Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 May 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/165) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 20, 2020 that 6 prisoners in Mardin E Type Prison who were referred to infirmary for headaches and coughs were not tested for Covid-19 and were sent back to their wards after temperature control.
(05/166) Police Intervention to HDP’s Declaration in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration outside of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara office on May 20, 2020, which was held to protest trustee appointments by Ministry of Interior by suspending HDP co-mayors. The police grounded the intervention on governorate’s ban and detained 9 people including a former HDP MP and HDP executives, by using physical violence. Detained people as known are: Nihat Akdoğan (former Hakkari MP), HDP executive board member Veli Saçılık, HDP Party Assembly member Alişan Şahin, HDP Ankara co-chair Vezir Coşkun.
It is learned that Vezir Coşkun got injured at head due to intervention and his wound had to be sutured.
Detained 9 people are released on the same day.
(05/167) Police Intervention to a Commemoration in Istanbul…
The police intervened the commemoration held in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on May 20, 2020, for the anniversary of İbrahim Kaypakkaya, Haki Karer, Ferhat Kurtay, Eşref Anyık, Mahmut Zengin and Necmi Önen, who have lost their lives in the month of May. The police intervention was grounded on governorate’s ban and 4 people including Deniz Bahçeci, co-chair of Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), by using physical violence. It is learned that HDP Istanbul MP Dilşat Canbaz was subjected to verbal violence of the police and people surrounding and reacting against police violence were also subjected to physical violence of the police. Detained people are: Deniz Bahçeci, Can Papila, Volkan Atmaca, and Erkin with unknown surname.
(05/168) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1289 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 20, 2020 at 13.30 and at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(04/169) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened Mahmut Konuk having a protest in front of Çankaya Public Health Directorate on May 20, 2020, to regain his job from which he had been dismissed by state of emergency decrees, and forced him away from the building by using physical violence.
(05/170) Police Intervention to a Protest in Düzce…
On May 20, 2020, the police intervened the press declaration of Alev Şahin in order to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, in front of Düzce Governorate and detained her. Alev Şahin was released on the same day, after being fined for violating Law of Misdemeanour and Public Health Law.
(05/171) Detained Journalist and Other Person…
Taylan Kulaçoğlu and “Red” journal executive editor Hakan Gülseven have been detained through a Balıkesir based investigation on the grounds of ‘provoking to commit a crime’ and ‘praising offence and offender’, on May 17, 2020, and were released by the court with a ban of leaving the city, on May 19, 2020. After prosecutor’s appeal to release Taylan Kulaçoğlu was detained once again on May 20, 2020, and was arrested on the same day by the court.
(05/172) Detained HDP Executives and Others in Van…
29 of 37 people including HDP district co-chair Burhan Atmaca and other party executives who were detained in house raids in Özalp district of Van, through the investigation on the attack against a vehicle of municipality around Mehmetalan neighbourhood on May 14, 2020; are released by the prosecutor’s decision on May 20, 2020. The attack has killed 2 people and injured 1 person. It is learned that detention period for 8 people including HDP district co-chair Burhan Atmaca and party executives, is extended 4 more days.
(05/173) Co-Mayor on Trial in Van…
The final trial of the case against Dilan Örenci, co-mayor of Özalp district, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 7 on May 20, 2020. Dilan Örenci was elected as co-mayor from HDP and then was suspended by Ministry of Interior.
Dilan Örenci joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court acquitted Dilan Örenci on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and sentenced her to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court released Dilan Örenci upon verdict.
Dilan Örenci was detained on December 5, 2019, and was arrested on December 9, 2019. Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Özalp district on December 7, 2019.
(05/174) DTK Members on Trial in Batman…
The final trial of the case against 4 delegates (Sadrettin Yılmaz, Seyithan Tatar, Elif Koyuncu and Fatma Kapalıgöz) of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) is held at Batman Heavy Penal Court No 2 on May 20, 2020.
After defence hearings the court sentenced 4 people to 6 years and 3 months each on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court released 4 people upon verdict.
4 people were detained on November 27, 2019 and were arrested on December 3, 2019.
(05/175) Grup Yorum Members on Trial…
The trial of the case against Grup Yorum band members Bergün Varan and Sultan Gökçek is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 on May 20, 2020.
Bergün Varan and Sultan Gökçek joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Bergün Varan and Sultan Gökçek and adjourned the trial to July 16, 2020.
Bergün Varan and Sultan Gökçek were detained in the raid to Idil Cultural Center in Okmeydanı, Istanbul on November 29, 2019 and were arrested by the court on December 2, 2019.
(05/176) Suruç Massacre Case…
The trial of the case on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5, for the massacre in Suruç where 33 people died on July 20, 2015, continued to be held on May 20, 2020.
Yakup Şahin, the only arrested defendant of the case, joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court rejected to arrest Abdullah Ömer, who is alleged to be caught with an ISIS flag at the moment of explosion; and adjourned the trial to August 18, 2020.
(05/177) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 23 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 972 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on May 20, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 4,222 and total number of confirmed cases is 152,587 as of May 20, 2020.
Hulusi Akar, Minister of National Defence declared on May 20, 2020 that 156 people in Turkish Armed Forces tested positive for Covid-19.
[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.