Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 – 18 May 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/129) People Were Subjected to Police Violence in Adana…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that, a person who is reported to be security guard of sub-governor of Yüreğir district of Adana, had a quarrel with and pulled his gun on Eren Yıldırım, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Yüreğir district Youth branch chair, and his family, and then committed physical violence against them. It is reported that the police came to the incident scene and detained Eren Yıldırım, along with his mother, father and brother, upon complaint of sub-governor. Detained 4 people were released on the next day.
Eren Yıldırım stated the following: “I was walking with my mother, father and brother in Yenidoğan neighbourhood, and I saw trucks full of potatoes in front of Yüreğir Sub-Governor’s Office. I asked a civilian person in the crowd over there, what were these potatoes for. I, as the chair of youth branch and as a volunteer of Vefa group (a social support group formed by the government), asked for whom these aid was planned. After that this civilian person got furious immediately and tried to force me and my family out of the place. When I told him that I am the chair of youth branch, he pulled his gun on us and inserted a bullet. He pulled his gun to my brother’s stomach. And then they attacked us. When we were calling the police crime line to report the attack the police officers arrived. And then they detained me, my mother, my father and my brother as if we were not the ones attacked and threatened with a gun.”
Eren Yıldırım was detained once again upon prosecutor’s appeal on May 17, 2020 and was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent one’s duty’.
(05/130) Person Was Subjected to Police Violence in Batman…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that, a person in Batman who rejected showing his ID card to the police without seeing police ID, was detained by the police using physical violence and was handcuffed behind his back. It is reported that the police yelled at the person as “You will show your ID if a police officer asks you to do so”.
(05/131) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
Ministry of Justice made a declaration on May 1, 2020 via twitter and announced that, as a part of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic, all visits to open and closed prisons including lawyer visits, workshop activities, leave permissions special to open prisons, using family visit rooms, collective activities for prisoners, transfers between prisons, nursery and kindergarten for children under the age of 6 who are with their mothers in prison, or sending them out to their parents or relatives are suspended until May 30, 2020.
The video footage of physical violence of a warden against Oda TV executive editor Barış Pehlivan at the entrance of Silivri Prison where he was taken to after being arrested on March 6, 2020, is covered by media on May 15, 2020. Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office has made a non-prosecution decision for the criminal complaint on physical violence against Barış Pehlivan.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that 3 prisoners who reject reduction of open-door time in Elazığ Women’s Prison were subjected to physical violence of the wardens. It is stated in the news reports that 3 prisoners who have bruises on their arms and bodies were not taken to hospital and were not allowed to get a medical report evidencing the violence.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı MP Abdullah Koç who demanded to meet Kırşehir E Type Prison administration about torture and ill-treatment allegations there, were prevented by the police from entering the prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 16, 2020 that, Bayram Sevgin and other 4 prisoners were subjected to physical violence of the wardens. It is reported that Bayram Sevgin got injured at the foot due to torture. Bayram Sevgin has went on a death fast on February 25, 2020 to demand an end to right violations, and ended his fast after prison administration stated to meet his demands.
It is claimed on the news coverage of May 17, 2020 that in Sakarya Hendek Women’s Open Prison, social distancing rule for Covid-19 was not followed and some prisoners share plates and spoons.
(05/132) Police Intervention to Funeral of İbrahim Gökçek…
It is learned that on May 15, 2020, the prosecutor’s office appealed to the release of 5 people who were detained in the police intervention against the funeral of Grup Yorum member İbrahim Gökçek who lost his life on May 7, 2020, at Gazi Cemevi in Sultangazi district of Istanbul on May 8, 2020; and who were released by the court; and that the court issued a warrant against these 5 people (Bahar Ertürk, Cemil Kurt, Dilan Ekin, Tuğçe Tayyar and Sevda Kurban).
A child named B. A. (17, m) who was detained on the grounds of holding a banner at İbrahim Gökçek’s funeral is arrested by the police on May 15, 2020.
(05/133) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1286 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 15, 2020 at 13.30 and at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
On May 16, 2020, 1 person (Mehmet Dersulu) is detained for violating the curfew. Mehmet Dersulu is released on the same day.
(05/134) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration for architect Alev Şahin, who was dismissed from her job by a state of emergency decree, in front of Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning building in Ankara on May 15 2020; and forced 1 person (Nazan Bozkurt) way from the building.
(05/135) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the demonstration for May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on May 15, 2020 and detained 2 people by using physical violence. Names of detained people are unknown.
(05/136) Police Intervention to a Protests Against Trustee Appointments…
The police used pepper spray to intervene the press declaration in Iğdır, to protest trustee appointments to HDP’s municipalities and detention of co-mayors, on May 15, 2020. It is learned that Iğdır deputy mayor Halis Güney was subjected to physical violence of the police.
The police did not allow the press declaration in Adana, to protest trustee appointments to HDP’s municipalities and detention of co-mayors, on May 16, 2020. Police prevention is grounded on precautions for Covid-19.
(05/137) Pressures and Interventions Against May 1 Events…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2020 that, 17 people including 12 cleaning workers, who went to their place of duty in Gaziemir district of Izmir, with flags on their vehicles, blowing horns and singing anthems for May 1 International Workers’ Day, were given by district police officers a fine of 3,150 Turkish Liras each, for violating the curfew on May 1.
(05/138) Detained Co-Mayor in Muş…
Casim Budak, HDP co-mayor of Altınova town in Korkut district of Muş who were detained on May 15, 2020, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on May 17, 2020.
(05/139) Detained Journalist and Other Person…
A person named Taylan Kulaçoğlu is detained through a Balıkesir based investigation on the grounds of ‘provoking to commit a crime’ and ‘praising offence and offender’, on May 17, 2020.
“Red” journal executive editor Hakan Gülseven is detained through the same investigation on May 17, 2020.
(05/140) Detained Person in Antalya for Social Media Posts…
Photographer Fırat Erez is detained in Antalya on May 17, 2020, on the grounds of ‘insulting religious values in social media posts’.
(05/141) Detained People in Mardin…
3 people are detained in house raids in Nusaybin district of Mardin on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on May 16, 2020.
(05/142) Judge is Suspended…
Ayşe Sarısu Pehlivan, a judge in Karşıyaka district of Izmir and also chair of Union of Judges; who was investigation for her social media post “Folk songs does not hurt anyone #ibrahimgökçekshouldlive” in Turkish, in relation to Grup Yorum member İbrahim Gökçek, is suspended by Council of Judges and Prosecutors on May 15,2020.
(05/143) Investigation Against a Judge…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that, Council of Judges and Prosecutors initiated an investigation against Orhan Gazi Ertekin, a judge in Izmir, and also co-chair of Association for Democratic Jurisdiction, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for his social media posts on Grup Yorum member İbrahim Gökçek.
(05/144) Investigation Against Local Administration…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 15, 2020 that, Burdur Governorate initiated an investigation against CHP’s Burdur Municipality, on the grounds of production of face masks. Burdur Governorate made a declaration and stated that the investigation is initiated after a report on Directorate of Communications system, and there will be no further process since no opposition to legislation is found.
(05/145) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 48 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,708 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 15, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 41 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,610 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 16, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 44 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,386 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 17, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 4,140 and total number of confirmed cases is 149,435 as of May 17, 2020.
Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed on May 17, 2020 that at least 128 workers died from Covid-19 in between March 11-May 10, 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.