Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
22 September 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/181) Iranian Citizens Died by Security Fire in Van…
It is claimed in the news coverage of September 21, 2021 that, 2 Iranian citizens [Sozdar Ehmedî (19) and Elişan Ehmedî (16)] died by the fire opened by security forces from a helicopter in rural areas of Esenyamaş neighbourhood of Başkale district of Van on September 20, 2021. It is also stated in the news reports that 9 other people who were with these 2 people were detained and taken to Başkale Gendarmerie Command. Detained people are: Mikail Hatemî, Ferzad Hatemî, Diyar Hatemî, Ahîn Hatêmî, Guldanî Hatemî, Zêro Hatemî, Kinyas Hatemî, Axacan Hatemî and Behzat Hatemî.
A person named Ş. İ. from Kurani village of Urmia city of Iran, stated the following to the press: “In the evening of 19 September, 11 carriers set off for Suüstü village of Başkale district of Van (…) the next morning, fire was opened from a helicopter onto them as they pass the border (…) A carrier who survived this called us and told us that a constant fire was opened from the helicopter. But we could not reach this carrier again. And we learned that dead bodies of our relatives were taken from the area yesterday (…) We have no idea about those who were detained.”
(09/182) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 21, 2021 that, 1 militant died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Avaşin area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on July 7, 2021.
(09/183) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Hatay…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 21, 2021 that, a person named A. Y. whose car was stopped for police search in Iskenderun district of Hatay on September 11, 2021; was subjected to physical and verbal violence of the police because he was smoking during the car search.
It is learned that A. Y. got a medical report evidencing the violence and made a criminal complaint against the police officers.
It is learned that A. Y. said the following in his statement: “I lit a cigarette while they were searching my car. A police officer took the cigarette in my hand and threw it, saying ‘Are you the one who runs things around you son of a …’; and when I reacted against his attitude he said ‘Shut up you f…’ and continued to insult me. Another police officer came, held my collar and hit me in the chest.”
(09/184) Racist Attack in Düzce…
It is learned that Kurdish agricultural workers who came to Akçakoca district of Düzce for hazelnut harvest, were subjected to a racist group’s attack in their house on September 20, 2021.
Muhammed Günel, one of the workers who were subjected to attack, stated the following: “Last night somebody threw a stone outside and broke our window. When we went out to see what was happening, we saw two persons waiting in front of the house. They said ‘Either you will leave the house in ten minutes, or we will burn it down, we will bring stones and rifles’ (…) Then, 20 up to 30 more persons came in front of the house (…) We called the police twice, but the police said they would not come unless there was an incident. (…) The police came after a while but they did not even touch those in front of our house. They took me, along with my friends Hasan Çiçek and Mehmet Furkan Çiçek to Akçakoca District Security Directorate. They took our official statements and wanted us to sign the documents which were indeed blaming us. They wrote down that we had attacked those people with knives. We did not sign the document, and they took us to a hospital for medical examination. Although I wanted a report to evidence that a piece of glass wounded my hand, the police prevented me.”
(09/185) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 21, 2021 that, prisoners in Elazığ High Security Prison No 2 were forced to in-mouth search and those who reject it were not referred to hospitals in case of need.
(09/186) Detained Executives of Political Party and Association in Adana…
On September 21, 2021, 9 people including Adana Solidarity Association for Prisoners’ Families (ATUHAY-DER) executives Zakir Akalın and Sinan Balduz and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Çukurova district co-chair Yaşa Demir are detained in house raids in Adana, Mersin and Siirt, through an Adana based investigation.
(09/187) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Mezopotamya News Agency reporters Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on September 21, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for 2 journalists on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The court decided to continue the ban on leaving the country for 2 journalists and adjourned the trial to November 18, 2021.
(09/188) Former HDP MP on Trial…
The retrial of the case against former HDP MP Çağlar Demirel is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on September 21, 2021. The local court has ruled imprisonment of Çağlar Demirel however the supreme court has reversed the verdict.
It is learned that the court board did not allow journalists in the courtroom. After defence hearings the court decided to release Çağlar Demirel and adjourned the trial.
(09/189) Deputy Mayor on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Cihan Yavuz, deputy mayor of Şişli district, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 on September 21, 2021. The court decided to acquit Cihan Yavuz.
Cihan Yavuz was arrested on December 2, 2020 and was released by the court at the trial on April 15, 2021.
(09/190) HDP Executive on Trial in Van…
The final trial of the case against HDP Party Assembly member Fırat Keser is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 2 on September 21, 2021. Fırat Keser joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court sentenced Fırat Keser to 7 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(09/191) 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 September 21, 2021.
Bülent Karaoğlu did not join the trial. The court decided to arrest Bülent Karaoğlu and adjourned the trial to November 4, 2021.
The final trial of the case was held on March 1, 2016; and the local court has acquitted all 4 defendants. 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. The case will drop due to term of limitation if it will not be finalised until October 3, 2023.
(09/192) Efe Tektekin Case…
The trial of the case against police officer İ. A., for death of Efe Tektekin (5), due to being hit by an armoured police vehicle in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on September 11, 2019, is held at Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 9 on September 21, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for İ. A. on the charge of reckless killing.
The court adjourned the trial to December 23, 2021.
(09/193) Curfew in Bitlis…
Bitlis Governorate made a declaration on September 21, 2021 and announced curfew in 2 villages of the central district as of 05.00 on September 21, 2021 until a further notice. The governorate’s office lifted the curfew as of 18.00 on September 21, 2021.
The villages under curfew were: Yenice and Doğanlı.
(09/194) Attack on Political Party Office in Istanbul…
On September 21, 2021, an armed assault was organized on Arnavutköy district office of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA Party) in Istanbul. It is learned that nobody was harmed but there was material damage in the party office.
Istanbul Governorate’s Office made the following declaration: “The police received a report that someone has shot to the two-storey building on Fatih street in Arnavutköy district, at around 02.40 on September 21, 2021. As the result of security forces’ research, 6 bullet holes were found in the office on the first floor and 2 bullet holes were found in the window and there were 8 bullet shells around. The investigation to find the attacker is going on.”
(09/195) Police Raid to Association Offices in Adana…
On September 21, 2021, the police raided the offices of ATUHAY-DER and Çukurova Association of Prisoners’ Families in Adana and seized some of the official documents.
(09/196) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 21, 2021, 25 people are detained in operations covering 8 cities through an Istanbul-based investigation; and 7 people are detained in operations covering 5 cities through an Ankara based investigation.
3 of 11 people who were detained in Konya are arrested by the court on September 21, 2021 while 8 people are released on judicial control conditions.
(09/197) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 260 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and the daily number of Covid-19 cases is 29,338 as of September 21, 2021.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 62,491 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 6,879,677 as of September 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.
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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.