Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 August 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(08/170) Refugee/Asylum Seeker Who Lost His Life in the Removal Center in Kırklareli…
It is claimed in the news coverage of August 22, 2024, that some refugees/asylum seekers who witnessed the torture and ill-treatment of Ibrahim Izziddin, a Syrian citizen refugee/asylum seeker who lost his life in Kırklareli Removal Centre on July 16, 2024, were deported on the grounds of “voluntary return document” they were forced to sign.
One of the people who allegedly witnessed torture and other ill-treatment stated the following to the press: “We all signed for deportation because we couldn’t stand the violence. But Ibrahim resisted and was beaten until the morning. Then he screamed a lot for help but the guards didn’t take care of him. In the morning when there was a shift change, the guards took him to the hospital, but by then İbrahim was already very ill. Everyone who witnessed this incident was deported with a signature (…).”
(08/171) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 23, 2024 that, after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Veysi Aktaş’s freedom of expression was violated in the application to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the non-delivery of the book ‘Democratic Civilization Solution’, which was sent to Veysi Aktaş in Imrali F Type Prison in 2015 and which contains PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s defences, Veysi Aktaş’s lawyers appealed to Bursa Penal Court of Execution No 1 to demand delivery of the books. It is learned that the appeal of Veysi Aktaş’s lawyers to Bursa Penal Court of Execution for the delivery of the books was rejected by the court.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 23, 2024, that prisoners and their relatives in Erzincan L Type Prison were forced to speak Turkish by correction officers during an open visit in July 2024. Muzaffer İşnaz, one of the relatives of prisoners who were forced to speak Turkish, stated the following to the press: “We were speaking Kurdish in the visitation hall and the correction officers warned us to speak Turkish. (…) Then a quarrel broke out between my son and the correction officer. During my weekly phone call on Monday, I learned that my son was given a one-month visitation ban by the prison administration. I don’t know the reason for the visitation ban, but it could be because of the argument on the day of the visit”.
(08/172) Prevention of Right to Access Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 23, 2024, that Nihat İşnaz, a prisoner in Erzincan L Type Prison was not taken to the surgery appointment for health problems in his fingers and was not operated for this reason.
Muzaffer İşnaz, Nihat İşnaz’s father, stated the following to the press: “When my son (…) was first arrested, he was taken to Van High Security Prison. On February 6, right after the Maraş earthquakes, he was exiled to Erzincan L Type Closed Prison. Since the day he was exiled, I have only been able to visit him once. My son has had problems with his fingers since birth. He was given an appointment for surgery, but after he was exiled, he was neither operated on nor given another appointment”.
(08/173) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan not Responded to…
It is learned that the appeal made on August 23, 2024, to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s family and tutelary along with the families and tutelary of Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in İmralı Prison was not responded.
(08/174) Party Executives and Others Detained in Istanbul…
It is learned that on August 23, 2024, 7 people including 1 child (M.Y.) and Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Esenyurt district co-chairs Rojda Yılmaz and Abdullah Arına were detained in house raids in Istanbul, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’, for singing Kurdish songs and dancing halay at an event. While M.Y. was released on judicial control conditions by the criminal peace judgeship on the same date, the detention period of the other 6 people was extended.
(08/175) People Detained in Mardin…
On August 23, 2024, 7 people were detained in house raids in the Mazıdağı district of Mardin on the allegations of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization’. Detained people were released the same day after statement procedures by the police. The detainees whose names are known are: Mahmut Demir, Abdullah Demir and Şenol Şan.
(08/176) Person Detained in Istanbul…
Fikriye Baykurtan Savaş, who was detained on August 20, 2024, in a house raid in Istanbul through an investigation by the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’, was released by the criminal peace judgeship on judicial control conditions on August 22, 2024. It is also reported in the news that the red, yellow, and green scarf Fikriye Baykurtan Savaş wore on her head at a henna night was also included as a charge in the investigation file against her.
(08/177) Journalist Under Investigation…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 22, 2024, that an investigation was initiated against journalist Murat Ağırel for his book ‘Havana’ on the drug trade in Turkey, and that the journalist gave his official statement through the investigation.
(08/178) People on Trial in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 23, 2024, that the indictment of Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against 2 people, 1 of whom was detained while walking on the street and 1 of whom was detained while sitting in a cafe during 10th Trans Pride Week in Istanbul on June 23, 2024, was accepted by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 77. The indictment demands a sentence for 2 people on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’. The first hearing of the case will be held on January 28, 2025.
(08/179) Concert Canceled in Konya…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 22, 2024, that Suavi’s concert in the Seydişehir district of Konya, within the scope of August 30 Victory Day celebrations, was canceled by Konya Seydişehir Municipality. It is also reported that Suavi’s concert was targeted by Ülkü Ocakları and Justice and Development Party (AKP) executives.
Akın Bozkurt, the Chair of Seydişehir Grey Wolves Ocakları, made the following statement on his social media account on the subject: “Some negotiations were held with Seydişehir Municipality on the grounds that the Suavi concert planned to be held within the scope of August 30 Victory Day events in our district did not comply with our national sensitivities. As a result of these negotiations, the concert was canceled by Seydişehir Municipality and the wound in the national conscience was closed before it grew”.
(08/180) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 22, 2024, that 1 news report on https://www.sozcu.com.tr about the dismissal of the case on the killing of 31 people in Silvan district of Diyarbakır in 1992 and 1993 by people affiliated to Hizbullah was banned from access by Istanbul Bakırköy Criminal Peace Judgeship No 5 on August 22, 2024, on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 22, 2024, that 1 news report on https://www.odatv.com about the Gülen sect structuring in the police force was banned from access by Istanbul Criminal Peace Judgeship No 6 on August 22, 2024, on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
[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.