Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 – 25 February Daily Human Rights Report
(02/315) Explosion at Military Post in Ankara…
It is learned that 1 of 5 soldiers who were wounded due to the explosion happened during a training at Artillery and Missile School Command in Polatlı district of Ankara on February 20, 2019, died in hospital on February 22, 2019.
(02/316) Syrian Asylum Seekers Assaulted in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2019 that 4 masked people raided the house of a Syrian family in Sultangazi district of Istanbul and shot 1 person at the head. It is reported that the person who was wounded heavily was taken to hospital.
(02/317) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that 2 prisoners, Erkan Benli and Sadık Tan, who were being transferred from Bafra T Type Prison to Mardin E Type Prison to attend the trial of the case against them on February 25, 2019; were kept in Elazığ T Type Prison on the way and were subjected to physical and verbal violence of the wardens because they reject strip search.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2019 that, 6 prisoners who are on hunger strike in Bayburt M Type Closed Prison were taken from their wards and were put into solitary cells. It is also stated in the news reports that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against prisoners on hunger strike and those prisoners were penalised with prohibition from visit and communication rights for 3 months as a result. The names of prisoners who were put into solitary cells are: Delila Roj Ekmen, Fatma Yıldırım, Sevgi Aka Gündüz, Zeynep Topçu, Tuğba Can and Serfiraz Demirer.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2019 that in Van T Type Prison, radios belong to prisoners were seized by the instruction of prison administration.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2019 that, Medeni Söylemez, a prisoner kept in Tekirdağ T Type Prison No 1 was subjected to a disciplinary proceeding because he talked on the phone about hunger strikes with his brother who is kept in Bandırma T Type Prison No 2.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2019 that, Eren Erdem, former MP of Republican People’s Party (CHP), was subjected to a disciplinary proceeding by Silivri Prison administration because of going on a hunger strike and was penalised with prohibition from sports rights for 1 month as a result. It is also stated in the news reports that the book Eren Erdem wrote was not given to him by prison administration.
(02/318) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 22, 2019 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.
It is learned that the appeal made on February 22, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 792nd time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(02/319) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 838 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on February 22, 23, and 24, 2019 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 22, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 23, 2019, 3 people (Nuriye Gülmen, Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on February 24, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Alev Şahin) were detained.
Thus in total 13 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on February 22, 23, and 24, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(02/320) Coercion to Uniforms and Reactions Against This…
The press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members attempted to be held in Sakarya Street in Ankara on February 23, 2019 against uniform coercion in prisons is prevented by the police. It is reported that 2 people (Umutcan Aybak and Sinan Yanbal) were detained in police intervention.
(02/321) Police Intervention Against Lawyers’ Protest in Istanbul…
On February 23, 2019, the police intervened into the lawyers from Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and People’s Law Office, who fly sky lanterns to draw attention to the case against lawyers including ÇHD chair Selçuk Kozağaçlı, and detained 7 lawyers by using physical violence against them.
People’s Law Office stated the following on social media, about the physical violence that their members were subjected to: “The police tortured our intern Oğuzhan Topalkara, they wanted to twist and break his fingers, he has swelling in his thumb, and bruises and swellings on his arms due to being handcuffed behind his back. Our intern Seda Şaraldı has bruises and swellings in her arms due to being handcuffed behind her back and due to the torture of the police during hospital transfer and in detention vehicle. Lawyer Yaprak Türkmen has bruises and swellings in her arms due to being handcuffed behind her back, the police pushed her onto the floor while he was handcuffed behind her back. She has bruise and hepatisation in her eye due to this. Lawyer Barzan Demirhan has bruises and swellings due to being handcuffed behind his back. He has intense pain at arms and shoulders due to torture and beating of the police during transfer to hospital. Lawyer Ayşegül Çağatay has scratches, bruises and swellings at her lower neck and wrists due to being handcuffed behind her back and due to torture of the police. When lawyer Ayşegül Çağatay was taken to hospital for medical examination, a police officer from department for political parties, came into the examination room. Although she wanted the police officer, the one who tortured them, to go out, the police did not go out and Ayşegül Çağatay did not accept to be medically examined under these conditions. Lawyer Canan Gözcü has scratches, bruises and swellings on her arms due to being handcuffed behind her back and due to the torture. Lawyer Gökmen Yeşil was attacked by the police in detention vehicle, while he was handcuffed behind his back for 4 hours, he has lesions at his head, forehead and chin.”
It is learned that 7 lawyers were referred on the same day to the court of peace on duty without giving their official statement to the prosecutor, and were released by the court on judicial control conditions, again without any official statement given.
(02/322) Police Intervention Against 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 726th time on February 23, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) MP’s Hüda Kaya and Zeynel Özen, and Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu as well as representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people gather in front of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office and started to march. It is reported that the police blockaded the street of IHD Istanbul office too.
(02/323) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 361st time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on February 23, 2019, 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.
(02/324) The Case Against Human Rights Defender and Executives of HDP and DBP in Malatya…
The case against Human Rights Association (IHD) Malatya branch chair Gönül Öztürkoğlu, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Malatya former co-chair Özcan Ağdaş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Malatya co-chair Nermin Tuncel, HDP Battalgazi district co-chair Ahmet Aksu, HDP Yeşilyurt district co-chair Aziz Doğan, former HDP executive Hasan Karvar and HDP member Ahmet Turan Sertkaya, on Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on February 22, 2019.
After defence hearings the court decided to release Nermin Tuncel and Özcan Ağdaş on judicial control conditions and decided to continue detention of Aziz Doğan and Gönül Öztürkoğlu and adjourned the trial to March 22, 2019.
IHD Malatya branch chair Gönül Öztürkoğlu and Nermin Tuncel, Özcan Ağdaş, Aziz Doğan were detained in Malatya on November 27, 2018 and were arrested on November 30, 2018.
(02/325) Lawyers on Trial in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that, the prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case against 20 arrested lawyers from Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) and People’s Law Office on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37. It is reported that the prosecutor declared the legal opinion between two trials and demanded sentence for 18 lawyers on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and demanded separation of the case against 2 lawyers.
Lawyers from ÇHD and People’s Law Office were detained on November 8, 2017 and were arrested on November 13, 2017. 17 lawyers were released by the court at the trial held on September 14, 2018 however the prosecutor objected the court’s decision and 6 lawyers (Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Ahmet Mandacı, Aytaç Ünsal, Aycan Çiçek, Engin Gökoğlu and Behiç Aşçı) were arrested again on September 16, and 17, 2018.
(02/326) Police Officer on Trial for ‘Sexual Assault’ in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against police officer S.E., on the grounds of ‘sexual assault’ to P.T., a woman, in the police car on January 6, 2018; and against police officer R.Y. on the grounds of ‘aiding sexual assault offence’ and ‘failure to report an offence’ is held on Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 15 on February 22, 2019. The court acquitted R.Y. on the charge of ‘aiding sexual assault offence’. The court sentenced R.Y. to 5 months on the charge of ‘failure to report an offence’ and suspended the sentence. The court sentenced S.E. to 12 years on the charge of ‘sexual assault’ and then reduced the sentence to 10 years, “considering the possible effect of the sentence on the defendant’s future”.
(02/327) Executives and Members of Community Houses on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 17 people including Community Houses co-chair Nuri Günay and general secretary Özge Ozan, for a press declaration about taxes held on December 16, 2017 in Kadıköy district of Istanbul, is held on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 20 on February 22, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial.
Those 17 people who were detained in the police intervention against the press declaration were subjected to physical violence of the police during detention and in detention car.
(02/328) Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against 22 people 5 of which are arrested including Derik district co-mayor Abdülkerim Erdem, on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 is held on February 22, 2019. After defence hearings the court rejected demand of release and adjourned the trial to March 21, 2019.
A trustee was appointed to Derik Municipality by the Ministry of Interior on September 11, 2016. Derik district co-mayor Abdülkerim Erdem was detained on February 22, 2016 and was arrested on February 26, 2016.
(02/329) Proceedings Against CHP MP…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that, Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office submitted the summary of proceedings against CHP Istanbul MP Mehmet Bekaroğlu, for his social media posts about the Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu.
On June 14, 2018, Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP candidate İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his entourage visited shopkeepers in Suruç district of Urfa, and a quarrel took place in a shop, which turned into a gunfight causing death of 4 people and injury of 8 people. Süleyman Soylu, on the quarrel, stated the following: “I am saying it very clearly: The reason and the enabler of the Suruç incident is Muharrem İnce. It is very clear. But there is someone who spoils them and it is Muharrem İnce, who represents the very understanding that sets them apart from politics and closer to violence” blaming CHP’s presidential candidate Muharrem İnce. Mehmet Bekaroğlu, retweeting Soylu’s statements, made the comment “May God damn you. You shameless person, you agent, don’t be a provocateur!”.
It is learned that, it is stated in the summary of proceedings that the post is a competent evidence of ‘publicly insulting a public officer for his duty’ and that the summary of proceedings was sent to the Minister of Justice.
(02/330) Investigation Against SGDF Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that 5 members of Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) who were distributing Özgür Gençlik magazine issue no 32, were subjected to investigation on the charge of ‘insulting the President’. It is reported that there was no ban on the related issue of the magazine.
(02/331) Non-Prosecution Decision on Deaths During Curfew in Şırnak …
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that, Şırnak Public Prosecutor’s Office declared non-prosecution decision on the investigation about death of Hozan Kabul, Rıdvan Güngen and 1 more person (name unknown) during the curfew in Şırnak on March 14, 2016 which lasted for 8 months. It is reported that the decision states that “no evidence was found to prove that security forces have excessed self-defence limits”.
(02/332) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 22, 2019, a detention warrant is issued against 295 military officers on active duty, including 2 colonels, 2 major and 8 lieutenants, and it is learned that 224 people are detained in operations covering 59 cities as of February 24, 2019.
(02/333) Elections on March,31…
On February 22, 2019, Anadolu News Agency, the official news agency of the state, published a news report about HDP’s candidates for local elections on March 31, 2019, with the title “HDP is going to the poll with names who were on courts for terror crimes”, and stated the following in the news report: “There are 24 people who were investigated, prosecuted or faced with legal proceedings for ‘terror’ charges, among mayor candidates of HDP for the local elections on March 31, 2019”.
On February 22, 2019, flags on HDP’s Keçiören district office in Ankara are burned down by anonymous person or persons. It is reported that HDP district executive board made an official complaint about the attack.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that, Batman central district election board has declined nomination of Sabri Özdemir, HDP’s co-mayor candidate for Batman. It is reported that the reason was 2 different sentences given to Sabri Özdemir on the charge of ‘insulting the President’. It is learned that Sabri Özdemir’s lawyers will object to Batman provincial election board.
(02/334) Closure Cases Against Political Parties…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2019 that, Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court applied to the Constitutional Court for closure of Kurdistan Party of Turkey, Kurdistan Socialist Party, Kurdistan Freedom Party and Kurdistan Communist Party, on the grounds of ‘activities against the Constitution’.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.