Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 December 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/174) Person Abducted in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2023, that, on December 17, 2023, in the Beylikdüzü district of Istanbul, a person named Kerem İmrak was abducted by 3 people in civilian clothes after he was stopped for identification and was forced to get into a car and was told that there was a warrant for his arrest. İmrak was tortured in the car, forced to be a spy, was threatened to death, and his bag containing his personal belongings was seized, and then he was released in a forest area in the Başakşehir district of Istanbul.
Kerem İmrak made the following statement about the incident: “They forced me into a car. They took me to a forested area in Başakşehir. During this time, they told me, ‘Be a spy for us, we will give you as much money as you want. Otherwise, we will kill you. We won’t let you stay in Istanbul’. My left side was completely bruised. They tortured me for hours in the car. Then they transferred me to another team. Someone in that team said he was the chief. They took me to another forest area. They covered my head with my coat and continued to strangle and torture me. They continued with similar offers and death threats. Then they took my bag and belongings and left me in Başakşehir.”
(12/175) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2023, that a prisoner named Kamuran Hassan in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Closed Prison was subjected to physical violence from the correction officers and was put in a solitary cell because of demanding to move to the ward for political prisoners.
(12/176) Prevention of Right to Access to Health in Prison…
On December 19, 2023, it is learned from news coverage of December 19, 2023 that prisoners in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Closed Prison were prevented from access to health care when they rejected to be subjected to mouth search.
(12/177) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned that Hüseyin Karaoğlan, a prisoner kept in a solitary cell in Ankara Sincan High-Security Prison No 1, has been on hunger strike since September 11, 2023, against exile practices and isolation in prisons.
(12/178) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded to…
It has been reported that the appeal made on December 19, 2023, by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bursa, requesting a visit, has not received a response.
(12/179) Detained Person in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 19, 2023, that an investigation was initiated against Melisa Yaren Aydınalp, who marched in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul on December 10, 2023, with a banner saying “Freedom for boobs!”; and that Melisa Aydınalp was detained through the investigation and was released by the court on judicial control condition.
(12/180) The Ümraniye Massacre Case…
On December 18, 2023, Istanbul Anadolu Heavy Penal Court No. 2 held the final hearing of the retrial of the case on the killing of 5 people in the Ümraniye district of Istanbul between March 12 and 15, 1995, after the verdicts of the case were overturned by the Court of Cassation. The court acquitted the defendants.
(12/181) Police Officers on Trial in Izmir…
The trial of the case against police officers for the torture and ill-treatment of N.Z., who participated in a march in Izmir in 2015, started on December 19, 2023, at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 33 on the charge of ‘intentional injury’. The request of the complainant’s lawyer to send the file to the Heavy Penal Court on the grounds that the crime committed constitutes the crime of ‘torture’ was rejected by the court, and the hearing was adjourned to June 6, 2024.
(12/182) 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 December 19, 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 28, 2023.
(12/183) Musician on Trial…
The final hearing of the case against musician Pınar Aydınlar for the songs she sang at the 10th Munzur Culture and Nature Festival in 2010 and her speech about İbrahim Kaypakkaya, was held on December 20, 2023, at Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court No 17. The indictment demands Pınar Aydınlar be sentenced for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization.’ The court acquitted Pınar Aydınlar.
(12/184) Journalist on Trial…
The first trial of the case against ETHA editor Nadiye Gürbüz started on December 19, 2023, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25. The indictment demands a sentence for Nadiye Gürbüz on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The court decided to lift the judicial control condition on Gürbüz and adjourned the trial to February 27, 2024.
Nadiye Gürbüz was detained on April 30, 2023, arrested on May 3, 2023 and released on judicial control condition on October 12, 2023.
(12/185) Prevention of an Event at University…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 20, 2023, that Boğaziçi University Cinema Club (BÜSK) was prevented by the university administration from screening the film “Benim Çocuğum” (My Child), which tells the story of parents of LGBTI+ children, despite having obtained the necessary permissions.
(12/186) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
On December 20, 2023, 3 people were detained in Istanbul.
[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.