Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[i][ii][iii][iv][v]
17-20 March 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/182) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
2 soldiers, one gendarme captain and the other gendarme specialized sergeant, were killed on 19 March 2017 during the military operations in Lice country side.
Diyarbakir Governorate declared an open-ended curfew in 10 villages of Lice and Hani. The curfew started on 19 March 2017 at 20.oo. The villages in which the curfew was declared are as follows: Birlik Village, Şenlik Village, Abalı Village, Çeper Village, Erginköy Village, Tuzlaköy Village (Lice District); Kaledibi Village, Akçayurt Village, Topçular Village and Yukarı Turalı Village (Hani District).
Diyarbakır Governorate lifted the curfew which was declared in 18 villages of Lice by 16 March 2017.
Bingol Governorate declared an open-ended curfew in 3 villages of Hani district. The curfew starts 19 March 2017 at 6.00. The villages in which the curfew was declared are as follows: Saggöze, Honkunüs and Yeniçe villages.
Tunceli Governorate closed the Tunceli-Ovacık road to transportation by 16 March 2017, 15.15. Tunceli Governorate opened the road to transportation by 17 March 2017, 18.00.
Tunceli Governorate declared on 17 March 2017 special security regions in 31 regions of the province.
(03/183) Dilek Doğan Case…
Istanbul Heavy Penal Court continued on 17 March 2017 hearing the case against police official Yuksel Mogultay. Mogultay is being tired in connection with the killing of Dilek Dogan. Mogultay participated the hearing and made his defense. The court, following the defenses, sentenced Mogultay to 6 years and 3 months imprisonment for ‘reckless killing.’
Dilek Dogan was killed on 18 October 2015 in İstanbul during a house raid. A law suit was opened against him for murder in the first degree.
(03/184) Protest Intervened in Ankara…
The police forces intervened on 18 March 2017 the protest in Ankara. 10 persons, including Nuriye Gülmen, Semih Özakça and Veli Sacilik, who were expelled by a Decree with the Force of Law, were forcibly detained. The names of the detainees are as follows: Nuriye Gülmen, Semih Özakça, Veli Saçılık, Esra Özakça, Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt, Bengisu Demirel, Ozan Demirel, Merve Demirel, Tunahan Turhal.
All the detainees except Gulmen and Ozakça were released on the same day.
According to the news appeared in press, Veli Sacılık’s mother fell ill during police intervention.
Gulmen and Ozakca had started hunger strike on 9 March 2017. Gulmen and Ozakca, who were detained on the 10th day of their hunger strike, refused to take water and sugar during detention.
Gulmen and Ozakca were brought to court on 19 March 2017 and they were released by the court.
(03/185) Journalist Beaten by Police…
DiHaber reporter Berivan Ates, who was covering the distribution of Newroz leaflets by members of HDP and DBP, including HDP Agri MP Berdan Ozturk, was obstructed by police officials. She was reportedly beaten by police officials.
(03/186) Journalist Detained…
DiHaber reporter Hayri Demir was detained on 16 March 2017 in Ankara during a house raid.
(03/187) HDP MPs Detained…
HDP Igdir MP Mehmet Emin Adiyaman and HDP Agri MP Berdan Ozturk were detained on 16 March 2017 in Ardahan on the grounds of a warrant concerning them. They were released after they had given their statements to the court.
(03/188) Co-Mayor Arrested…
The Co-Mayor of Balveren Sub-District Abdullah Tunc was arrested on 16 March 2017 for ‘being a member of an illegal organization.’ Balveren is sub-district of Sırnak.
(03/189) Chair of Mardin Assyrian Association Detained…
The Chair of Mardin Assyrian Union Association Yuhanna Aktas was detained on 16 March 2017 for ‘being a member of an illegal organization.’ The Association had been closed down by a Decree with the Force of Law.
(03/190) Former Union Executive Detained…
Secretary of Egitim-Sen Branch No 1 Aysegul Kocaaslan was detained on 16 March 2017 for reading the joint press statement on 8 March 2015.
(03/191) Detentions and Arrests…
15 persons, including Co-Mayor Abdulkadir Calıskan, were detained on 16 March 2017 in Saray district of Van. The names of the detainees are as follows: Abdülkadir Çalışkan, Abdülselam Çalışkan, Yılmaz Şahin, Fatih Erter, Necla Umar, Şadiye Uçak, İkram Yücel, Baran Çalışkan, Zafer Keleş, Mehmet Dündar, Zakir Deniz, İhsan Özsoy, Fulya Şen, Kaniye Şeker and Kasım Çelikyay.
Kamuran Dogan, HDP Co-Chair for Milas, was detained on 16 March 2017, when police raided the party premise. Police forces confiscated the banners, posters and party documents.
Lokman Kus, HDP Co-Chair for Baskale, was detained 19 March 2017 during a house raid. He was taken to District Gendarme Headquarter.
40 persons, including headpersons, were detained on 16 March 2017 in Sırnak during house raids. 9 headpersons and 4 other persons were released on 18 March 2017.
3 persons, including HDP Co-Chair for Torslar İsa Kurt, were detained on 17 March 2017 in Mersin. The detainees were taken to Mersin Police Headquarter. ,
4 HDP members were detained on 17 March 2017 in Tatvan and Ahlat districts of Bitlis. Names of the detainees are as follows: Mustafa Özcan, Nizam Naz, Taner Naz and Murat Kahraman.
8 persons were detained on 17 March 2017 in Erzurum during house raids.
5 members of Revolutionary High School Students (DEV-LIS) were forcibly detained on 17 March 2017 in Adana.
HDP Co-Chair for Maras Mehmet Eren, HDP provincial executive Aydın Ogut, Ahmet Elkalkmıs, Aziz Kosker, who were detained in Maras, were brought to court on 18 March 2017. Eren, Elkalkmıs and Kosker were arrested for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’
27 persons were detained on 18 March 2017 in Aydın during house raids. The names of the detainees are as follows: Musatafa Taşdemir, Kemal Yeşiltaş, Cesur Sadebal, Nilgün Çağır, Nilgün Öncül, Tuncer Bengi, Naciye Deniz, Ayfer Demirel, Necla Süvarioğulları, Nazlı Boza, Türkan Can,Nazan Aslan, Duygu Haldal, Sertaç Doğan, Baran Polat, Leyla Polat, Kenan Polat, Kıyasettin Aydemir, Kemal Aydoğdu, Mehmet Yılmaz, Gülistan Ateş, Metin Çelik, Sait Elveren, Selçuk Dalmaz, Ayhan Tatlı, Barış Göze.
7 persons were detained on 18 March 2017 in Urfa during house raids. . The names of the detainees are as follows: Celalettin Erkmen, İmhan Aktaş, Miyaser Korkmaz, Şükrü Turgut, Mehmet Vural, Mustafa Şitil ve İbrahim Şimşek.
10 persons who were detained in Adiyaman were brought to court on 18 March 2017. 7 of them were arrested for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’
Yusuf Çetin, who was detained in Pazarcik district of Maras, was brought to court on 18 March 2017. He was arrested for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’
7 persons were detained on 19 March 2017 in Urfa during house raids. The names of the detainees are as follows: Gülsüm Çiçek, Aslan Özkan, Kemal Tunca, Selahattin Algaç, Ahmet Hasan Oba and Rezan Emen. The detainees were taken to Urfa Police Headquarter.
7 persons were detained on 19 March 2017 in Osmaniye during house raids. The names of the detainees are as follows: Mustafa Eye, Şeyhmus Çar, Serhat Korkmaz, Mustafa Aktaş, Çekdar Aydın, Cengiz Üdül and Ahmet Çeteleri.
18 persons were detained 19 March 2017 in Tunceli and Ovacik district. The names of the detainees whose names could be reached are as follows: Hüseyin Timtik, Medet Sönmez, Zeynel Aytaç. Hıdır Gürcan, Burhan Renkli, ÖzgürKayaoğlu, Ali Asker Eren, Haşim Özdemir, İmam Kan, Hasan Günek, Murat Polat. Hıdır Gürcan was reportedly subjected to torture when he was detained and he had fractures in his body because of torture.
(03/192) LGBTI Activist Detained…
LGBTI activist Kivilcim Arat was detained on 17 March 2017 at Ataturk Airport because of a warrant concerning her. Kivilcim was released after her statement was taken.
According to the news appeared in press, police wanted to put her in a cell in which male detainees were put. After her objection, she was put in a single cell.
(03/193) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
202 judges and prosecutors were expelled by a decree of Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) on 17 March 2017. Arrest warrants were issued for 55 of them for ‘using ByLock.’ 20 persons were detained.
72 police officials, who were detained in an Istanbul centered police operation, were brought to court on 17 March 2017. 63 of them were arrested. 9 of them were released with a judicial control condition.
(03/194) HDP MPS on Trial…
Mersin Penal Court of First Instance No 14 continued on 16 March 2017 the case against HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for “insulting the government, judicial organs, military and police institutions openly’ in his speech at 2016 Newroz celebration. Demirtas participated the hearing via SEGBİS from Edirne F Type Prison. After the defenses the court adjourned the hearing to 1 June 2017.
Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 17 March 2017 the case against HDP Siirt MP Besime Konca. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization.’ Konca participated the hearing via SEGBIS. After the defenses, the court did not release Konca and adjourned the hearing to 7 April 2017.
Silopi Court of Peace No 2 continued on 17 March 2017 hearing the case against HDP Diyarbakir MP Idris Baluken. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.’ Baluken did not participate the hearing. The court deferred the prosecution.
Bingöl Penal Court of First Instance continued on 16 March 2017 hearing the case against HDP Diyarbakir MP Idris Baluken. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations.’ Baluken participated the hearing via SEGBIS. After the defenses, the court acquitted Baluken.
(03/195) KCK İstanbul Main Trial…
İstanbul Heavy Penal Court continued on 17 March 2017 hearing the case against 205 persons. After the defenses, the court decided to demand the list of judges and public prosecutors from HSYK who were in charge of this case and had been expelled and arrested in connection with investigations concerning Gulen community. The hearing was adjourned to 16 June 2017.
(03/196) Journalist on Trial…
Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 continued on 17 March 2017 hearing the case against Aydın Atat, the former editor in chief of Azadiya Welat which was closed down by a Decree with the force of Law. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ for 9 times. After the defenses, the court sentenced Atat to 11 years and 3 months imprisonment.
(03/197) Barbaros Şansal Case…
Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 43 continued on 16 March 2017 hearing the case against Barbaros Şansal. The indictment wants the defendant to be sentenced for ‘inciting people to hatred and enmity.’ Şansan participated the hearing and made his defense. After the defenses, the court adjourned the hearing.
Because of his social media shares, Sansal was deported from Turkish section of Cyprus and when he landed Istanbul, he was beaten by a group of people waiting for him at the airport. He was arrested on 4 January 2017 and released by the court to be tried without a remand on 1 March 2017.
(03/198) Constitutional Referendum…
A person attacked on 18 March 2017 the members of United June Movement who were campaigning for “No” in Fatih district of İstanbul with a knife. No one was reportedly injured.
A group attacked the women who opened a “No” stand in Bakirkoy district of Istanbul. A person from the stand was reportedly injured.
Police intervened on 18 March 2017 the members of Anatolia Culture and Research Association (AKA-DER) and Socialist Workers Party (SEP) who were distributing “No” leaflets on Yuksel Street in Ankara. 11 persons were reportedly detained. The names of the detainees are as follows: Barış Deniz Kuş, Selva Deveci, Gökçe Şentür, Çağan Erdinç, Hasan Hüseyin Demirel, Emrecan Konyalı, Ali Baran Gökçer, Ezgi Yılmaz, Yılmaz Dönmez, Derya Koca, Betül Koca.
Police intervened on 18 March 2017 the members of HDP and DBP who were distributing “No” leaflets in Kiziltepe district of Mardin.
7 women who were putting “No” stickers on the walls were detained on 19 March 2017 in Samsun for ‘damaging public property’ and their stickers were confiscated by the police.
3 persons attack HDP Bayrampasa premise on 19 March 2017 at 3.30 in the morning with stones.
The sub-governorate of Antalya’s Kepez district instructed the remove of KESK’s “For our Future, For Our Job NO” banner from the trade union signboards at schools. According to the news appeared in press, all banners were removed.
In Kocaeli, a group of 40-50 persons attacked while former MHP MP Meral Aksener was delivering a speech. The activity continued after the attack.
The Nigde Governorate cancelled on 16 March 2017 the meeting which would be organized by Meral Aksener on 21 March 2017.
Bitlis Province Election Board relocated ballot boxes bin 17 villages for security reasons and lack of public buildings in these villages.
(03/199) Trustee Appointed to Municipality…
On 17 March 2017, Ministry of Interior appointed Abdullah Tunc, vice governor of Sırnak, as a trustee to Balveren Sub- District Municipality in Sırnak province.
On 18 March 2017, Ministry of Interior appointed Mehmet Kocabey, sub-governor of Baykan, as a trustee to Atabagi Sub- District Municipality in Baykan district of Siirt province.
The total number of trustees appointed to municipalities reached 88.
(03/200) Banned Newroz Celebrations…
Governorates of Istanbul, Ankara and Adana did not give permission for the celebration of Newroz on the ground that Newroz is not celebrated on its own day. Following this, in Istanbul, a new request was done for 21 March 2017. It was reportedly accepted.
[i] 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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[v] 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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.