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22 April 2021 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

22 April 2021 Daily Human Rights Report

(04/232) Metin Lokumcu Case…

The first trial of the case against 13 police officers including provincial security director of Artvin and district security director of Hopa, for death of Metin Lokumcu is held at Trabzon Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on April 21, 2021. Metin Lokumcu has lost his life due to excessive use of chemical gas by the police intervening to a press declaration in Hopa district of Artvin on May 31, 2021.

The case was first opened at Hopa Penal Court of First Instance, but then the Court of Cassation decided to transfer the case to Trabzon on the grounds of ‘security reasons’. The indictment demands sentence up to 6 years for police officers on the charge of ‘reckless killing’.

It is learned that the defendant police officers have given their testimonies before the trial. Meriç Eyüboğlu, one of Lokumcu family lawyers stated that OC and CS types of chemical gases were used in the police intervention and these types of chemical gases are banned substances by a contract that Turkey has signed too. Lokumcu family members are heard at the trial. The court rejected the demand of lawyers to send the case to a heavy penal court on the grounds non-jurisdiction. The court also rejected the demand of Diyarbakır, Artvin, Izmir, Van and Trabzon bar associations, Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Community Houses to intervene the case. The court rejected to hear defendant police officers and witness police officers in person at the next trial and decided that the lawyers should submit their questions to defendants and witnesses by petitions. Lokumcu family lawyers made a request for recusal. The court decided to send the case to the heavy penal court on duty for recusal investigation and adjourned the trial to June 28, 2021.

(04/233) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of Municipality Police in Istanbul…

It is learned from the news coverage of April 21, 2021 that a person selling bottled water on streets of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul was subjected to physical violence of the municipality police. Beyoğlu Municipality declared that an investigation is initiated against the officer in charge.

(04/234) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of April 21, 2021 that, 6 prisoners in Mersin Tarsus Women’s Prison are subjected to disciplinary proceedings for participating in the hunger strike demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan; and as a result of proceedings they are prevented from activities in prison.

(04/235) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…

It is learned that the appeal made on April 21, 2021 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was not responded.

(04/236) Preventions and Interventions Against 1 May International Labour Day Events…

The police intervened the press declaration of Istanbul 1 May Platform and workers of Bakırköy and Bayrampaşa municipalities, Sinbo, SML Labelling and Tur Assist companies, which was held at Özgürlük Square in Bakırköy district of Istanbul on April 21, 2021. The police detained at least 30 people including lawyer Seher Dursun by using physical violence. It is learned that the police prevented journalists recording the press declaration. Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.

(04/237) Police Intervention to Protests in Istanbul…

The police intervened the press declaration of Association of Families of Prisoners (TAYAD) demanding release of ill prisoner Ali Osman Köse, in front of the Forensic Medicine Institute in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on April 20, 2021; and detained 2 people (Hasan Basri Yıldız and Özmen Çim). Detained people are released on the same day.

The police intervened the press declaration of Association of Families of Prisoners (TAYAD) demanding release of ill prisoner Ali Osman Köse, in front of the Forensic Medicine Institute in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on April 21, 2021; and detained 2 people (Hasan Basri Yıldız and Cemil Kurt). Detained people are released on the same day.

(04/238) Police Prevention to Protest About Hunger Strikes in Prison…

The police prevented the press declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakır on April 21, 2021; which was held to draw attention to indefinite hunger strikes that started on November 27, 2020 in prisons to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. It is learned that the group held a sit-in protest upon prevention. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording the protest.

(04/239) Investigation Against Left Party Executive…

It is learned that an investigation is initiated against Coşkun Konca, provincial chair of the Left Party in Samsun, for a social media post consisting of photographs of Deniz Gezmiş and Mahir Çayan; and that Coşkun Konca made his official statement through the investigation on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on April 21, 2021.

(04/240) Ban of CHP Posters and Banners…

It is learned from the news coverage of April 20, 2021 that CHP’s Diyarbakır organisation is given a penalty fine of 13,237 Turkish Liras for the banner asking “Where is the 128 billion dollars?” hung on Diyarbakır provincial office of Republican People’s Party (CHP) and which was removed on April 12, 2021.

(04/241) Administrative Fine for TV Channels…

It is learned from the news coverage of April 21, 2021 that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) issued KRT TV channel with administrative fine at the top level, for expressions of CHP group deputy Engin Özkoç who said “What happened to all dictators will happen to him. The only way of emancipation of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leaving the authority” during a programme.

It is learned from the news coverage of April 21, 2021 that RTUK issued Halk TV channel with administrative fine at the top level, for expressions of a programme guest regarding Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

(04/242) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On April 21, 2021, 30 people are detained in house raids in Istanbul.

(04/243) Covid-19 Pandemic…

The Ministry of Health declared that 362 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 2,932 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on April 21, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 61,967.

The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 36,975 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 4,446,591 as of April 21, 2021.

[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.

[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.

[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT

[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari

[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.