Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 – 24 February 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/253) People Died in Van After Earthquake…
It is learned that 9 people including 4 children died and 37 people were injured in Özpınar, Güvendik, Kaşkol and Gelenler villages of Başkale district of Van, after an earthquake hit Iran on February 23, 2020.
(02/254) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2020 that, 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Hakurk area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on May 28, 2019.
(02/255) Military Operation to North and South Syria…
It is learned that 1 soldier (Mecit Demir) died in an attack of Syrian Army to Turkish Armed Forces personnel in İdlib city of Syria on February 22, 2020.
(02/256) Alleged Suicide in Military…
It is alleged in news coverage of February 21, 2020 that specialised sergeant Nezir Abak who was on duty at a military post in Tunceli committed suicide with his gun.
(02/257) Person Died in Military…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2020 that, Maintenance Facility Center Commander Colonel Ejder Kanter who fainted during physical aptitude test at Maintenance Facility No 52 in Diyarbakır, died in hospital.
(02/258) Person Was Subjected to Physical Violence of Gendarmerie in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that gendarmerie special operation units raided a house in Ortaç village in Lice district of Diyarbakır on February 23, 2020, and committed physical and verbal violence to Yemlihan Yıldırım (78) and threatened his wife Zinnet Yıldırım with a gun.
Yemlihan Yıldırım stated the following: “Soldiers surrounded our house and showed up at 8.30 a.m. They got closer to the house at dawn and called my wife. After she went near to them they called me too. They said they were going to search our house and I allowed them. They followed me when we went in. I asked them to take off their shoes before getting in. Two soldiers wanted to take off their shoes but their commander did not allow them to do so and commanded them to search the house with their shoes on (…) When I said ‘Do your job, do not insult us’, he slapped me, I dropped my hat. When I bent for my hat he slapped once again. I asked ‘Why are you hitting me? I am almost at the age of your father, aren’t you ashamed to beat me?’ and he hit me 5 more times before I finished my sentence. (…) A soldier hit my wife at the chest with his gun and threatened her ‘I will kill you, where is your son? I will burn your house down; I will kill your son’. My wife is ill and old, but they insulted us.”
(02/259) Pakistani Person was Subjected to Physical Violence of the Police in Istanbul…
It is learned from social media posts that on February 23, 2020, 2 Pakistani students of Bilgi University were subjected to physical violence of the police for they do not carry their passports and answer the police in English but not in Turkish during an ID check at Ayrılıkçeşmesi metro station in Kadıköy district of Istanbul. It is claimed that the police seized their passports and wallets and then released these 2 students.
(02/260) Person was Forced to be a Police Informant in Mardin…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2020 that, Mehmet Akyüz, a person who has been detained in a house raid in Mardin on February 14, 2020 and then has been released; was forced to be a police informant at Nusaybin District Security Directorate.
(02/261) Person was Forced to be a Police Informant in İzmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2020 that, Veli Akman, a reader of Kaldıraç magazine in Izmir, was forced to be a police informant by people who claim themselves to be police officers.
Veli Akman had a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Izmir Branch and stated the following: “I was walking when someone I do not know took my arm. He showed me an ID card and said that he was a police officer. And he said he wants to have a chat with me and tried to pull me towards a solitary street. Two undercover police officers came near to us. I pulled my arm back and said that we could talk at that point without going to this street. They said ‘we are good people we will not hurt you’ etc. and told about demonstrations I have been participating in recently and what I was wearing at these demonstrations; implying that they have been following me for a while, know what I do and my home address (…) They asked me about the magazine and my friends. They commented on financial, family and health situation of my friends, and said they ‘wish the best for us’. I said ‘it seems that you know more than me’, they said that I could call them in case of need, they would support me for my rent, they would give scholarships, they would help me to find a job after graduation or they would help me at job interviews”.
It is learned that Veli Akman’s lawyers will make an official complaint.
(02/262) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned that İda Koçak, a trans woman prisoner in Ankara Sincan L Type Prison No 1, who went on a hunger strike on February 11, 2020, demanding vegan food in prison, ended the strike after her demands were accepted on February 23, 2020.
(02/263) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2020 that Hamza Arzuman, a prisoner who rejected to stand in military order during roll-calls in Gümüşhane E Type Prison was put in a solitary cell.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2020 that food for only 2 people is given to wards with 14 prisoners in Tarsus Women’s Prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2020 that, 2 prisoners (İsmail Çevik and Adem Amaç) were subjected to physical violence of the wardens in Afyon T Type Prison.
(02/264) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2020 that, Adem Amaç, an ill prisoner in Afyon T Type Prison was not treated and has post-operative inflammation.
(02/265) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 21, 2020 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother and tutelary along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275. Abdullah Öcalan met his family on January 12, 2019 for the first time after September 11, 2016 and meeting requests have been rejected for 93 times to this date.
(02/266) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the sit-in protest after press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1202 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 22, 2020 at 18.00, and forced participants away from the monument. Police intervened once again to sit-in protest and detained 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Melek Çetinkaya).
(02/267) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the march in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 21, 2020, which was organized by youth organisations about recent increase of suicides, and detained 9 people. Detained people are released after statement procedures on February 22, 2020.
(02/268) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek, at Khalkedon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 21, 2020 and detained 2 people (Zeynep Koçak and Hasan Koçak). Detained 2 people are released on the same day. Mustafa Koçak is on death fast for 237 days in Izmir Şakran T Type Prison, to demand a fair trial. İbrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek have gone on a hunger strike on June 18, 2019 and İbrahim Gökçek turned his strike to a death fast on January 3, 2020 and Helin Bölek did it so on January 20, 2020.
(02/269) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, Helin Bölek and İbrahim Gökçek, at Khalkedon Square in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on February 22, 2020 and detained 2 people (Zeynep Koçak and Hasan Koçak). Detained 2 people are released on the same day.
(02/270) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration for Mustafa Koçak, Helin Bölek and İbrahim Gökçek, at Özgürlük Square in Bakırköy district of Istanbul on February 23, 2020 and detained 5 people (Ahmet Gökçek and Aygül Bilgi, Gökhan Uysal, Özcan Karagöz and 1 more person). Detained 5 people are released on the same day.
(02/271) Prevention of a Protest in Istanbul…
Public forum and concert of “Either the Canal or Istanbul Coordination”, which was to be held at Taksim Square on February 22, 2020 is prevented by the police on the grounds of ban of Beyoğlu Sub-governorate. It is also learned that the police prevented Mezopotamya News Agency reporter from recording and run identity check to other reporters.
(02/272) Ban of Events in Izmir…
It is learned that the Grup Yorum solidarity concert which was to be held at Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center in Konak district of Izmir on February 24, 2020, is banned by Izmir Governorate on February 22, 2020.
(02/273) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of Cemal Yıldırım, who was dismissed from his job by a state of emergency decree and Melek Çetinkaya, mother of an Air Force Academy student who was sentenced to heavy life imprisonment through “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation / Parallel State Structure” cases, in Sakarya Street of Ankara on February 22, 2020 and detained 2 people. Detained people are released on the same day.
(02/274) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 778th time on February 22, 2020. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
(02/275) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 413rd time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on February 22, 2020, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(02/276) Pressures and Preventions on HDP Congress…
It is learned that the bus from Van to Ankara, for 4th Congress of People’s Democratic Congress on February 23, 2020 is prevented by the police on the grounds of warrant of distrain on the bus.
It is learned that the bus carrying HDP members from Batman to Ankara was stopped at city border and 1 person (Mehmet Habip Çelebi) was detained on the grounds of detention warrant.
It is learned that 2 people entering the convention center for the congress on February 23, 2020, were detained for wearing Selahattin Demirtaş and Amedspor football club printed scarfs.
It is learned that 11 of audio system personnel at the convention center are detained after the congress was over on February 23, 2020. It is learned that journalists who were recording the detention were prevented by the police.
(02/277) Detained District Council Member in Mersin…
Nuray Aslan, HDP council member of Akdeniz district of Mersin is detained in a house raid on February 22, 2020. The reason of detention in unknown.
(02/278) Detained HDP Executives and Members in Mersin…
On February 22, 2020 6 people are detained in house raids in Mersin. Detained people are: HDP Akdeniz district co-chair Feyza Kaya, HDP Toroslar district co-chair Cabbar Karabeg, HDP Party Assembly Member Rojhat Yaşar, HDP Mersin provincial executives Nazan Dündar, Cihan Kökbalık and Ercan Alp. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/279) Detained HDP Members in Mersin…
5 of 13 people (Ferhat Salman, Resul Demir, Yusuf Keskin, Mustafa Koç, Serkan Şahin) who were detained through an investigation on HDP Youth Assembly members on February 11, 2020, are arrested on February 21, 2020. 8 people are released provided that 7 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(02/280) Detained HDP and DBP Members in Mardin…
On February 21, 2020, 5 people including members and executives of HDP and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) are detained in house raids in Mardin. Detained people are: former Kızıltepe co-mayor İsmail Asi, HDP provincial executives Hüsnü Acay, Şehmuz Aksoy and DBP Savur district co-chair Muzaffer Işık, former Mardin city council member Metin Kaya.
(02/281) HDP Members and Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 9 members of HDP, including Şişli district co-chair Mutlu Öztürk and Küçükçekmece district co-chair Hüseyin Fidanboy, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 on February 21, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 9 people on the charges of ‘organising, leading and participating in illegal meetings’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
After defence hearings the court released 9 people and adjourned the trial to July 7, 2020.
9 people were detained on October 13, 2019, for protesting the ban on events for HDP’s 7th year of establishment and were arrested on October 14, 2019.
(02/282) HDP and DBP Members and Executives on Trial in Mardin…
The case against DBP provincial co-chairs Leyla Bozkurt and Şeyhmuz Sun, HDP Party Assembly members Alaattin Semir Zuğurli and Sedat Ay, and HDP provincial co-chair Ali Sincar is held at Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on February 21, 2020. The court decided to continue detention of 5 people and adjourned the trial to March 27, 2020.
(02/283) Mazlum Turan Case…
On February 21, 2020, Penal Department No 1 of Diyarbakır Regional Court, concluded on the appeal to 10 years of sentence given by Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 to police officer Süleyman Esenboğa, on the charge of ‘murder as a result of wilful injury’ of Mazlum Turan. Mazlum Turan, a 16 years old child, died due to the fire opened to his car, on the grounds of “disobeying the stop warning”.
Penal Department No 1 did not accept the excuse of Turan family’s lawyer and ruled that since the defendant “made an unavoidable mistake because of the conditions of the incident time”, police office Süleyman Esenboğa should not be sentenced according to Article 16 of the Law 2559 on the Powers and Duties of Police, to Article 30 and 24 of Turkish Penal Code and to Article 223 of Law on Criminal Procedure.
(02/284) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
62 of 99 people who were detained through an Izmir based investigation on February 18, 2020, are arrested by the court on February 22, 2020.
(02/285) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 3 people is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 on February 21, 2020. The court sentenced 1 person to 8 years and 9 months and 1 person to 9 years 4 months and 15 days. The court separated the case against 1 person.
(02/286) Ban of Access to Webpages…
It is learned that on February 21, 2020 Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 8 banned access to webpages which cover the ban of access to news reports on Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak’s purchase of lands near the route of Canal Istanbul Project.
(02/287) Ban of Access to Website…
It is learned that Information Technologies and Communications Authority banned access to www.jinnews6.xyz website of Jinnews agency.
(02/288) Ban of Access to Webpage…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2020 that, Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 5 banned on February 11, 2020, the access to webpage of Eksi Sozluk (web-based dictionary) which covers entries on Yeldana Kaharman, a Kirghizistani journalist who died in Elazığ.
[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.