Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/268) Allegation of Forced Disappearance in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that, Yasin Ugan (43) and Özgür Kaya (41), were detained and kidnapped by a group of 40 people with automatic weapons who claim themselves as undercover police and raid the house of these two people in 1847 street in Çamlık neighbourhood of Altındağ district of Ankara on February 13, 2019.
It is learned that there was no news received from Yasin Ugan and Özgür Kaya, whose heads were covered by black nylon bags and who were taken into a white van since then, and that Ankara Security Directorate provided no information to these two people’s relatives applying to them.
It is also reported that People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu called Ankara Security Directorate and was responded as “we will investigate and get back to you” however, no information was given to him either.
Selda Ugan, spouse of Yasin Ugan, stated the following in the news reports: “My husband Yasin Ugan was kidnapped by a group claiming to be ‘undercover police’ on February 13, 2019, Friday. This happened in front of all neighbours. We have asked to Ankara Security Directorate and its units several times since then. We could not get any information about how he is or where he is. We have no information now.”
It is claimed in the news reports that Yasin Ugan and Özgür Kaya were taken to the place of National Intelligence Organisation, where Ayten Öztürk was tortured for 6 months after being taken from Lebanon to Turkey.
(02/269) Person Who Was Subjected to Sexual Assault of Police Officer During an Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
Merve Demirel, who was subjected to sexual assault of a police officer during intervention to the press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on February 16, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons, made an official complaint to Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office on February 19, 2019.
(02/270) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that, 16 prisoners who were transferred from Tarsus Campus Prison to Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 2 were subjected to physical violence of the wardens because they reject to strip search at the entrance of the prison. The names of prisoners are: Hüseyin Erpolat, Fırat Turğay, Mehmet Ali Alan, Mehmet Şerif Dayan, Emanet Eneç (92 per cent disability), Roşhat Dilkiç (40 per cent disability), Azat Taş (40 per cent disability), Çağdaş Doğan (80 per cent disability), Vahdettin Çoban, İbrahim Halil Olçar, Ferit Çalan, Fehim İşbilir, Şiyar Say, Zeki Yıldırım, Kerem Er, Kamuran Altin.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that prisoners on hunger strike in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1 were not given salt and were not medically checked regularly.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that, a bilingual (Turkish and Kurdish) book sent to journalist Mehmet Güleş, who is kept in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, was not given to him.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that, a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against 12 prisoners in Kars Prison No 1, for building a snowman with victory sign in the outdoor of the prison. It is reported that Prison Disciplinary Committee penalised the prisoners with 1-day solitary cell confinement.
(02/271) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 19, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 791st time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(02/272) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 833 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 19, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 19, 2019, 3 people (Mahmut Konuk, Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 5 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Merve Demirel, Deniz Yılmaz, Mehmet Dersulu and Umutcan Aybak) were detained.
It is reported that Mehmet Dersulu was injured at hand during the intervention to the press declaration at 13.30.
Thus in total 8 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 19, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/273) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on February 19, 2019, and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 88th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(02/274) Arrested HDP Co-Chair in Şırnak…
People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak co-chair Ayşe Altay, who was detained on February 19, 2019, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on the same day.
(02/275) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 3 academicians (Research Assistant Sinem Seçer Sipahi from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Professor M.S. from Abant İzzet Baysal University and Research Assistant S.A. from Yalova University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 27 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on February 19, 2019. The court adjourned all trials to March 25, 2019. It is learned that the chief judge asked to S.A. “What do you think about PKK?” and that S.A. did not respond the question on the grounds that it is against the constitution to ask so.
(02/276) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against İsmail Cem Şimşek, former editor in chief of Evrensel newspaper, for the news reports “Torture allegations in Tarsus” (published on August 3, 2017), and “Tension on the rise at Tarsus Prison” (published on August 9, 2017), started to be held on Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on February 19, 2019. The court decided to acquit İsmail Cem Şimşek, on the grounds of lack of criminal elements.
(02/277) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Çağrı Sarı, former editor in chief of Evrensel newspaper, for the news reports on “Paradise Papers”, is held on Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on February 19, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 19, 2019.
(02/278) Journalist and Executives of ESP and SGDF on Trial…
The case against 9 people including Ali Sönmez Kayar, Etkin News Agency reporter; Sıtkı Güngör, central executive board member of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP); Narin Duru, member of The Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK); and Ali Deniz Esen, central executive board member of The Confederation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF), on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held on February 19, 2019. The court decided to continue the ban on leaving the country for 9 people and adjourned the trial to May 28, 2019.
Sıtkı Güngör, Ali Deniz Esen, Narin Duru, Eren Bulut and Ali Sönmez Kayar were detained on February 1, 2018 in Istanbul and were arrested on February 6, 2018. These 5 people were released on judicial control conditions on October 31, 2018.
(02/279) Journalist on Trial in Antep…
The case against journalist Murat Güreş, for his news reports on business person A.S.E.’s statements, is held on Antep Penal Court of First Instance No 9 on February 19, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to June 20, 2019.
(02/280) Investigation Against HDP Co-Chair…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2019 that, Van Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated two investigations against HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli, for his speech at a public event of HDP Van provincial organisation on December 19, 2018.
(02/281) Actress on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against actress Berna Laçin, on the grounds of ‘publicly degrading the religious values of a section of the public’, on a social media post, is held on Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 59 is held on February 19, 2019. The court acquitted Berna Laçin.
(02/282) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 19, 2019, 154 people including military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 42 cities through an Izmir based investigation; 30 people including military members on active duty are detained in Ankara through an investigation against Gendarmerie Command personnel; and 30 people in Ankara are detained.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.