Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
2 – 4 July 2022 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/018) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of National Defence announced that, 1 soldier (Serkan Taşçı) died in an attack during the Claw-Lock military operation in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on July 1, 2022.
Hakkari Governorate’s Office announced that 2 village guards (Kemal Alim and Hüseyin Sarı) died in an attack during the Claw-Lock military operation in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on July 2, 2022
It is learned from the news coverage of July 2, 2022 that, 2 militants died in clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and HPG militants in Qandil area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government in May, 2022.
The Ministry of National Defence announced that 1 soldier (Halis Keskin) died after falling into a creek during a military operation in Derecik district of Hakkari on July 3, 2022.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2022 that, 3 militants died in clashes between the Turkish Armed Forces and HPG militants in Zap area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on June 1, 2022.
(07/019) Refugee Child Died Security Fire in Van…
It is learned that a 4-year-old child, whose name could not be learned, died and 12 people were injured by the fire opened by soldiers on a vehicle carrying refugees, on the grounds of “disobeying stop warning” in Saray district of Van on July 3, 2022.
Van Governorate’s Office made the following statement: “On 3.07.2022 at around 16.00, the suspect vehicle, which was traveling from the direction of Saray District Koçbaşı-Turan neighbourhoods to the Karahisar neighbourhood, was tried to be stopped by the gendarmerie officers at the checkpoint at the entrance of the Karahisar neighbourhood. As the driver did not obey the stop warning and continued driving towards the gendarmerie personnel, the gendarmerie opened fire on the tires of the vehicle in order to stop it. The vehicle was stopped as the tires were blown. It was detected that the vehicle was used in migrant smuggling and that there were 40 irregular migrants in it. Unfortunately, one immigrant lost their life due to the bouncing bullets in the incident that took place, and 12 irregular immigrants were slightly injured (…) A judicial and administrative investigation has been initiated against the persons involved in the incident.”
(07/020) Racist Attack in Osmaniye…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 1, 2022 that, some of the 35 refugees who allegedly escaped from the Cevdetiye Temporary Shelter Center in Osmaniye, were attacked by racist groups and at least 3 refugees were injured.
(07/021) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
The camera footage of the torture and ill-treatment that the prisoner Şehmuz Emen was subjected to by the correction officers in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison on February 22, 2022, appeared in the press on July 2, 2022.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 3, 2022 that, the letters written by and sent to journalist Ömer Çelik in Diyarbakır D Type Prison, were confiscated on the grounds of being inconvenient.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2022 that, the prisoner in Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison were forced to stand up during roll-calls.
(07/022) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration regarding Sibel Balaç and Gökhan Yıldırım who are on hunger strike in prison, held at the Galatasaray Square in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on July 1, 2022 and detained 2 people (Erkan Yıldırım and Feridun Osmanağaoğlu). Detained people are released on the same day.
(07/023) 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) in Ankara on July 1, 2022 and forced people away from the building by using physical violence.
(07/024) Police Intervention to Pride March in Eskişehir…
The police intervened the people gathering to participate in the Pride March on July 3, 2022 in Eskişehir and detained 12 people including 1 child. Detained people are released on the same day.
(07/025) Detained People at the HDP Congress…
It is learned that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation on the grounds of the slogans chanted at the 5th Congress of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress held in Ankara on July 3, 2022; and that 4 people were detained through the investigation.
HDP’s Urfa provincial executive Ömer Altın is detained through the same investigation at the city entrance as he was back from the congress, on July 4, 2022. It is learned that Ömer Altın will be taken to Ankara.
(07/026) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist and the Confederation of Progressive Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Press, Broadcast and Printing Press Workers Union of Turkey (Basın-İş) executive board member Ali Ergin Demirhan, on the grounds of insulting the President on social media, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 55 on July 4, 2022. The court acquitted Ali Ergin Demirhan.
(07/027) Boğaziçi University Students on Trial…
The trial of the case against 52 people, on the grounds of ‘deprivation of liberty’ and ‘violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations’ for they have participated in the protests against the new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University by the President, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 49 on July 4, 2022. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to December 12, 2022.
(07/028) 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 July 1, 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’.
The court rejected intervention demands of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations Environment and Urban Commission, Sinop Anti-Nuclear Platform Association, the Chamber of Environmental Engineers, İkizdere Environment Association, Hemşin Life Association, Ordu Environment Association, the Education and Science Employees’ Union Trabzon Branch and Yeşil Artvin Association. After defendant statements the court adjourned the trial to September 30, 2022.
(07/029) Dargeçit JİTEM Case…
The final trial of the case against 18 people, for forced disappearance of 8 people including 3 children who were detained in Dargeçit district of Mardin between October 29, 2015 and March 8, 1996; and of special sergeant Bilal Batır, who was alleged to inform families of those disappeared forcefully, is held on Adıyaman Heavy Penal Court No 1 on the charge of ‘intentional killing’ on July 4, 2022. The court acquitted all defendants on the grounds of “lack of evidence”.
(07/030) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the Etkin News Agency’s website https://www.etha42.com is banned to access on the grounds of “protection of national security and public order” by Diyarbakır Penal Court of Peace No 3 on July 1, 2022.
(07/031) Discriminatory Decision Regarding Refugees and Citizens of Other Countries…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 1, 2022, that 781 neighbourhoods across Turkey were banned from foreign residences by the Ministry of Interior.
The Directorate of Migration Management made the following statement on the subject: “Considering the density of foreigners in various regions of our country, 781 neighbourhoods in certain provinces were previously granted temporary protection registration, international protection registration, residence permit, temporary protection or international protection, except for new-born and nuclear family reunification. The process of changing the province of residence of foreigners within the scope of residence permit is closed. As of July 1, 2022, the number of closed neighbourhoods has been increased to 1169, and the closed neighbourhoods are listed in the appendix.”
(07/032) Curfew in Tatvan…
Bitlis Governorate’s Office made a declaration on July 3, 2022 and announced curfew in 3 villages of Tatvan district as of 12.00 on July 3, 2022 until a further notice.
The villages under curfew are: Sallıca, Özerkli, Teknecik.
(07/033) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on July 2, 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 July 3, 2022.
[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.