Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 20 July 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/212) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that 1 soldier (Alper Yaman) who had a heart attack during an operation in Hani district of Diyarbakır died on July 18, 2020.
It is learned that 2 soldiers and 1 village guard got wounded due to an explosion during passage of a military vehicle near Beyyurdu village of Şemdinli district of Hakkari on July 18, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 18, 2020 that, 3 militants died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Haftanin area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on June 25, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 19, 2020 that 1 HPG militant died in a clash in rural areas of Şırnak on July 13, 2020.
(07/213) Child Got Wounded Due to Fire Opened by Soldiers in Van…
On July 17, 2020, A. B., a 15 years old child who got wounded due to fire opened by soldiers while he was grazing sheep in Yukarı Çilli neighbourhood of Çaldıran district of Van on July 16, 2020, is taken out of intensive care unit at Yüzüncü Yıl University Hospital.
- B. states the following in his expressions covered by news reports: “I was slowly taking the sheep away (…) Soldiers were very close to me and they were seeing me. Suddenly fire was opened from armoured vehicles. I fell down with a bullet hitting me. Soldiers could see very well that they shot me and I fell down. But they left without even looking back. My wound did not hurt me because it was fresh. I went on foot to my uncle’s house to tell them that I was shot”.
(07/214) Asylum Seekers Died in Van…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 16, 2020 that the death toll raised up to 59 in the sinking boat in Van Lake on June 26, 2020 where numerous asylum seekers are lost.
(07/215) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned that 3 people who were detained in the operation after the attack to a police car in Bağcılar district of Istanbul on July 18, 2020, which killed 1 police officer and injured 1 police officer; were subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody. It is reported that photographs stated to be of these 3 people who were subjected to torture and ill-treatment were shared on social media.
(07/216) Child Subjected to Sexual Assault by a Soldier in Batman…
It is learned that specialised sergeant M. O. who was detained on July 16, 2020, for sexual assault to a 17 years old child in Batman is released by the court on judicial control conditions on July 17, 2020.
(07/217) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 17, 2020 that, 8 prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison No 2 were transferred to other prisons under coercion on July 14, 2020. Transferred prisoners are: Kasım Karataş, Zübeyir Paksoy, Zana Mazak, Emrullah Oruç, Ferhat Çiftçi, Mehmet Çelik, Mehmet Tahir Özcan, Orhan Orak.
(07/218) Police Intervention to Commemorations in Istanbul and Ankara…
The police used pepper spray to intervene the commemoration on July 20, 2020 in Kadıköy district of Istanbul for those who were killed in Suruç Massacre. On July 20, 2015, a bombing attack have killed 33 people in Suruç district of Urfa. It is learned that the police used physical violence to detain at least 17 people including Özgür Gelecek reporter Emre Türksever.
The police used pepper spray to intervene the commemoration of Suruç Families Initiative on July 20, 2020 in Güvenpark, Ankara. It is learned that at least 28 people were detained by physical violence and journalists were prevented from recording the intervention. It is learned that people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment while being detained and that 2 of them (Fatma Kılıçarslan and Mustafa Yaşatır) were injured.
(07/219) Police Intervention to a Protest in Batman…
The police intervened the sit-in protest against sexual assault of a specialised sergeant to a child in Batman, on July 17, 2020 in Atatürk Park of Batman and detained 10 people including children. It is reported that detained people were released after being fined on the same day.
(07/220) Police Intervention to a Protest in Şırnak…
It is learned that the police prevented the press declaration of Tevgera Jinên Azad (Free Women’s Movement – TJA), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Confederation of Public Employee Unions (KESK) in Şırnak on July 18, 2020; to protest sexual assaults to children in Batman and Şırnak.
(07/221) Police Intervention to People Distributing Leaflets in Istanbul…
The police intervened the people distributing leaflets about Suruç Massacre, on July 18, 2020 in Kadıköy district of Istanbul and detained 20 people including Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Istanbul co-chair Ezgi Bahçeci and Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) co-chair Alev Özkiraz. Detained people are released after statement procedures at the police on July 19, 2020.
(07/222) Police Intervention to a Protest in Tunceli…
The police prevented the group marching after the press declaration held to protest sexual assaults to women, on July 17, 2020 in Tunceli; and detained 3 people by using physical violence. Detained 3 people were released after statement procedures at the police on July 18, 2020. Detained people were: Mehmet Sağlam, Yusuf Akın and Ömer Faruk Karahan.
(07/223) Police Intervention to a Protest in Eskişehir…
The police intervened members of TAYAD (Solidarity Association of Families of Prisoners) in Eskişehir who march from Istanbul to Ankara on July 19, 2020; to support lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal. Ebru Timtik is on a death fast for 200 days in Silivri Prison No 9 and Aytaç Ünsal is on a death fast for 169 days in Burhaniye T Type Prison to demand a fair trial. The police detained 2 people (Feridun Osmanağaoğlu and Merve Demirel) who were released on judicial control conditions later on the same day.
(07/224) 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 1349 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on July 17, 18 and 19, 2020 at 13.30 and 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(07/225) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
On July 17, 2020, the police intervened the press declaration of Alev Şahin in order to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, in front of Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning in Ankara and detained her on the grounds of governorate’s ban. Alev Şahin is released after being fined.
(07/226) Detained City Council Members in Diyarbakır…
Ronda Bat, city council member from HDP in Yenişehir district and Panayır Çelik and Halime Bayram, city council members from HDP in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır who were detained on July 14, 2020; are released by the court on judicial control conditions on July 17, 2020. Gülşen Güneş, city council member from Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır who was detained in Diyarbakır on July 14, 2020, was released by the court on judicial control conditions on July 16, 2020.
(07/227) Detained Journalist in Diyarbakır…
Ayşe Güney, spokesperson of Mesopotamia Women Journalists Platform (MKGP) and editor of Jinnews agency, who was detained in a house raid in Diyarbakır on July 14, 2020, is released by the court on judicial control conditions on July 17, 2020.
(07/228) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
5 of 23 people including MED TUHAD-FED co-chair Elif Haran and Tevgera Jinên Azad (Free Women’s Movement – TJA) spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan and activists who were detained in house raids in Diyarbakır on July 14, 2020; are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on July 17, 2020. 14 people are released on judicial control conditions. Arrested people are: MED TUHAD-FED co-chair Elif Haran, HDP Sur district co-chair Hatun Yıldız and TJA activists Hasret Alp, Figen Ekti, Bahar Akyapı. Released people are: TJA spokesperson Ayşe Gökkan, HDP Yenişehir district former co-hair Demet Özkaran, Health and Social Services Employees Union (SES) Diyarbakır branch executive Rozerin Çatak, HDP Kayapınar district co-chair Besile Narîn, Office, Banking and Insurance Employees Union (BES) former executives Dilan Yakut and Güneş Özel and TJA activists Zekiye Güler, Emine Kaya, Selma Metin, Ruken Şehir, Şükran Tamir, Gülseren Akkum, Têkoşîn Tekin, Hatice Şen.
Aklime Hanas, Rabia Ataş, Zeynep Suncak who were detained through the same investigation were released on judicial control conditions on July 16, 2020, and Hayriye Türkekul was released on judicial control conditions on July 15, 2020.
(07/229) Detained Executives and Members of Political Parties in Antep…
15 of 29 people including provincial co-chairs of HDP, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) who were detained in house raids in Antep on July 14, 2020, are referred to the court on July 17, 2020. 9 people (HDP provincial co-chair Songül Koçdağ, DBP former provincial co-chair Ali Şimşek, SYKP provincial co-chair Ahmet Aşkar, HDP Şahinbey district co-chair Bahri Yarış, HDP Şahinbey district executive Remziye Kuş, Remziye Erdem, Recai Yılmaz, Cüneyt Kaya and İsa Aslan) are arrested; 6 people are released on house confinement.
On July 16, 2020, 9 people (HDP provincial co-chair Musa Aydın, Adnan Erol, Hurşit Besle, Abdullah Acar, Enver Özman, Sevinç Selçuk, Ömer Sungur, İbrahim Dağ and Hasan Saran) who were detained through the same investigation were arrested while 5 people were released on house confinement.
Thus, the number of arrested people through this investigation is 18 while 15 people are released on house confinement.
(07/230) Detained People in Adana…
10 of 14 people who were detained through an Adana based investigation on July 10, 2020 are released by the court on July 17, 2020, provided that 3 of them will be on house confinement and 6 of them will be on judicial control conditions. 4 people who were detained through the same investigation were released previously.
(07/231) Detained Person for Expressions on a TV Programme…
Melek Çetinkaya, mother of an Air Force Academy student who was sentenced to life imprisonment through the case on July 15 coup attempt; is detained in Ankara on the grounds of ‘praising offense and offender’ in a TV programme on Akit TV channel that she participated in. Melek Çetinkaya is taken to Istanbul on the same day and is arrested by the court.
(07/232) Investigation Against a Journalist…
It is learned that an investigation was initiated against Sözcü newspaper writer Aytunç Ekin, for an article of him titled “2 thousand 221 judges and prosecutors on active duty are either related to Fethulahist Terrorist Organisation or supporters of it”; and that Aytunç Ekin gave his official statement at Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office on July 17, 2020.
(07/233) Journalist on Trial in Mersin…
The final trial of the case against journalist Mehmet Baransu is held at Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 2 on July 17, 2020. The court sentenced Mehmet Baransu to 2 years for ‘violating confidentiality’, to 4 years for ‘revealing forbidden information’ and to 13 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court decided to continue detention of Mehmet Baransu.
(07/234) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that a news report on former TRT reporter Mustafa Aşçı, on https://odatv4.com/, https://www.sozcu.com.tr/ websites and on social media accounts https://twitter.com/OzlemGurses, https://twitter.com/mustafa_asci46 is banned to access by İstanbul Penal Court of Peace o 11 on July 16, 2020.
(07/235) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
6 of 22 people who were detained through an Izmir based investigation are arrested by the court on July 19, 2020. 16 people are released provided that 14 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(07/236) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Ali Yazıcı, former Presidential adjutant, and Colonel Cenk Bahadır Avcı, former Commander of Dalaman Naval Air Base is held at Muğla Heavy Penal Court No 2 on July 17, 2020. The court sentenced Ali Yazıcı to heavy life imprisonment and Cenk Bahadır Avcı to 13 years and 4 months.
(07/237) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 18 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 926 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 17, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 17 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 918 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 18, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 16 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 924 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 19, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 5,491 and total number of confirmed cases is 219,641 as of July 19, 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.