Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
17 September 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/167) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 16, 2020 that prisoners who were on hunger strike since May 19, 2020 to protest being forced to stand in military order during roll-calls and physical violence of the wardens in Kırşehir E Type Prison, are transferred to different prisons under coercion on September 15, 2020. It is learned that prisoners were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during transfer. Names of transferred prisoners learned so far are: Feyyaz Gülsoy, Ali Saday, Emrah Kına and Cumali Yıldırım (Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison No 1), Çetin Yıldız (Tarsus T Type Closed Prison).
It is learned from the news coverage of September 16, 2020 that 33 prisoners in Diyarbakır D Type Closed Prison including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former co-chair Mehmet Aslan and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) former Diyarbakır MP Musa Farisoğulları, are transferred to Diyarbakır F Type Prison under coercion on September 14, 15, and 16, 2020. It is reported that prisoners were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during and after transfer. Names of transferred prisoners learned so far are: DBP former co-chair Mehmet Arslan, HDP former Diyarbakır MP Musa Farisoğulları, Uğur Boztaş, Emrah Durmaz, Sercan Gümüş, Engin Akhan, Mehmet Hanifi Kanat, Barış Sümbül, Rıdvan Kaya, Hayati Uzman, Halis Tekin, Sadık Nakçı, Mehmet Acar, Aziz Tufan, Mustafa Argın, Ahmet Salmas, Hüseyin Işık, Abdulhalik Kaplan, Heja Algan, Nimetullah Cinkılıç, Serhat Karagöz, Burhan Taş, Şaban Çelik, İhsan Uğur, Kervan Beyhan, Halil Güneş, Serhat Kuşlu.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 16, 2020 that Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) Commission for Prisons prepared a report on prisons in Marmara region. According to the report 2 prisoners (Mehmet Tahir Özcan and Kasım Karataş) were transferred from Urfa T Type Closed Prison to Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2 under coercion in July, and they were not given food for 2 days during transfer, they were also subjected to strip search, torture and ill-treatment at the entrance of prison.
(09/168) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the report of Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) Commission for Prisons on prisons in Marmara region that, prisoners in Maltepe L Type Prison No 1 were not taken to prison infirmary; in Maltepe L Type Prison No 2 prisoners were not referred to hospitals, medications for ill-prisoners were given with delay and especially those with chronic illnesses have problems in their treatments; in Gebze Women’s Prison, Kandıra F Type Prison No 1, Silivri L Type Prison No 5, Edirne F Type Prison and Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 1 prisoners were not referred to hospitals on the grounds of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic. It is also stated in the report that in Bakırköy Women’s Prison, prisoners who demand to be tested for having symptoms of Covid-19 were rejected to take tests. It is learned that prisoners in Kandıra F Type Prisons No 1 and 2, Maltepe L Type Prisons No 1 and 2, Silivri L Type Prison No 5, Bolu F Type Prison and Bakırköy Women’s Prison were not given cleaning supplies, disinfectants, face masks and gloves for protection from Covid-19.
(09/169) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Van…
On September 11, 2020, 2 people (Osman Şiban and Servet Turgut) were detained by soldiers in Çığlıca hamlet of Çatak district of Van, and they were taken away by helicopter. It was found out 2 days later that, they were admitted in intensive care unit of Van Regional Education and Research Hospital. It is learned from the news coverage of September 16, 2020 that Osman Şiban was given a medical report from a hospital he was taken on September 11, 2020 which states blood coming from his digestive canal besides eye bruises, and trauma caused swellings on head, neck and face. It is also learned that Servet Turgut, the other detainee, was admitted to a hospital while he was unconscious, and he was registered as “intubated patient – fell from height”. And his medical report states that subdermal capillary vessels were damaged at both eyes and ears; the epidermis on hands and chest were removed.
(09/170) Writer Threatened in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 16, 2020 that, writer Fırat Sözeri was threatened by 4 unidentified people who keep waiting in front of his house. Fırat Sözeri made a declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara office and stated that he was attacked by an unidentified group on March 30, 2020 and stated the following: “I made criminal complaints against attackers. Then they started to harass me over social media, they harassed my wife too. They had the chance to learn my address since I made a criminal complaint. It has been like this for a long time but harassment and threats are worsening for the last week. They keep waiting in front of my house for the last two days.”
(09/171) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1408 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 15, 2020 at 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(09/172) Police Intervention to a Protest in Hatay…
The police intervened the press declaration at Abdullah Cömert Park in Samandağ district of Hatay on September 16, 2020, about Edibe Özçelik who had a heart attack when her house was raided by the police in Samandağ district of Hatay and who died on January 22, 2020; and detained 1 person (Ümit Özçelik) by using physical violence. Detained person was released on the same day.
(09/173) Detained People in Muş…
On September 16, 2020 4 people are detained in house raids in Muş. It is learned that reason of detention is a funeral of an HPG militant in 2016. Names of detained people are unknown.
(09/174) Detained Association Chair and Members in Mersin…
2 members of Precarious Workers’ Association (Fadil Sevinç and Kazım Acar) who were detained in house raids in Mersin on September 15, 2020 are released after statement procedures on September 16, 2020. Abdulselam Kutlu, chair of the association is still under custody.
(09/175) HDP Executive on Trial in Muş…
The final trial of the case against Muhlise Karagüzel, former provincial co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) is held at Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 on September 16, 2020. Muhlise Karagüzel joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court sentenced Muhlise Karagüzel to 8 years and 1 month for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. Muhlise Karagüzel was detained on August 9, 2019 and was arrested by the court on August 15, 2019.
(09/176) Journalist on Trial in Muş…
The trial of the case against journalist İdris Sayılğan is held at Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 on September 16, 2020.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded İdris Sayılğan to be sentenced on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on media’. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to December 2, 2020.
(09/177) Hrant Dink Murder Case…
The case against 85 people (4 arrested) including security, national intelligence and gendarmerie personnel, on the grounds of being responsible and negligent on the murder of Hrant Dink, executive editor of Agos newspaper, is held on September 16, 2020 at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14.
The court has decided to hear National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) Regional Director Ahmet Köksoy as witness at the previous trial however reversed its decision and adjourned the trial to November 24, 25, and 26, 2020.
(09/178) Expressions of MHP Chair for Turkish Medical Association…
Devlet Bahçeli, chair of National Movement Party (MHP) shared a social media post about Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and TTB’s action week of September 14-18, organized to commemorate of health workers who died from Covid-19 and to take attention to precautions for Covid-19 pandemic. Devlet Bahçeli stated the following: “The entity of treason called the Turkish Medical Association will apparently wear black ribbons in all medical institutions to supposedly raise concerns about our deceased people and health workers. This attempt is a poisonous and evil plot. (…) The Turkish Medical Association is as dangerous as corona, it is spilling out threats. To top it all, telling the government ‘You cannot manage it, we are dying, we are burning out’ is a treacherous plot. My call is this: The Turkish Medical Association is fuelling groundless blemishes and suspicions about human and public health in such a sensitive period as this. For this reason, the Medical Association that has the word Turkish only in its name must be closed immediately and without delay. A legal action must be taken against its executives.”
(09/179) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 16, 2020, 106 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 34 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
On September 16, 2020, 18 people including 5 children are detained in an alleged attempt to illegally flee, in Seferihisar district of Izmir.
(09/180) Administrative Fine and Broadcast Ban for TV Channels…
On September 16, 2020, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) issued Haber Global television channel with a broadcast ban for 3 times and administrative fine at the top level, for expressions of Erol Mütercimler about religious vocational high schools.
On September 16, 2020 RTUK issued Meltem TV television channel with a broadcast ban for 3 times and administrative fine at the top level, for expressions of Erol Mütercimler about sexual abuse of children in Sakarya.
On September 16, 2020 RTUK issued FOX TV television channel with an administrative fine, for expressions of prime time newscaster Selçuk Tepeli.
(09/181) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that a news report on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/ website, about the company which sells Covid-19 test kits to the State Supply Office, is banned to access by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 3 on September 15, 2020. The news report was about the company’s chair who has been banned from stock market by the Capital Markets Board because of manipulative exchange operations and CEO of the company who is found out to be a provincial executive of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
(09/182) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 62 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,771 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on September 16, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 7,249 and total number of confirmed cases is 296,391 as of September 16, 2020.
It is learned from data shared by Ankara Chamber of Medicine on September 16, 2020 that 882 health workers including 143 doctors, 89 assistant doctors, 11 intern doctors, 5 dentists, 2 workplace doctors, 146 nurses and delivery nurses, 31 primary care doctors, 7 administrative personnel, 48 medical secretaries and social workers, 9 pharmacists, 9 radiology technicians, 40 emergency medical technicians, 10 laboratory experts, 6 physiotherapists and dietitians, 3 anaesthesia technicians, 107 cleaning workers, 7 kitchen workers, 11 security staff in Ankara 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.