Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23-25 March 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/207) Refugees Who Lost Their Lives in Çanakkale…
As of March 25, 2024, the number of refugees who lost their lives in the sinking of a boat off the coast of Eceabat district of Çanakkale on March 15, 2024, is at least 23, including 8 children.
(03/208) Injured Prisoner and Staff Due to a Transfer Vehicle Crash…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 25, 2024, that Elif Kardağı, a prisoner in Mersin Tarsus Type T Women’s Prison who was transferred to Kayseri Bünyan Women’s Prison against her will on March 21, 2024, suffered fractures in various parts of her body and memory loss due to the accident of the vehicle she was in during transfer, and 4 soldiers and correction officers in the vehicle were injured, 1 of them seriously.
(03/209) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Hakkari…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 25, 2024, that Yalçın Kaval, who was detained by the police on March 24, 2024, in connection with the incidents that took place during the match between Hakkari Zapspor and Mazıdağı Spor football teams at Merzan City Stadium in Hakkari, was verbally and physically assaulted by the police at Atatürk Police Station. Yalçın Kaval was referred to Criminal Peace Judgeship on March 25, 2024, and was released on judicial control condition.
Yalçın Kaval, who was wounded in various parts of his body as a result of the attack and received a medical report from Hakkari State Hospital certifying that he had been physically assaulted, said the following in his statements to the press: “Between 20.30-21.00, plainclothes police officers came to my residence in Berçelan neighborhood. They told me to come to the police station and that my statement would be taken. I first went to Hakkari State Hospital, where I was given a report. Then I was brought to Atatürk Police Station for my statement. I waited in the lawyer interview room for about an hour. Then a short-haired, dark-haired, plainclothes officer, whom I had known before but did not remember his name, took me from the lawyer interview room and took me to another room. Then plainclothes police officers entered the room. A police officer named E.A., a supervisor in charge of plainclothes police officers and a few other people in plainclothes whom I did not recognize entered the room. As soon as these people entered the room, they started hitting me. These people put me on the ground and handcuffed me behind my back. After they handcuffed me, they hit me again. (…) While they were beating me, they threatened and insulted me, saying ‘We will not let you live, you do not know who we are’. Afterwards, I was taken to Hakkari State Hospital for a report on the beating. I had a bruise on the upper part of my right eyelid, bleeding from my nose, pain in my back and chest, pain in both knees, and a tear in my pants in the calf area of my left leg. I don’t know any of these people except E.A., but I could identify them if I saw them. I did not threaten or insult any of the officers. I did not resist”.
The Governorate of Hakkari announced on November 25, 2024, that an investigation had been launched into the incident.
(03/210) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Adana…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that two members of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) were stopped by the police officers, handcuffed behind their backs, and put into a police bus on Inönü Street in Seyhan district of Adana, and were subjected to verbal and physical violence of the police officers and pepper spray was sprayed in their faces for criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while talking among themselves on the street.
(03/211) People Subjected to Violence in Bingöl…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 24, 2024, that a delegation including Nihat Çelik, mukhtar of Mustafa Gündoğdu neighbourhood and Erdal Arıkan, mayor of Bingöl district of Justice and Development Party (AKP), went to visit a family whose house was flooded due to snow and downpour in Bingöl and had a quarrel with the family on March 23, 2024; and that mukhtar Nihat Çelik and some members of the delegation subjected the family members to verbal and physical violence.
(03/212) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that 7 prisoners in Kocaeli Kandıra F Type Prison No 2 were forced to strip search while they were leaving a painting workshop.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that Mahmut Tutal and İdris Duruk, prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison No 1, were transferred to Erzincan High-Security Prison against their will. It is reported that Mahmut Tutal’s family was not informed about the transfer.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that Dozgin Temo, a prisoner in Urfa T Type Prison No. 2 was transferred to Erzincan High Security Prison against his will. It is reported that Dozgin Temo’s family was not informed about the transfer.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that İsmail Tüzün, an ill prisoner who was transferred from Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison to Kırşehir S Type Prison against his will on March 8, 2024; was subjected to physical violence for rejecting strip search and oral search and was sentenced to solitary confinement as a result of disciplinary proceedings initiated against him, was not given water for 13 days and was only allowed to ventilate for 1 hour. İsmail Tüzün said the following in his statements to the press: “They check me every hour. They do not give me water. I buy drinking water from the canteen. My cell is constantly raided and my clothes are scattered. The prison director said: ‘This is your last point. There is nowhere you can go beyond this.’ They are constantly applying pressure”.
(03/213) Party and Association Executives Arrested in Izmir…
Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Deputy Co-Chair Ebru Yiğit, ESP PM members Bikan Polat and Hıdır Ali Kılıç, Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) Executive Committee and Free Young Women (ÖGK) Central Coordination member Sinem Çelebi, who were detained on March 19, 2024, through an investigation by Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, were arrested by the Criminal Peace Judgeship on March 22, 2024, on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’.
(03/214) Person Arrested in Istanbul…
Hatice Yıldız (75, F) was detained on March 22, 2024, after Istanbul Regional Court of Appeals upheld the sentence of 4 years and 2 months given by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on the charge of ‘financing an illegal organization’ for sending money to her daughter and her daughter’s wardmate in prison. It is learned that Hatice Yıldız, who cannot walk due to health problems, was carried on a stretcher by the police to the courthouse and was arrested and sent to Bakırköy Women’s Prison.
(03/215) Academic Detained in Istanbul…
Social anthropologist Prof. Dr. Nükhet Sirman was detained on March 24, 2024, in Istanbul and taken to Mersin on the grounds of an investigation against a person she had interviewed during a field study in Mersin for Dissensus Research, an interdisciplinary research and design company she co-founded. On March 25, 2024, it was reported that Nükhet Sirman’s detention was extended by 1 day and a confidentiality order was imposed on the file.
(03/216) Interventions against Newroz Events…
On March 22, 2024, 2 people (Ramazan Öner and Yusuf Emlek) were detained in the Kızıltepe district of Mardin on the grounds of participating in Newroz events on March 20, 2024 and lighting a Newroz fire in their neighborhood. After statement procedures at the police station, 2 people were handcuffed behind their backs during their transfer to Mardin Courthouse and were arrested by Mardin Criminal Peace Judgeship on the charge of ‘committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organization without being a member of an illegal organization’.
(03/217) Association Co-Chair on Trial…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that Şeyhmus Karadağ, the former co-chair of the Association of Families Who Lost Their Relatives in the Cradle of Civilizations (MEBYA-DER), was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’; and that the sentence of 6 years and 3 months was approved by Penal Department No 9 of Diyarbakır Regional Court of Appeals on March 23, 2024.
(03/218) Journalist and Others on Trial in Şırnak…
The first trial of the case against 18 women, including journalist Zeynep Durgut, (Asiye Akın, Asuman Külter, Ayşe Külter, Ayşete Atabey, Bedriye Katar, Elfesya Nas, Emine Özek, Evin Erden, Güler Yerbasan Tunç, Hatice Durmuş, Hatice Uyar, Kadriye Katar, Kıymet Acar, Meryem Eşkara, Songül Erden, Songül Küçük and Zilan Yaman) started on March 22, 2024, at Şırnak Penal Court of First Instance. The indictment demands a sentence for 18 people on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’. The court adjourned the trial to June 27, 2024.
(03/219) Journalist on Trial in Bursa…
The final hearing of the case against Jinnews reporter Rozerin Gültekin, who was detained in Bursa on June 12, 2022, on the allegations of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’, was held on March 22, 2024, at Bursa Penal Court of First Instance No 18. The court acquitted the journalist.
(03/220) Journalist and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 52 people, including journalist Yağmur Kaya, who were detained in the police intervention against the press statement to protest the rector appointed by the President to Boğaziçi University on March 25, 2021; was held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 17 on March 22, 2024. The court adjourned the trial to July 5, 2024.
(03/221) Journalist Under Investigation…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that an investigation was initiated against Kayhan Ayhan, editor of BirGün newspaper, who reported on December 2, 2023, on the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of people living in Göllüce village of İznik district of Bursa by the gendarmerie.
(03/222) Journalist Under Investigation…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that 5 separate investigations were initiated against BirGün newspaper reporter İsmail Arı, for his news reports, on the grounds of complaints of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Mersin MP Levent Uysal and former Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gül.
(03/223) Prisoners on Trial in Samsun…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that Samsun Heavy Penal Court No 2 accepted the indictment prepared by Samsun Public Prosecutor’s Office against Serbest Süleyman, Ercan Yakut, Lezhat Değirmenci and Mehmet Yıldırım, prisoners in Samsun Bafra T Type High-Security Prison, on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ on the grounds of protests against rights violations they were subjected to between 2012 and 2019, and faxes they sent to the press and non-governmental organizations. The date of the hearing could not be learned.
(03/224) March 31st Elections…
On March 22, 2024, CHP Hatay Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candidate Lütfü Savaş was physically assaulted by a person while giving a speech at a rally organized by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the Yaylıca neighborhood of Samandağ district of Hatay.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that DEM Party’s election liaison office in the Fevzi Çakmak neighborhood of Elazığ’s central district was attacked by anonymous person or persons on March 22, 2024. It is learned that the attack caused material damage to the building and party flags were removed. It is reported that DEM Party Elazığ Provincial Organization filed a criminal complaint about the attack.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that a group including Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) Antalya provincial chair Enes Keskin, who were distributing election leaflets in the Kültür neighborhood of Antalya’s Kepez district, were attacked by another group alleged to be members of Ülkü Ocakları. It is reported that TİP Antalya provincial chair Enes Keskin was detained after the attack and was subjected to physical violence by the police.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 24, 2024, that a group distributing election leaflets of Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the Maltepe district of Istanbul was verbally and physically attacked by another group and Ramazan Şahin (72, m) was wounded due to the attack. Ministry of Justice made a declaration and announced that 1 of 6 people detained in relation to the incident was arrested and 5 people were released on judicial control condition.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 25, 2024, that DEM Party’s election stand at Sultançiftliği Square in Istanbul was blocked by a group reported to be Zafer Party members and police officers on the grounds of lack of the Governorate’s permission.
(03/225) Administrative Investigation about the Suspicious Death of a Child in Urfa…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2024, that the administrative investigation initiated against 15 special operations police officers about 16 years old Muharrem Aksem, who was found dead in the Micit (Çalışkan) neighborhood of Eyyübiye district of Urfa on March 24, 2022, in the area where special operations police officers were practicing shooting, has not been concluded for 2 years.
The Governorate of Urfa did not give permission for an investigation against 15 special operations police officers, and this decision of the Governorate was overturned by Antep Regional Administrative Court. 15 special operations police officers were re-appealed to the Urfa Governor’s Office for an investigation and the Governor’s Office rejected the request for an investigation permit again despite the decision of the Regional Administrative Court. As a result of the appeal against the Governorate’s decision, an administrative investigation was initiated against 15 special operations police officers.
(03/226) Union Fined…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security investigated the allegation that Özak Tekstil workers who started a peaceful protest on November 27, 2023, to demand their labour rights and became members of United Textile, Weaving and Leather Workers’ Union (BİRTEK-SEN) were forced by BİRTEK-SEN to resign from Öz İplik-İş and fined BİRTEK-SEN 1 and a half million Turkish Liras.
(03/227) Ban of Access on Web Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 22, 2024, that 3 news reports on https://www.sozcu.com.tr, https://ankahaber.net and https://www.odatv.com, about the inspector’s report on ‘abuse of office’ allegations against AKP Elazığ Yazıkonak mayor candidate, were banned from access by Elazığ Criminal Peace Judgeship No 2 on March 22, 2024.
(03/228) Special Security Zone in Şırnak…
The Governorate of Şırnak announced on March 25, 2024, that the Gabar Mountain Region in the central and Güçlükonak districts of Şırnak Province has been declared as a temporary security zone for 15 days between March 26, 2024 and April 9, 2024, and all access to the region is banned.
[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.