Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23-25 November 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/241) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in a Child Protection Institution in Antep…
It is learned from the news coverage of 22 November 2024 that, 2 4 years old children were injured due to physical violence they were subjected to in Antep Child Protection Institution under Antep Provincial Directorate of Social Services. It is reported in the news that Antep Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into the torture and ill-treatment to which the children were subjected, upon the criminal complaint of Antep Bar Association, and that the children were taken under protection.
The Ministry of Family and Social Services made the following statement on 23 November 2024 on the subject: ‘In Gaziantep, 2 4-year-old children under state care were found to have rashes on various parts of their bodies. A report was prepared on 13 November and camera recordings were retrospectively examined. As a result of health checks and psychological interviews conducted in accordance with the age and psychological status of the children, an investigation was initiated by our Provincial Directorate for a detailed examination of the issue. The children were taken to a full-fledged hospital for forensic examination. As a result of their dermatological examinations, it was stated that the wounds could be caused by trauma or dermatological disorders, and it was noted that it would be appropriate to be clarified through forensic investigation. Within the scope of the judicial and administrative investigation initiated, a care staff was detained and suspended’.
(11/242) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
On 22 November 2024, Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Ankara Branch Anti-Torture and Prison Commission released a report stating that 2 prisoners, Mulla Zincir and Ferdi İşçi, who staged a sit-in protest on 13 November 2024 against rights violations in Kırıkkale F Type Prison, were taken to their rooms with the use of physical violence and their status was changed to ‘Dangerous Convict’ on the same date. Followingly, Ferdi İşçi was then taken to the cell where he was kept waiting for 2 hours, the weekly phone call rights of 2 prisoners were reduced to once every two weeks, they will be handcuffed every time they leave the room, their metal, cutting, piercing and glassware will be confiscated, their ventilation rights were reduced to 1 hour every day between 08. 00-09.00, many of their personal belongings including glass cups were seized, and Mulla Zincir’s letters to his lawyer and family about what happened were banned.
(11/243) Hunger Strike in Prison…
On November 22, 2024, Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) Ankara Branch Anti-Torture and Prison Committee released a report stating that 2 prisoners, Mulla Zincir and Ferdi İşçi, who were given the status of “Dangerous Prisoners” and were prevented from exercising their rights including ventilation and communication rights on the grounds of staging a sit-in protest on November 13, 2024, started a hunger strike in Kırıkkale F Type Prison on November 13, 2024.
(11/244) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of 21 November 2024 that, Servet Özgün, a prisoner in Erzincan High-Security Prison, started a hunger strike on 28 September 2024, demanding transfer to a prison close to his family.
(11/245) Journalist Subjected to an Attack in Balıkesir…
It is learned from the news coverage of 23 November 2024 that, Hasan Bayram, elected city council member of Balıkesir Burhaniye Municipality Assembly from Republican People’s Party (CHP), went to the restaurant where Hakan Sataroğlu, publisher of ZeytinEfe newspaper, was sitting on 19 November 2024 and physically assaulted the journalist. It is reported in the news that Hasan Bayram, the city council member who physically assaulted Hakan Sataroğlu, was released after statement procedures at the police station, and was arrested by the criminal court of peace on 23 November 2024 on the charge of ‘intentional injury’ after being detained again on the instruction of the prosecutor’s office.
CHP Balıkesir Provincial Chair Erden Köybaşı announced on 23 November 2024 that Hasan Bayram was referred to the disciplinary board with a request for definitive dismissal.
(11/246) Preventions and Interventions Against Trustee Protests…
The police intervened with tear gas and water cannon against the people gathering in front of Tunceli Municipality on 22 November 2024 against the decision of the Ministry of Interior to dismiss Tunceli Co-Mayor Cevdet Konak, elected from Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), and Tunceli Ovacık Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül, elected from CHP, and to appoint trustees in their place. It is not known whether anyone was detained during the intervention.
On 22 November 2024, the police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against the protesters who staged a watch demonstration in front of Tunceli Municipality for the same reason. It is not known whether anyone was injured or detained during the intervention.
On 23 November 2024, it is learned that the police prevented the march after the press statement called by Labour and Democracy Forces in Izmir for the same reason. It is reported that the march was held afterwards.
On 23 November 2024, the police used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against a protest in Batman for the same cause. It is not known whether anyone was injured or detained during the intervention.
On 23 November 2024, the police intervened in the protest in Tunceli for the same reason and detained 8 people on the charges of ‘opposing to Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’ and ‘resisting to prevent duty’. 3 of 8 detainees (Okan Öz, Baran Sezgin, Orkun Güngören) were released the same day after statement procedures at the police station. 2 of the 5 people (Sezai Aksöyek, Fethi Kaykaç) who were referred to the criminal peace judgeship on 24 November 2024, were arrested while 3 people (Timur Alp İbrahimoğlu, Mehmet Demir, Baran Baran) were released on judicial control conditions.
(11/247) Police Intervention Against a Union Tent in Kocaeli….
On 22 November 2024, 3 people were detained after the intervention of the municipality police and the police officers against members of Education and Science Workers‘ Union (Eğitim Sen) who set up a tent at the city square in the Gebze district of Kocaeli on November 22, 2024, calling for the rally of Confederation of Public Employees’ Trade Unions (KESK) to be held in Ankara on November 30, 2024. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
(11/248) Police Intervention Against a Workers’ Protest in Adana…
The police intervened against the workers who were staging a protest in front of SASA Polyester – Gemont Industry in Adana on 22 November 2024, demanding severance pay, and detained 12 people including Barış Kaya, member of Construction and Road Workers’ Union (Yapı Yol-İş) central executive board. The detainees were released the same day after statement procedures at the police station.
(11/249) Bans, Preventions and Interventions against 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women…
On 22 November 2024, the police intervened against members of University Feminist Collective who were distributing leaflets for 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at Credit Dormitories Institution (KYK) Cevizlibağ Atatürk Dormitory for Girls in Istanbul and detained 7 students. Detained students were released the same day after statement procedures at the police station. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
It is learned from the news coverage of 23 November 2024 that, the police prevented the chanting of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ slogan during the event called by Tevgera Jinên Azad/Free Women’s Movement (TJA) in the Sur district of Diyarbakır on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The Governorate of Istanbul announced on 24 November 2024 that the events to be held in Beyoğlu district for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November 2024 were banned between 25 November 2024 and 26 November 2024.
(11/250) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Bursa…
On 24 November 2024, it is learned that Thousand Young People for Palestine members who gathered in front of the Bursa Provincial Customs Directorate to protest trade relations with Israel, were blockaded and 1 person was injured during police intervention and was taken to hospital. It is reported in the news that Thousand Youth for Palestine members marched after the police blockade was lifted. It is stated that no one was detained during the intervention.
(11/251) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
On 23 November 2024, the police intervened against the press statement to be held in front of Süreyya Opera House in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul against the decision to restrict the supply of certain medications commonly used by transgender people in hormone replacement therapy with the decision published in the Official Gazette on 21 November 2024, and detained at least 38 people by using torture and ill-treatment. Detained people were released after statement procedures at the police station on 24 November 2024. The names of the detainees could not be learned.
(11/252) Co-Mayor Detained in Tunceli…
It is learned from the news coverage of 24 November 2024 that, Birsen Orhan, co-mayor of Tunceli Municipality who was suspended by the Ministry of Interior on 22 November 2024 and replaced by trustees, was detained at Tunceli Security Directorate where she went to give her official statement through the investigation against her on the charges of ‘insulting a public officer’ and ‘inciting people to crime’; and was released on house confinement and with a ban on leaving the country by the criminal peace judgeship on the same date.
(11/253) Former MP and Writer Under Investigation in Kars…
Former MP and writer Mahmut Alınak was taken to the police station under police escort on 22 November 2024 on the grounds of a compulsory appearance warrant issued by Kars Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office through an investigation against him for ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’ and was released on 23 November 2024 after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office. It is reported in the news that Mahmut Alınak was penalized with a fine under the Law on Misdemeanours after he refused to sign the minutes and declare his identity at the prosecutor’s office.
(11/254) People Arrested in Izmir…
It is learned that 3 of 4 people (Mehmet Horoz, Kaan Horoz, Hasan Benli) who were detained on 20 November 2024 in Izmir and Tokat through an investigation against Partizan and Yeni Demokrat Gençlik (New Democratic Youth) magazines, were arrested by the criminal peace judgeship on 22 November 2024. 3 people (Mehmet Horoz, Kaan Horoz, Hasan Benli) were released by the same judgeship on judicial control conditions. The reason for the arrest could not be learned.
(11/255) Person Detained for Social Media Posts in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of 23 November 2024 that, 1 person (19, m) was detained in Istanbul on the grounds of ‘praising an offence and offender’ for listening a song about PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in his car and posting it on social media.
(11/256) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 22, 2024 that, the jail sentence of 1 year 10 months and 15 days given to journalist Beritan Canözer on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’ at the final trial of the case on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 for her social media posts, was approved by Penal Department No 3 of the Court of Cassation.
(11/257) Journalist and Former Party Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Barış Terkoğlu and former IYI Party Deputy Chair Ahmet Zeki Üçok, who reported on the allegations that a prosecutor was pressured to close some files when he was in charge at Istanbul Courthouse with the headlines ‘How well-connected FETÖ members are saved’ and ‘Mr. Prosecutor, I’m coming, add this article’, continued on 22 November 2024 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2. The indictment demands a sentence for the journalist and former party executive on the charge of ‘insulting a public official in a chain’. The court adjourned the hearing to 8 May 2025.
(11/258) Prisoner on Trial in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of 24 November 2024 that, Gökhan Gündüz, a prisoner in Izmir Buca Kırıklar High Security Prison No 2, was sentenced to 6.000 Turkish Liras judicial fine by Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 40 on the charge of ‘insulting the President’, which was reversed by Izmir Regional Court of First Instance Penal Department No 2 and the court acquitted Gökhan Gündüz on 6 November 2024.
At the final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Gökhan Gündüz at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 40 on 21 May 2024, the court sentenced Gökhan Gündüz to a judicial fine of 6 thousand Turkish Liras on the grounds of a cartoon in a letter he sent to a friend in Izmir Buca Kırıklar High Security Prison No 2.
(11/259) Former Press Consultant on Trial in Istanbul…
The final hearing of the trial against the former press advisor of former President Abdullah Gül, Ahmet Sever, for his statements in a program, was held on 22 November 2024 at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2. The court acquitted Ahmet Sever on the charge of ‘insult’.
At the final hearing of the lawsuit filed against Ahmet Sever at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 2 in 2016, the court sentenced him to a judicial fine of 10,620 TL and deferred the announcement of the verdict. The Constitutional Court (AYM), which finalized the individual application in 2023, ruled that Ahmet Sever’s freedom of expression was violated.
(11/260) Person on Trial for the Killing of Refugees/Asylum Seekers in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of 23 November 2024 that, the sentence of 3 times aggravated life imprisonment and property damage given to Kemal Korukmaz on the charge of ‘qualified intentional killing’, at the final trial held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 1 in March 2024, for the burning death of Syrian refugees Ahmed el Ali, Memnun Nebhan and Muhammed Hüseyin el Abdo at their workplace in the Güzelbahçe district of Izmir on 16 November 2021was approved by Penal Department No 24 of Izmir Regional Court of Appeals.
(11/261) The Trial of the Police Officer on Trial Regarding the Death of Şerzan Kurt in Eskişehir…
The final hearing of the retrial of the case against police officer Gültekin Şahin, about the death of Şerzan Kurt, a student of Muğla University Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration, who was shot in the shoulder by the police during the police intervention against the student protests in Muğla on 12 May 2010, was held on 22 November 2024 at Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1. The court sentenced police officer Gültekin Şahin to 5 years 2 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘causing death by conscious negligence’ and ruled to deduct the days spent in detention.
In the case against police officer Gültekin Şahin at Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1, the court sentenced Gültekin Şahin to 8 years of imprisonment for ‘qualified killing with probable intent’. After the Court of Cassation overturned this verdict, the police officer was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment for the same offence. Following the reversal of this verdict by the Criminal General Assembly of the Court of Cassation, the court sentenced Gültekin Şahin to 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment in the retrial. This verdict was approved by the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Cassation appealed against the approval decision.
(11/262) Police Officer on Trial in Istanbul…
On November 22, 2024, Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 39 continued to hear the case against police officer Esra Çimen for the torture and ill-treatment of Grup Yorum member Bergün Varan during the police raid on Idil Cultural Centre in Okmeydanı district of Istanbul on May 30, 2017. The indictment demands a sentence for the police officer on the charge of ‘torture’.
They put us in a white car, and when they first beat me and put me in the car, my eardrum burst. I heard one of the police officers say, ‘Switch off the lights and let the fun begin.’ They switched off the lights and beat us for a long time. They pulled my hair too, but I witnessed Bergün’s hair being pulled out. The accused police officer pulled Bergün’s hair out in tufts. While she was doing this, she laughed strangely, danced, threw the hair she plucked on the ground and played with her foot. When the front of Bergün’s head was completely bald, she went behind the seat and said, ‘Now let’s look here’. She pulled it out in small tufts and left that part completely bald’.
Bergün Varan, who complained about torture and other ill-treatment, stated the following: “In this case, the focus was on the plucking of my hair, but that day my hair was not only plucked. We were detained for a long time, we had wounds that healed. They hit me with a radio and a fist in my ear and eye. They took my photograph and sent it to each other. The defendant also harassed me’.
The court rejected the demand for arrest of defendant police officer Esra Çimen and adjourned the trial to 11 March 2025.
(11/263) Journalists Prevented from Following the News in Istanbul…
On 23 November 2024, during the police intervention against the press statement to be held in front of Süreyya Opera House in the Kadıköy district of Istanbul on 23 November 2024, to protest the decision on restricting some medications commonly used by transgender people for hormone replacement therapy, it is learned that journalists were prevented from following the news reports and were taken away from the area by the police.
(11/264) Police Raid on a Newspaper’s Building in Izmir…
On 22 November 2024, Izmir office of Özgür Gelecek newspaper was raided by the police and many printed and digital materials were seized.
(11/265) Banned Events and Demonstrations…
Governorate of Tunceli announced on 22 November 2024 that all kinds of actions and activities such as ‘outdoor and indoor gatherings, marches, vigils, press statements, hunger strikes, sit-in protests, rallies, opening stands, setting up tents, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, posters and banners’ are banned for 10 days between 22 November 2024 and 1 December 2024.
The Governorate of Elazığ announced on 22 November 2024 that, all kinds of meetings and demonstrations, press statements, opening stands, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, etc. and the entry and exit of people who are considered to be able to participate in these actions and activities are banned for 7 days between 23 November 2024 and 29 November 2024.
The Governorate of Bingöl announced on 23 November 2024 that, all kinds of meetings, demonstrations, press statements, opening stands, distributing leaflets, hanging banners etc. and entry and exit of people who are considered to participate in these activities are banned for 7 days between 23 November 2024 and 29 November 2024.
(11/266) Removal of Kurdish Expressions and Women’s Writing from the Municipality Building in Batman…
The name ‘Women’s Sports Complex’ (Kompleksa Werzîşê Ya Jinê), which was given to the municipality’s Sports Complex building by the co-mayors elected from DEM Party in the 31 March local elections, was changed to Batman Municipality Sports Complex.
(11/267) Removal of the Name ‘Dersim’ from Tunceli Municipality’s Social Media Account…
It is learned from the news coverage of 23 November 2024 that, after the co-mayors of Tunceli Municipality, who were elected from DEM Party, were suspended by the Ministry of Interior on 22 November 2024, and trustees were appointed in their place, the name of the social media account of the municipality was changed from ‘Dersim Municipality’ to ‘Tunceli Municipality’, and the profile text ‘We Succeeded Together, We Will Govern Together’ was replaced with Turkish flag images.
[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.