Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
18 May 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/162) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of May 17, 2018 that, Pınar Aydınlar who was arrested in Istanbul Atatürk Airport on May 15, 2018 and then was sent to Bakırköy Women’s Prison, was subjected to the physical violence of wardens because of rejecting undressed search at the prison entrance.
It is learned from news coverage of May 17, 2018 that a prisoner named Yasin Güngör in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2, was put in a single cell and was subjected to the physical violence of wardens. It is also learned that he was not taken to the infirmary or to the hospital, and his complaint to Elazığ Public Prosecutor’s Office was seized by the prison administration. It is learned that Güngör’s lawyer made an official complaint about the wardens and prison administration.
(05/163) Torture Allegations in Hakkari…
It is claimed on news coverage of May 17, 2018 that Temer Şengül and Mehmet Ali Avcı, two people in Şapatan (Altınsu) village of Hakkari’s Şemdinli district were subjected to torture of the police. It is reported in the news that Temer Şengül’s and Mehmet Ali Avcı’s houses were raided by the police with armoured vehicles and their families were also subjected to the physical violence of the police. In addition, it is learned that no medical report that evidences the torture was given to Temer Şengül and Mehmet Ali Avcı when they went to the hospital, and their official statements were not taken by Şemdinli district police headquarters where they applied to make a complaint. It is learned that Temer Şengül and Mehmet Ali Avcı were among 100 villagers who have been subjected to physical violence of the police in the raid to Şapatan village on August 7, 2017.
(05/164) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on May 17, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 756th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(05/165) Hrant Dink Case…
The case against 85 defendants including 9 arrestees, about the murder of Hrant Dink, Agos newspaper’s executive editor, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 is held on May 17, 2018. After defence hearings the court acquitted Şükrü Yıldız, who was the chief civil inspector of the time, and decided on continuation of detention for other arrested defendants. The court adjourned the trial to July 10-11-12, 2018.
(05/166) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling for a while to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 17, 2018 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on May 17, 2018, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 5 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt, Acun Karadağ, Armağan Özbaş and Bülent Özgül) were detained.
Thus in total 7 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 17, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(05/167) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The cases against 10 academicians (Professor P.Y., lecturers Aslı Takanay and İpek Seyalıoğlu, research assistant Bahar Şahin Fırat, Professor Abbas Vali, Assist. Professor S.Y., Assist. Professor Günizi Kartal, Assoc. Professor Ayfer Bartu Candan and Professor M.G. from Boğaziçi University and Professor Tahsin Yeşildere form Istanbul University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ started to be held on May 17, 2018. The court rejected the demands for immediately acquittal and consolidation of the case with the case on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 in each cases and adjourned the trials to November 20, 2018.
The case against research assistant Sinem Aydınlı from Bahçeşehir University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on May 17, 2018. The court rejected the demands for immediately acquittal and consolidation of the case with the case on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 and adjourned the trial to November 6, 2018.
(05/168) Detained and Arrested HDP and DBP Members and Executives…
Sidar Zana Bilir, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Batman candidate for nomination, is detained in a house raid on May 17, 2018. It is reported that a warrant was issued for Sidar Zana Bilir by Çorlu Penal Court of Peace No 2, and that she was taken to Batman Police Headquarters.
It is learned that Yüksel Şahin, DBP council member is raided in a house raid in Birecik district of Urfa on May 17, 2018. It is learned that Şahin was taken to Halfeti district police headquarters, although the reason for detention is unknown.
It is learned that 9 members of HDP are detained in house raids in Şahinbey district of Antep on May 17, 2018. It is learned that the detainees are taken to Antep Police headquarters although the reason for detention is unknown. The names of detainees are: Talat Yılmazsoy, Mazlum Yılmazsoy, Mehmet Çelikay, İsmail Amaç, Hasan Aycan, Kadir Akbalık, Murat Baz, Sedat Baz and Ömer Demir.
(05/169) Detentions and Arrests…
It is learned from news coverage that a large number of people are detained in Halfeti, Bozova and Birecik districts of Urfa on May 17, 2018. The names of detainees known so far are: Mehmet Şahin, Zeki Alakuş, Abdullah Emlik, Bahattin Erdil, Sabri Muray, Ahmet Aydın and Ekrem Doğan. It is learned that the detainees are taken to Halfeti police headquarters.
(05/170) The Cases of Former HDP Co-Chairs…
The case against HDP former co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, for ‘leading an illegal organisation’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, ‘opposing to the law on meetings and demonstrations’, ‘inciting people to hatred’ on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 is held on May 17, 2018. It is learned that foreign committees that arrive to Sincan to watch the trial are not allowed into the courtroom. The trial is held in the courtroom in Sincan Prison Compound. Figen Yüksekdağ attended the trial and stated that the files of the cases on Ağrı and Van courts (which are consolidated with the one in Ankara) are given to her one day before the trial. The court decided on continuation of detention for Yüksekdağ on the grounds that ‘the defence is not completed and juridical control conditions are not sufficient’ and adjourned the trial to July 6, 2018.
The case against HDP Istanbul PM and former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş for ‘insulting the President’ on Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 38 is held on May 17, 2018. Selahattin Demirtaş did not attend the trial with the excuse that he stands for June 24, 2018 election. The court decided that Selahattin Demirtaş should be brought to the court in case he would still be arrested and adjourned the trial to December 5, 2018.
(05/171) Detained Journalist in Kocaeli…
It is learned that Gülşen Koçuk, former employer of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper to which a trustee was appointed, is detained in Darıca district of Kocaeli on May 17, 2018. It is learned that Gülşen Koçuk was taken to Istanbul and was released after procedures at the police.
(05/172) Academician on Trial in Ankara for Social Media Posts…
The case against academician Cenk Yiğiter, who was dismissed from Ankara University by the state of emergency decree, for ‘insulting the President’ on Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 20 started to be held on May 17, 2018. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 4, 2018.
(05/173) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against Aydın Atar, former executive editor of Azadiye Welat newspaper (closed down by the state of emergency decree) for ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’ on news reports in 9 issues of the newspaper published in 2012 and 2013, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 is held on May 17, 2018. The court sentenced Aydın Atar to 7 years and 7 months and then reduced the penalty to 6 years and 4 months on the grounds that the penalty would settle him down.
(05/174) People on Trial in Adana for Protesting Soma Massacre…
The final trial of the case against people detained by the police intervention to a march in Adana on May 16, 2014, on Adana Penal Court of First Instance No 11 is held on May 17, 2018. The court sentenced 11 people to jail penalties differing from 1 year and 2 months to 1 year and 8 months for ‘opposing to the law on meetings and demonstrations’, and ‘preventing the public officers from their duty’. On May 13, 2014, 301 mine workers died due to a fire in a pit in Soma and on May 16, 2014 people in Adana attempted to a march in Atatürk Park to protest the incident, and numerous people were detained due to police intervention with rubber bullets.
(05/175) Elections on June 24, 2018….
It is learned that Şenel Bozkurt and Ferdi Aydemir, who were arrested by the court on May 8, 2018 for the armed assault to İYİ Party’s electoral campaign stand in Bağcılar district of Istanbul on May 6, 2018, are released due to objections. Bakırköy Penal Court of Peace No 3, released 2 defendants on juridical control conditions and with a ban on leaving the country based on the withdrawal of complaints and on the objections.
(05/176) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
46 of 211 people who were detained in operations covering 52 cities through two different investigations on May 11, 2018, are arrested by Istanbul Court of Peace on duty on May 17, 2018. 7 people are released on juridical control conditions. It is reported that 158 people are still under custody.
It is learned that 3 of 14 people who were detained in operations covering 4 cities through a Bolu based investigation on May 16, 2018, are arrested by the court, 5 of them are released on juridical control conditions and with a ban on leaving the country, on May 17, 2018. It is reported that 6 people are still under custody.
On May 17, 2018, 37 people are detained in operations covering 22 cities through an Ankara based investigation. It is learned that a warrant was issued for 64 more people through the same investigation.
(05/177) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 39 people for the incidents on Kartal Bridge during July 15 coup attempt, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 is held on May 17, 2018. The court sentenced 14 people to heavy life penalty for ‘attempting to demolish the constitutional order’ and reduced the penalty to life sentence for 8 people based on good conduct time. The court sentenced 5 people to 15 years and 3 months in total for ‘incitement to bodily harm’, 6 people to 12 years in total for ‘bodily harm’. The court sentenced 4 people to 10 years and 6 months for each for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and separated the cases of 10 people.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.