Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 November 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/209) 20 November Prevention and Interventions against the Day of Remembrance for Trans Victims of Hate Crime…
On 20 November 2024, the police intervened in the march and press statement to be held on 20 November 2024 at Kolej metro in Ankara with the call of Ankara Pride Week Committee for 20 November Commemoration Day for Trans Victims of Hate Crimes, and detained 4 people, including 1 lawyer, by torture and ill-treatment. Detained 4 people were released on the same date after statement procedures at the police station. It is reported in the news that the press statement intervened by the police was later read at the Human Rights Association (IHD) Ankara Branch.
The 10th Istanbul Trans Pride Week Committee’s distribution of lokma (a type of donut distributed in memory of loved ones) for the same reason at Beşiktaş Square in Istanbul on 20 November 2024 was prevented by the police on the grounds of ‘pavement occupation’ and ‘being unauthorized’. It is also reported in the news that activists, citizens, lokma preparers and journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz were subjected to General Information Collection (GBT) by the police officers and the donut distribution was held at another point in Şişli.
(11/210) Police Intervention Against a Press Statement in Istanbul…
On 20 November 2024, the police intervened in the press statement held in front of the Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse for the closure of Y and S-type prisons and detained 1 person (Ferdi Sarıkaya). The detained person was released the same day after statement procedures.
(11/211) Former Association Executive Arrested in Istanbul…
Nasuh Mahruki, the founder of AKUT Search and Rescue Association, whose house was raided by the police on 12 November 2024 in his absence within the scope of the investigation initiated on the grounds of a social media post, was arrested by the criminal peace judgeship on 20 November 2024 at Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on the allegations of ‘publicly insulting the judicial organs of the state’ and ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’.
(11/212) Mayor on Trial…
The trial of the lawsuit filed against 7 people including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu due to ‘bid rigging’ continued on 20 November 2024 at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 10. The court adjourned the trial to 8 January 2025.
(11/213) Mayors and Others on Trial in Tunceli…
The final trial of the case against 4 people, including Tunceli co-mayor Cevdet Konak from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and Tunceli Ovacık mayor Mustafa Sarıgül from Republican People’s Party (CHP), was held at Tunceli Heavy Penal Court No 1 on November 20, 2024. The court sentenced 4 people including two mayors to 6 years and 3 months each on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and imposed judicial control conditions on them.
(11/214) Journalist Under Investigation…
It is learned from the news coverage of 20 November 2024 that, the Elazığ Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalist Evren Demirdaş on the grounds of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ through a criminal complaint filed by the Governorate of Elazığ and Elazığ Special Provincial Administration, and that the journalist gave his official statement through the investigation.
Journalist Evren Demirdaş also gave a statement on 2 November 2024 within the scope of the investigation initiated by Elazığ Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office with the allegation of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ as a result of a criminal complaint filed by a business person against him for the same news report.
(11/215) People Under Investigation and on Trial for ‘Publicly Disseminating Misleading Information’…
According to the news coverage of 20 November 2024, Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul MP Nurettin Alan stated in his speech at the Justice Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) that between 18 October 2022 and 10 October 2024, investigations were opened against 4,590 people on the allegation of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’, investigations opened against 2005 people resulted in non-prosecution, 384 investigation files were prosecuted and 33 people were arrested on this allegation. According to the statement of the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) dated 20 November 2024, 66 different investigations were opened against at least 56 journalists/media workers. At least 13 journalists/media workers were detained and 4 journalists were arrested on this allegation.
(11/216) Municipality Councillors, Mayors, and MPs Prevented from Entering a Municipality Building in Urfa…
Co-mayors of Urfa Halfeti municipality Mehmet Karayılan and Saniye Bayram, who were suspended by the decision of the Ministry of Interior on 4 May 2024 and replaced by trustees, DEM Party Urfa MP Ferit Şenyaşar, municipality’s lawyer Mahsun Karakurt, and DEM Party elected municipality council members, were prevented from entering Urfa Halfeti municipality building by the police on 20 November 2024 without giving any reason. It is reported that the police told DEM Party delegation who demanded a document about the decision, that they had no document and that they were following the orders of their superiors.
(11/217) People Detained in Izmir and Tokat…
On 20 November 2024, 2 people (Mehmet Horoz, Kaan Horoz) in Izmir and 1 person (Hasan Benli) in Tokat were detained in operations through an investigation against Partizan and YDG magazines. It is reported that Hasan Benli who was detained in Tokat was brought to Izmir through the investigation.
(11/218) Proceedings Against MPs…
It is learned from the news coverage of 20 November 2024 that, 12 proceedings demanding a lift of impunity of 12 parliamentary members were sent to the Grand National Assembly.
Members of parliament against whom proceedings have been prepared:
- DEM Party Tunceli MP Ayten Kordu,
- DEM Party Istanbul Deputy Cengiz Cicek,
- DEM Party Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu,
- DEM Party Iğdır Deputy Yilmaz Hun,
- DEM Party Ağrı Deputy Nejla Demir,
- CHP Izmir Deputy Tuncay Özkan,
- CHP Istanbul Deputy Özgür Karabat,
- CHP Istanbul Deputy Turan Taşkın Özer,
- CHP Istanbul MP Türkan Elçi,
- CHP Aydın Deputy Süleyman Bülbül,
- Saadet Party Istanbul Deputy Bülent Kaya,
- Independent Istanbul Deputy Cemal Enginyurt.
(11/219) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of 20 November 2024 that, a total of 3 news reports on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr, https://www.sondakika.com and https://www.haberler.com, about an armed fight between 2 people who are influencers on a social media platform, were banned from access by Ankara West Criminal Peace Judgeship on the grounds of protection of public order and prevention of crime.
(11/220) People Detained in Kayseri…
On 20 November 2024, 9 people including 1 person with a finalized prison sentence and dismissed police officers were detained in operations conducted in Kayseri. The names of detained people are A.A. (58), Ö.A. (52), Ö.B. (34), H.K. (42), S.Y. (32), E.T. (42), M.T. (41), İ.D. (54) and E.Ç. (39).
[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.