Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 October 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/260) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment in Diyarbakır…
It is claimed in the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, Faris Türk and Hanım Türk, 2 people whose house in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır was raided by the police, were attacked by police dogs and subjected to physical violence of the police. It is learned that Faris Türk was detained by the police and was taken to Anti-Terror Department of Diyarbakır Security Directorate.
(10/261) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, in Ağrı Patnos Prison, the food and water given to prisoners were dirty, and prisoners were not regularly given face masks, cleaning supplies and disinfectants to be protected from Covid-19.
It is learned from the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, 70 prisoners in Diyarbakır D Type Prison were decided to be transferred to Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No 1 and 2 under coercion, and transfer procedures has started on October 18, 2020.
(10/262) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration which was made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” going on for 1442 days in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on October 20, 2020 at 13.30 and 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(10/263) Detained District Council Member in Mersin…
Salih Akbaş, district council member from People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Akdeniz district in Mersin, who was detained in Mersin on October 16, 2020, is released after statement procedures at the police on October 20, 2020.
(10/264) Detained Executive of EMEP in Kocaeli…
On October 20, 2020, Fevzi Yaşar, district executive of Labour Party (EMEP) is detained for his social media posts, in a house raid in Darıca district of Kocaeli.
(10/265) Detained People in Mersin…
2 of 5 people (Şahize Akbaş and Aziz Akbaş) who was detained in house raids in Mersin on October 16, 2020, are released after statement procedures at the police on October 20, 2020.
(10/266) Co-Mayors on Trial in Mardin…
The trial of the case against Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz, HDP co-mayor of Kızıltepe district; and Gülistan Öncü, HDP co-mayor of Savur district, is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 20, 2020.
Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz and Gülistan Öncü joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system.
After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz and Gülistan Öncü and adjourned the trial to January 14, 2021.
The Ministry of Interior appointed sub-governors as trustees to Kızıltepe (on November 4, 2019) and to Savur (November 16, 2019). Gülistan Öncü was detained on November 15, 2019 and was arrested on November 26, 2019. Nilüfer Elik Yılmaz was detained on December 12, 2019 and was arrested by the court on December 16, 2019.
(10/267) Former Co-Mayor on Trial…
It is learned that the verdict of the local court acquitting Gültan Kışanak, former co-mayor of Diyarbakır, in the case where she was charged with ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ in her expressions at a press conference, is reversed by Penal Department No 6 of the Court of Cassation.
(10/268) Journalist on Trial in Ağrı…
The trial of the case against Abdullah Kaya, reporter of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Ağrı Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 20, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for Abdullah Kaya on the charges of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation without being a member of it’, ‘successively making propaganda for an illegal organisation’:
The court decided to examine and include social media posts of Abdullah Kaya in the case file and adjourned the trial to March 4, 2021.
(10/269) Lawyers on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 19 lawyers, for having a demonstration on October 12, 2015, at Istanbul Courthouse to protest October 10 Ankara Massacre, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 on October 20, 2020.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for 19 lawyers on the charges of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’: The court adjourned the trial to January 15, 2021.
(10/270) Singer on Trial in Edirne…
The trial of the case against German citizen singer Saide İnaç (Hozan Cane) on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ is held at Edirne Heavy Penal Court No 3 on October 20, 2020. The court adjourned the trial to February 9, 2021.
(10/271) People on Trial in Kocaeli…
The final trial of the case against 4 people (Cemile Çiftçi, Türkiye Bozkurt, Fehime Ekmez, Yeter Seyhan), for participating in the sit-in protest about death fasts in front of Gebze Women’s Prison on May 2, 2019, is held at Kocaeli Heavy Penal Court No 4 on October 20, 2020. The court acquitted 4 people.
(10/272) Ban of Events in Van…
Van Governorate made a declaration on October 20, 2020 and announced that, all open-door events such as demonstrations and meetings are banned; and press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, festivals, concerts, delivering leaflets and so on are subject to permission of local authority for 15 days for 15 days as of October 21, 2020. All events are banned in Van for 1444 days since November 21, 2016.
(10/273) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On October 20, 2020, 2 of 11 judges and prosecutors who were dismissed from their duties by the Council of Judges and Prosecutors on October 19, 2020, are detained.
On October 20, 2020, 21 people including military members on active duty are detained through an Ankara based investigation against Land Forces Command; 5 people are detained in house raids in Ankara; 20 people are detained in operations covering 16 cities through an Istanbul based investigation; and 3 people are detained in Edirne in alleged attempt to illegally cross to Greece.
(10/274) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 74 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,894 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on October 20, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 9,445 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 351,413 as of October 20, 2020.
[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.