Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 20 April 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/126) Soldier Died During Compulsory Military Service…
Ministry of National Defence declared on April 18, 2020 that, a soldier (Abdullah Çam) at his compulsory military service in Yüksekova district of Hakkari fainted during guard duty and died in Yüksekova Public Hospital.
(04/127) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 18, 2020 that, İmdat Bingöl, a prisoner kept in solitary cell in Trabzon Beşikdüzü T Type Prison is on hunger strike for a month, demanding to be put in a ward.
(04/128) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 18, 2020 that, wardens in Tekirdağ F Type Prison threatened prisoners saying “lucky for you there is social distancing rule” during ward searches.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that, in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison No 3, 20 people are kept in a ward for 14 people and 6 people have to sleep on the floor, wards are not being sanitized, prisoners are not given face masks, cleaning supplies and sufficient food.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that wards in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 3 have been sanitized only once, and that prisoners are not given face masks.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that prisoners in Antalya Alanya L Type Prison are not given face masks to be protected from Covid-19 pandemic.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that wards in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison are not sanitized against Covid-19 pandemic.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that wards in Karaman M Type Prison are sanitized only once.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that in Osmaniye T Type Prisons wardens do not take necessary measures for Covid-19 during ward searches.
(04/129) 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 1258 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on April 17, 2020 at 13.30 and at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
The police intervened the press declaration at 13.30 on April 18, 2020 and detained 1 person (Mehmet Dersulu) on the grounds of violating 2-day curfew covering the weakened. Mehmet Dersulu is released after statement procedures on the same day.
(04/130) Detained People in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 18, 2020 that, 6 people including members of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and Kaldıraç journal readers who were calling for a noise protest to demand paid leave for workers during Covid-19 pandemic, in Tuzluçayır neighbourhood of Mamak district of Ankara, are detained by the police. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
Detained people known so far are: ESP members Okan Danacı, Talip Ali Talipoğlu, Yücel Yavuz.
(04/131) Detained Person in Ankara for ‘Insulting the President’…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 18, 2020 that an 80 years old person in Ankara was detained by the police on April 5, 2020; on the charge of ‘insulting the President’, for liking other people’s social media posts; and was released on the same day after statement procedures.
(04/132) Request for Release of Former HDP Co-Chairs…
Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 4 has rejected the request for release of Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chairs of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on April 2, 2020. Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 5 judged on the appeal to court order and rejected the appeal on April 15, 2020.
(04/133) Proceedings Against a Parliamentary Member…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 18, 2020 that a proceeding is submitted to Grand National Assembly, demanding lift of impunity of IYI Party Istanbul MP Ümit Özdağ, for his press conference at Grand National Assembly, about National Intelligence Officers died in Libya.
(04/134) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The indictment of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office against Cumhuriyet newspaper’s reporter Alican Uludağ and editor in chief Olcay Büyüktaş Akça, for the news reports on the claim that prosecutor’s office is hiding some evidence files related to the case on Ankara Terminal Massacre, is accepted by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32.
The indictment demands sentence for Alican Uludağ and Olcay Büyüktaş Akça from 1 year to 3 years on the charge of ‘revealing and publishing identities of public officers in anti-terror branches and thus targeting them’, according to Article 6 of Anti-Terror Law.
The first trial will be held in November, 2020.
(04/135) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The indictment of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office against Cumhuriyet newspaper’s reporter Hazal Ocak, for the news reports on Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak’s purchase of lands near the route of Canal Istanbul Project, is accepted by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on April 18, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for Hazal Ocak from 1 year to 2 years on the charge of ‘insult’.
The first trial will be held on June 18, 2020.
(04/136) Investigation on a News Report…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 16, 2020 that, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation on the charge of ‘making a person target for terrorist organisations’, for the news reports on Cumhuriyet newspaper, about Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s demolishing of construction built in public property rented by Fahrettin Altun, Communications Director Republic of Turkey.
(04/137) Broadcast Ban for TV Channels…
On April 16, 2020, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued FOX TV with a broadcast ban for three times, and administrative sanctions at the top level, on the grounds of ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’, in comments of news anchor Fatih Portakal on Covid-19 pandemic, on March 30 and 31, and April 1, 2020. According to Law on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises. and Their Media Services, licence of FOX TV could be cancelled in case of another violation on the same ground.
On April 16, 2020, RTÜK issued TELE 1 channel with a broadcast ban for three times, and administrative sanctions at the top level, for comments of programme host Can Ataklı.
On April 16, 2020, RTÜK issued HALK TV channel with administrative sanctions at the top level, for comments of a guest of Politics Now programme.
(04/138) Ban of an Event in Istanbul…
It is learned that April 23 holiday events of Kadıköy Municipality are banned by Kadıköy Sub-Governorate based on Covid-19 precautions, on April 18, 2020.
(04/139) Mersin Municipality is Banned from Distributing Bread…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020, that Mersin Metropolitan Municipality’s attempt to distribute free bread during 2 days’ curfew covering 31 cities on April 18, and 19, 2020, is banned based on circular of Ministry of Interior.
(04/140) Ban of Access to Websites…
It is learned that on April 19, 2020, Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 7 banned access to 18 websites including www.independentturkish.com, official news agencies of Saudi Arabia (www.spa.gov.sa) and BAE (www.wam.ae). Websites banned to access are: www.albayan.ae, www.skynewsarabia.com, www.alhayat.com, www.sabq.org, www.alarabiya.net, www.alekhbariya.net, www.okaz.com.sa, www.alriyadh.com, www.al-jazirah.com, www.alyaum.com, www.al-madina.com, www.alwatan.com.sa, www.ajel.sa, www.al-ain.com, www.alittihad.ae.
(04/141) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 126 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 4,353 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on April 17, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 121 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,783 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on April 18, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 127 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 3,977 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on April 19, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 2,017 and total number of confirmed cases is 86,306 as of April 19, 2020.
On April 18, 2020, as a part of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic, exit and entrance of vehicles for 31 provinces including 30 metropolitan cities is banned for 15 days; and for citizens under the age of 20, excluding public employees, workers and seasonal agricultural workers, are restricted to leave their houses.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 19, 2020 that, 3 prisoners released from Dalaman Prison, as per the law on criminal enforcement that has been accepted by Grand National Assembly and entered into force as of April 14, 2020; who went to Alanya district of Antalya have tested positive for Covid-19.
Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on April 20, 2020 that a prisoner in Izmir Buca Prison tested positive for Covid-19, and 62 prisoners in the same prison having symptoms are being isolated in hospitals.
[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.