15 March 2016 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/099) Curfew in Sur…
The curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır reached its 96th day as of 15 March 2016.
The bodies of 15 persons who were allegedly killed during the clashes on 14 March 2016 in Sur were taken to Elazığ and Malatya for autopsy.
The body of Cihat Türkan was identified by his family.
(03/100) Curfew in İdil…
After the completion of the operations in İdil district of Şırnak, the curfew reached its 28th day as of 15 March 2016. The bodies of İrfan Çağlar (24), Mazlum Alver (24) and Derviş Ersoy (20) were identified on 14 March 2016 by their families.
(03/101) Curfew in Cizre…
The night-curfew in in Cizre district of Şırnak reached its 13 day as of 15 March 2016.
The bodies of 5 persons who were not identified and kept in Malatya Forensic Institute were reportedly buried on 14 March 2015 in the cemetery of the nameless.
According to the news appeared in the press on 14 March 2016, the body of Tahir Çiçek was taken by his family after being identified.
Emin İdim who was killed in Cizre and kept in Habur Border Gate was taken by his family after being identified. He was buried on 14 Marc 2016 in children’s cemetery in Yafes quarter.
(03/102) House Raids in Diyarbakır…
Security Forces raided a house on 14 March 2016 in Kayapınar quarter of Diyarbakır on the grounds that PKK militants were hiding in the house. 1 person was killed, 2 persons including a police officer were wounded when an armed clash broke out during the raid. Killed person was allegedly a PKK militant.
(03/103) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…
2 persons and 1 police officer died on 14 March 2016 during an armed clash that broke out when an armed group set vehicles to fire in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır to protest in the curfew in Sur district.
Hüseyin Hüseyinoğlu (22) was shot at head and killed when he was in his vehicle.
Because of the clashed, curfew was declared in Kaynartepe quarter on 15 March 2016 at 3.00pm.
(03/104) Bomb Attack in Ankara…
One of the perpetrators of the suicide bomb attack in Ankara on 13 March 2016 was alleged to be Seher Çağla Demir (24) on 14 March 2016. 37 persons were killed during the attack against the bus stops in Kızılay Square.
(03/105) Abdullah Cömert Case…
Balıkkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 concluded on 14 March 2016 to hear the case against the police officer Ahmet Kuş (29) launched on charges of the killing Abdullah Cömert (22) with a tear gas canister on 3 June 2013 in Hatay during Gezi Park demonstrations. The case was transferred to Balıkesir Heavy Penal Court No 2 for security reasons.
Only lawyers and members of the Ayvalıtaş family were allowed to attend the hearing. The court sentenced the defendant to 13 years and 4 months’ imprisonment for “involuntary manslaughter”. The indictment wanted the defendant to be sentenced to a term of imprisonment up to 25 years for “killing with eventual intent”. The court did not rule the arrest of the defendant, but imposed a ban on leaving the country.
(03/106) JİTEM (Diyarbakır)/ Musa Anter Case in Ankara…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 6 continued on 14 March 2016 to hear the gendarmerie intelligence service JİTEM case against 16 defendants including 5 on-the-run defendants launched in connection with the killings of 26 persons including Musa Anter in Diyarbakır and neighbouring provinces. The case was transferred to Ankara for alleged security reasons.
Kutlu Savaş, Orhan Taşanlar ve Mehmet Eymür testified at the hearing as witnesses. The court rejected to release the only remanded defendant Hamit Yıldırım to be tried without remand and accepted the demand of the lawyers to hear Veli Küçük as witnesses. The court adjourned the hearing to 25 April 2016.
(03/107) Pressures in Prisons…
According to the news appeared in the press on 14 March 2016, 5 male and 3 female prisoners incarcerated in Batman M-type Prison were transferred to other prisons without their demand.
(03/108) Operations after Academics for Peace Petition…
Operations were conducted against the signatories on 14 March 2016 in İstanbul. Muzaffer Kaya (fired from Nişantası University), Boğaziçi University academic member Esra Mungan, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University academic member Kıvanç Ersoy were detained.
(03/109) Paper Confiscated…
Ankara Peace Penal Judge No 1 ruled confiscation of the 16 March 2016 issue of the paper Özgür Gündem upon request of the Chief Public Prosecutor in Ankara. The decision was demanded relying on the headline of the paper “Footsteps of Newroz (Newrozun Ayak Sesleri)”.
(03/110) Political Party Executive on Trial on the allegations of Insulting the State President…
Mersin Penal Court of First Instance No 6 started on 14 March 2016 to hear the case against Labour Party (EMEP) executive for Mersin province Mehmet Taşçı launched for the slogans during a meeting staged in Mersin on 13 October 2015 to protest in the bomb attack in Ankara on 10 October 2015.
The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for “insulting the State President”. Despite the footages of the meeting proving that Mehmet Taşçı did not participate the slogans, the court did not drop the case and adjourned the hearing to 4 May 2016.
(03/111) Protest Intervened in İstanbul…
The police prevented 3 women who wanted to stage a protest on 14 March 2016 in front of Ensar Foundation’s premises in İstanbul after the arrest of the teacher Muammer B. (54) for raping male students in Ensar Foundation’s houses in Karaman. The police detained the women under arrests.
(03/112) Protest Intervened in İstanbul…
The police intervened the Marmara University students when they wanted to stage an action on 14 March 2015 in the campus of the university in İstanbul to commemorate 37 persons who were killed during the bomb attack in Ankara. 9 persons were detained during the police intervention.
(03/113) Mayor on Trial for Self-Governance Declaration…
According to the news appeared in the press, Erciş (Van) Heavy Penal Court will start on 19 April 2016 to hear the case against Erciş Co-Mayor Diba Keskin launched on charges of ““disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state”. Diba Keskin was arrested on 15 October 2015 for “taking part in the declaration of self-governance” and transferred to Sincan (Ankara) Women’s Prison. She was suspended from duty on 28 October 2015 by the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
(03/114) Political Party Premises Attacked in Edirne…
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) premises in Edirne was opened fire on 14 March 2016 by unidentified persons. The attack caused material damage.
(03/115) Detentions and Arrests…
The police conducted operations on 14 March 2016 and detained 16 persons in Eskişehir, 15 persons including 9 children in İstanbul, 2 persons in Batman on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”.
Police conducted operations in Muğla and Milas district and detained 8 persons including Peoples’ Democratic Party Co-Chair for Menteşe district Hanifi Sarı. 4 members were reportedly detained in Iğdır on the allegations of “being member of YPS (Civil Defence Units)”.
The police raided the premises of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) In Ağrı and detained 20 persons. The reason of the operation was not disclosed. HDP Co-Chair for Ağrı province Hanım Yıldırım was also detained in Hamur district.
DBP Assembly member Fırat Alökmen was detained at a control point in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on the allegations that there was an arrest warrant issued against him.
HDP member Metin Eren who was detained in Osmaniye was arrested on 14 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
The police conducted house raids in Konya and detained 7 persons including HDP Co-Chair for Konya province Nurhan Erkal.
The police conducted operations on “15 March 2016 and detained 3 DBP executives in Elazığ, Mehmet Başkale in Şanlıurfa, 24 persons including 13 children in Antalya, 27 persons including 7 children in Adana, and 17 persons in Denizli.
Faysal Özgül, Sinan Boylu, Fevzi Sever, Cemil Öztok, Mücahit Bingöl who were detained during the operations conducted in the villages of Varto district in Muş were arrested on 15 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”. 11 students who were detained in Giresun were also arrested on 15 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.
Lokman Gül, Erol Bitmez, Ekrem Darçın, Ali Kaban, Fahrettin Kaban, Muharrem Demir, Recep Kerem, Abdurahman Taş, Haşim Kerem, Ömer Bağcı, Serdar Buldu, Ömer Kurşun and Fırat Savaşçı who were among 15 HDP executives and members detained during operations in Manisa were arrested on 14 March 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.