Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 March 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/195) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that 16 prisoners in Iğdır S Type Prison were kept in solitary rooms and their communication with other prisoners was restricted, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against prisoners who participated in the rotating hunger strike launched in prisons across Turkey demanding an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, that prisoners on hunger strike were kept in single rooms without an escort and correction officers subjected some prisoners to ill-treatment during ward searches.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that in Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison No 1, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the prison administration against some of the prisoners who participated in the hunger strike for the same reason, and that prisoners were banned from social activities and given communication penalties, and that prisoners who participated in the hunger strike were taken to ventilation alone to cut off their communication with each other, that ward searches, which were previously conducted once a month, became more frequent after the hunger strikes started, prisoners’ book requests were restricted, letters written by prisoners were either not sent at all or sent late, photographs sent by relatives of prisoners to prisoners were not allowed into the prison without any justification.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners in Kars T Type Prison are forced to shop from the canteen due to the poor quality of food given to prisoners, social activities are not organized and the petitions written by prisoners to the prison administration were not answered.
According to the news coverage of March 21, 2024, Erzurum Dumlu High Security Prison No 2 has wire fences on the windows in violation of the legislation, the wards are cold and airless, some wards have leaking ceilings and dampness, Prisoners of Syrian and Iranian nationality were charged high fees for phone calls, the food was of poor quality and not served on time, prisoners transferred from other prisons were subjected to strip search during prison entry procedures and prisoners who refused to accept this practice were subjected to forced strip search, the prison administration restricted the TV channels and newspapers given to prisoners, doctors in prison infirmary used verbal violence against prisoners, prison administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against prisoners who participated in the hunger strike and some prisoners were banned from communication and social activities, prisoners who participated in the hunger strike were allowed only 1 hour of ventilation leave instead of 2 hours.
According to the news coverage of March 21, 2024, prisoners in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison cannot take a shower due to lack of access to hot water, disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the prison administration against prisoners who participated in hunger strike, some prisoners were banned from communication and social activities, books and publications previously allowed by the prison administration were seized during searches on the grounds of being objectionable and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against prisoners for possessing objectionable books, Prisoners transferred from other prisons were subjected to strip searches during prison entry procedures and prisoners who refused to accept this practice were subjected to forced strip searches, prisoners’ access to books and other publications was restricted by the prison administration, Syrian and Iranian nationals were charged high fees for phone calls, Y. Y. was punished with solitary confinement on the grounds of books he read, M. A. U. was not treated although he had health problems due to malnutrition, and the daily drinking water given to prisoners was insufficient.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that the prison administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against prisoners who participated in a hunger strike in Bitlis Ahlat T Type Prison, and some prisoners were penalized with bans from communication and social activities.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prison administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against prisoners who participated in a hunger strike in Van F Type Prison, and some prisoners were penalized with bans on communication and social activities, and ward searches in Van F Type Prison became more frequent and were conducted in violation of the procedures.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prison administration initiated disciplinary proceedings against prisoners who participated in a hunger strike in Van High-Security Prison, and some prisoners were penalized with bans from communication and social activities, and ward searches were conducted more frequently and in violation of the procedures.
On March 21, 2024, it is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that, in Van T Type Prison, some wards are not suitable for children, the prison administration does not provide necessary food and supplements for children, prisoners cannot benefit from social and cultural activities, books brought to prisoners by their families are seized by prison administration without giving a reason, prisoners are not allowed to watch Meclis TV channel.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that Elif Kardağı, a prisoner kept in Mersin Tarsus Type T Women’s Prison was transferred to Kayseri Women’s Prison against her will on March 21, 2024.
(03/196) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that A. Ş., a prisoner in Iğdır S Type Prison, suffered from stomach ailments and was not taken to the infirmary and hospital, or his transfer procedures were delayed.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners in Kars T Type Prison were only taken to the infirmary and were not referred to the hospital.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners in Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison No 1, who are on hunger strike, demanding an end to the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, were given only salt, sugar, lemon and carbonate by the prison administration and were not given necessary vitamins.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners in Erzurum Dumlu High-Security Prison No 2 were subjected to difficulties in transfer to the hospital and were subjected to ill-treatment of health workers during transfer to the hospital.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison, some prisoners were prevented from access to diets suitable for their illnesses; prisoners on hunger strike were not given necessary vitamins for 10 days and only salt, sugar, carbonate and lemon were given by the prison administration; the right to infirmary is limited to once every 40 days; B. B. was not taken to dental treatment for 3 years although he had no teeth in his mouth; and İ. C., an ill prisoner has not been able to get treatment since 2018.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners in Bitlis Ahlat T Type Prison were either not referred to the infirmary and hospital at all or were delayed, sick prisoners were given their medication late and were not treated properly.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners on hunger strike in Van F Type Prison were not provided with the necessary vitamins by the prison administration.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that prisoners on hunger strike in Van High-Security Prison were not provided with the necessary vitamins by the prison administration.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that a prisoner suffering from high blood pressure was not given a blood pressure monitor in Van T Type Prison.
(03/197) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made on March 21, 2024 by lawyers in order to visit their clients PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım, and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded to by Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office.
It is learned that the appeal made on March 22, 2024 to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family and tutelary along with the families and tutelary of Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
(03/198) March 31st Elections…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 21, 2024, that Haktan Faik Çoban lost his life and Burak Devran Çoban got wounded due to an armed assault by Sinan E., who had an argument with Ahmet B. distributing election leaflets of Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Güzeloluk neighbourhood of Muratpaşa district of Antalya on March 21, 2024.
According to the news coverage of March 21, 2024, IYI Party Denizli Merkezefendi Mayor Candidate Fatih Coşkun made racist and discriminatory remarks in a speech about his local election projects: “In addition, we will get rid of garbage collectors, which is a huge social problem that many of us are not aware of. We will purify our streets from refugees. The reason for this is this: These people constantly observe and follow our neighborhood, our neighbors, our children, and the holistic structure of people. Who enters the house at what time, whose spouse and child go where at what time. They are privy to all this information”.
(03/199) Interventions against Newroz Events…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 20, 2024, that Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) announced that Bingöl Newroz, which was planned to be held on March 20, 2024, was canceled by the organizing committee due to the military funeral in a hospital close to the area where Newroz events were to be held and the remarks of the Provincial Security Directorate that ‘we cannot prevent possible provocations’.
9 people including 3 children who were detained on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ for the slogans they chanted and flags they carried after Newroz events at Tırmıl Meeting Area in Mersin on March 20, 2024, were released by Mersin Penal Court of Peace No 4 on judicial control condition on March 21, 2024. Names of detainees are: H. B, E. E, and A. G, Mehmet Emin Coşkun, Mustafa Yılmaz, Hasan Ayyüz, Azad Kaya, Islam Kanat and an unnamed person.
206 people, including 38 children, were detained on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ and ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’, on the grounds of wearing local clothes and pennants, after Newroz events held in Newroz Park in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on March 21, 2024. Detained people were released on March 22, 2024 after statement procedures at the police station.
(03/200) People Detained in Izmir and Istanbul…
6 people who were detained on March 20, 2024, in house raids in Izmir and Istanbul through an investigation by Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the allegations of ‘financing an illegal organization’ were released by Izmir Criminal Peace Judgeship No 7 on judicial control condition on March 21, 2024. The names of the detained people could not be learned.
(03/201) People Detained in Mersin…
On March 21, 2024, 2 people (Tacettin Uğur and Ronahi Demir) were detained in house raids in the Tarsus district of Mersin through an investigation conducted by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’.
(03/202) People Detained in Şırnak…
12 of 15 people (Agit Şerifoğlu, Reşit Çağlı, Ayşe Soysal, Ayşegül Ceylan, Rıdvan Bakşi, Gökhan Erkul, Rojhat Karaviş, Mehmet Erek, Murat Kılıç, Yakup Durak, Vedat Ürek, Kader Yibu) who were detained on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ during house raids in Şırnak on March 18, 2024 were released after statement procedures at the police on March 21, 2024. 1 person named Besna Tayboğa was released on judicial control condition on March 21, 2024. It is reported that the detention period of 1 person named Sinan Öz was extended for 1 more day to complete the statement procedures, while the procedures of the child named F. L. are continuing at the juvenile department.
(03/203) People Detained in Istanbul…
Murat Hot, a member of the United Workers’ Movement (BİH), and Doğu Yılmaz, who works as a motor courier for a food delivery company and started a sit-in demonstration on March 19, 2024, in Istanbul, were detained in house raids on March 19, 2024, and were released on March 21, 2024, after statement procedures at the police.
(03/204) People on Trial for the Killing of a Refugee Mine Worker…
The indictment prepared against mine owners H. K. and E. G., H. K.’s cousin A. A., mine employees S. K. and E. D., and coal trader A. Ç. related to the death of Vezir Mohammad Nourtani, an Afghanistan national who was working as a miner in an illegally operated mine that was closed by the gendarmerie in Zonguldak on November 5, 2023, and who was left to die by the mine owners, relatives and 2 employees after he was seriously injured in an occupational accident while working in the mine on November 9, 2023, was accepted by Zonguldak Heavy Penal Court No.1. In the indictment, 7 people are requested to be sentenced for ‘intentional killing with participation’.
(03/205) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
On March 21, 2024, the trial of the case against Ali Duran Topuz, editor-in-chief of Artı Gerçek news website, for reporting on a decree of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) on June 20, 2022, started at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5. The indictment demands a sentence for the journalist on the charge of ‘targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism’. The court adjourned the hearing to June 27, 2024.
(03/206) March 8th Feminist Night Walk Decision…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 20, 2024, that Lawyer Esma Yaşar, a member of Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), filed a lawsuit against Istanbul Governorate and Beyoğlu District Governorate’s decision to prevent March 8 Feminist Night March and to stop public transportation on March 8, 2022, and that Istanbul Regional Administrative Court Administrative Case Department No 10 ruled that these decisions constitute interference to the right to assembly and demonstration and decided to annul the administrative action.
[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.