Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
16 June 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/176) Suspicious Death of Soldier in Şırnak…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 15, 2023, that a soldier named İhsan Yakışan, who was on duty in a military base area in the rural area of Silopi district of Şırnak, lost his life. It is claimed in the news reports that İhsan Yakışan died as a result of suicide.
(06/177) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 15, 2023 that, 6 prisoners in Kırıkkale F Type Prison started a hunger strike to demand an end to right violations. The prisoners’ names are: Rıdvan Kaya, Fikret Erden, İhsan Oral, Orhan Doruk, Serhat Erdemci, Baran Gül.
(06/178) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on June 15, 2023 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
(06/179) Interventions and Bans on Pride Month Events…
The governorate’s office of Datça district of Muğla made a declaration on June 13, 2023 and banned film screenings, theatre plays, panel talks, exhibitions, marches, press declarations and such events to be held as part of Pride Month.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 15, 2023 that, the governorate’s office of Kadıköy district of Istanbul banned the tea event of Lambdaistanbul LGBTI+ Solidarity Association to be held as a part of Pride Month.
It is learned that the posters prepared before the press declaration to be held by the LGBTI+ Community Queer Owl of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University on June 16, 2023 as part of Pride Month were seized by the university’s private security units. Private security units intervened in the press declaration and those participated in the declaration were subjected to physical violence during the intervention.
Regarding the Pride Parade to be held in Istanbul as part of Pride Month, the Governor of Istanbul made the following statement on social media on June 16, 2023: “No activity that threatens our family institution, which is the guarantee of our nation and state, has been allowed. Groups demonstrating without permission will never be allowed.”
(06/180) Police Intervention to Press Declaration in Muş…
The police intervened in the press declaration held on June 15, 2023 to protest arrest of 11 people on the grounds of participating in the funeral held for Mehmet Şirin Aydın, who lost his life in an attack on Ahmet Kaya Cultural Center in Paris on December 23, 2023, and detained 4 people including the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSP) provincial co-chair Bermal Nergiz. Detained people were released on the same day after statement procedures.
(06/181) Police Intervention to Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the vigil of the workers of the Finance Center in Ataşehir district of Istanbul demanding severance pay, overtime wages and other rights, on June 15, 2023 and detained 6 people, including Nihat Demir, the Secretary General of the Revolutionary Construction Workers’ Union (Dev Yapı-İş).
(06/182) Detained HDP Executives and Other People in Şırnak…
6 of 10 people including HDP executives who were detained in Beytüşşebap district of Şırnak on June 12, 2023, were arrested by the court on June 15, 2023. 4 people were released on judicial control conditions. Arrested people are: HDP Beytüşşebap district co-chair Zarife Borak, Lokman Abi, Davut Abi, Sait Acar, Devrim Abi, Cemal Bor.
(06/183) Detained Lawyer in Diyarbakır…
Lawyer Süleyman Şahin who was detained by the prosecutor’s order at Diyarbakır Courthouse where he went to make his official statement through an investigation of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office on June 14, 2023, was released by the court on judicial control conditions on June 16, 2023.
(06/184) Detained HDP Executive in Tunceli…
HDP’s former provincial co-chair Hıdır Çiçek was detained in a house raid in Tunceli on June 16, 2023. The reason for detention is unknown.
(06/185) The Case Against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor…
The first trial of the case against 7 people, including the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Ekrem İmamoğlu, on the grounds of ‘tender rigging’ is held at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance, on June 15, 2023. The court accepted the Ministry of Interior’s request to participate in the case and adjourned the trial to November 20, 2023.
(06/186) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against Jinnews agency news editor Safiye Alağaş is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on June 15, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Safiye Alağaş on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. After defence hearings the court decided to release Safiye Alağaş on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to November 9, 2023.
Safiye Alağaş was detained on June 8, 2022 and was arrested on June 16, 2022.
(06/187) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Eren Tutel, sports editor of Birgün newspaper, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 2 on June 15, 2023. Following the news reports of Eren Tutel, about the infractions and the national Wushu Federation; the chair of the federation and his daughter have filed a criminal complaint against him. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to September 28, 2023.
(06/188) Human Rights Defender on Trial in Ankara…
The final trial of the case against the Human Rights Association Ankara branch’s former executive Aslı Saraç, for the events she participated and social media posts, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 28 on June 15, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Aslı Saraç on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court decided to acquit Aslı Saraç.
(06/189) Former Parliamentary Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against HDP’s former Diyarbakır MP and group deputy İdris Baluken is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on June 15, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for İdris Baluken on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court adjourned the trial.
(06/190) DBP Executive on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former deputy co-chair Mehmet Şirin Tunç, through the investigation on the democratic Society Congress, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 8 on June 15, 2023. The court decided to acquit Mehmet Şirin Tunç.
(06/191) People on Trial in Eskişehir…
The final trial of the case against 8 people who were detained by the police intervening in the Pride March held in Eskişehir on July 3, 2022, is held at Eskişehir PEnal Court of First Instance No. 4 on June 15, 2023. The court decided to acquit 7 people and separate the case against 1 person.
(06/192) DEVA Party Member on Trial…
The FİNAL trial of the case against the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) founder member Metin Gürcan is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 26 on June 15, 2023. The court sentenced Metin Gürcan to 5 years on the charge of ‘providing information that must remain confidential for the security and political interests of the state’. Metin Gürcan was released by the court on May 11, 2022 but he was arrested once again upon objection of the prosecutor’s office. On June 15, 2022, the court released Metin Gürcan once again.
(06/193) October 10 – Ankara Massacre Case…
The trial of the case against Erman Ekici and 16 fugitive defendants, for October 10 – Ankara Massacre, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 4 on June 15, 2023. The court decided to continue detention of Erman Ekici and adjourned the trial to September 8, 2023.
19 defendants have been sentenced to jail sentences on August 3, 2018, at the final trial of the case on October 10 – Ankara Massacre and the case against 16 fugitives was separated.
(06/194) Dilan Kortak Case…
The first trial of the case against 3 police officers (Y. Y. A., F. İ. B. and O. Y.) regarding death of Dilan Kortak in a house raid in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul on December 3, 2015, is held at Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No. 68 on June 15, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for the defendant police officers on the charge of ‘causing death by deliberate negligence’. The court adjourned the trial to October 3, 2023.
(06/195) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On June 15, 2023, 25 people were detained in operations covering 8 cities through an Ankara based investigation.
On June 16, 2023, 18 people were detained in Istanbul.
[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.