Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18-20 May 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/182) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of National Defense announced on May 17, 2024, that 1 soldier (Recep Kabala) died due to a gun accident during the “Pençe-Kaplan” operation in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that 11 soldiers were wounded when an armored vehicle overturned in a neighborhood of the Başkale district of Van.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that the body of Engin Aslan, a village guard who was not heard from in rural areas of the Nusaybin district of Mardin, was found and an investigation was initiated. It is also stated in the news reports that Engin Aslan was shot in the head.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 20, 2024, that 1 militant was killed in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Qandil region of KRG in January 2024.
(05/183) Person Who Lost His Life and Another Person Wounded in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that 2 people (Hakan Ç. and Erhan K.) were wounded due to the police firing at them for disobeying a stop warning in the Arnavutköy district of Istanbul, and Erhan K. lost his life in hospital. It is claimed in the news reports that Hakan Ç. and Erhan K. had a clash with the police.
(05/184) Lawyer Subjected to Physical and Verbal Violence in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2024, that lawyer Mansur Burak Baykurt was subjected to verbal and physical violence by the police officers at Izmir Courthouse on May 17, 2024.
Lawyer Mansur Burak Baykurt, in his statements on the subject reflected in the press, claimed the following: “On Friday at 14:45, while waiting in line for an interrogation at the Izmir Courthouse Central Building, a colleague who was assigned with a CMK assignment was a little late. When he arrived at the courthouse after being late, he was first verbally reproached by the police officers on duty there, and the verbal reproaches reached a point of shouting and verbal violence. While I was observing this situation from the sidelines, I intervened due to the increasing number of police officers verbally abusing the colleague… (Police officers) who are you? Who are you interfering with? What are you doing here? What is your duty to come here and intervene?’ he started shouting at me. After this shouting I told him that he couldn’t shout at me, that I was protecting my colleague. Then there were about 15 to 20 police officers in the corridor. One of them grabbed my shoulder, one grabbed my arm and pulled me. When I told them that they shouldn’t do that, in fact, there was a judge and a prosecutor’s room there and no one came out while they were hearing this. The police took me away from there. The close bodyguard of the prosecutor came and took me away from the courtroom. During this time, I was constantly insulted. We were repeatedly exposed to curse words.
(05/185) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024 that, 8 prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison were subjected to disciplinary proceedings for participating in the protests in prisons across Turkey, demanding an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. 8 prisoners were sentenced to 11 days of solitary confinement each as a result of the investigation. It is reported that prisoners appealed to Tokat Heavy Penal Court No 1 against the decision.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that the appeal of lawyer Ahmet Taş to Tokat Heavy Penal Court No 1, against the practice of recording lawyer meetings of political prisoners in Tokat T Type Prison since 2021, was rejected.
It is claimed in the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that the release of Ali Şen, an ill prisoner in Yozgat T Type Prison No 2, who has been in prison for 31 years, was postponed for the 4th time by the Prison Administration and Observation Board for rejecting the ‘remorse’ imposition.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 19, 2024, that the release of JINNEWS reporter Derya Ren in Diyarbakır Women’s Prison was postponed for 3 months by the Administration and Observation Board on the grounds of ‘not being ready to integrate with society’.
(05/186) Intervention against a Commemoration in Istanbul…
On May 18, 2024, the police intervened against members of New Democratic Youth, DEM Party Youth Assembly, Istanbul Free Student Assembly and Revolutionary Forces of Youth who gathered in front of Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy district of Istanbul for İbrahim Kaypakkaya commemoration and detained 20 people by using physical violence. It is also reported in the news that journalists who were following the news were forcibly removed from the area by the police. It is learned that detainees were kept in handcuffs behind their backs at the courthouse. 4 of 20 detainees were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on May 19, 2024, on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent duty’. 16 people were released after statement procedures at the police.
(05/187) Party Executive and Others Detained in Antalya…
On May 17, 2024, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Döşemealtı district co-chair Fehmi Karakuş, Ahmet Refik Akarca and Derya Polat who were detained in house raids in Antalya on May 15, 2024, were released by Antalya Criminal Peace Judgeship on judicial control conditions.
(05/188) March 31st Elections…
9 out of 16 people (Arda Duvarcı, Azat Kunur, Nazif Çakır, Nilüfer Yıldız, Samet Sağnıç, Serdar Aktürk, Selman Yağmağan, Sezgin Zevkibol ve Serhat Çukurçam) who were detained on May 15, 2024, in house raids in Izmir, on the grounds of participating in the protests in Izmir against the refusal to hand over the mandate to the co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality Abdullah Zeydan, elected from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) on March 31, 2024, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on May 18, 2024, on the charges of ‘resisting to prevent the execution of duty’ and ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’. 6 people (Tuğçe Kızıldemir, Elif Yerlikaya, Berfin Büyükertaş, Mehmet Kasar, Sedanur Parmaksız and Sude Timagur) were released on judicial control conditions.
6 of 20 people (Alamettin Demir, Çetin Demir, Fikri Baş, Filiz Aydın, İbrahim Elban, Yaşar Gökdemir) who were detained for the same reason during house raids in Istanbul on May 15, 2024, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship and 14 people were released on judicial control conditions.
3 of 8 people (Hayri Söylemez, Işık Söylemez and Ahmet Akan) who were detained in house raids in Manisa on May 16, 2024, on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ on the grounds of a song played from an election vehicle during 31 March elections, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on May 18, 2024. 5 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/189) People Detained and Arrested in Hakkari…
5 of 11 people (Hatip Aksaç, Hasan Akar, Muharrem Özbek, Seyithan Durgun, Baran Demhat Bilicanoğlu) who were detained in house raids in Hakkari on May 15, 2024, on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization without being a member of it’ were arrested by Hakkari Criminal Peace Judgeship on May 17, 2024. 6 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/190) People Detained in Hatay…
6 people who were detained on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ during house raids in Hatay on May 15 and 16, 2024, were released by the court on May 17, 2024.
(05/191) People Detained in Şırnak…
40 people who were detained in house raids in Şırnak on May 16, 2024, were referred to the Criminal Peace Judgeship on the allegation of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ on May 20, 2024. 1 person was arrested while 39 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/192) People Detained in Istanbul…
On May 18, 2024, 2 people were detained through an investigation against Partizan magazine in Istanbul. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
2 people, Habilhan Yapar and Bilal Faruk Başaran, who were detained and arrested for trying to march from Saraçhane to Taksim Square during the May 1 celebrations, were released on May 15, 2024 after their lawyers appealed.
(05/193) The Kobanê Case…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2024, that the prosecutor’s office objected to the verdicts of release for 5 people and acquittal for 12 people in the final hearing of the case against 108 members and executives of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) including former co-chairs, 18 of whom are arrested, held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 22 on May 16, 2024.
(05/194) Former Metropolitan Mayor and Others on Trial in Eskişehir…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2024, that the indictment of Eskişehir Public Prosecutor’s Office against 5 people including Yılmaz Büyükerşen, former mayor of Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality, was accepted by Eskişehir Penal Court of First Instance No 8. The indictment demands a sentence for 5 people on the charges of ‘abuse of trust due to service’ and ‘wrongful acquisition of property’.
(05/195) Former Party Co-Chair on Trial in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2024, that the indictment of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office against Emine Ayna, former co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), was accepted by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4. The indictment demands a sentence for Emine Ayna on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’.
(05/196) Party Member on Trial in Ağrı…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 18, 2024, that the indictment of Ağrı Public Prosecutor’s Office against DEM Party Youth Assembly member Birindar Gezici, who was detained in Ağrı on March 9, 2024, and was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of soldiers and village guards under custody, was accepted by Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2. The indictment demands a sentence for Birindar Gezici on the charges of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The first hearing of the case will be held on May 28, 2024.
(05/197) Documentary Filmmaker on Trial in Ankara…
The retrial of the case against documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for following a protest in Ankara in 2015, continued on May 14, 2024, after Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 overturned the 10-month prison sentence and the deferment of the announcement of the verdict by Penal Department No 6 of Ankara Regional Court of Appeals. The court adjourned the trial to September 19, 2024.
(05/198) TJA Activist and Party Member on Trial in Şırnak…
The trial of the case against Tevgera Jinen Azad (TJA) activist Sümeyye Gök and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly member Miraç Dinç, about Tahir Güven, brother of Justice and Development Party (AKP) district chair Cihan Güven, who died in an armed attack in the Cizre district of Şırnak on December 4, 2021, was held at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 on May 17, 2024. The court adjourned the trial to July 17, 2024.
(05/199) Banned Event in Tunceli…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2024, that the public concert organized by Munzur Free Student Association (MÖ-DER) and Dersim Municipality, which was to be held at Mameki Park on May 17, 2024, was canceled on the grounds of the ban on demonstrations and events declared by Tunceli Governorate for 4 days on May 16, 2024.
(05/200) Event Banned at a University…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 17, 2024, that the application of student groups to the Rectorate of Uludağ University to organize a student festival at Uludağ University was rejected. It is claimed in the news reports that student organizations organizing alternative festivals were threatened to be closed down by the rectorate.
(05/201) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
22 people were detained in Antalya on May 17, 2024.
The Ministry of National Defence (MSB) announced on 18 May 2024 that 3 people were detained while trying to illegally cross to Greece from Edirne.
[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.