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20 June 2019 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

20 June Daily Human Rights Report

(06/133) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…

It is claimed in the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that, 2 of 8 people who were declared as casualties of an air bombardment during the military operation against rural area between Dargeçit district of Mardin and İdil district of Şırnak on June 16, 2019; are civilian people. It is stated in the news reports that these 2 people are Abdulsamet Akgül and Ramazan Toksoy from Bostanlı neighbourhood of Dargeçit district.

(06/134) Extrajudicial Killing in Erzurum…

It is learned that Savcı Küçük, city council member of Erzurum’s Karayazı district who was elected as Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidate, and his nephew Ahmet Küçük were found dead in an area between Turnagöl and Anıtlı neighbourhoods. It is stated that 2 people were shot at head. The bodies are taken to Erzurum Forensic Medicine Institution for autopsy.

(06/135) People Who Were Subjected to Police Violence in Adana…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that, a person named Reber Kılıç was subjected to physical and verbal violence of the police during a house raid in Adana. It is reported that family members who objected the violence were also subjected to physical violence of the police.

It is learned that neighbours of Kılıç family also reacted against police violence and the police fired gun into the air and committed physical violence against neighbours as well.

It is stated in the news Yıldırım Şahin, who was hit by the police with a gunstock had a heart attack and was taken to Adana City Hospital.

Suphi Kılıç stated the following: “My son Reber and his brother were at home. The police beat both of them. We heard it and went home. They pulled guns against everybody including women and children. Our neighbours saw what happened, and it could be seen in video recordings too. Those who were beaten went to hospital to get medical reports to evidence it”.

(06/136) Person Who Was Threatened in Ankara…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that Betül Koca, a member of People’s Democratic Party (HDP), was threatened over the phone and social media by unknown people who claim to be National Intelligence Service (MIT) and police officers. Betül Koca made a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch Office on June 19, 2019 and stated that, at the last time, unknown people who claim to be MIT personnel threatened her in front of her house. It is stated in the declaration that, Betül Koca was forced to end her political activity and was threatened as ‘we will make you disappear, we will get into your house and nobody would know it’.

(06/137) Books Not Given to Prisoners…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that, Diyarbakır D Type Prison administration decided not to allow in prison 14 books which were sent to prisoners, although there is no ban on those books. The 14 books that are not allowed in are (Titles are given in English although books are published in Turkish): Alaeddin Şenel – History of Political Thought; Frantz Fanon – Black Skin White Masks; Fatmagül Berktay – Loving the World in Today; M. Siraç Bilgin – Aryan Mythology/ Yazatas and Homa; Radi Fiş – I am Bedreddin in My Own Way; Michel Foucault – Birth of the Prison; Günter Grass – Crabwalk; Andre Gunder – The World System; Micheal Hardt, Antonio Negri – Empire; Aleksandr A. Bek – Volokolamsk Highway; Yang Yiyen – Red Crag; Jared Diamond – Guns, Germs and Steel; Nikolay Çukovski – Those Who Don’t Surrender Don’t Die; Nikolay Ostrovski – How the Steel was Tempered.

(06/138) University Students Who Were Attacked in Ankara…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that a group of Ankara University Faculty of Languages, History and Geography were attacked by another group while they were leaving the campus and that 1 student who was injured was taken to hospital.

(06/139) 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 953 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on June 19, 2019 at 13.30, and at 18.00.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on June 19, 2019, 2 people (Merve Demirel and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Gülnaz Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) were detained.

Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on June 19, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

(06/140) Prevention of Event in Muğla…

It is learned that the press declaration for Hasankeyf ancient towns which are in danger of being under water due to a dam construction, organized by People’s Democratic Congress (HDK) Ecology Assembly, Muğla Environmental Platform (MUÇEP), Bodrum Ecology Platform, Education and Science Workers’ Union Bodrum Branch, Bodrum Women’s Solidarity, Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), Labour Party (EMEP) and People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Bodrum district of Muğla on June 19, 2019, was banned by the police on the grounds of Bodrum’s being very crowded.

(06/141) Detained DBP Executive in Erzurum…

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) executive board member Rasim Çelik is detained on a road check in Karayazı district of Erzurum on June 19, 2019. The reason of detention is unknown.

(06/142) Detained 78’ Generation Association Diyarbakır Branch Chair…

78’ Generation Association Diyarbakır Branch Chair Gani Alkan is detained in a house raid in Diyarbakır on June 19, 2019. It is learned that Gani Alkan is taken to Ankara for investigation.

(06/143) Detained DBP and HDP Members and Executives in Izmir…

On June 19, 2019, 12 people including DBP Menemen district co-chair Tayfur Bahşi and HDP provincial executive Abizer Yılmaz are detained in house raids in Menemen and Aliağa districts of Izmir.

(06/144) Detained HDP Members and Executives in Mersin…

On June 19, 2019, 3 district executives (İsa Ket, Şerafettin Ket and Hasan Aslan) of HDP in Erdemli district of Mersin are detained in house raids. The reason of detention is unknown.

(06/145) Detained Journalists and Other People in Istanbul…

14 people including editors and reporters who were detained in the raid to Etkin News Agency in Istanbul on June 15, 2019 and in house raids in Istanbul on June 15, and 16, 2019 are released by the court on judicial control conditions on June 19, 2019. Etkin News Agency was raided by the police on the grounds of an investigation against “Istanbul Sokakta” supplement of Atılım newspaper. The names of released detainees are: editors İsminaz Temel, Deniz Bakır and Serdal Işık, reporters Havva Cuştan and Ozan Sarı, agency employee and Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch executive board member Mehmet Acettin and Socialist Women’s Assemblies member Gülçin Aykul, ESP deputy chair Şahin Tümüklü, ESP Party Assembly member Hüseyin İldan, ESP and SKM executive board member Ezgi Bahçeci, SGDF executive board member Şükran Yaren Tuncer, SKM assembly member Zeynep Güler Gerçek, ÖGK members İlknur Çetin and Özge Doğan.

(06/146) Detained Magazine Employees in Istanbul…

4 people (Ali Aracı, Merve Kurt, Ümit Çimen and Yılmaz Viraner) who were detained in police raid to Yürüyüş magazine in Istanbul on June 14, 2019 are arrested by the court on June 19, 2019.

(06/147) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The case against 3 academicians Professor Zelal Ekinci from Kocaeli University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on June 19, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to November 7, 2019.

The case against Research Assistant Hazal Halavut from Boğaziçi University for the same reason is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32 on June 19, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to November 12, 2019.

(06/148) Police Officers on Trial for Two Children’s Death by a Police Armoured Car in Silopi…

Muhammed Yıldırım (7) and Furkan Yıldırım (6) have died in Silopi district of Şırnak, when a police panzer hit their house and demolish the walls on May 3, 2017. The final trial of the case against Ömer Yeğit who was driving the police panzer and police chief Murat Maden who assigned him as driver on Cizre Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on June 20, 2019.

The court acquitted Murat Maden, and sentenced Ömer Yeğit to 2 years and 1 month for ‘causing death of more than one person on reckless act’. The court converted the jail sentence to a fine of 19.000 Turkish Liras.

(06/149) Berkin Elvan Case…

The case of Berkin Elvan’s death on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 17 is held on June 19, 2019. Berkin Elvan was wounded due to a gas canister fired by the police on June 16, 2013, during Gezi Park protests in Okmeydanı neighbourhood of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district; and died in hospital on March 11, 2014.

The court decided to demand an expert report once again to see whether the defendant police officer acted against instructions and have any fault, and adjourned the trial to September 25, 2019.

(06/150) Mazlum Turan Case…

The final trial of the case against police officer Süleyman Esenboğa, for death of Mazlum Turan (16) was held on January 18, 2019. Mazlum Turan died due to the fire opened to his car, by special operations force applying road check in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on August 29, 2015, after an attack against police shuttle. It was claimed that Mazlum Turan disobeyed the stop warning for not having driving licence. Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2 has reversed the verdict of Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 on April 27, 2019.

The retrial of Süleyman Esenboğa started on June 19, 2019. The court rejected the demand for arrest of Süleyman Esenboğa and adjourned the trial to September 18, 2019.

(06/151) The Constitutional Court’s Decision on the Appeal of Women Who Lost Her Baby Due to Police Intervention…

The Constitutional Court declared its decision on the appeal of Ezgi Özen on June 19, 2019. Ezgi Özen has appealed the court after she lost her baby due to being hit by the police intervening a protest in Istanbul Dolmabahçe on December 4, 2010. The Constitutional Court decided that ban on ill-treatment has been violated formally because of lack of complete effective investigation. The court has stated the following: “It could not be said that a complete and effective investigation was not conducted considering the facts that the public prosecutor’s office did not look for witness reports in order to reveal the conditions that the incident occurred; the decision does not involve any detection or evaluation derived from the expert report on video footage of the incident; and more importantly the contradiction of health reports which are in key role in this incident”.

The court decided to send the verdict to Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office in order to eliminate these deficits.

The court also decided that the right to assembly and demonstrate was violated and thus a fine of 17.750 Turkish Liras should be paid to Ezgi Özen as immaterial damages.

(06/152) Official Complaint on Torture Allegation in Diyarbakır…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that, Yasin Aktay and Ahmet Aktay made an official complaint to Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office about torture and ill-treatment they were subjected to while being detained and at the police station afterwards on June 14, 2019 in Eğil district of Diyarbakır. The complaint demands sentence for the police officers on the charges of ‘intentional injury’, ‘torture and ill-treatment’, ‘torment’, ‘insulting’ and ‘misconduct’.

(06/153) Former Co-Chair of HDP on Trial…

The case against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of HDP, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 19, is held on June 18-19, 2019. The indictment demands jail penalty for Selahattin Demirtaş on the charges of ‘establishing and leading an illegal organisation’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, and ‘praising an offence and offender’.

The court decided to continue detention for Selahattin Demirtaş and adjourned the trial to July 16-17, 2019. It is learned that 1 member of the court board objected the decision of continuing detention against 2 members.

(06/154) Former Co-Chair of HDP on Trial…

The case against Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-chair of HDP, on Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 9 is held on June 19, 2019. The indictment demands jail sentence up to 4 years for Figen Yüksekdağ on the charges of ‘degrading the government’ and ‘praising a crime and criminal’ for her words in a TV show in 2016.

Figen Yüksekdağ joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court decided to send the case to Ankara in order to consolidate with the case on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16.

(06/155) Co-Mayor on Trial…

The case against Sara Kaya from Democratic Regions Party (DBP), co-mayor of Nusaybin district of Mardin, is held on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on June 19, 2019. Sara Kaya joined the trial via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Sara Kaya and adjourned the trial to September 11, 2019.

Sara Kaya was detained on January 13, 2017 and was arrested by the court on January 26, 2017. The Ministry of Interior appointed a trustee to Nusaybin Municipality on September 11, 2016.

(06/156) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against 22 people, on the charge of ‘resisting the police’, during the police raid to Gündem newspaper on August 16, 2016, is held on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 5 on June 19, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to November 5, 2019.

(06/157) Person on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’ in Izmir…

The final trial of the case against documentarist Kazım Kızıl, on the charges of ‘insulting the President’ and ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’ is held on Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 33 on June 19, 2019. Kazım Kızıl was detained during a protest after constitutional referendum on April 16, 2017. The court acquitted Kazım Kızıl on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’ and sentenced to 1 year 3 months and 16 days on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ and did not suspend the verdict.

(06/158) Investigation Against a Publisher for Social Media Posts…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that, an investigation was initiated against Abdullah Keskin, editor and grant holder of Avesta Publishing House, for the social media posts on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. It is learned that Abdullah Keskin gave his official statement to Diyarbakır Security Directorate.

(06/159) Ban of Event in Istanbul…

It is learned from the news coverage of June 19, 2019 that the visit of IYI Party chair Meral Akşener to a red crescent booth in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul is banned by Istanbul Governorate.

(06/160) “The Report on Allegations of Illegal Detentions by Public Officials after 2016”…

The Rights Initiative declared “The Report on Allegations of Illegal Detentions by Public Officials after 2016” on June 19, 2019. According to the report, 22 people (Sunay Elmas, Ayhan Oran, Mustafa Özgür Gültekin, Durmuş Ali Çetin, Hüseyin Kötüce, Mesut Geçer, Turgut Çapan, Önder Asan, Cengiz Usta, Mustafa Özben, Fatih Kılıç, Cemil Koçak, Murat Okumuş, Enver Kılıç, Hıdır Çelik, Zabit Kişi, Ümit Horzum, Ayten Öztürk, Orcun Şenyücel, Hasan Kala, Fahri Mert, Ahmet Ertürk) were illegally detained as of 2016 to February 2019. The report includes detailed expositions on the torture Mustafa Özgür Gültekin, Zabit Kişi and Ayten Öztürk were subjected to under illegal detention. It is stated in the report that 6 people Yasin Ugan, Özgür Kaya, Mustafa Yılmaz, Salim Zeybek, Erkan Irmak, Gökhan Türkmen) were illegally detained in February 2019.

[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, 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.