Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 February 2022 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/285) Doctor Subjected to Physical Violence in Şırnak…
Turkish Medical Association declared that a doctor was subjected to physical violence of a prosecutor who is relative of one patient, on the grounds of “disapproving the given medical treatment” in Şırnak on February 21, 2022.
(02/286) Somali Citizens Threatened by the Police in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2022 that, 2 Somalians (A. K. and M. S.) who own a shop in Çankaya district of Ankara were threatened and subjected to racist expressions of the police.
One of them, A. K., stated the following to the press: “They keep standing at the door and watching us. They verbally harass us, they insult us over our colour and clothes, saying ‘What kind of a person are you, why are you walking around like this’. An undercover officer once said ‘We are nor refugees in our own country because of you’ (…) They came to the shop once, and said ‘Change the names to Turkish, sell Turkish food’ and threatened us (…) Another officer said ‘This is Turkey. Kızılay is our heart. We do not want refugees in our heart. You will become Turks’. We cannot walk freely in Kızılay, the police stop us at every corner, they took us along. They outspokenly told us to close the shop and go.”
M. S. stated the following: “There is no attitude against Turkish shopkeepers around. One time when they tried to forcibly enter the shop I asked for a permission. A police officer said ‘I have permission from everywhere, go report wherever you want’ to threaten me.”
(02/287) Detained People for Distributing Leaflets in Izmir…
The police intervened the High School Students’ Union (LÖB) members distributing leaflets in front of a high school in Konak district of Izmir on February 21, 2022 and detained 2 people (M. Y. and B. P.). Detained people are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(02/288) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of Şişli Municipality workers in front of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) on February 21, 2022 and forced people away from the building by using physical violence.
(02/289) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration which were made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 21, 2022 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(02/290) The Case Against Former HDP Co-Chair…
On February 21, 2022, the Penal Department No 2 of Istanbul Regional Court approved the 3 years and 6 months of sentence given to Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) on the charge of ‘insulting the President’.
(02/291) The Case Against Diyarbakır Bar Association Executive Board Former Members…
The final trial of the case against 11 lawyers (Ahmet Özmen, Mahsum Bati, Nuşin Uysal Ekinci, Cihan Ülsen, Sertaç Buluttekin, Muhammet Neşet Girasun, Serhat Eren, İmran Gökdere, Velat Alan, Ahmet Dağ and Nahit Eren), members of previous executive board of Diyarbakır Bar Association, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 13 on February 21, 2022.
The indictment demands sentence for 11 lawyers on the charges of violating Article 216 (provoking hatred and hostility among people) and Article 301 (degrading Turkish Nation, State of Turkish Republic, the organs and institutions of the State) of Turkish Penal Code. Lawyers are charged for the expression “Armenian Genocide” stated in the Bar Association’s declaration on April 24, 2017; the expression “Kurdistan” in anther declaration and the report on killing of a civilian in Oğul village of Hakkari.
After defence hearings the court acquitted 11 lawyers.
(02/292) Gezi/Çarşı Case…
The trial of the case against 52 people for Gezi Park protests in 2013 is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 on February 21, 2022. After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of Osman Kavala, to separate the “Gezi Case” and adjourned the trial to March 21, 2022.
The Court of Cassation has reversed the acquittal decision of the local court regarding the “Gezi Case”, and the number of defendants raised to 52, as the case was consolidated with the “Çarşı Case” on October 8, 2021. Osman Kavala who has been arrested on November 1, 2017, was acquitted on February 18, 2022 in the Gezi Park protests case but was arrested without being released from prison, on the grounds of another investigation regarding the coup attempt in 2016.
(02/293) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 41 people including executives of political parties and unions, who were detained by the police intervening the press declaration calling for 1 May, in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on April 22, 2021, is held at Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 53 on February 21, 2022.
The indictment demands sentence for 41 people on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’.
The court adjourned the trial to June 27, 2022.
(02/294) İHD Co-Chair on Trial…
The first trial of the case against Öztürk Türkdoğan, co-chair of the Human Rights Association (IHD), on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation’ is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 19 on February 22, 2022. The court decided to continue the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to April 19, 2022.
(02/295) The Case Against Human Rights Defender and Other People in Izmir…
It is learned that the indictment of Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office against 6 people including human rights defender and medical secretary of the HRFT in Izmir Aytül Uçar and the Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) member Erdoğan Akdoğdu on the charges of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’, ‘resisting to prevent public duty’ and ‘insult’ is accepted by Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 49 on February 14, 2022. 6 people (Aytül Uçar, Emine Akbaba, İrem Çelikbaş, lawyer Erdoğan Akdoğdu and 2 others) have been detained by the police intervening the protest against the new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University, held in Izmir on February 3, 2021.
(02/296) DİAYDER Case…
The first trial of the case against 23 members and executives of DIAYDER (Religious Scholars Solidarity Association) including 7 arrestees, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on February 18, 2022.
Some of the defendants joined the trials from prison via sound and vision system while others attended the trials that held between February 18-21, 2022. After defence hearings the court released 3 people, lifted house confinement condition for 3 people and judicial control conditions for those except the arrestees and adjourned the trial to March 18, 2022.
(02/297) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against journalist Durket Süren is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on February 21, 2022.
The indictment demands jail sentence for Durket Süren from 1 year to 8 years, on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for her social media posts and distributing banned issues of Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem newspapers which are closed down by state of emergency decrees.
After defence hearings the court sentenced Durket Süren to 1 year 6 months and 22 days on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ruled probation for 5 years.
(02/298) Boğaziçi University Students on Trial…
The trial of the case against 52 people, on the grounds of ‘deprivation of liberty’ and ‘violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations’ for they have participated in the protests against the new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University by the President, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 49 on February 21, 2022. After defence hearings the court decided to lift judicial control conditions for those who have made their defences, and adjourned the trial to July 4, 2022.
(02/299) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 22, 2022, 63 people are detained in operations covering 25 cities through an Ankara based investigation.
(02/300) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 268 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 85,026 as of February 21, 2022.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 92,719 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 13,589,511 as of February 21, 2022.
[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.