Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
21 October 2022 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/199) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of National Defence made a declaration on October 20, 2022 regarding the allegations that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) used chemical weapons during the Claw-Lock operation within the borders of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government and stated the following: “Allegations regarding the use of chemical weapons are completely baseless and unrealistic (…) This type of ammunition is not in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces.”
(10/200) Person Died by Watchmen Fire in Konya…
Hasan Tekin, who was injured by the fire opened on a vehicle by the watchmen on the grounds of ‘disobeying stop warning’ in Meram district of Konya on September 3, 2022, died in hospital on October 20, 2022. It is learned that one watchman (E. T.) was arrested in relation to the incident.
(10/201) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 20, 2022 that, prisoners in Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No. 1 and 2 were forced to give an oral report (saying their own name and the name and phone number of the person they were talking to) before making a phone call.
(10/202) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned that 30 prisoners who were kept in solitary cells in Konya Ereğli High Security Prison and were on a 3-day hunger strike in turns since August 23, 2022 started a 10-day hunger strike in turns as of October 20, 2022.
(10/203) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on October 20, 2022 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
(10/204) Police Intervention to Protests in Istanbul and Antep…
The police intervened in the march organized by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and other organisations, held in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on October 20, 2022, regarding the allegations of chemical weapon usage in the Claw-Lock military operation of the Turkish Armed Forces in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government; and detained 37 people using physical violence. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
The police prevented the press declaration to be held in Antep on October 20, 2022 for the same cause, on the grounds of the governorate’s ban. It is learned that the press declaration was held at the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) provincial office.
(10/205) Gendarmerie Intervention to a Protest in Amasya…
The gendarmerie intervened in the press declaration of the residents of Çambükü village of Taşova district of Amasya on October 20, 2022 against the organized industrial zone construction in the area, and detained 3 people.
(10/206) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Emin Kurnaz, Birgün newspaper’s editor, on the grounds of insulting the President and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chair in a news report, is held on October 20, 2022. The court sentenced Mehmet Emin Kurnaz to 1 year 11 months and 1* days and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(10/207) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist Mehmet Kızmaz and Cumhuriyet newspaper, on the grounds of the news reports about Turkey Youth Foundation (TÜGVA) is held at Istanbul Civil Court of First Instance No. 9 on October 20, 2022. The court sentenced Mehmet Kızmaz and Cumhuriyet newspaper to pay 15,000 Turkish Liras compensation.
(10/208) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Sezgin Kartal on the grounds of ‘insult’ is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 24 on October 20, 2022. The court adjourned the trial to November 29, 2022.
(10/209) Investigation Against Journalist in Izmir…
It is learned that Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against Halkın Günlüğü newspaper’s editor in chief Bahattin Seçilir, over the news reports published on Gazete Patika about Deniz Poyraz, who was killed in the armed assault against the HDP Office; and that Bahattin Seçilir made official statement through the investigation on October 20, 2022. It is reported that an investigation has already been opened against Bahattin Seçilir regarding the same news report.
(10/210) CHP Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The retrial of the case against the Republican People’s Party (CHP) former Istanbul chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu is held on October 20, 2022 as the verdict of Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 37 was overturned by the Court of Cassation. The court adjourned the trial to February 7, 2023.
(10/211) Musician on Trial in Van…
The final trial of the case against musician Şilan Dora, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ in a song she sang at the 8 March demonstration, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No. 2 on October 20, 2022. The court sentenced Şilan Dora to 1 year and 3 months and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(10/212) Police Officer on Trial in Batman…
The first trial of the case against a police officer regarding the incident in Batman Courthouse on April 14, 2022 where lawyer Orhan Alphan was subjected to physical violence of the police officers, is held at Batman Penal Court of First Instance No. 1 on October 20, 2022. The defendant police officer did not attend the trial. The court rejected the intervention demands of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) and Diyarbakır, Siirt, Bitlis, Antep, Mardin, Urfa, Şırnak, Muş, Van and Batman bar associations. The court also rejected to arrest the defendant police officer and adjourned the trial to January 9, 2023.
(10/213) Vartinis Massacre Case…
The retrial of the case against former gendarmerie lieutenant Bülent Karaoğlu, for death of 9 members of Öğüt family including 7 children, in their house that was burned down by soldiers on May 17, 1993 in Altınova (Vartinis) town of Korkut district in Muş; is held at Kırıkkale Heavy Penal Court No. 1 on October 20, 2022. The court decided to issue a search warrant for Bülent Karaoğlu with a red notice, rejected the intervention demands of Muş and Kırıkkale bar associations and adjourned the trial to December 8, 2022.
The final trial of the case was held on March 1, 2016; and the local court has acquitted all 4 defendants (Hasköy Gendarmerie Commander lieutenant Bülent Karaoğlu, Hasköy District Company Commander Lieutenant Hanifi Akyıldız, Gökyazı Gendarmerie Commander master sergeant Turhan Nurdoğan and Muş Security Directorate Special Task Department chief police Şerafettin Us). On January 26, 2021, the Penal Department No 1 of the Court of Cassation has approved the acquittal for 3 defendants but reversed the local court’s verdict regarding Bülent Karaoğlu, who was the commander of Hasköy Gendarmerie Station back then.
(10/214) Ban of Events in Cities…
Şırnak Governorate’s Office made a declaration on October 20, 2022 and announced that press declarations, meetings, opening tents and stands, collecting petitions, crowded funerals, commemorations, festivals, concerts, plays, audio and visual activities with announcing equipment, flying balloons and lanterns, aerial activities with drones, glides or any kind of aircrafts, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and posters and so on are banned for 2 days as of October 20, 2022.
Bingöl Governorate’s Office made a declaration on October 20, 2022 and announced that on the grounds that “It is aimed to disrupt the public order with the calls made against the operations carried out across the border”, all meetings, demonstrations, marches, press declarations, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, holding banners and posters, distributing leaflets and so on are banned for 15 days as of October 20, 2022.
Elazığ Governorate’s Office made a declaration on October 20, 2022 and announced that on the grounds that “It is aimed to disrupt the public order with the calls made against the operations carried out across the border”, all meetings, demonstrations, marches, press declarations, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, holding banners and posters, distributing leaflets and so on are banned for 7 days as of October 20, 2022.
(10/215) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
It is learned that the number of detained people through the investigation which was announced by the Ministry of Interior on October 18, 2022 raised to 654 on October 20, 2022. It was announced that detention warrants were issued for 704 people.
On October 20, 2022, 47 people are detained in operations covering 4 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
[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.