Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 – 19 October 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/226) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Şırnak on September 28, 2020.
(10/227) Person Died in Prison…
It is learned that ill prisoner Mustafa Barış Avıalan lost his life in Ankara Sincan F Type Prison on October 15, 2020. It is reported that the appeal made for suspension of execution of Mustafa Barış Avıalan was rejected on August 7, 2020.
(10/228) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, 2 prisoners (Nesim Kaplan and Mehmet Şakir Erol) who were transferred from Şırnak Prison to Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 2 under coercion on September 25, 2020, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens, and they were not allowed to take personal belongings. It is claimed in the news reports that 2 prisoners who have been in “the unaffiliated” ward in Şırnak Prison, were transferred to Tarsus T Type Prison No 2 for they demanded to change their wards.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, petitions of prisoners in Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 1 was not put into process, packages sent to prisoners were not delivered, the meals given to prisoners were not hygienic, and prisoners were not given blankets.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 54 prisoners were kept in a ward for 16 people in Konya E Type Prison and that the meals given to prisoners were not hygienic.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 20 prisoners were kept in a ward in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, in Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 1, a ward was contaminated with sewage leak and some prisoners got sick due to this.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 17 prisoners were kept in a ward for 12 people, and water given per person was limited to 70 litres.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, in Balıkesir Bandırma T Type Prison No 2, the food given to prisoners was inadequate, wards were not disinfected against Covid-19, prisoners were not given the newspapers they request and their radios were seized.
(10/229) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, Mehmet Şakir Erol, a prisoner who was transferred from Şırnak Prison to Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 2 under coercion on September 25, 2020, was not medically treated.
(10/230) Police Intervention to a Protest in Manisa…
The gendarmerie intervened the mine workers who want to march from Manisa to Ankara for their rights to compensation on October 17, 2020, and detained 31 workers including Independent Mine Workers Union organizers Başaran Aksu and Kamil Kartal. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(10/231) Police Intervention to a Protest in Düzce…
The police detained Türkan Albayrak and Volkan Çeşme, who made a press declaration in Düzce on October 16, 2020, for architect Alev Şahin who have been having sit-in protests in Düzce to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree. 2 people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
Alev Şahin was detained in Düzce on August 13, 2020 and were arrested on August 22, 2020. 5 more people (Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt, Mehmet Dersulu, Armağan Özbaş and Mahmut Konuk) who were detained through the same investigation were also arrested, and 1 person (Gülnaz Bozkurt) was released on judicial control conditions. Nuriye Gülmen, another participator of “I Want My Job Back” protests, were detained in a police raid to Idil Cultural Center, and was arrested on August 11, 2020.
(10/232) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration which was made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” going on for 1440 days in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on October 18, 2020 at 13.30 and 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(10/233) Detained District Council Member in Mersin…
Salih Akbaş, district council member from People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Akdeniz district in Mersin, is detained in Mersin on October 16, 2020. The reason of detention is unknown.
(10/234) Detained ESP Members in Istanbul…
It is learned that 4 members (Hülya Gerçek, Havva Cuştan, Gamze Toprak, Mahir Cem Sel) of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) are detained by the police on the grounds that they hold photographs and flowers in hand, after a commemoration at Gazi Cemevi in Istanbul on October 18, 2020.
(10/235) Detained SGDF Members in Ankara…
Yücel Yavuz and Devrim Taylan Eryılmaz, members of Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) are detained in Ankara on October 16, 2020. The reason of detention is unknown.
(10/236) Detained Executives of HDP and DBP in Antalya…
4 people [Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Party Assembly member Hazal Taş, HDP Party Assembly member Ferit Yılmaz, HDP Antalya provincial executives Değer Yorgun and Osman Metindir] who were detained in Antalya on October 12 and 13, 2020, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on October 16, 2020.
(10/237) Detained People in Hakkari…
2 of 18 people [İsmail Önal (76) and Fatma Sevmiş (50)] including 5 disabled people who were detained in Hakkari on October 14, 2020, are arrested by the court on October 18, 2020. 16 people are released on judicial control conditions. It is learned that Fatma Sevmiş felt ill after arrest decision and was admitted to a hospital.
(10/238) Detained People in Mersin…
5 people (Şahize Akbaş, Aziz Akbaş, İlhan Akbaş, Esma Bakır and Ramazan Bakır) are detained in house raids in Mersin on October 16, 2020. The reason of detention is unknown. It is learned from the news coverage of October 18, 2020 that, lawyers who went to Mersin Security Directorate to visit Esma Bakır and Ramazan Bakır, were not allowed by the police saying “Other lawyers have been called on according to Code of Criminal Procedure. They will not be visited by you”.
(10/239) Detained People in Şırnak…
On October 18, 2020, 4 people (Nebi Uysal, Cihat Basan, Zişan Basan and 1 more person) are detained in house raids in Şırnak. The reason of detention is unknown.
(10/240) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…
The trial of the case against former HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ in her declaration about arrest of journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 10 on October 16, 2929. Figen Yüksekdağ joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded jail sentence from 1 year to 4 years for Figen Yüksekdağ. The court adjourned the trial to November 12, 2020.
(10/241) Ipek Er Case…
The first trial of the case against specialised sergeant Musa Orhan, for sexually assaulting a child (Ipek Er) and driving her suicide, is held at Siirt Heavy Penal Court No 1 on October 16, 2020.
The indictment demands jail sentence for Musa Orhan on the charge of ‘sexual assault’.
It is learned that 46 lawyers and journalists were not allowed in the courtroom according to the court’s restriction for Covid-19 pandemic. Musa Orhan joined the trial from Ankara via sound and vision system. It is learned that Musa Orhan did not make his defence on his right to remain silent.
The court adjourned the intervention request of Ipek Er’s family and Ministry of Family and Social Policies, and rejected the intervention request of bar associations, human rights organisations and women associations. The court adjourned the trial to February 25, 2021.
Ipek Er committed suicide after she was subjected to sexual assault by specialised sergeant Musa Orhan, and lost her life in hospital on August 18, 2020. Musa Orhan was arrested on the same day, but he was released upon his lawyer’s appeal on August 25, 2020.
(10/242) Police Officer on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against police officer H. A., for causing death of Cihan Can, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on October 16, 2020.
Police officer H. A. joined the trial from Sivas via sound and vision system and made his defence. It is learned that H. A. stated the following: “It was raining and was dark on the day of incident, I felt a quake in the vehicle while I was turning from the street with busy traffic, and I thought that it was caused by a piece of wood since there was a bake house nearby. When I felt a bigger quake, I stopped the vehicle and when I got off I saw a person lying under the back wheel. I drove the vehicle for about 3 meters, because of the fear I got. The speed of the vehicle was really low at the time of incident; I accept the offence charged in this way”. Lawyer of Cihan Can’s family demanded that the indictment should be returned and the court should send the case to a heavy penal court on the grounds of decision of non-jurisdiction. It is learned that the court did not allow the complainant’s lawyer to verbally express their demands and said “I will not listen to you here (…) If you have demands and requests submit them in written. I will conduct the judging in this manner”. The court rejected the demand for decision of non-jurisdiction and sending the case to a heavy penal court, and adjourned the trial to January 15, 2021.
Cihan Can lost his life after being hit by a police vehicle driven by police officer H. A. on Turgut Özal avenue in Diyarbakır on December 27, 2019.
(10/243) Investigation Against a Person for ‘Insulting the President’…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 18, 2020 that, an investigation on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ was initiated against a person named Serhat Yıldırım for a cartoon he shared on social media, and that he gave his official statement at Istanbul Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office Press Offences Bureau.
(10/244) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that access to the news reports on an impostor who claims himself as a judge, a prosecutor or a member of National Intelligence Service, published on https://odatv4.com/, https://www.milligazete.com.tr/ websites are banned by Access Providers Association (ESB) on October 13, 2020.
It is learned that a news report about a company which was hired by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry without tender, published on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/ website is banned to access by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 4 on October 14, 2020.
It is learned that the news reports about former chair of Justice and Development Party (AKP) youth branch in Urfa, published on https://www.sozcu.com.tr/, https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/, https://www.gercekgundem.com/ websites are banned to access by Urfa Penal Court of Peace No 1 on October 14, 2020.
It is learned that news reports about tax exemption to Kalyon Holding that got the tender of railway construction, published on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/, https://www.evrensel.net/, https://www.birgun.net/ websites are banned to access by Beykoz Penal Court of Peace on October 14, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 18, 2020 that, access to 354 websites were banned by Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BIK) upon Diyarbakır Governorate Office’s demand.
(10/245) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On October 16, 2020, 14 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 8 cities through a Balıkesir based investigation.
(10/246) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case known as “Cosmic Room investigation” against 82 people is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 16, 2020. The court sentenced 3 defendants to 10 years each, 13 defendants to 7 years and 6 months each, 9 defendants to 6 years and 3 months each, 1 defendant to 3 years 1 month and 15 days, 1 defendant to 2 years and 6 months, and 1 defendant to 2 years and 1 month, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 54 people.
The final trial of the case against Hüsnü Çalmuk, former judge of “Ergenekon Case” is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 on October 16, 2020. The court sentenced Hüsnü Çalmuk to 10 years on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(10/247) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 73 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,812 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on October 16, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 71 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,723 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on October 17, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 72 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,815 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on October 18, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 9,296 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 347,493 as of October 18, 2020.
It is learned that 5 health workers (Van Research and Training Education automation worker Ferhat Gencer, Kırıkkale Postgraduate Education Hospital worker Harun Dönmez, workplace physician Salih Kanlı, delivery nurse Yasemin Çolak, and physician Turan Yıldırım) died from Covid-19 on October 16 and 17, 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.