Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 – 20 June 2022 Daily Human Rights Report
(06/217) Soldier Died in Hatay…
It is learned that, Lieutenant Hüseyin Y., who was on duty at Çevlik Coast Guard Command, was found in his home with a gunshot wound to the head on June 19, 2022.
(06/218) Attack on Human Rights Defender in Mersin…
It is learned that the Human Rights Association (İHD) Headquarters executive İlhan Kılıç was subjected to armoured attack by a person whom he had warned for harassing two women in Mersin on June 18, 2022; and was injured as a result of the attack. It is learned that the assaulter was detained but then he was released by the court on house confinement.
(06/219) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 18, 2022 that, a person named H. İ. Ş. was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during the police raid to his home and at the police station where he was taken afterwards. It is also stated in the news reports that his lawyer was not allowed in the police station for a long time.
H. İ. Ş. stated the following to the press: “My father called me and said that there was a search of the house. I immediately took a taxi and went home. However, when I entered the house, they immediately handcuffed me in behind my back. I was subjected to very harsh and bad curses. I was held in handcuffs throughout the house search and even at the police station. Even in the hospital, I was kept in the handcuffs next to the doctor. They threatened me all the time and said they would make me sign a deed. They said if I did not pay 71,000 Turkish Liras they would arrest me. They said that if I signed the bill, I would be released. Afterwards, the same treatment continued at the police station. They did not let my lawyer in. They used psychological violence against me here, too.”
His lawyer stated the following in his statement to the press: “There were many irregularities during the search of my client’s house. While the police team in Etimesgut district should write instructions under normal conditions, the police team in Mamak district were sent to the house search. My client was subjected to insults during the house search. Although there was no search and seizure decision regarding his mobile phone, my client’s phone was forcibly opened and threatened, saying, ‘Bring the 71,000 Turkish Liras, otherwise I found evidence on his phone, I took pictures of it, or I will take action on them’. His father is also a witness to this situation (…) While I was not allowed in, a police officer said ‘I will have you sign a deed, we will take this money from you. Even if you are released, we will place a search warrant on your house every week and disturb your peace. I do not care if I would be penalised or lose my job for that, I am an ex-special forces officer’ to my client.”
(06/220) Racist and Discriminatory Application in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 17, 2022, that the police intervened in the sign that was hung during the opening ceremony of the Saab Restaurant belonging to a Somali-born Turkish citizen in Çankaya district of Ankara. It was stated in the news reports that some other shopkeepers, who run a restaurant that serves Somali food in Çankaya district, have been subjected to pressure and threats by the police forcing them to name the restaurant in Turkish, on various dates since August 2021.
(06/221) Police Threat to Parliamentary Member…
It is learned that, during the police intervention on the sign of the restaurant belonging to a Somali-born Turkish citizen in Çankaya district of Ankara, a police officer on duty said to the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA) Istanbul MP Mustafa Yeneroğlu, who was there for the opening, “It is obvious what kind of people you are, you are the one who is immoral. Speak like a man, he was a member of parliament so what?”.
Making a statement on the subject after the police officer’s expressions were covered in the press, the General Directorate of Security stated the following: “It is another oddity that the MP claims that this legal action was racism, referring to the nationality of the owner of the business and trying to draw it on a political ground. The parliamentary member, whose hostility towards the police organization is known to everyone, insulted our police both physically and verbally during the inspection (…) One of our police chief responded in an undesirable way and used an unpleasant word when the MP continued his insults and threatened our staff by waving his finger. The word used by the police chief upset us, and an investigation was initiated on the subject and necessary warnings were given to the relevant personnel. In addition, a criminal complaint will be filed against the MP in question on the grounds of provocation, insults and threats against the officer in charge (…) Despite the fact that no one in our country is treated differently due to their skin colour or nationality, the employer of the workplace said ‘Because of my skin’, in order to cover up the illegality, and this slander is another part of this game. In addition, a criminal complaint will be made in this regard.”
(06/222) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 17, 2022 that, Mustafa Demirbaş, brother of Ferhat Demirbaş, a prisoner who was reported to be subjected to torture and ill-treatment in Hatay Iskenderun T Type Prison, was given the penalty of prevention from visits for 3 months on the grounds of ‘disrupting order and safety of the penal institution’ by asking his brother’s condition.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 18, 2022 that, Mehmet Salih Filiz, an ill prisoner who was transferred to Muğla Bodrum S Type Prison, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment as he rejected strip search at the entrance of the prison; and was taken to a hospital as his condition worsens but he was taken back to prison without being treated. It is also stated in the news reports that Mehmet Salih Filiz was kept in a solitary cell.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2022 that, Abdo Şeyh, a Syrian prisoner in Elazığ Prison No 1, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the correction officers as he rejected strip search at the entrance of prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2022 that, Seyithan Yaman, a prisoner in Elazığ Prison No 1 was being kept in a solitary cell.
(06/223) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 18, 2022 that, Mehmet Salih Filiz, an ill prisoner in Muğla Bodrum S Type Prison was not receiving treatment.
(06/224) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on June 17, 2022 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by families and tutelary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in Imralı Prison, in order to visit them was not responded.
(06/225) Interventions and Bans on Pride Month Events…
It is learned that the picnic event to be held by the Istanbul University Equality Club on June 17, 2022, in the garden of Istanbul University Communication Faculty, as part of the “LGBTI+ Pride Month”, was cancelled after discriminatory and phobic groups gathered around the university campus. It is reported that the police did not intervene in the discriminatory and phobic groups gathered around the campus, but they detained 26 people who were on campus to participate in the picnic, using physical violence. Detained people were released the same day.
The Governor of Antep city shared the following on his social media account on June 18, 2022 regarding the events to be held in the city as part of Pride Month: “There are posts that perverted events will be held in Gaziantep. There is no permission given by our governorship and no application made to the governorship. It is not possible to grant permission.”
It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2022, the panel titled “Climate Crisis, Gender, Sexual Health, Queer Ecology, Eco Feminism” to be organized by the Environmental Club at the Middle East Technical University on June 17, 2022, was banned by the Rectorate on the grounds that “the guest speakers and the associations they represent are nor related with the purpose of the event and the club”.
Kadıköy District Governorate, made a statement on June 20, 2022, and banned all events in the district for 7 days as of June 21, 2022, on the grounds of “30th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week” events.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 20, 2022, that the police visited the venues where Pride Week events will be held in Beyoğlu district, and reported that the events were banned by the decision of the District Governor’s Office.
(06/226) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration which were made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on June 17, 2022 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(06/227) Detained HDP Member in Izmir…
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly member Serhat İrlan is detained in Izmir on June 17, 2022. The reason for detention is unknown.
(06/228) Detained HDP Executives and Members in Istanbul…
On June 16, 2022, 9 people including members and executives of HDP were detained in house raids in Istanbul; on the grounds of the demonstration in Kadıköy district of Istanbul held on June 12, 2022 as a part of the “Gemlik March” about isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. 9 people are released by the court on June 19, 2022 provided that 3 of them (HDP organisation co-spokesperson Besra İşsever, HDP Üsküdar district co-chair Aysel Özbey and Enes Özdaş) will be on judicial control conditions.
(06/229) DİAYDER Case…
The trial of the case against 23 members and executives of DIAYDER (Religious Scholars Solidarity Association) including 4 arrestees, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on June 17, 2022.
Arrested defendants joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided send the case file to the prosecutor for legal opinion, to release 3 people (Hafit Tunç, Ali Fuat Hatip and Mehmet Emin Aslan) and to continue detention of 1 person (Ekrem Baran) and adjourned the trial.
(06/230) Person on Trial for Social Media Post…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 17, 2022, that an indictment was prepared by Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against a person named O. T. on the charge of “inciting people to hatred and hostility and insult” for he “shared a photograph of drinking alcohol at the Night of Power”.
(06/231) Police Officer on Trial in Elazığ…
On 3 April 2009, during the police intervention against a protest in Hakkari, S. T. who was 14 years old back then, has been injured at the head after being hit by a gunstock, and the special operations police officer B. T. was sentenced in the case related to the injury, held at Elazığ Heavy Penal Court No 3. As the local court’s verdict was overturned by the Penal Department No 1 in Diyarbakır, the retrial was held on June 17, 2022. The court first sentenced B. T. to 7 years and 8 months and later reduced the sentence to 6 years and 3 months due to the possible impact on the future of the accused. The court also decided to ban rights and powers of being a police officer of B. T. for a period of 4 years after the execution of the sentence. The court rejected to arrest the defendant police officer.
(06/232) The Case on Fatma Eraslan’s Death…
It is learned from the new coverage of June 19, 2022 that, the objection to the rejection of the compensation case filed in the Mardin Administrative Court No 1 regarding the death of the child Fatma Eraslan (13) during the curfew declared in the İdil district of Şırnak, was not accepted by Antep Regional Court.
In the investigation opened earlier on Fatma Eraslan’s death, Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has stated that “it is considered that she participated in clashes with the security forces, was killed by the security forces while she was carrying out armed activities against the security forces […] it is evaluated that the security forces had fulfilled a lawful order they had received from a competent authority”, and has decided on non-prosecution. The objections made to the decision were also rejected.
(06/233) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the content on the website https://eksisozluk.com covering the Beşiktaş Football Club’s former football player, Feyyaz Uçar’s statement about former football player and Justice and Development Party (AKP) İzmir Deputy Alpay Özalan, including the phrase “the biggest liar I have ever seen”, is banned by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 8 on the grounds of “violation of personal rights” on June 17, 2022.
[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.