Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/151) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 13, 2019 that, Ahmet Çelik, an ill prisoner kept in İzmir Menemen R Type Prison were not transferred to hospital. It is also stated in the news reports that Ehmedê Xemî, a prisoner with paraplegia was not receiving physiotherapy.
(02/152) 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 827 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 13, 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 13, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 4 people (Mahmut Konuk, Derviş Lermi, Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 6 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 13, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/153) Police Intervention Against HDP’s March in Van…
The police intervened with rubber bullets, pepper spray and pressurized water 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 Van on February 13, 2019. It is learned that 2 people (Servet Aktaş and Halit Karalar) were injured due to police intervention, and 3 people were detained. The names of detained people are unknown.
(02/154) Police Intervention Against HDP’s March in Ağrı…
The police intervened against the march of members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including MP’s, for the same reason, to be held in Ağrı on February 13, 2019. It is learned that Yeliz Karaaslan, HDP’s co-mayor candidate for Ağrı is detained by the police.
(02/155) Police Prevention to HDP’s March in Şırnak…
The police prevented the march of members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including MP’s, for the same reason, to be held in Şırnak on February 13, 2019.
(02/156) Police Prevention to HDP’s March in Urfa…
The police prevented the march of members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including MP’s, for the same reason, to be held in Birecik district of Urfa on February 13, 2019.
(02/157) Police Prevention to HDP’s March in Antep…
The police prevented the march of members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) including MP’s, for the same reason, to be held in Antep on February 13, 2019.
(02/158) Detention of HDP Executive and Journalist in Istanbul…
On February 13, 2019, at least 6 people including journalist Melike Ceylan and HDP Ümraniye district co-chair Damla Savcı are detained in house raids in Istanbul.
(02/159) Detention of HDP Executives and Members in Kocaeli…
On February 13, 2019, 9 people including HDP Kocaeli provincial co-chair Leyla Akgün are detained in house raids in Kocaeli, on the grounds of social media posts and that ‘they will organize demonstrations about hunger strike in prisons’.
(02/160) Detention of HDP Members in Bingöl…
On February 13, 2019, at least 5 people (HDP’s candidate for city council Mehmet Bahçadurmuş, HDP Youth Assembly members Yunus Bulut, Serkan Kaya, Kani Solmaz and Kani Tunç) are detained in house raids in Bingöl.
(02/161) Detention of PSAKD Antalya Branch Executive…
Gürbüz Deniz, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association (PSAKD) Antalya branch executive, is detained in Antalya on February 13, 2019. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/162) DBP Chair on Trial…
The case against Democratic Regions Party (DBP) chair Mehmet Arslan, for his declarations on Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on February 13, 2019. The court decided to lift judicial control conditions (obligation to sign a paper regularly) and to continue ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial.
(02/163) Co-Mayors on Trial…
The case against Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality co-mayor Gültan Kışanak, Kayapınar district co-mayor M. Ali Aydın, Yenişehir district co-mayor Selim Kurbanoğlu, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality general secretary Zülküf Karatekin, deputy general secretary Abdullah Sevinç, Kayapınar district deputy co-chair Aydın Bolkan, Yenişehir district deputy co-chair Abdulhalik Ağabeyoğlu, Diyarbakır Transportation Director Hikmet Altuğ and Remzi Dede, Ramazan Gökmen, Fahri İsmailoğlu, on the grounds of ‘following the instructions of an illegal organisation by hindering cleaning and transportation services’ during the curfew in Sur district, started to be held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on February 13, 2019.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial.
(02/164) HDP MP and Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against 22 politicians including HDP group deputy chair Fatma Kurtulan and Siirt co-mayor Tuncer Bakırhan, who was replaced with an appointed trustee, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on February 13, 2019. The court decided to consolidate the case with the case known as “Bağlar KCK Case”, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 1.
(02/165) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 4 academicians (Deniz Parlak from Kemerburgaz University, Professor M.G. and Assist. Professor S.Y. from Boğaziçi University and Professor Tahsin Yeşildere from Istanbul University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 13, 2019. The court sentenced S.Y., M.G., and Tahsin Yeşildere to 1 year and 3 months each for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Deniz Parlak to March 6, 2019.
The case against Assoc. Professor Feryal Saygılıgil from Arel University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on February 13, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to March 13, 2019.
(02/166) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The case against journalist Semiha Alankuş on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 is held on February 13, 2019. The indictment demands Semiha Alankuş to be sentenced on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. Semiha Alankuş attended the trial and made her defence. After defence hearings the court decided to lift judicial control conditions (obligation to sign a paper regularly) and to continue ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial.
Semiha Alankuş was detained on October 9, 2018, through a Diyarbakır based investigation on HDP, DBP, Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Democratic Society Congress (DTK) members and journalists; and was released on judicial control conditions on October 11, 2018.
(02/167) Lawyer on Trial in Antalya…
The final trial of the case against lawyer Ahmet Çevik, on the charge of ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’ in his social media posts, is held on Antalya Penal Court of First Instance No 17 is held on February 13, 2019. The court acquitted Ahmet Çevik.
(02/168) Director on Trial in Batman…
The final trial of the case against director Veysi Altay and Dicle Anter, director of Yılmaz Güney Movie Theatre, for screening of the documentary “Nû Jîn” on October 14, 2015 in Batman, is held on Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 13, 2019. The court sentenced Veysi Altay to 2 years and 6 months and Dicle Anter to 2 years and 1 month for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(02/169) HDP Executive on Trial…
The case against Zeki Koç, former member of HDP’s Party Assembly, on the grounds of social media posts, started to be held on Hatay Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 13, 2019. The court declared the verdict on the first trial and sentenced Zeki Koç to 1 year and 10 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and decided to release Zeki Koç.
Zeki Koç was detained in İskenderun district of Hatay on October 24, 2018 and was arrested on October 25, 2018 on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ‘aiding and abetting for an illegal organisation’.
(02/170) Police Officers on Trial for Death of Yusuf Topal…
The indictment of Giresun Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the charge of ‘reckless killing’, against police officers H.Ş. and T.K., for death of Yusuf Topal (82), due to police intervention after a quarrel he had with a physician at July 15 Martyrs Family Health Center in Giresun; is accepted by Giresun Penal Court of First Instance No 2. It is learned that the first trial will be held on June 27, 2019.
On July 24, 2018, after the quarrel took place at Family Health Center, the police coming in response to a call, attempted to detain Yusuf Topal. As he resisted, the police sprayed pepper gas on him and handcuffed behind his back, dragging on the floor. Yusuf Topal then had a heart attack due to intervention and died.
(02/171) Police Officers and Civilian People on Trial in Diyarbakır…
On September 9, 2010, a quarrel took place in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır, between 3 brothers, Paşa Sakar, Cengiz Sakar and Engin Sakar, and police officers İ.G. and M.E., after police officers wanted to make ID check and then were asked to show their police ID’s in response. 3 people were subjected to physical violence of the police and were detained, after more police officers arrived as back up.
The final trial of the case on Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 7 is held on February 13, 2019. The court acquitted Paşa Sakar, Cengiz Sakar and Engin Sakar on the charge of ‘threatening and resisting against a public officer in order to prevent him from performing his duty’. The court sentenced 3 people to 1 year and 3 months each on the charge of ‘insulting a police officer’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
The court acquitted police officer İ.G. on the charges of ‘excessive use of force’ and ‘injury’. The court sentenced police officer M.E. to a fine of 3.000 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘injury’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(02/172) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 13, 2019, 7 people are detained for using ByLock, in house raids in Ankara.
(02/173) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against former football players Uğur Tütüneker, İsmail Demiriz and Arif Erdem, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on February 13, 2019. The court decided to acquit Uğur Tütüneker and to separate the cases against İsmail Demiriz and Arif Erdem.
The final trial of the case against 105 people (all of them spouses of military members), for leakage of questions of Public Personnel Selection Examination of 2010, is held on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 13, 2019. The court sentenced 69 defendants to 6 years and 3 months and 1 defendant to 1 year 10 months and 15 days for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced 36 defendants to 8 years and 4 months, and 7 defendants to 3 years 1 month and 15 days for ‘fraud’. The court acquitted 20 defendants and separated the cases against 15 fugitive defendants.
(02/174) March 31, 2019 Elections…
On February 13, 2019, unknown person or persons attacked Justice and Development Party (AKP) campaign office in Seyhan district of Adana, with gasoline bomb. It is learned that there were no casualties however material damage occurred at the office.
(02/175) Ban on Events in Tunceli…
Tunceli Governorate made a declaration on February 13, 2019 and banned all actions and events all over the city such as open-door and indoor meetings, press declarations, sit-in protests etc. as of February 13, 2019 until February 18, 2019.
(02/176) Ban on Events in Şırnak…
Şırnak Governorate made a declaration on February 13, 2019 and banned all actions and events all over the city such as open-door and indoor meetings, press declarations, sit-in protests etc. for 15 days as of February 12, 2019.
(02/177) Ban on Events in Mardin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on February 13, 2019 and banned all actions and events all over the city such as open-door and indoor meetings, press declarations, sit-in protests etc. as of February 13, 2019 until February 27, 2019.
(02/178) Ban on Events in Bitlis…
Bitlis Governorate made a declaration on February 13, 2019 and banned all actions and events all over the city such as open-door and indoor meetings, press declarations, sit-in protests etc. as of February 13, 2019 until February 22, 2019.
(02/179) Press Freedom Report of European Council…
Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists declared the report “Democracy at Risk: Threats and Attacks against Media Freedom in Europe” on February 12, 2019. It is learned from the report that 130 journalists in total are in prisons in European Council member countries and 110 of those imprisoned journalists are in Turkey. The report defines Turkey as “the world’s biggest jailer of journalists” and states the following: “Despite the official ending of the state of emergency in July 2018, Turkey remains the world’s largest imprisoner of journalists and has been rated as one of the worst performers in the world in terms of freedom of expression and media freedom.”
[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.