Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
2-3 November 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/012) Person Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment by the Police in İstanbul…
It is learned that on November 2, 2023, Pınar Birkoç was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by the police during a house raid in Istanbul.
(11/013) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 2, 2023 that, Selami Üstündağ, a prisoner in Erzincan T Type Prison was subjected to physical violence for rejecting strip search and then was transferred to Samsun Kavaklı S Type Prison.
(11/014) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on November 2, 2023 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
It is learned that the appeals made in November 2023 to the 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 were not responded.
(11/015) Police Intervention to the Protest in İstanbul…
On November 1, 2023, the police intervened in the protest “Peoples resist from Palestine to Rojava” in the Sultangazi district of Istanbul and detained 17 people. Detained people were released after statement procedures at the police on November 2, 2023.
(11/016) Former Member of Parliament Arrested in Istanbul…
Former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul MP Hüda Kaya was detained on November 1, 2023 at Istanbul Airport through an Ankara-based investigation. Hüda Kaya was arrested by the court on the same day.
(11/017) Detained Journalist…
On November 1, 2023, T24 writer Tolga Şardan, who was detained on charges of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ in his article titled “What’s in the judicial report submitted by MİT to the Presidency?”, was arrested by the court on the same day.
(11/018) Detained Journalist…
Halk TV reporter Dinçer Gökçe was detained on November 1, 2023, on the allegations of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ in his news article titled “Release decision for Turhan Döner and Emirhan Döner, who are accused of being gang leaders”. Dinçer Gökçe was released by the court on the same day on judicial control condition.
(11/019) Detained Journalist in Balıkesir…
Journalist Cengiz Erdinç was detained on November 2, 2023, in the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir on the allegation of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’. Cengiz Erdinç was released by the court on November 3, 2023 on judicial control condition.
(11/020) Writer Detained in Edirne…
Writer Dilşa Kocakaya was arrested on November 1, 2023, in Edirne after the Court of Cassation confirmed a 1 year and 3 months’ imprisonment sentence for “making propaganda for an illegal organization” based on an article she had written.
(11/021) Association Executive and Others Detained in İstanbul…
People’s Law Office announced that 6 people, including Özgür Karakoç, Chair of Esenyurt Dersim People’s Association, were detained in Istanbul on November 2, 2023. The names of the detained people are: Özgür Karakoç, Hasan Karapınar, Sadegül Çavuş Çiftçi, Dilber Özdemir, Pınar Birkaç, Erkan Yıldırım.
(11/022) Person Detained in Kocaeli over Social Media Posts…
On November 1, 2023, in the İzmit district of Kocaeli, a person named O. M. said, “The Caliphate must come back. The superstitious system, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary, has no meaning or value to me. I reject all systems and leaders who speak above the word of Allah.” He was detained on the allegation of ‘inciting hatred and hostility in public’ in his social media post and was released by the court on the same day on judicial control conditions.
(11/023) Person Arrested in Kocaeli…
On November 2, 2023, it was reported in the news that an individual named M. Ö., who had been initially detained and later released with judicial control conditions for remarks made during a speech at an event in Körfez district of Kocaeli, stated, “With the Republic, decisions were made to execute Islamic scholars. Caliphates were abolished, and religious schools and lodges were closed. Alphabets were changed. Knowledgeable Muslims became ignorant (…) The men they love are not worthy of love. Mothers, educate your children,” was re-detained following the prosecution’s objection. M. Ö. was subsequently arrested on charges of ‘inciting hatred and hostility in public’ and ‘insult to Atatürk.’ It was also reported that an administrative investigation was initiated against M. Ö., who serves as an imam in a mosque.
(11/024) Newspaper Workers on Trial in Istanbul…
The retrial of the case involving İhsan Yaşar, İshak Yasul, Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Mizgin Fendik, Pınar Tarlak, Reyhan Hacıoğlu, and Hicran Urun, employees of the Özgürlükçü Demokrasi newspaper, which was closed down with a state of emergency decree, continued on November 1, 2023, at the Istanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court. The indictment demands sentences for 6 people on the charges of ‘being an illegal organization member’, publishing documents of an illegal organisation’, ‘inciting hatred and hostility in public’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’, ‘praising offense and offender’. The court adjourned the trial to February 12, 2024.
(11/025) Journalist on Trial in İzmir…
The trial of the case against Jinnews reporter Nazlıcan Yıldız continued on November 2, 2023, at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 21. The indictment demands a sentence for Nazlıcan Yıldız on the charge of ‘being an illegal organization member.’ The court decided to lift the judicial control conditions on Nazlıcan Yıldız and adjourned the trial to December 7, 2023.
Nazlıcan Yıldız was detained on February 6, 2023, arrested by the court on February 7, 2023, and released at the first hearing of the case on April 11, 2023.
(11/026) Journalist on Trial in Ağrı…
The trial of the case against Abdullah Kaya, reporter of Dicle News Agency, which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, continued on November 2, 2023, at Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2. The indictment demands a sentence for Abdullah Kaya on the charges of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organization without being a member of it’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization.’ The court adjourned the trial to December 19, 2023.
(11/027) Investigation Against Journalist in Istanbul…
It is learned that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Bianet editor Evrim Kepenek for her social media posts on the Maraş earthquake on the grounds of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ and ‘inciting hatred and hostility in the public’ and that Evrim Kepenek gave her statement to Press Crimes Prosecutor’s Office on November 3, 2023.
(11/028) Investigation Against Journalists in Ankara…
It is learned from news coverage of November 2, 2023, that Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Uğur Koç, editorial coordinator of BirGün newspaper’s website, Uğur Şahin, news director of BirGün newspaper, and reporter İsmail Arı, on the grounds of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ and ‘degrading’ in the news reports.
(11/029) Political Party Executive and Human Rights Defenders on Trial in Van…
The final hearing of the trial, which involves 9 individuals, including former Human Rights Association (İHD) Van Branch President Ömer Işık and former MAZLUM-DER executive Yakup Aslan, was held on November 2, 2023, at the Van 2nd High Criminal Court. The case was opened in connection with the establishment of a monitoring committee composed of representatives from civil society organizations, including Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Silvan District Co-Chair Behice Abi, İHD Van Branch former president Ömer Işık, Salih İpek, Harun Okay, Yılmaz Berki, Atilla Kumli, Yakup Aslan, Evin Keskin, and Abdulkerim Bayıt, in response to İHD’s call for the peace process in 2013. The court sentenced 6 people (Behice Abi, Evin Keskin, Ömer Işık, Salih İpek, Yakup Aslan, and Yılmaz Berki) to 6 years and 3 months and 3 people (Abdulkerim Durmaz, Harun Okay, and Atilla Kumli) to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organization member’.
9 people were detained on June 3, 2022, arrested by the court on June 6, 2022, and released at the first hearing of the case on September 20, 2023.
(11/030) People on Trial in İstanbul…
The trial of the case against 70 people who were detained during the police intervention against the Pride March at Boğaziçi University on May 20, 2022 continued on November 2, 2023, at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 58. The indictment demands a sentence for the defendants on the charges of ‘resistance to the police’vand ‘violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’. Following the defences, the court adjourned the trial to February 23, 2024.
(11/031) Hrant Dink Trial…
The trial of 15 individuals, including the instigators of the murder Yasin Hayal and former police chiefs Ramazan Akyürek and Ali Fuat Yılmazer, in connection with the killing of Hrant Dink, the founder and editor-in-chief of Agos newspaper, continued on November 1, 2023, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14. The indictment demands a sentence for the defendants on the charges of ‘attempting to overthrow the constitutional order,’ ‘being an illegal organization member,’ and ‘intentional killing.’ The court accepted the President’s request to attend the trial and adjourned the hearing to January 10, 2024.
(11/032) The Vartinis Massacre Trial…
The retrial of the case involving former gendarmerie lieutenant Bülent Karaoğlu, who was the Hasköy Gendarmerie Commander lieutenant in Hasköy during the period when 9 members of the Öğüt family died in a house fire in the Altınova (Vartinis) town of Korkut District, Muş, on May 17, 1993, due to soldiers setting their home on fire, resumed on November 1, 2023, at the Kırıkkale 1st Heavy Penal Court, following the reversal of the acquittal verdict by the Court of Cassation. The court adjourned the hearing to December 4, 2023.
In the final hearing of the case held on March 1, 2016, the court acquitted all 4 defendants. On January 26, 2023, the Penal Department No. 1 of the Court of Cassation upheld the acquittal verdicts for 3 defendants and reversed the verdict for 1 defendant.
(11/033) Police Officer on Trial in Elazığ…
The trial of the case against police officer Ö. F. T., about journalist Ardıl Batmaz being subjected to physical violence while he was following news reports in Elazığ, continued on November 2, 2023, at Elazığ Penal Court of First Instance No 5. The indictment demands a sentence for the defendant police officer on the charge of injury.’ After the defendant police officer’s defence, the court adjourned the trial to February 23, 2024.
(11/034) Cultural Center Raided by the Police in Istanbul
Idil Cultural Center in the Okmeydanı, Istanbul was raided by the police on November 1, 2023. It was learned that 9 people, including Grup Yorum members, were detained during the raid. Names of detainees are: Rezzan Şengül, Fırat Kaya, Rıdvan Akbaş, Vedat Doğan, Hakan İnci, Eser Çelik, Barış Yüksel, Seher Adıgüzel, Sevcan Akdoğan.
(11/035) Provinces Where Protests and Demonstrations are Banned…
The Governorate of Van made a declaration on November 3, 2023, and announced that all events such as press declarations, sit-ins, polls, opening/setting up tents and stands, organizing petitions, distributing leaflets, brochures, and flyers, and all kinds of protest actions and similar activities are banned for 2 days as of November 4, 2023.
(11/036) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that a total of 161 news articles and contents related to the reports on bribery allegations in the judiciary were ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by the Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 3 on November 1, 2023.
It is learned that news reports on https://www.yenicaggazetesi.com.tr, https://www.superhaber.com, and https://www.hurriyet.com.tr websites regarding a father’s social media posts about his daughter are banned from access by Balıkesir Penal Court of Peace No 2 on November 2, 2023, on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
It is learned that coverage on https://www.diken.com.tr, https://www.evrensel.net, and https://artigercek.com websites about the access ban on news reports on an Ezidi child under state protection were banned from access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 10 on November 2, 2023, and the content was ordered to be deleted.
It is learned that arrested journalist Tolga Şardan’s article titled “What’s in the “Judiciary Report” submitted by MIT to the Presidency?” on https://t24.com.tr website was banned to access by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 1 on November 2, 2023 on the grounds of violation of personal rights and the content was ordered to be deleted.
[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.