and Antalya Körfez newspaper managing Editor, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President on social media’ is held at March 12, 2020. The court adjourned the trial to September 9, 2020.
(03/163) HDP Members on Trial in Adana…
The trial of the case against 26 members of HDP Youth Assembly, including 5 arrestees, is held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 12, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
After defence hearings the court released 3 people and adjourned the trial.
(03/164) People on Trial in Ankara for Attending Pride March…
The trial of the case on the grounds of ‘violating the law on meetings and demonstrations’ against 19 people, who were detained in police intervention to 9th Pride March on May 10, 2109 at Middle East Technical University, is held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 39 on March 12, 2020.
It is learned that Ankara Security Directorate did not submit uncut video recordings of the police intervention although it was demanded by the court. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to July 10, 2020.
(03/165) The Case Against People Evacuated from Sur…
The trial of the case against 40 people including 19 arrestees who were evacuated from the buildings they were stuck in during the curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır during February and March, 2016; is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 12, 2020.
The court has decided to separate the cases for each person on January 10, 2020.
The court sentenced 1 person (Rihan Kavak) to 12 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(03/166) Abdullah Cömert Case…
The sentence of 6 years 10 months and 15 days given by Balıkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 to police officer Ahmet Kuş on the charge of ‘conscious negligence’ for Abdullah Cömert’s (22) death, is approved by Supreme Court on March 12, 2020. Abdullah Cömert died due to being hit by a gas bomb shell at the head, during a protest in Hatay on June 3, 2018 while Gezi Park protests were continuing over the country. It is learned that Ahmet Kuş was arrested upon approval of the court and was put in prison.
The sentence of 13 years and 4 months given to Ahmet Kuş by Balıkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 for ‘intentional injury resulting in death’ was reversed by Penal Department No 1 of the Supreme Court.
(03/167) Attack to Political Party Office in Ankara…
On March 12, 2020, HDP’s Keçiören district office in Ankara was attacked by anonymous people. It is learned that the attack lead to material damage but no casualties.
(03/168) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on March 12, 2020, and announced 12 areas with given coordinates in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli, Yüksekova and Derecik districts as special security zones as of March 12, 2020 until December 31, 2020.
[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.