Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 – 24 April 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/173) Earthquakes in Antep and Maraş…
According to the information recorded by Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, on February 6, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 in Şehitkamil district of Antep which struck at 04:17 local time and an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 in Ekinözü district of Maraş which struck at 13:24 local time killed at least 50,783 people as of April 22, 2023. The Ministry of Interior declared that 7,302 foreign nationals died in the earthquakes.
(04/174) Storm in Maraş…
As a result of the storm that broke out in Pazarcık district of Maraş on April 20, 2023, 150 people, including those living in tent cities, were injured and 3 people died.
(04/175) Racist Attack in Antalya…
It is learned that a racist group that stopped the bus going from Antalya to Batman on April 23, 2023 in Alanya district, injured 3 people including the bus driver, the bus attendant and a passenger.
(04/176) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 20, 2023 that, in Giresun Espiye Prison the prices at the commissary were high, the food given to prisoners was inadequate and unhealthy, 21 people were kept in wards for 8 people and some prisoners were sleeping on the floors.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 20, 2023 that, in Rize Kalkandere L Type Closed Prison and Bayburt M Type Closed Prison, the prisoners were restricted from collective activities, conversation and sports rights and the letters they wrote were seized.
(04/177) Prevention to Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 20, 2023 that, in Samsun Bafra Prison and Giresun L Type Prison, the prisoners were forced to mouth searches during hospital transfers.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 22, 2023 that, an ill prisoner named Abdulvahap Kavak in Bolu F Type Prison was not medically examined regularly for his chronic diseases and the eye operation that he needs was not done on the grounds of not having an appointment.
(04/178) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on April 22, 2023 to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by families and tutelary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in Imralı Prison, in order to visit them was not responded.
(04/179) Police Intervention to Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration of Saturday Mothers/ People held at the Galatasaray Square of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on April 22, 2023, and detained 17 people including the Human Rights Association (HRA) chair Eren Keskin and the HRA Prisons’ Committee co-spokesperson Nuray Çevirmen with torture and ill-treatment. Detained people are released on the same day. Detained people were: Mikail Kırbayır, İrfan Bilgin, Eren Keskin, Maside Ocak, Sebla Arcan, Besna Tosun, Ali Tosun, Ali Ocak, Hüseyin Ocak, Hanım Tosun, Yasemin Bektaş, Aylin Tekiner, İkbal Eren, Setenay Yarıcı, Hanife Yıldız, Leman Yurtsever, Nuray Çevirmen.
A press statement was held at the HRA Istanbul office on the same day and the HRA Committee for Disappeared People member Sebla Arcan stated that they were handcuffed behind their backs in the detention vehicle, Besna Tosun stated that 2 policewomen tried to broke her arm in the vehicle where there were no cameras and Leman Yurtsever stated that she was subjected to physical violence of the police during intervention.
(04/180) Banned and Prevented Commemorations in Istanbul and Ankara…
It is learned that the commemoration to be held by April 24 Platform for the Armenian Genocide, in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on April 24, 2023 was not permitted by the governorate’s Office.
The press declaration of the HRA Committee Against Racism and Discrimination, to be held in front of HRA office in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on April 24, 2023 was prevented by the police. It is learned that the declaration was held inside the office.
The press declaration of the HRA Ankara branch, to be held in front of its office on April 24, 2023 was banned by Ankara Governorate’s Office. It is learned that the declaration was held inside the HRA office.
(04/181) Detained Journalist in Van…
Jinnews editor Gülşen Koçuk who was detained in Van on April 22, 2023, on the grounds of her social media posts and news reports, was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(04/182) Detained SGDF Member in Eskişehir…
It is learned that the Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) member Mustafa Kazak was detained in Eskişehir on April 21, 2023. It is reported that the reason for detention was an investigation against SGDF, the Socialist Women’s Assemblies (SKM) and the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) members.
(04/183) Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The trial of the case against Mezopotamya News Agency reporter Ceylan Şahinli, for the events she participated in 2017, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 20 on April 24, 2023. It is learned that the journalists and rights defenders who came to monitor the trial were not allowed in the courtroom on the grounds of “no available seats”. The court decided to continue detention of Ceylan Şahinli and adjourned the trial to June 12, 2023.
(04/184) Izmir Bar Association Executives on Trial…
The first trial of the case against Izmir Bar Association’s former chair and 10 former members of the executive board, on the charge of ‘publicly degrading religious values’ in their statement titled “Defend life in spite of hatred” about the expressions targeting LGBTI+s in a sermon of the Presidency of Religious Affairs; is held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No. 1 on April 24, 2023. The court decided to acquit 11 lawyers on the grounds of no criminal elements found.
(04/185) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the YouTube channel named “Delilerin Delisi”, six videos of the channel and some of related social media posts were banned to Access by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No. 3 on April 19, 2023 upon request of the former Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak.
(04/186) May 14, 2023 General Elections…
It is learned that 1 person (E. K.) who was detained in relation to the armed attack on April 20, 2023 on the Justice and Development Party (AKP) office in Çukurova district of Adana which was evacuated after the earthquake, was arrested by the court on April 21, 2023.
It is learned that anonymous person or persons opened fire in front of the AKP election campaign Office in Kocasinan neighbourhood of Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on April 21, 2023.
It is learned that anonymous person or persons wrote “Traitor terrorists” on the election campaign bus of Iyi Party in Kayseri on April 21, 2023.
(04/187) Discriminatory Statements of the President…
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the following statements in a speech he made at a ceremony in Nurdağı district of Antep on April 22, 2023: “Is AK Party against LGBT? Is the Nationalist Movement Party against LGBT? Is the People’s Alliance against LGBT? So, is CHP against LGBT? Is IP? Besides, is HDP against it? They are LGBT supporters. These are against our holy family structure. May 14 will be the day to teach a lesson to LGBT supporters and those who support violence against women.”
(04/188) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against former prosecutor M. İ. K. who was dismissed by a state of emergency decree was held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No. 11 on April 24, 2023. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
[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.