Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
14 February 2025 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/123) Operations and Attacks…
Ministry of National Defence declared that 1 soldier (Osman Oktay) who was wounded due to the fire opened towards a base area of Turkish Armed Forces in Syria on February 7, 2025 died in hospital on February 13, 2025.
(02/124) Person Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment by the Police in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 14, 2025 that lawyer Hebun Hakan Akkaya, a member of Lawyers’ Association for Freedom (ÖHD), was subjected to physical and verbal violence and was handcuffed behind his back during a police raid to his house.
(02/125) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 14, 2025 that, Güven Usta, a prisoner in Izmir Kırıklar F Type Prison No 1, who was brought to Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse for the trial of the case he is on trial for, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of gendarmerie officers because he rejected to be double handcuffed. It is stated in the news reports that Güven Usta was also subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the car in which he was taken back to Izmir. Güven Usta’s lawyer Firdevs Avşar made the following statement to the press: “Güven Usta informed us that he was beaten by gendarmes at the courthouse because he did not want to be taken to the hearing in double handcuffs, and as if that was not enough, on the way back, the ring vehicle was parked at a resting facility and gendarmes attacked him with a baton for minutes in the vehicle”.
It is learned that lawyer Leyla Bilgen, who came to the prison to demand a medical report on torture and ill-treatment to which her client was subjected, was asked to leave the prison by the prison prosecutor saying “It is obvious why you are here, you are here for provocation, you are a terrorist”.
(02/126) Prisoner’s Release Postponed by the Prison Administration and Observation Board Decision…
It is learned from news coverage of February 13, 2025 that release of Emrah Kandemir, a prisoner in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, who completed the execution of his life sentence, was postponed for the 4th time for 9 months by Prison Administration and Monitoring Board (CİGK). Ramazan Karataş’s release had previously been postponed for a total of 15 months, twice for 6 months and once for 3 months.
(02/127) No Response to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 13, 2025 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa in order to visit PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
(02/128) Detained City Council Members, Municipal Administrators in Istanbul…
10 people including 2 deputy mayors and 7 city council members who were detained in Istanbul on February 11, 2025 are arrested by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on February 13, 2025 on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member’. The names of the arrested people are: Kartal Deputy Mayor Cemalettin Yüksel, Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Livan Gür, Üsküdar City Council Member Bülent Kaygun, Sancaktepe City Council Member Elif Gül, Fatih City Council Member Güzin Alparslan, Tuzla City Council Member Hasan Özdemir, Adalar City Council Member Nesimi Aday, Şişli City Council Member Sinan Gür, Beyoğlu City Council Member Turbi Şen and a person named İ.P.
(02/129) Detained Trade Union Executive in Antep…
Mehmet Türkmen, chairman of the United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers Union (BİRTEK SEN), was detained on February 14, 2025 in Antep, prior to the workers’ work stoppage at Democracy Square. Mehmet Türkmen was released the same day after statement procedures at the police.
(02/130) Lawyers Detained in a Diyarbakır Based Investigation…
On February 14, 2025, ÖHD member lawyers Volkan Bilece in Mersin and Hebun Hakan Akkaya in Istanbul were detained through a Diyarbakır based investigation. The reason of detention is unknown. It is learned that lawyer visit restriction is imposed for 24 hours.
(02/131) Detained People in Mersin…
On February 14, 2025, 2 people (Çiğdem Kılıç and Taner Ayten) are detained in house raids in Tarsus district of Mersin on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(02/132) Detained People in Manisa…
12 of 18 people including DEM Party’s co-mayor candidate Cevdet Yıldız, who were detained on February 12, 2025 in Salihli district of Manisa on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for Newroz celebrations in 2024, were released by the criminal court of peace on February 13, 2025 on judicial control conditions. 6 of the detainees were released after statement procedures at the police on February 12, 2025.
(02/133) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Mehmet Kamış, former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Zaman newspaper, which was shut down by a Decree Law (KHK), and Ali Çolak, former culture and arts editor of the newspaper, continued on February 13, 2025 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26. The indictment demands sentence for the journalists on the charges of ‘attempting to abolish the Grand National Assembly of Turkey or preventing it from performing its duty’, ‘attempting to abolish the Government of the Republic of Turkey or preventing it from performing its duty’, ‘attempting to abolish the constitutional order’ and ‘being an illegal organization member’. The court adjourned the trial to May 6, 2025.
(02/134) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
It is learned that the indictment of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Furkan Karabay for his social media posts is accepted by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on February 13, 2025. The indictment demands sentence for Furkan Karabay on the charges of ‘targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism’, ‘publicly spreading misleading information’ and ‘publicly insulting a public officer for his duty’. The first hearing of the case will be held on May 27, 2025.
(02/135) Co-Mayor and Other People on Trial in Mardin…
The trial of the case against 5 people including Mehmet Ali Amak, co-mayor of Artuklu district of Mardin, is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 13, 2025. The indictment demands sentence for 5 people on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court adjourned the trial to March 5, 2025.
(02/136) Banned Event in Diyarbakır…
On February 13, 2025, it is learned that the commemoration event for Şeyh Sait in Diyarbakır is banned by Diyarbakır Governorate on the grounds of ‘disruption of public order and security in a way to stop or interrupt ordinary life’.
[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.