Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 -25 September Daily Human Rights Report
(09/160) Person Assaulted by Police in İstanbul…
It is learned that on September 23, 2017 a car was stopped at a control point by the police and passengers were asked to leave the car. One person got out of the car but the driver disobeyed police officers stop warning and drove. Driver later crashed the car while being chased by the police and continued to run away by foot. It is reported that the driver was shot by the police while running and was sent to a hospital. The driver Engin U. allegedly fired to police officers his gun while running.
(09/161) Civilian Found Dead in Tunceli…
It is learned from news coverage of September 23, 2017 that a dead body was found near Yaylagünü village. It is claimed that the body belongs to Rıza Öztürk living in Sarıtosun village of Tunceli’s Ovacık district. Firs investigations showed that Örük was killed with a fire arm. It is also learned from news reports that MLKP took responsibility of the killing.
(09/162) Worker Killed in Hakkari…
Governorate of Hakkari declared that 1 worker and 1 soldier was killed, 2 soldiers were injured during an attack towards a military base construction site located in Şemdinli district.
(09/163) Armed Assault to Hakkari Mayor’s House…
It is learned that on September 24, 2017 Mayor of Hakkari’s Durankaya Sub-District Fatih Keskin’s house was attacked by alleged PKK militants. It is reported that stun grenades were thrown to the house and long barrel guns were fired. No deaths or injuries occurred. Governorate declared that 3 people are detained regarding the incident.
Fatih Keskin’s house was attacked on September 7, 2017 as well. No deaths or injuries occurred.
(09/164) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
Governorate of Hakkari declared that 1 soldier died and 1 soldier was injured during a bomb attack while military vehicles were passing in Yüksekova District. Also in Yüksekova during another clash, 1 soldier was killed and 5 soldiers were injured.
It is learned from news coverage of September 23, 2017 that on August 31, 2017 2 HPG militants were killed in Hakkari’s Yüksekova district during air strikes and land bombings through a military operation. On September 22, 1 militant was killed in Hakkari’s Şemdinli district during a clash between security forces and HPG militants.
(09/165) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from news coverage of September 25, 2017 that prisoner cells in Düzce Type T prison has been raided by the wardens continuously at night and prisoners were threatened to be sent to solitary cells. It is also learned that personal belongings of prisoners such as books, magazines and radios were kept by the administration.
It is learned from news coverage of September 22, 2017 that prisoners in Bolu Type F Prison were forced to declare their names and the names of the people they talk to if they wish to use the phone. It is also learned that the phone calls of the ones refusing to give names were disrupted.
It is learned from news coverage of September 24, 2017 that again in Bolu Type F Prison arrested and convicted prisoners from PKK trials were forced to wear badges that wrote ‘‘PKK member’’ while going to infirmary, hospital, library and sport facilities. The ones who refuse to wear the badge are reportedly prevented from going to these facilities.
News coverage on September 24, 2017 claimed that two prisoners named Ferdi İşçi and Deniz Can in Edirne Type F Prison were physically abused and forced out of their cells, hogtied and sent to a isolation cell. It is reported that two prisoners were later sent to solitary cells. It is learned that other prisoners protesting the situation by hitting the door and fences were transferred to other prisons on September 11, 2017. The same news coverage reports that before the transfer prisoners Fikret Kara, Barış Aras, İleri Kızılaltun and Ayberk Demirdöğen were physically assaulted by wardens. Then Aras, Kızılatın and Demirdöğen were dog tied and put to isolation cell.
It is learned from news coverage of September 25, 2017 that 25 prisoners in Adana Kürkçüler Prison were transferred to various other locations. 17 prisoners were sent to Tarsus Type T Prison, 8 prisoners were sent to Alanya Type L Prison.
It is learned that 4 people from the same family were located in 3 different prisons. The family’s request to be transferred to the same prison was denied on September 23, 2017. It is reported in the news coverage that Abdullah Çetin and Ferhat Çetin was sent to Patnos Type C Prison, Necdet Çetin was sent to Gümüşhane Type E Prison and Tevfik Çetin was sent to Siirt Type E Prison.
(09/166) Rejection of Meeting Request with Öcalan…
It is learned that PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s brother, sister and families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş who are also in İmrali Prison requested visitation and submitted a request to Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office. The request was denied on the same day on the basis of limitations regarding the convicted prisoners due to Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275.
(09/167) Urfa Bar President Assaulted by police…
It is learned from news coverage of September 22, 2017 that Urfa Bar President Ahmet Tüysüz was physically abused by police officers when he was in Viranşehir Courthouse to meet with a client. It is learned that due to assault Tüysüz had bruises on his body. Tüysüz said in his statement in the press: ‘‘There was a short conversation between me and my client. A police officer witnessed this conversation and although he understood I was an attorney he asked who I was: ‘a friend or a foe?’. And before letting me show my identity they asked how they could know if I was an attorney. Before I could ask what was happening, he ordered other officers to throw me out and detain me and I was abused during all this tumult.’’
(09/168) Police Raid to Grup Yorum’s Album Signing…
It is learned that on September 24, 2017 police raided Grup Yorum’s album signing taking place in Idil Culture Center in İstanbul Okmeydanı. It is reported that police forced everyone to lie on the ground at the cafeteria and made mandatory criminal record checks (GBT). During the raid, Culture Center’s employees were reportedly physcally abused and some were injured. Names of the people detained are: Atilla Atan, Neslihan Albayrak, Taylan, Bahar Kurt, Özgür Gültekin Ali Sinan Çağlar, Ayfer Rüzgar, Dilek Kaya, Meral Hır, Aygül Birgül, Meral Gökoğlu.
(09/169) Police Operation Towards DHKPC…
It is learned from news coverage of September 23, 2017 that through an ‘‘investigation towards DHKPC’’ by Istanbul Public prosecutor’s Office, arrest warrants have been filed for 110 people.
It is learned that 15 people detained from September 12 and onwards, including Grup Yorum member Betül Varan, are still kept in İstanbul Police Headquarters. Names of the detainees are: Özlem Kütük, Dilan Uludağ, Karip Polat, Hasan Karapınar, Yeliz Kılıç Sevcan Adıgüzel, Betül Varan, Bayram Güleç, İlyas Argan, Ulaş İnci, Selda Özçelik, Demir Özçelik, Yurdagül Gümüş, Fikret Akar, Abdullah Özgün. It is reported that Ulaş İnci was physically abused while his fingerprints were recorded.
(09/170) Co-Mayor Detained…
It is learned that co-Mayor of Mersin’s Akdeniz Districk Mehmet Fazıl Türk was detained on September 22, 2017 when he went to Prosecutor’s Office to testify. Previously, a trustee was appointed in his place. Türk was detained due to an alleged warrant of arrest.
An arrest warrant was issued for Türk previously on December 12, 2016 as well but Türk was not detained. Through the same investigation 22 people, including Akdeniz co-Mayor Yüksel Mutlu and HDP Mersin Provincial executive Sadun Doğan, were detained and 15 were arrested. Later on July 20, 2017 all defendants were released with judiciary control condition.
(09/171) Detention in İstanbul for Yellow, Red, Green Colors…
It is learned that on September 24, 2017 a wedding convoy in İstanbul’s Sultangazi district was stopped by police officers because of waving yellow-red-green scarfs. Many people including the groom and bride were detained.
(09/172) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that on September 22, 2017 in Kocaeli 10 people including police officers, through a Kocaeli based investigation 27 people including regular soldiers and in İzmir 26 people through an investigation towards attorneys were detained.
It is learned that on September 22, 2017 İzmir Seferihisar Director of Education was detained because he shared on social media a photo of himself in front of a stone that wrote ‘Hero’ on.
It is reported that 25 of 33 people who were detained through an Elazığ based investigation on September 11, 2017, were arrested on September 22, 2017. 8 of 33 were released with judiciary control condition.
It is reported that 11 of 16 people, who were detained in İstanbul, were sent to court and arrested on September 22, 2017. 5 people were released with judiciary control condition.
It is reported that sub-governor of Trabzon’s Tonya district Halit Mengi, who was detained on September 21, 2017, was arrested as he appeared in court, on September 22, 2017.
On September 22, 2017 3 of 10 women who were detained on September 12, 2017 in Manisa’s Kula district, were sent to court on September 22, 2017. It is reported that one of the women, A.T., is the sister of Kula Mayor. Through the same investigation 7 people were sent to court previously, 4 of which arrested and 3 released with judiciary control condition.
It is learned that 5 of 13 people who were detained on September 23, 2017 were sent to court and arrested on September 24, 2017. 8 people were released with judiciary control condition.
It is reported that 9 of 20 people detained in Afyon were sent to court and arrested on September 23, 2017. 11 people were released with judiciary control condition.
It is learned from news reports that 19 members of Turkish Armed Forces were detained in İstanbul. Detention orders had been issued for 43 people.
Again on September 24, 2017 19 people were detained in Urfa.
(09/173) Trial of Journalist in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that Diyarbakır 9th Heavy Penal Court ruled for the release of Evrensel newspaper journalist Yusuf Karataş. Karataş was detained through the DTK investigation on July 27, 2017.
(09/174) Trial of Journalist in İstanbul…
İstanbul 5th Criminal Court ruled for the release of Sözcü Newspaper Online News Director Mediha Ongun with a judiciary control condition with pending trial. Ongun was detained on May 19, 2017 and arrested on May 26, 2017. Sözcü reporter Gökmen Ulu arrested through the same investigation remains arrested.
(09/175) Trial of Bomb Attack Towards Diyarbakır Çınar District Police Headquarters…
The trial of 4 defendants regarding the bomb attack towards Çınar Police Headquarters and police lodgment continued on September 22, 2017. Attack was on January 13, 2016 and 3 of 4 defendants were arrested. It is learned that police officers verbally insulted defendants following attorney’s defenses and was asked to leave the court room. All defendants were present in courtroom. Court ruled for the continuity of arrests and adjourned the trial to January 2018.
During the trial on June 2, 2017 police officer Cengiz Başaran mentioned defendants testifying in Kurdish and said ‘‘Defending themselves in Kurdish means they accept the crimes’’. His words did not go on record.
(09/176) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The trial of 12 defendants accused with the abduction of Turkish Land Forces General Kamil Başoğlu during July 15 Coup Attempt, continued at Ankara 17th Heavy Penal Court on September 22, 2017. Prosecution declared the indictment and requested heavy life sentence plus 36 years’ prison sentence for 8 defendants. Chief Guard of the President Coronel Muhsin was sentenced with 21 years. The court adjourned the trial date to October 4, 2017.
3 separate trials for 6 defendants including 3 arrested continued on September 22, 2017. Final hearings at the Kırıkkale 1st Heavy Penal Court sentenced 1 defendant to 7 years 1 month, 1 defendant to 7 years 6 months, 1 defendant to 6 years 9 months, 1 defendant to 8 years 3 months. The second trial with one defendant sentenced the defendant to 8 years 3 months, third trial sentenced the defendant to 7 years 6 months.
Also in Kırıkkale 1st Heavy Penal Court a married couple on trial with one of them arrested, both defendants were sentenced to 6 years 11 months and 22 days. The court also ruled for the release of arrested defendant due to health reasons and arres of the other defendant.
(09/177) Curfew in Lice…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on September 24, 2017 that curfews implemented on September 21, 2017 in 12 villages and 11 hamlets of Diyarbakır’s Lice district will be lifted, as of 5:00 am. Villages and hamlets that had curfew are: Budak, Dallıca, Tepe, Türeli, Kabakaya, Kutlu, Yalaza, Ortaç, Bağlan, Oyuklu, Çavundur, Dolunay villages; Hevselbey, Kolbağı, Alataş, Kalkanlı, Bakanlar, Hacıcemil, Esenli, Çaylarbaşı, Göçer, Kerpiçören, Çanak hamlets.
(09/178) Curfew in Hazro…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on September 24, 2017 that curfews implemented on September 21, 2017 in 2 villages and 2 hamlets of Diyarbakır’s Hazro district will be lifted, as of 5:00 am. Villages and hamlets that had curfew are: Çitlibahçe, Ormankaya villages; Güzdamı and Şahgeldi hamlets.
(09/179) Curfew in Silvan…
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on September 24, 2017 that curfews implemented on September 21, 2017 in 4 villages and 14hamlets of Diyarbakır’s Silvan district will be lifted, as of 5:00 am. Villages and hamlets that had curfew are: Mutluca, Çaldere, Dolaplıdere, Dağçılar villages; Üçdirek, Ergeçiti, Kayabağı and Erkenciler hamlets.
(09/180) Curfew in Kulp …
Governorate of Diyarbakır declared on September 24, 2017 that curfews implemented on September 21, 2017 in 5 villages and 6 hamlets of Diyarbakır’s Kulp district will be lifted, as of 5:00 am. Villages and hamlets that had curfew are: Çukurca, Demirli, Düzce, Bayıkköy, Taşköprü villages; Zümrütlü, Keçiveren, Yukarıpolat, Aşağıpolat, Mevik and Taşköprü hamlets.
(09/181) Special Security Zone in Elazığ …
Governorate of Elazığ declared on September 23, 2017 that 15 locations in Karakoçan, Alacakaya, Arıcak and Palu districts will be special security zones between September 23, 2017 and October 7, 2017.
(09/182) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Governorate of Hakkari declared on September 24, 2017 that 31 locations within Centeral, Çukurca, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts will be special security zones between September 26, 2017 and October 10, 2017.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.