Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 December 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/193) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of Police in Samsun…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, a quarrel took place between a person (Gökhan Pala) and the police officers on road check for precautions for Covid-19 pandemic, in Canik district of Samsun on December 12, 2020; and one police officer punched Gökhan Pala. It is reported that Gökhan Pala’s nose was broken and he had a haemorrhage.
Gökhan Pala stated the following: “There was a road check and they stopped us. I was smoking in the car so I was not wearing a face mask. They imposed a penalty fine for not wearing a face mask, and I said I did not want to sign the report. A motorbike police officer came and started to glare at me. I felt uncomfortable and asked ‘Why are you looking at me, is there a problem?’. He did not respond, he searched me and my car, and acted disturbingly. I told him that I am a craftsman and invited him for a tea in my shop. He tried to push my limits, by asking questions to provoke me. But I did not swear or use a slang word against him. He nodded saying ‘I will come to drink a cup of tea with you’. I said, ‘Come and see us in civilian life and understand what kind of a person I am’ while I was getting in the car. He punched me at that time. (…) I went to a hospital for examination, they gave me a report saying ‘scratches’ and sent me back. I have a complaint about the doctor too. The next day my face was swollen, I had a headache. I went to Research and Training Hospital again, and they said I have haemorrhage and nose fracture. I got all the reports, and made a criminal complaint against the police officer who punched me.”
It is learned that the governorate’s office initiated an investigation against the police officer.
(12/194) People Forced to be Police Informants…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, Havin Özcan, a member of Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) was forced to be a police informant under custody in Istanbul.
Havin Özcan held a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office and stated the following: “I was arbitrarily detained with a friend on November 18, 2020. (…) After that, they continuously tried to make contact with me to meet.”
(12/195) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, 4 prisoners in Antalya Alanya L Type Prison who join the hunger strike that started in prisons, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan; and who wrote letters addressing the Minister of Justice for the hunger strike, were subjected to disciplinary proceedings and were given 11 days of solitary cell confinement each.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, political prisons in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1 were forced to be police informants, a prisoner were given only one book in two months, the magazines that prisoners demand were not given although no ban was imposed on them; social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted; hot water cuts occur from time to time; and the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted; some newspapers and Kurdish books sent to prisoners were not given although no ban was imposed on them; and the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Elazığ T Type Prison the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality and social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Elazığ E Type Prison the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality and social, hot water was given only for 3 hours and twice a week, and social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Elazığ Women’s Prison, open-door time of political prisoners was restricted, the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality and social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Afyon T Type Prison No 2, the food given to prisoners was inadequate and of poor quality.
(12/196) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, prisoners in Afyon T Type Prison No 2 were not taken to infirmary.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2, prisoners were not taken to infirmary and an ill prisoner were not taken to a hospital for medical controls for one year.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that prisoners in Elazığ T Type Prison were not taken to infirmary for 8 months; and ill prisoners were not given their medications regularly.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, in Elazığ E Type Prison an ill prisoner was not given the medication regularly.
(12/197) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that several prisoners joined the indefinite hunger strike in turns which started in prisons on November 26, 2020, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and to right violations in prisons.
The prisoners joining the strike are:
- Kocaeli Kandıra F Type Prison No 1: 2 prisoners (Musa Sertkal, Fehmi Arslan)
- Bafra T Type Prison: 4 prisoners (Kinyas Ataman, Mehmet Yıldırım, Tekin Çakmak, Haluk Özek).
(12/198) Police Intervention to a Protest in Urfa…
The police intervened the sit-in protest in front of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Urfa office on December 16, 2020 and detained 2 people (Emine Şenyaşar and Ferit Şenyaşar). 2 people held the protest to demand justice for 3 members of their family, who lost their lives in the incidents following the election campaign visit of AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız to shopkeepers in Suruç district of Urfa on June 14, 2018.
It is also learned that a journalist recording the protest was prevented by the police.
(12/199) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The press declaration of farmers who are subjected to seizure of their fields and tractors by Agricultural Credit Cooperative, which was to be held in front of the Grand National Assembly on December 16, 2020 is prevented by the police.
(12/200) Arrested SGDF Executive in Istanbul…
Okan Danacı, executive board member of SGDF who was detained at Istanbul Security Directorate where went to make his official statement through an investigation against him on December 15, 2020; and who was then taken to Ankara is arrested by the court on December 16, 2020.
(12/201) Detained Person in Adana…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that 1 person is detained in a house raid in Adana. The reason of detention and the name of detained person is unknown.
(12/202) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Cumhuriyet newspaper reporter Hazal Ocak, photographer Vedat Arık, executive editor Olcay Büyüktaş Akça and managing editor İpek Özbey, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 on December 16, 2020. The case was opened for the news reports about Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s demolishing of construction built in public property rented by Fahrettin Altun, Communications Director Republic of Turkey.
The indictment demands sentence for journalists on the charges of ‘making a person target for terrorist organisations’ and ‘violation of privacy’.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 18, 2021.
(12/203) Rosa Women’s Association Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Figen Ekti, an activist of Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA) and Rosa Women’s Association, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on December 16, 2020.
Figen Ekti joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to release Figen Ekti and adjourned the trial to April 7, 2021.
Figen Ekti was detained on July 14, 2020 and was arrested by the court on July 17, 2020.
(12/204) Proceedings Against Parliamentary Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, 4 proceedings demanding lift of impunity of 3 parliamentary members are submitted to Grand National Assembly.
Parliamentary members subjected to proceedings are:
- Democratic Regions Party Co-chair and Diyarbakır MP Salihe Aydeniz (1 proceeding)
- Democratic Society Congress Co-chair and Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk (1 proceeding)
- HDP Diyarbakır MP İmam Taşçıer (2 proceedings).
(12/205) Penalty Fine Imposed to HDP Executives and Members in Batman…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, participants of several protests organized by HDP in Batman were imposed administrative fines 97 times, ranging in amount of 900 Turkish Liras and 3,150 Turkish Liras, on the grounds of ‘breaking social distance rules’ and ‘not wearing a face mask’.
(12/206) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports about personal assets of the President published on https://www.a3haber.com/, https://abcgazetesi.com/, https://halkweb.com.tr/ websites are banned to access on the grounds of personal rights by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 12 on December 14, 2020.
(12/207) Publication Ban for Books…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, the execution of the publish ban on “The Deception of Fund for Severance Payments” and “Benefice of Family Company…” prepared by Republican People’s Party (CHP) which was ruled by Kırşehir Penal Court of Peace, is suspended upon appeal.
(12/208) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on December 16, 2020 and announced that, all events such as demonstrations and meetings; open-door meetings, sit-in protests, human chain protests, hunger strikes, opening stands and tents, collecting petitions, flying balloons and sky lanterns, commemorations, concerts, festivals, plays, film or video screenings, mime shows and so on are banned for 15 days as of December 17, 2020.
(12/209) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 140 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 4,893 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 16, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 29,718.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 17,121 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 1,928,165 as of December 16, 2020.
It is learned that nurse Nilüfer Molla in Ankara lost her life due to Covid-19 on December 16, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that, 15 prisoners in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2 tested positive for Covid-19 in the last month.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 16, 2020 that a prisoner with diabetes and hypertension tested positive for Covid-19.
[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.