Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 February 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/165) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned that 8 soldiers were injured in a military vehicle that rolled into a stockade in the Aktepe Border Post in Silopi district of Şırnak on February 21, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2023 that, 3 militants died in a clash between the Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants on July 11, 2022; 1 militant died on October 30, 2022; and 1 militant died on November 15, 2022 in Qandil area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
(02/166) Earthquakes in Antep, Maraş and Hatay…
According to the information recorded by Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, on February 23, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 in Samandağ district of Hatay which struck at 20:04 local time killed 6 people and injured 294 people.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services stated that, as of February 20, 2023, the number of unaccompanied children who were rescued from the rubbles after the earthquakes in Antep and Maraş on February 6, 2023 was 1838, and that 1286 of them were given to their families after identity control and verification, and the number of unidentified children is 213.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2023 that, the prisoners who demand to be transferred from Antep Islahiye Prison which was damaged by the earthquake, were asked to pay the transfer fee. It is also stated in the news reports that the prisoners were not given water regularly and ill prisoners were not referred to the doctor.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2023 that, Kırşehir S Type Prison, to which the prisoners were transferred from the prisons in the earthquake zone, is still under construction and the needs of the prisoners, including food, are not fully met.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2023 that, in Hatay Iskenderun T Type Prison, after the earthquake, the water give to prisoners was limited, the heating system do not work, the food given to prisoners was inadequate, the prisoners’ petitions were not put in process, and the ward doors were not open during the earthquake, the prisoners were not allowed for funerals of their relatives.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2023 that, the number of contractors arrested due to their responsibilities regarding the buildings collapsed in the earthquakes in Antep and Maraş was 157.
(02/167) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Earthquake Region…
The Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) declared that 1 person was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the police on street in Defne district of Hatay on February 20, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2023 that, a person who was recording the problems reported during aid distribution in Doğanşehir district of Malatya was subjected to physical violence.
(02/168) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the group gathering for the press declaration held in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 20, 2023 to protest online education decision for universities due to the earthquakes, and detained 25 people by using physical violence. It is learned that detained people were handcuffed behind their backs and were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the detention vehicle. It is reported that the police prevented journalists from recording the intervention.
22 of the detained people were released after statement procedures at the police on the same day, 3 of them were released by the court on February 21, 2023.
(02/169) Prosecutions and Detentions for Social Media Posts…
The General Directorate of Security announced that prosecutions were initiated against 541 people and 131 people were detained, 25 people were arrested for their social media posts about the earthquakes in Antep and Maraş, as of February 21, 2023.
(02/170) HDP MP on Trial…
The trial against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel, who was detained on September 2, 2022 after her immunity was lifted and was arrested on September 3, 2022; is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 22 on February 20, 2023. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Semra Güzel and adjourned the trial to April 28, 2023.
(02/171) Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The first trial of the case against ANKA News Agency editor-in-chief Mansur Çelik, on the grounds of the news reports about Deputy Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 22 on February 21, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Mansur Çelik on the charge of ‘targeting a public official who took part in the fight against terrorism’. The court decided to continue the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to June 6, 2023.
(02/172) Newspaper Distributors on Trial in Van…
The final trial of the case against Mikail Tunçdemir and Ferhat Duman who were detained while distributing Özgürlükçü Demokrasi and Azadiya Welat newspapers is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on February 21, 2023. The court decided to acquit 2 people.
(02/173) Journalist and HDP and DBP Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 21 people including journalist Haydar Ergül and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and HDP executives, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 22 on February 21, 2023. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for the defendants on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court adjourned the trial to February 23, 2023.
(02/174) Person on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case upon the complaint of a police officer who intervened in the picnic about a person who attended the picnic to be held in Maçka Park in Şişli district of Istanbul on June 22, 2021 as part of Pride Week, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 44 on February 21, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for the defendant on the charge of ‘insult a police officer’. The court acquitted the defendant.
(02/175) The Case Against Tarlabaşı Community Center…
The trial of the case against the Association for Supporting Tarlabaşı Community (known as Tarlabaşı Community Center), demanding the declaration of the expiration of the association on the grounds of ‘unlawful and immoral’ activities, is held at Istanbul Civil Court of Peace No. 18 on February 21, 2023. The court adjourned the trial to May 24, 2023.
(02/176) Police Officer and Person on Trial in Antalya…
The final trial of the case against 5 police officers regarding police violence against a person named Çağdaş Yırtıcı, in front of his house in Antalya on January 25, 2021, is held at Antalya Penal Court of First Instance No. 28 on February 21, 2023. The court acquitted 4 police officers, and sentenced a police officer named R. E. to 4 months and 10 days on the charges of ‘intentional injury’ and ‘misconduct’. The court sentenced Çağdaş Yırtıcı to 3 years and 15 days on the charges of ‘resisting the police’ and ‘insult’.
[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.