Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 – 21 February 2022 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/260) Journalist Died in Armed Attack in Kocaeli…
Güngör Arslan, grant holder and executive editor of local Kocaeli Ses newspaper, died in an armed attack in his office on February 19, 2022.
One person (R. Ö.) is detained in relation to the attack. It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2022 that R. Ö. stated the following at the police: “2 people called me one day before, I knew them from the neighbourhood. They contacted me over phone. They picked me up by a car and ‘We will shoot Güngör Arslan, and you will be the one to do this. We will make you very comfortable. You and your family will never have a problem again’ they said.”
(02/261) Asylum Seeker Died in Racist Attack in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2022 that, Ahmad Rafik Olabi (69) a Syrian asylum seeker, was attacked in his house by 3 persons who introduced themselves as police officers in Bağcılar district of Istanbul on February 3, 2022. It is reported that Ahmad Rafik Olabi died and 3 people are arrested in relation to the attack.
(02/262) Labour Killings…
On February 21, 2022, the Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 111 workers including 11 women, 1 child and 2 migrant workers lost their lives in January 2022. It is also stated that at least 20 workers died due to Covid-19 pandemic.
(02/263) Person Died in Prison…
Yusuf Bekmezci, an 82-year-old prisoner in Izmir Kırıklar F Type Prison who was admitted to the hospital as he deteriorated on January 4, 2022, lost his life in hospital on February 20, 2022.
It is learned from the news coverage that although Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institution proposed suspension of execution for 3 months, Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 2 ruled that the execution will proceed in hospital.
(02/264) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2022 that, political prisoners in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 3 cannot use their right to have a 30-minutes video call per week, and phone calls are reduced from 20 minutes to 10 minutes, prisoners were not given Evrensel and Yeni Yaşam newspapers, the prices at the prison commissary are high, the packages sent to prisoners were not delivered and the number of books per prisoner is limited.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2022 that, in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison water is cut off in the wards.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2022 that, Emir Karakum, a prisoner in Samsun Bafra T Type prison was kept in a solitary cell and was allowed to the open-door area only one hour a day and on his own.
(02/265) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2022 that, in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 3, prisoners are taken to infirmary once in every two weeks, they were forced to be examined in handcuffs and those who reject it were not receiving treatment.
(02/266) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 18, 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.
(02/267) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Hakkari…
On February 19, 2022, the gendarmerie intervened the quarrel between Vangölü Electricity Distribution Company personnel and residents of Ovaiçi village in Yüksekova district of Hakkari and detained 6 people by using physical violence. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(02/268) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration of sacked Migros workers who protest the company owner in front of his home in Beykoz district of Istanbul on February 18, 2022, and detained 100 people including DGD-Sen union chair Neslihan Acar by using physical violence. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(02/269) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of lawyers in front of Ankara Courthouse on February 18, 2022, protesting the Forensic Medicine Institution report claiming full criminal responsibility of ill prisoner and former HDP MP Aysel Tuğluk. It is learned that nobody was detained and the lawyers had the press declaration somewhere else.
(02/270) Police Intervention to a Protest in Mersin…
The police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to intervene the press declaration of lawyers in front of Mersin Courthouse on February 18, 2022, protesting the Forensic Medicine Institution report claiming full criminal responsibility of ill prisoner and former HDP MP Aysel Tuğluk. It is learned that Akdeniz district police chief has threatened a lawyer saying “I know you well. I will see you again”. It is learned that nobody was detained, 9 person got medical reports evidencing the physical violence that injured them.
(02/271) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration about ill prisoner in front of the Forensic Medicine Institution in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul and detained 1 person Feridun Osmanağaoğlu) on February 18, 2022.
(02/272) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of Şişli Municipality workers in front of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) on February 18, 2022 and forced people away from the building by using physical violence.
(02/273) 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 February 18, 2022 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(02/274) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of Ankara Women’s Platform in front of Çankaya Municipality building on February 19, 2022 and detained 8 people by using physical violence. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(02/275) Police Intervention to a Protest in Trabzon…
The police prevented the march of people to the governorate’s building in Trabzon, to protest the raises in prices, in on February 19, 2022. It is learned that the group had a press declaration at the place they were prevented.
(02/276) Detained People in Urfa…
15 people including Syrian citizens who were detained on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ in Urfa on February 15, 2022, are released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office on February 18, 2022.
(02/277) Former MP on Trial…
The trial of the case against former HDP MP Gülser Yıldırım, on the grounds of the speeches she gave between 2012 and 2016, is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 18, 2022.
Gülser Yıldırım joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. It is learned that a new case was opened at Mardin Penal Court of First Instance No 1 against Gülser Yıldırım for a speech she made. The court adjourned the trial to May 26, 2022.
(02/278) Grup Yorum Band Members on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Grup Yorum band members Betül Varan and Sultan Gökçek is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 on February 18, 2022. The court sentenced 2 people to 10 years and 7 months each on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court decided to continue detention of Betül Varan, and to arrest Sultan Gökçek who is already arrested through another case.
(02/279) Suruç Massacre Case…
The trial of the case against Deniz Büyükçelebi and İlhami Bali, the fugitive defendants of the case on the bombing attack which killed 33 people in Suruç district of Urfa on July 20, 2015, is held at Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 on February 18, 2022.
The court accepted the intervention demands of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and the Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) and adjourned the trial to June 1, 2022.
(02/280) Metin Lokumcu Case…
The trial of the case against 13 police officers including provincial security director of Artvin and district security director of Hopa, for death of Metin Lokumcu is held at Trabzon Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on February 18, 2022. Metin Lokumcu has lost his life due to excessive use of chemical gas by the police intervening to a press declaration in Hopa district of Artvin on May 31, 2021.
The case was first opened at Hopa Penal Court of First Instance, but then the Court of Cassation decided to transfer the case to Trabzon on the grounds of ‘security reasons’. The indictment demands sentence up to 6 years for police officers on the charge of ‘reckless killing’.
Kamil Ustabaşı, a witness, stated the following: “They kept dropping gas bombs as people were running away. They attacked those who found shelter in shops. Many of our friends were injured that day. We have heard of Metin Lokumcu’s death at around 12.30 that day. Not only demonstrators but other people were also attacked. The sub-governor back then, said ‘I gave the order for using gas bombs, and we are out of stock’ in an explanation.”
Mustafa Özgüven, another witness, stated the following: “When I inhaled the gas dropped in the area, I felt like acid was being poured into my lungs.”
Another witness Osman Zeki Yakur stated the following: “I had a kiosk at Hopa Cumhuriyet Square back then. A woman and her child hid in my shop during the gas bomb attack of the police. We reacted against the police demanding them to stop it. The police wanted to detain my brother, Metin Lokumcu intervened and said ‘Detain me not him’ and they did not detain my brother. The security director of the Prime Ministry took the gas pistol from the hands of the police, he was swearing. Afterwards, he fired it aiming towards the people with curses. He did his best to raise the temperature.”
The court decided to forcibly bring 2 defendants who do not join the trial and adjourned the trial to April 8, 2022.
(02/281) Investigation Against Lawyer in Istanbul…
It is learned that Istanbul Anadolu Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against lawyer Mürsel Ünder, upon the watchmen’s complaint against him and he made his official statement to the prosecutor’s office on February 17, 2022. Mürsel Ünder was subjected to physical violence of the watchmen who wanted to check him through the general information gathering in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on January 17, 2022.
(02/281) Investigation Against Lawyers in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 17, 2022 that, Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against lawyers Sezin Uçar, Fırat Epözdemir and Seher Eriş, for they commemorated lawyer Ebru Timtik who lost her life in death fast, in their speeches at Istanbul Bar Association general assembly on October 16-17, 2021.
(02/282) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on February182, 2022 and announced that all meetings, open-door assemblies, demonstrations, marches, sit-in protests, human chains, op-ed stands, public sessions, any kind of audio-visual activities with mobile audio-visual vehicles, hunger strikes, opening stands, collecting petitions, flying sky lanterns or balloons, commemorations, concerts, festivals, theatre plays, screening shows, firing torches, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned for 15 days as of February 18, 2022.
(02/283) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 18, 2022, 44 people are detained in Ankara.
(02/284) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 264 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 87,411 as of February 18, 2022.
The Ministry of Health declared that 278 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 80,454 as of February 19, 2022.
The Ministry of Health declared that 263 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 70,355 as of February 20, 2022.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 92,451 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 13,504,485 as of February 20, 2022.
It is learned that 2 health workers (nurse Nurcan Kahraman in Giresun and nurse Sami Oflaz in Konya) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on February 18, 2022.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 18, 2022 that, journalist Nedim Türfent in Van High Security Prison tested positive for Covid-19.
[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.