Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 November 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/188) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
The Ministry of National Defence announced on November 16, 2020 that 1 soldier died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Çukurca district of Hakkari; and 1 soldier who got heavily injured after falling into the Habur creek in rural areas of Silopi district of Şırnak, died in hospital.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 16, 2020 that, 5 HPG militants died in an air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Metina area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on August 19, 2020; and 2 militants died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Zap area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on November 15, 2020.
(11/189) Detained Co-Mayor in Diyarbakır…
Cemal Özdemir, suspended co-mayor of Sur district who was detained in Diyarbakır on November 13, 2020, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ November 16, 2020.
(11/190) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
11 people who were detained on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, in house raids in city center and several districts of Diyarbakır on November 13, 2020; are released by the court on judicial control conditions on November 16, 2020.
Names of detained and released people learned so far are: Sevgül Tekin, Osman Balta, Cevat İnan, Hayrettin Karayılan, Erdal Bayram, Hacı Karakuzu, Ayfer Tekin.
(11/191) Detained People in Van…
On November 16, 2020, 10 people are detained in house raids in Özalp district of Van. The reason of detention is unknown.
Names of detained people learned so far are: Turan Sarıgül, Mesut Erzengin, Medeni Demir, Kemal Dayı, Mehmet Akgün, Cihan Atdemir, Mahkum Atdemir, Emrah Altınköprü.
(11/192) Kemal Kurkut Case…
The final trial of the case at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7, against police officer Y. Ş., for killing university student Kemal Kurkut by shooting him behind his back during Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır in 2017, is held on November 17, 2020. Police officer Y. Ş. is charged with ‘killing on probable intention’ and the indictment demands life imprisonment for this charge.
The prosecutor has declared legal opinion on the case at the previous trial, and has demanded jail sentence from 3 years up to 9 years for the police officer, on the charge of ‘killing with conscious negligence’. The court acquitted Y. Ş. and decided to make a criminal complaint for identification of probable perpetrator. It is learned that one judge of the court board reported a dissenting opinion on the verdict which was reached by a majority of votes.
(11/193) Suruç Massacre Case…
The trial of the case on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5, for the massacre in Suruç where 33 people died on July 20, 2015, is held on November 16, 2020.
The court announced its verdict of non-prosecution for Abdullah Ömer Aslan, who was detained for having a picture of himself with an ISIS flag at the crime scene and who was then released. The court rejected the complainant lawyers demanding Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister back then, to be heard as a witness; and adjourned the trial to February 9, 2021.
(11/194) Tahir Elçi Case…
The first trial of the case on the killing of Diyarbakır Bar Association chair Tahir Elçi, has started at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on October 21, 2020. It is learned that the lawyers of Tahir Elçi’s family appealed to Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 as the superior court for recusation of the court board on duty, and that the superior court rejected the demand on November 16, 2020.
(11/195) Investigation Against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 16, 2020 that, an investigation is initiated by the Ministry of Interior against Istanbul Metropolitan mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, for the banners of the municipality reading “Either Canal or Istanbul” and “Who Needs Canal Istanbul” which were used to keep the residents informed about Canal Istanbul Project. It is reported that, Ekrem İmamoğlu is requested to submit a written statement on the grounds that it is “impossible to oppose the principle of the integrity of the administration and state policy by using public funds”.
(11/196) Union Executive on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against Recep Oruç, former co-chair of Health and Social Service Employees’ Union (SES) Diyarbakır branch, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on November 16, 2020.
The indictment demands jail sentence from 7 years and 6 months to 15 years on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Recep Oruç joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court released Recep Oruç and adjourned the trial.
Recep Oruç was arrested on July 21, 2020, when he went to Diyarbakır Courthouse to make his official statement through the investigation against Democratic Society Congress.
(11/197) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that access to posts on social media accounts @ankara_kusu, @KubilayKaptan and @Who98408150 are banned on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Hatay Dörtyol penal Court of Peace on November 16, 2020.
(11/198) Official Announcement and Advertisement Ban on a Newspaper…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 19, 2020 that the Press Advertisement Agency has issued Cumhuriyet newspaper with a ban on official announcements and advertisements for 45 days, upon complaint of Communications Director Republic of Turkey Fahrettin Altun. It is reported that Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 3 rejected the appeal to the ban and first 28-day part of the ban is effective as of November 16, 2020.
(11/199) Suspended District Council Member in Muş…
It is learned that Münevver Ceylan, district council member from Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Malazgirt district of Muş is suspended by the Ministry of Interior on November 16, 2020.
(11/200) Confiscation of Bank Accounts of Veli Saçılık…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 16, 2020 that, bank accounts of Veli Saçılık is confiscated on the grounds of administrative fines he was imposed because of “I Want My Job Back” protests in Yüksel Street, Ankara. Veli Saçılık has been dismissed from his job by a state of emergency and has participated in sit-in protests in Ankara.
(11/201) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on November 16, 2020 and announced that, all events such as demonstrations and meetings; press declarations, sit-in protests, human chain protests, hunger strikes, opening stands, collecting petitions, distributing leaflets, concerts, festivals, theatre plays, and so on are banned for 15 days as of November 17, 2020.
(11/202) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On November 16, 2020, 7 people are detained in Edirne in an alleged attempt to illegally cross to Greece.
1 person who was detained in Ankara on November 14, 2020 is arrested by the court on November 16, 2020.
(11/203) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 94 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,316 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 16, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 11,601 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 417,594 as of November 16, 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.