Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
19 October 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/232) Civilian Death During Military Operation in Tunceli…
It is learned that during the military operation in rural areas of Sarısalkım village in Tunceli’s Ovacık district, military choppers bombed areas where villagers were gathering woods for winter. News coverage from October 18, 2017 reported clashes between armed forces and HPG militants during and after the bombing resulted with one civilian death. A person named Gökhan Keskin died and a person named Kadir Akar is missing.
It is learned that Gökhan Keskin’s family revealed that he died when he was caught in crossfire.
Governorate of Tunceli released a statement regarding the military operation and declared that Gökhan Keskin and Kadir Akar were aiding messengers carrying supplies to militants and while one of them died the other one fled.
It is learned that Gökhan Keskin’s body was sent to Malatya Institution of Forensic Medicine.
(10/233) Missing Prisoner Claim…
A prisoner named Özay Özer in Elazığ No 1 High Security Prison revealed in his letter to press on October 19, 2017 that two prisoners named Bülent Akar and Keşker Acar were sent to solitary confinement on September 14, 2017. Özer revealed that they have not seen or heard from two prisoners ever since. Özer declared that the prison administration said ‘it’s not your concern we will take them and bring them when we please’ when they were asked about missing prisoners.
(10/234) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of October 18, 2017 that a 75 year old prisoner named Sise Bingöl was transferred to Tarsus Women Prison from Muş Type E Prison against her will. Sise Bingöl was arrested on April 6, 2016 and later released in trial at Muş Heavy Penal Court on June 23, 2016. Court later sentenced Bingöl to 4 years 2 months for ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organization’ and after her sentence was upheld, Bingöl was arrested again and sent to Muş Type E Prison.
It is learned from news coverage of October 19, 2017 that 26 prisoners transferred from Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison to Diyarbakır D Type Prison and 12 prisoners transferred from Rize Type L Prison were physically abused when they refused to be searched naked.
It is learned from news coverage of October 19, 2017 that prisoners in Kırıkkale F Type Prison prepared a report on rights violations they experienced within September but some parts of the report were censored by the prison administration. The report revealed that weekly 10 hours of socializing rights of the prisoners was reduced to 6, a prisoner named Raşit Dörtyol was not given a permission to leave when his father died, 3 prisoners named Emrah Yayla, Ercan Yıldız and Mehmet Bıldırcın were restrained from visiting the infirmary although they had necessary petitions, the water in the cells was dirty, books sent to prisoners within the past year were collected and petitions submitted to formal institutions were blocked.
(10/235) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with Statuary Decree’s planned for press meetings in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 18, 2017. Demonstrations of the group has been going on for several weeks. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both prevented by the police forces who blocked entrance to the street by barriers.
During the intervention towards the meeting at 13.30, 3 people (lker Işık, Mehmet Dersulu, Perihan Pulat ve and one person named İnan whose last name couldn’t be identified) and during the 18.00 meeting, 4 people (Mehmet Dersulu, Mustafa Keçeci, Perihan Pulat, İlker Işık) were physically abused and detained. During both interventions police officers prevented journalists from reporting the incident. All detainees were released within the same day.
(10/236) Businessperson Osman Kavala Detained…
Board of Directors Chair of Anadolu Kültür, Board Member of TESEV and Helsinki Citizens Association member, businessperson Osman Kavala was detained in İstanbul Atatürk Airport when he returned from a meeting in Antep on October 19, 2017. The reason of his detention is unknown. It is learned that his office has been searched and both his and his assistant’s laptops have been seized.
(10/237) Police Operation Towards Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP)…
Through an Istanbul based investigation towards ESP, on October 19, 2017 14 people including party members, journalists and attorneys were detained. Names of the detainees: ESP MYK member Özgen Sadet, Attorneys Sezin Uçar and Özlem Gümüştaş from Opressed’s Law Office, Etkin News Agency workers İsminaz Temel and Havva Cuştan, Nihat Göktaş, Erkan Kakça, İlhan Aslan, Mehmet Aslan, Meral Tatar, Sercan Genç, Mazlum Demirtaş, Hünkar Yurtsever, Onur Binbir.
It is learned that Havva Cuştan’s house was damaged during the house raid and slogans like ‘Grey Wolfs were here’, ‘Grey Wolfs arrived’ were written on the walls. During the raid Havva Custan and 3 other people were searched and physically abused. It is also learned that police prevented medical aid to Havva Cuştan who had an asthma attack during house search.
(10/238) ESP Member Detained in Hopa…
It is learned that ESP Hopa district executive Nurdan Vayiç was detained on October 19, 2017 due to her social media posts. It is learned that that some books and magazines including HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş’s story book Seher was seized.
(10/240) Detentions of Journalists…
It is learned that journalist and writer Vedat Çetin was detained in his house in Diyarbakır on October 19, 2917 through an investigation on Democratic Society Congress (DTK) initiated by Diyarbakır Public Prosecution.
(10/241) Detention and Arrests…
It is learned that 6 of 8 HDP members including HDP District Co-Chair Yüksel Akgün detained on October 6, 2017 in Bursa, were arrested on October 18, 2017 due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. 2 members were released with judiciary control condition.
It is learned that 8 people were beaten and detained on October 18, 2017 through an investigation for the bomb attack towards a police vehicle in Mersin that occurred on October 17, 2017. 4 of 8 people detained were from same families. Names of the detainees: Münir Tuğrul, Abdülkerim Tuğrul, Şefik Tuğrul and Sakine Tuğrul, Mehmet Solmuş, Mehmet Geçer, Bubi Çimen and Müslüm Ekinci.
It is alleged that during a house raid in Antalya’s Kepez district, a person named Eylem Yıldız was beaten and detained on October 18, 2017. Yıldız’s cuffed from behind. Yıldız’s reason for detention is unknown.
(10/242) Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP)Member Detained in Hatay…
It is learned that SYKP Member Gülşen Yılmaz detained on October 16, 2017 in Hatay during a house raid was released with judiciary control condition on October 18, 2017.
(10/243) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 8 of 17 people detained on October 12, 2017 in Kayseri, were arrested by the court on October 18, 2017. One person was released following interrogation by the prosecution. Previously 2 people were arrested 6 people were released through the same investigation.
It is learned that 9 of 73 people detained on October 3, 2017 during investigations against İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and 18 other district municipalities were released on October 18, 2017. 57 of 64 sent to court were arrested and 7 people were released with judiciary control condition.
It is learned that 2 of 6 former judges and prosecutors discharged with Statuary Decree’s and detained on October 6, 2017 were arrested on October 18, 2017. Name of the former judges and prosecutors: former judges Fethi Ahmet Geçim, İbrahim Furkan Yürük, Gülay U.K, Murat Y; former prosecutors Caner K and Muhammet Ö). Names of the arrested former judges: Fethi Ahmet Geçim and İbrahim Furkan Yürük.
It is learned that a person named M.Ö. detained during a passport control point in Ipsala border gate, was arrested by court on October 18, 2017.
It is learned that 21 of 63 former police officers discharged with Statuary Decrees, including 37 grade 1 Police Chiefs detained on October 14, 2017, were sent to court on October 21, 2017. 2 people were released following prosecution interrogation. 19 people were arrested. 42 people remain in detention.
(10/244) Trials of HDP MP’s…
On October 19, 2017 Gaziantep District Civil Court approved HDP Şırnak MP Ferhat Öncü’s penalty. Encü was sentenced to 4 years 7 months by Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 2 due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ and ‘objecting law for provincial administration’.
(10/245) Trial of Journalist…
The trial of journalist Mehmet Çakıcı opened by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 continued on October 18, 2017. Çakmakçı was accused with ‘membership of an illegal organization’. The indictment requested up to 15 years of jail sentence for Encü due to his lectures in BDP Politics Academy, and his attendance to various demonstrations, press briefings and funerals. Arrested defendant Mehmet Çakmakçı made his defense and declared that he attended BDP’s academy only as a journalist and followed all events listed in the indictment as a journalist. Following the defenses Çakmakçı was released and hearing was adjourned to a further date.
(10/246) Trials in Antalya…
The first hearing for the trials of 20 people including HDP party council member Ferhat Kaya, DBP Antalya District co-Chair Ebru Şahin and HDP Kepez disticrt co-chair Hanım Alpar started on October 18, 2017. The case was opened by Antalya Heavy Penal Court No 10 based on the allegations of ‘membership of an illegal organization’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. Following the defenses the court ruled for confidential victim Kaya to be heard, release of 14 defendants with judiciary control condition and adjourned the next hearing to December 14, 2017.
20 person were detained on March 15,2017 and 15 of them were arrested on March 15, 2017.
(10/247) Trials in Tekirdağ…
The trial of 8 HDP executives and members including HDP Çerkezköy District Co-Chair Tunçer Rençber continued on October 17, 2018. Defendants were accused of ‘membership of an illegal organization’. Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of 4 defendants (Nazmi Aktaş, Adil Taş, Özlem Sancak, Eser Han) and continuity of arrests for 4 defendants (Tuncer Reşber, Mustafa Yörüklü, Kadir Erkan, Muhammet Ek). The court adjourned the hearing of trial to January 25, 2018. Journalist Musa Anter murdered in Diyarbakır on September 20, 1992 is mentioned in the indictment, as a terrorist.
(10/248) People Arrested Without a Trial for 24 Months…
It is learned from news coverage of October 18, 2017 that a prisoner named Murat Padır (19) was arrested 2 years ago, and an indictment hasn’t been prepared about Padır ever since. Through the years, the prosecutor of Padır’s case changed 3 times.
(10/249) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final hearing for trials of former Naval Base Commander Admiral Namık Alper and former Askaz Commander Marine Commander took place on October 18, 2017. The case was opened by Muğla Heavy Penal Court No 2. Following the last defenses, the court sentenced both defendants to heavy life sentences due to ‘attempting to overthrow constitutional order’. The court lowered the sentence to life sentences.
The trial of Former Adana Vice Mayor Ahmet Beyoğlı continued on October 18, 2017. The case was opened by Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11. The court ordered arrest for Beyoğlu due to ByLock detected in his phone and adjourned the hearing to a further date.
(10/250) Curfew in Lice …
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on October 19, 2017 that in 7 villages and 11 hamlets of Lice, an open ended curfew will be implemented effective immediately after October 19, 2017 5.00 am. Villages and hamlets with curfew: Budak, Dallıca, Tepe, Türeli, Kabakaya, Kutlu, Oyuklu villages; Hevselbey, Kolbağı, Alataş, Kalkanlı, Bakanlar, Hacıcemil, Esenli, Çaylarbaşı, Göçer, Kerpiçören, Çanak hamlets.
(10/251) Curfew in Hazro…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on October 19, 2017 that in 1 village and 1 hamlet of Hazro, an open ended curfew will be implemented effective immediately after October 19, 2017 5.00 am. Villages and hamlets with curfew: Mutluca village and Şahgeldi hamlet.
(10/252) Curfew in Silvan…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on October 19, 2017 that in 3 villages and 4 hamlets of Silvan, an open ended curfew will be implemented effective immediately after October 19, 2017 5.00 am. Villages and hamlets with curfew: Çaldere, Dolaplıdere ve Dağçılar villages; Üçdirek, Ergeçiti, Kayabağı and Erkenciler hamlets.
(10/253) Curfew in Kulp…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on October 19, 2017 that in 5 villages and 6 hamlets of Kulp, an open ended curfew will be implemented effective immediately after October 19, 2017 5.00 am. Villages and hamlets with curfew: Çukurca, Demirli, Düzce, Bayıkköy and Taşköprü villages; Zümrütlü, Keçiveren, Yukarıpolat, Aşağıpolat, Mevik and Taşköprü hamlets.
[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.