Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 – 22 February 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/277) Suspicious Death in Prison…
A 17-year-old child, Kadir Aktar, was arrested in relation to the incident in Bağcılar district of Istanbul where a police officer died on July 18, 2020; and he was released by the court at the trial held on February 16, 2021. Kadir Aktar is detained once again on February 18, 2021, through another investigation, and he is arrested by the court.
Kadir Aktar’s lawyer declared in his statements covered by the press that, Kadir Aktar was subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody: “He was wounded at the eye and eyebrow, one could easily tell that he was subjected to beats just by looking at him. Kadir himself told me that he was beaten.”
Kadir Aktar was taken to Istanbul Maltepe Juvenile Prison and lost his life on February 19, 2021. The prison administration asserted that he suicided however, the lawyer of the family states that “According to the preliminary autopsy at the Forensic Medicine Institution, it is confirmed that Kadir Aktar lost his life due to hanging but there are findings of internal bleeding in legs and arms (…) and that Kadir was subjected to beats at these body parts”.
(02/278) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that, in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2, the wards were not being heated enough, the water given to prisoners was limited and the posts sent to prisoners were not delivered.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that, Murat Aktaş, a prisoner who was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers in Edirne F Type Prison was subjected to disciplinary proceedings.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2021 that in Urfa T Type Prison, books belonging to prisoners were seized after ward searches.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2021 that, in Afyon T Type Prison No 1, the wards were over-capacity and were not heated enough, and the vegetables sold to prisoners at commissary were rotten.
(02/279) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2, prisoners were not taken to infirmary and their medications were given with a delay.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2021 that, Ekim Polat (23), an ill prisoner in Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison was not given his medication regularly, and was not treated at the hospital where he was referred. Ekim Polat states the following: “Since three months the medication for my heart disease is not in adequate amount, although I have stated that I am not referred to a hospital and I do not have medication. I am suffering from palpitation because I do not receive my regular medication. When they refer me to a hospital, the doctor does not treat me because they call me ‘a terrorist’.”
(02/280) People Subjected to Physical Violence of the Police in Ağrı…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2021 that, the special force police officers raided a house in Patnos district of Ağrı and 3 people in the house were subjected to physical violence of the police. It is reported that they were forced to wait on the snowy ground stepped on their backs with guns held to their heads, and 1 child among them was forced to wait lied down on the ground in balcony.
(02/281) Child Subjected to Police Violence in Batman…
It is learned that a child (name unknown) was subjected to physical violence of the police on street in Batman on February 21, 2021; and was detained by being handcuffed behind his back. The video footage showing the police twisting his arm, stepping on his back and handcuffing him behind his back is covered by media.
(02/282) Arrested City Council Member in Bitlis…
Ekrem Yalçın, city council member from Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Güroymak district of Bitlis has been detained on February 9, 2021 and was released on judicial control conditions on February 12, 2021. Ekrem Yalçın is detained once again upon the prosecutor’s objection on February 20, 2021 and is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(02/283) Detained People for Protests Against New Rector Appointment to Boğaziçi University…
On February 21, 2021, 2 people are detained in Istanbul, on the grounds of participating in the protests against new rector appointment to Boğaziçi University and of distributing the letter of Şilan Delipalta, who was arrested in these protests.
(02/284) Detained Poet in Istanbul…
Poet Çayan Okuduci who was detained in Istanbul on February 19, 2021, on the grounds of participating in a protest in Siirt in 2014, is released by the court on judicial control conditions on February 20, 2021.
(02/285) Detained People in Şırnak…
2 of 7 people (Gabar Vesek and Birhat Kılıcı) who were detained after the explosion in Cizre district of Şırnak on February 16, 2021, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on February 19, 2021. 5 people are released provided that 1 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(02/286) Detained People in Urfa…
10 people (Mehmet İdikuş, Mehmet Resul Demir, Serhat Kotluk, Kazım Birdal Tüfekçi, Kerem Gezer, Kenan Karataş, Semir Oral, Hıdır Yıldızhan, Diyar Saraç and 1 more person) who were detained through an Urfa based investigation on February 11, 2021 are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on February 19, 2021.
(02/287) Detained People in Istanbul…
11 people including 3 children (Ayhan Emekçi, Barış Koçar, Cesur Yılmaz, Erdoğan Özbey, Halil İbrahim Baçaru, Merve Yılmaz, Murat Metin and Ramazan Özdemir, İ. Ö., Y. G., A. S.) who were detained in Istanbul on February 13, 2021 are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on February 19, 2021. 15 people who were also detained are released provided that 4 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(02/288) HDP MP on Trial…
On February 19, 2021 the Court of Cassation approved 2 years and 6 months’ sentence given to HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for a social media post he shared.
Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was filed a suit for sharing the article of T24 news portal “KCK: Kurdish problem will be solved if AKP develops a resolution policy” on social media, and the case at Kocaeli Heavy Penal Court No 2 was not ceased after Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was elected as a parliamentary member on June 24, 2018.
(02/289) Former Co-Mayors on Trial in Hakkari…
The trial of the case against former Hakkari co-mayors Dilek Hatipoğlu and Nurullah Çiftçi, and 24 former members of city council, is held at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 19, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for 26 people on the charge of ‘misconduct in office’ on the grounds of ‘co-mayor system’.
It is learned that Dilek Hatipoğlu has bruises on her face, because of torture and ill-treatment that she was subjected to in Van T Type Prison when she was transferred there. Dilek Hatipoğlu demanded extra time due to her poor medical condition because of torture and ill-treatment and the court accepted her demand, adjourned the trial to February 25, 2021.
(02/290) Political Party Members and Executives on Trial in Antep…
The trial of the case against 90 people, including HDP and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) 17 of whom are arrested, is held at Antep Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 19, 2021.
After defence hearings the court released 6 people (Bahri Yarış, İsa Aslan, Mehmet Aşkar, Remziye Erdem, Hasan Saran and Tahir Altuğ), decided to continue detention of 11 people and adjourned the trial to April 16, 2021.
(02/291) Proceedings Against Parliamentary Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that, 9 proceedings demanding lift of impunity of 10 parliamentary members are submitted to Grand National Assembly.
Parliamentary members subjected to proceedings are:
- HDP Co-chair and Istanbul MP Pervin Buldan;
- HDP Group deputy and Siirt MP Meral Danış Beştaş;
- HDP Group deputy and Istanbul MP Hakkı Saruhan Oluç;
- HDP Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan;
- HDP Istanbul MP Hüda Kaya;
- HDP Van MP Sezai Temelli;
- HDP Mardin MP Pero Dündar;
- HDP Mersin MP Fatma Kurtalan;
- HDP Izmir MP Serpil Kemalbay Pekgözegü.
(02/292) Investigation Against Parliamentary Member…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2021 that, Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated against HDP Ağrı MP Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, after the Minister of Interior alleged that she has been to Gare area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
(02/293) Prohibition of HDP Posters in Batman…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2021 that the application regarding the posters of “Justice for All” campaign of HDP in Batman was refused by the governorate’s office. It is reported that the governorate’s office responded as following: “The posters are not considered as appropriate to hang since it would create negative perception of the judicial system in public, and could provoke the public, which then be provoked by marginal groups and result in illegal marches and demonstrations that could disrupt the peace and public order”.
(02/294) Ban of Events in Mardin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on February 20, 2021 and announced that open door and indoor meetings, demonstrations, press declarations, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, collecting petitions, distributing leaflets and so on are banned for 15 days as of February 21, 2021.
(02/295) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that 3 news reports about Berat Albayrak, former Minister of Treasury and Finance, published on https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr, https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr and http://www.diken.com.tr websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 4 on February 19, 2021.
It is learned that the news reports about the posters of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Youth organisation regarding Berat Albayrak, former Minister of Treasury and Finance, published on https://www.sozcu.com.tr, https://www.aykiri.com.tr, https://halktv.com.tr websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 4 on February 19, 2021.
It is learned that the news reports about declarations of CHP MP Faik Öztrak published on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr, https://tele1.com.tr websites and a social media post on the same issue are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No 4 on February 19, 2021.
(02/296) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 82 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 638 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 19, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 7,419.
The Ministry of Health declared that 80 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 635 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 20, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 7,857.
The Ministry of Health declared that 77 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 601 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 21, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 6,546.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 28,060 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,638,422 as of February 21, 2021.
It is learned that 2 health workers (environmental health technician Abdülaziz Aslan in Diyarbakır and Güven Eraslanlar in Tokat) lost their lives from Covid-19 on February 19, 2021.
It is learned that 2 health workers (doctor Aktan Kokuoğlu in Manisa and dentist Emrullah Maraş in Kayseri) lost their lives from Covid-19 on February 21, 2021.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that 35 prisoners in Afyon T Type Prison No 1 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.