Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
20 March 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/171) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that 1 soldier (Hulusi Elçi) died, and 4 soldiers got wounded in a clash between the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and HPG militants in the Zap region of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) on March 19, 2024.
(03/172) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that Ardıl Çeşme, Hacire Çay, Saime Karakuş, Mizgin Özatiz, Ziynet Sağlam and Nurcan Aslan, prisoners in Tarsus T Type Prison No. 1, were transferred to Erzincan Women’s Prison without their will, and their families were not informed about the transfers.
(03/173) Interventions against Newroz Events…
Among the 36 people detained in the interventions against the Newroz event held in Izmir’s Gündoğdu Square, 6 were arrested on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ on March 19, 2024; and 30 of them were released on judicial control condition by the Criminal Peace Judgeship they were referred to. The names of the arrested people are Mizgin Dağ, Mazlum Sert, Serhat Sarı, Abdulmenav Karadaş, Muhammet Mert, Uğur Elban.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that 6 people were detained in the interventions against the Newroz event in Batman’s Hilal Neighborhood Municipality Fair. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
(03/174) Former Co-Mayor Detained in Mardin…
Sevinç Bozan, Former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Mayor of the Artuklu district of Mardin, was detained after going to the Mardin Courthouse to give her statement in an investigation about her activities under Tevgera Jinen Azad (TJA) on March 19, 2024. It is learned that Sevinç Bozan was taken to Mardin Gendarmerie Command.
(03/175) Journalist Detained in Ankara…
Atilla Aşut, a columnist for BirGün newspaper, was detained in Ankara on March 20, 2024, on charges of financing an illegal organization,’ allegedly for sending money to a prisoner. The journalist was released the same day after statement procedures at the police station.
(03/176) People Detained…
The Ministry of Interior announced on March 20, 2024, that a total of 139 people were detained in the house raids conducted in 15 cities, on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘preparing for actions before and during Newroz celebrations’.
(03/177) People Detained in Izmir and Istanbul…
18 people were detained in the operations and house raids conducted in 8 cities as part of an investigation by the Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office on March 20, 2024, on the grounds of ‘financing an illegal organization’. 5 of the detainees were released the same day after statement procedures, while the procedures for the others are still ongoing. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
(03/178) People Detained in Mersin…
On March 19, 2024, nine individuals, including Ergin Altuntaş, Co-Chair of the Çukurova Solidarity Association for Detainees and Convicts’ Families (Çukurova TUAY-DER), who were detained in house raids in Mersin on March 16, 2024, were released on judicial control condition by the criminal peace judgeship on allegations of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. The names of the detainees are Ergin Altuntaş, Nurettin Özdemir, Hava Tekin Ölmez, Selahattin Baran, Rengin Bitkin, Nebi Yeşil, Yıldız Ulaş, Cembeli Çoban, and İsmail Orhan.
(03/179) The Kulp Case…
It was learned from the news coverage on March 19, 2024, that the appeal made by the participating lawyers to the Court of Cassation regarding the acquittal decision given in the case of the forced disappearance of 11 citizens in Kulp district of Diyarbakır, in which Yavuz Ertürk, the former commander of the Bolu Mountain Commando Brigade, was involved, was dismissed by the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation on February 14, 2024, due to the statute of limitations.
In 1993, during military operations in the Kulp district of Diyarbakır, 11 individuals were detained and subsequently went missing. On November 5, 2004, a mass grave containing the remains of these 11 individuals was discovered. In relation to the forced disappearance of these 11 individuals, a trial was initiated against Brigadier General Yavuz Ertürk, who was the commander of the Bolu Mountain Commando Brigade at the time, on charges of ‘killing multiple people for the same reason,’ ‘inciting the public to hatred and murder,’ and ‘forming an organization to commit crimes.’ On September 19, 2018, the Ankara 7th Heavy Penal Court acquitted Yavuz Ertürk. An appeal was made to the Ankara Regional Court of Justice against this acquittal decision, which was concluded on December 9, 2020, affirming the lower court’s acquittal decision. The application to the Court of Cassation against this affirmation decision was concluded on February 14, 2024, after 3 years and 5 months.
(03/180) The Trial of Syrian Refugees who Were Killed…
On March 20, 2024, the final trial of the case against Kemal Korukmaz, for the burning death of Syrian refugees Ahmed el Ali, Memnun Nebhan, and Muhammed Hüseyin el Abdo at their workplace in the Güzelbahçe district of Izmir on November 16, 2021, was held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 1. The court ruled that the elements of ‘premeditated murder’ and ‘murder with monstrous feeling or torture’ were not established and sentenced Kemal Korukmaz to 1 year and 6 months for ‘property damage’ and 3 times aggravated life imprisonment for ‘intentional killing’.
(03/181) Correction Officers on Trial in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that the final trial of the case against correction officers Ö. T. T. and O. K., on the charge of ‘misconduct in office’, for the death of Selçuk Aras, a prisoner in Silivri L Type Prison No 6, on September 22, 2014, due to not being referred to the hospital, was held at Istanbul Silivri Penal Court of First Instance No 7 on February 11, 2024. It is reported that the court sentenced Ö. T. T. to 5 months imprisonment and acquitted O. K.
(03/182) Journalist and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against 100 people, including journalist Zilan Azad, who were detained during the police intervention against the press statement held in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul on September 1, 2022, for World Peace Day, on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’, was held at Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 17 on March 20, 2024. The court decided to separate the cases of 5 people (Zeytun Candan, Şenay Tuncer, Emine Aksoy, Birgül İrin, Tuğçe Özgül) and acquitted 95 people.
(03/183) Association Executive on Trial in Izmir…
On March 19, 2024, the first trial of the case against Nilay Güleser, Co-Chair of EGE-TUHAYDER, who was arrested by the court on December 1, 2023, after being detained in a house raid on November 28, 2023, started at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 13. The indictment demands a sentence for Nilay Güleser on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’. The court released Nilay Güleser on judicial control condition and adjourned the trial to June 24, 2024.
(03/184) Artist on Trial in Izmir…
The final trial of the case against singer Kasım Taşdoğan, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for his Kurdish songs, was held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 20 on March 19, 2024. The court acquitted Kasım Taşdoğan.
(03/185) March 31st Elections…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 20, 2024, that a person attacked an election bus of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) with stones in the Değirmendere neighborhood of Ortahisar district of Trabzon on March 18, 2024. It is learned that no one was injured in the attack and material damage occurred on the election bus. It is reported that the person detained in relation to the attack was released after statement procedures.
(03/186) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that 2 content on https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr and https://www.veryansintv.com and 1 social media post about a faculty member going to surgeries without gloves, caps, and masks were banned from access by a decision of the Association of Access Providers on March 19, 2024, and that the content was ordered to be deleted.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 19, 2024, that Bakırköy Criminal Peace Judgeship No. 7 imposed an access ban on 4 separate content on https://ifade.org.tr regarding the access bans imposed on news reports on bribery allegations against a police chief, and ruled for the deletion of the said content on March 19, 2024.
[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.