Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 – 16 November 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/164) Earthquake in Izmir…
It is declared that as of November 14, 2020, the death toll increased to 116 in the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Izmir on October 30, 2020.
(11/165) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 14, 2020 that, 2 militants died in a clash between HPG militants and security forces in rural areas of Çukurca district of Hakkari on September 17, 2020.
(11/166) Sexual Assault of Security Staff at Repatriation Center in Van…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 14, 2020 that, an Iranian woman Z. M. who was kept in Kurubaş Repatriation Center of Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in Van, was subjected to sexual assault of 2 security officers (İ. H. K. and Y. V.) on July 26, 2020.
It is learned that 2 security officers made their official statements at Van Edremit District Gendarmerie Command and they were arrested by the court on the charge of ‘sexual assault’.
(11/167) Person Died in Prison…
It is learned from the news reports that Ahmet Kaplan, a cancer patient prisoner in Iskenderun Prison, lost his life on November 11, 2020. It is claimed in the news reports that Ahmet Kaplan was taken to Iskenderun Public Hospital for medical examination, and was sent back to prison due to lack of prisoners’ room in hospital.
(11/168) Person Died in Prison…
It is claimed in the news coverage of November 13, 2020 that, H. H., a prisoner in Giresun E Type Prison, lost his life after committing suicide.
(11/169) Person Died in Prison…
It is learned from the news reports that Hüseyin Özen, a prisoner in Bursa H Type Prison who was admitted to intensive care unit of a hospital for Covid-19, lost his life on November 15, 2020.
(11/170) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 13, 2020 that, prisoners who tested positive for Covid-19 are restricted from their phone call rights in Çorum L Type and Manisa T Type prisons.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 13, 2020 that, in Izmir Aliağa T Type Prison No 1, 26 people are kept in wards for 14 people.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 15, 2020 that, in Aydın E Type Prison, the number of prisoners kept in wards is over capacity, necessary hygiene precautions for Covid-19 are not taken, and the meals given to prisoners are of poor quality and poor health.
(11/171) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of the Police in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 15, 2020 that, a person named Mehmet Şerif Coşkun was subjected to physical violence of the police asking him for his identity card, in Konak district of Izmir on November 13, 2020.
Mahsun Öztekin, a witness of the incident, stated the following: “He was in his grocery store on that day. And he went out to park his car. A group of police officers with motorbikes arrived and they wanted to make criminal record check. Şerif said, ‘I will park the car first, then you can do’. 6 police officers, took Şerif out of the car and started to beat him although he had done nothing. He was lying on the ground and they were spraying pepper gas on him and kicking him. People started to gather around, we tried to stop the violence of the police. But they committed violence to us too. A friend of mine was recording all of this with his phone, they took his phone and deleted the video. Then I recorded a short video covering a few minutes. They tried to delete this video too, but I did not give my phone to them.”
(11/172) Police Intervention to a Protest in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that members of Dicle Amed Women’s Platform who gather at a crossroad in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır on November 14, 2020, to make a “purple convoy” as a part of 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to particularly protest abuse and violence of men in traffic, are prevented by the police on the ground of Covid-19 pandemic.
(11/173) Police Intervention to a Protest in Van…
It is learned that members of Refugee Solidarity Network who wanted to leave carnations to the Van Lake on November 15, 2020, to draw attention to refugees who lost their lives, are prevented by the police on the grounds of governorate’s ban.
(11/174) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations which were made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” going on for 1468 days in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on November 13, 2020 at 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(11/175) Detained Co-Mayor in Diyarbakır…
Cemal Özdemir, co-mayor of Sur district who was suspended, is detained in Diyarbakır on November 13, 2020.
(11/176) Arrested HDP Executive in Maraş…
Naci Kızıler, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Pazarcık district co-chair who was detained in a house raid in Pazarcık district of Maraş on November 13, 2020, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 15, 2020.
(11/177) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
On November 13, 2020, 11 people are detained on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, in house raids in city center and several districts of Diyarbakır.
Names of detained people learned so far are: Sevgül Tekin, Osman Balta, Cevat İnan, Hayrettin Karayılan, Erdal Bayram, Hacı Karakuzu, Ayfer Tekin.
(11/180) Detained People in Urfa…
On November 15, 2020, 6 people (Sefer Parsak, Mahmut Parsak, Adnan Parsak, İsmail Koştı, Halil Yağmurlu and Hikmet Beyhan) are detained in house raids in Suruç district of Urfa. The reason of detention is unknown.
(11/181) The Case Against HRFT Cizre Representative Doctor Serdar Küni…
Doctor Serdar Küni, HRFT Cizre Representative and chair of Şırnak Chamber of Medicine, was sentenced by Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 to 4 years and 2 months on the charge of ‘willingly and knowingly aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’. The court’s verdict was reversed by Antep Regional Court.
The retrial of the case against doctor Serdar Küni is held at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 on November 16, 2020. The court convicted Serdar Küni of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, and sentenced him to 4 years and 2 months.
(11/182) Former Co-Mayor and Other People on Trial in Mardin…
The final trial of the case against 22 people, including Abdülkerim Erdem and Sabahat Çetinkaya, former co-mayors of Derik district of Mardin who was suspended, is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on November 13, 2020.
The court sentenced Abdülkerim Erdem to 7 years and 11 months; Sabahat Çetinkaya, Mazlum Erek and Abdullah Ecer to 6 years and 3 months each; Cihan Akar to 7 years and 6 months; Mustafa Özüçalışır to 7 years 8 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced Tacettin Aslan and Halit Efe to 2 years and 1 month each on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’. The court sentenced Hüseyin Aydın and Mürsel İnan to heavy life imprisonment on the charge of ‘disrupting unity and integrity of the state’. The court acquitted Kadri Güneş and Fırat Çelik and separated the cases against 10 people.
Abdülkerim Erdem and Sabahat Çetinkaya were arrested on February 26, 2016. Sabahat Çetinkaya was released on December 20, 2017; Abdülkerim Erdem was released on June 17, 2019.
The Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Derik district on September 13, 2016.
(11/183) Co-Mayor and Journalist on Trial in Van…
The trial of the case against Leyla Balkan, suspended co-mayor of Muradiye district of Van, and against Jinnews reporter Hükmet Tunç, on the grounds of insulting Erkan Savar, the trustee who was appointed by the Ministry of Interior, is held at Muradiye Penal Court of First Instance No 7 on November 13, 2020.
The court cancelled the warrant for forcibly bringing Leyla Balkan and Hikmet Tunç before the court, and adjourned the trial.
(11/184) Ali El Hemdan Case…
The trial of the case against police officer F. K. for death of Syrian citizen Ali El Hemdan (19) is held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 9 on November 13, 2020. Ali El Hemdan was killed by police gunshot in Seyhan district of Adana on April 27, 2020.
It is learned that a lawyer representing Ali el Hemdan’s family as the complainant side, did not join the trial. The defendant police officer F. K., changed his previous statement about “his gun being fired because he stumbled” and stated that “he could have been fired his gun by mistake while he was aiming the gun into the air”. After testimonies of witness police officers, the court adjourned the trial to February 18, 2021.
Tugay Bek, a lawyer from Adana Bar Association, stated that Ali el Hemdan’s family was subjected to the oppression of the police, for not pursuing the case by being represented by a lawyer.
The indictment demands sentence for police officer F. K. on the charge of ‘intentional killing’.
(11/185) Ban of Theatre Play in Urfa…
It is learned that the Kurdish play “Bêrû” (Barefaced) which was to be staged in conference hall of Urfa Bar Association on November 14, 2020, is banned on November 13, 2020, by Urfa Governorate’s Office, to be staged in all over the city and for an indefinite time period.
(11/186) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On November 14, 2020, 1 person is detained on a warrant in Ankara.
(11/187) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 93 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,045 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 13, 2020.
The Ministry of Health declared that 92 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,116 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 14, 2020.
The Ministry of Health declared that 89 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,223 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 15, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 11,507 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 414,278 as of November 15, 2020.
It is learned from data shared by Ankara Chamber of Medicine on November 13, 2020 that 1192 health workers including 183 doctors, 118 medical assistants, 37 primary care doctors, 12 pharmacists, 15 laboratorians, 14 physiotherapists and dietitians, 201 nurses and delivery nurses, 47 health officers, 14 security personnel, 9 administrative personnel, 11 radiology technicians, 6 workplace doctors, 127 cleaning workers, 68 medical secretaries, 7 kitchen workers, 81 dentists, 5 anaesthetists in Ankara tested positive for Covid-19. Ankara Medical Chamber also declared that 13 health employees died from Covid-19 as of November 13, 2020.
It is learned from the data shared by Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) on November 15, 2020 that at least 368 workers died from 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.
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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.