Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 February 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/187) Earthquakes in Antep, Maraş and Hatay…
According to the information recorded by Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, on February 6, 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 in Şehitkamil district of Antep which struck at 04:17 local time and an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 in Ekinözü district of Maraş which struck at 13:24 local time killed at least 43,556 people. The Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change announced on February 23, 2023 that the number of collapsed, to be urgently demolished and severely damaged buildings in the earthquake zone was 164.321.
The Minister of National Defence announced on February 22, 2023 that, 100 soldiers died in Antep and Maraş earthquakes.
General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses announced that 163 children in Hatay Juvenile and Youth Closed Prison were transferred to Samsun Kavak Juvenile and Youth Closed Prison on February 20, 2023 due to the earthquake.
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2023 that, the number of contractors who were arrested for their responsibility in the buildings collapsed in Antep and Maraş earthquakes is 182.
(02/188) Attack on Journalist in earthquake Region…
It is learned that Halk TV reporter Ferit Demir and Halk TV cameraman were threatened by a person with a hammer saying “state is everywhere”, while they were covering the news in Malatya on February 23, 2023. It is reported that although Ferit Demir complained about the attacker, no action was taken by the law enforcement.
(02/189) Prevention of Relief Activities in Earthquake Region…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2023 that, the relief material sent to Narlı branch of Alevi Cultural Associations, in Pazarcık district of Malatya was seized by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.
(02/190) Prosecutions and Detentions for Social Media Posts…
The General Directorate of Security announced that prosecutions were initiated against 559 people and 138 people were detained, 27 people were arrested for their social media posts about the earthquakes in Antep and Maraş, as of February 23, 2023.
(02/191) Investigation for Social Media Post…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2023 that, Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation on the grounds of 2publicy disseminating misleading information’ against a person named Hakan Yakaç, who reacted against the seizure of relief material collected in Izmir by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) to send to Osmaniye; and that Hakan Yakaç was released by the court that he was referred to after the statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office.
(02/192) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration regarding the earthquakes, held by the Revolutionary Party in front of the Environment and Urban Planning Directorate in Istanbul on February 22, 2023, and detained 4 people (Revolutionary Party deputy chair Burcugül Çubuk, Party Assembly member Yusuf Turan and party members Eren Kaya and Muhammed Korkmaz).
(02/193) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 23, 2023 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
(02/94) Arrested Person in Hakkari…
A person named Osman Arslan, 79, who went to the gendarmerie post to make his official statement through the investigation against him on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, in Yüksekova district of Hakkari on February 23, 2023, is arrested by the court on the same day.
(02/195) HRA Co-Chair on Trial…
The first trial of the case against the Human Rights Association (HRA) co-chair Eren Keskin, over the social media post about the case against the father of Deniz Poyraz who was killed in the racist attack against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Izmir office; is held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No. 18 on February 23, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Eren Keskin on the charges of ‘insult’ and ‘targeting anti-terror officials’. Eren Keskin joined the trial via sound and vision system from Istanbul. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded acquittal of Eren Keskin on the charge of ‘insult’ but sentence for her on the charge of ‘targeting anti-terror officials’. The court adjourned the trial to June 1, 2023.
(02/196) Documentary Director on Trial in Ankara…
The first trial of the case against documentary director Sibel Tekin is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 26 on February 23, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Sibel Tekin on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. Sibel Tekin attended the trial and made her defence. After defence hearings the court decided to get an expert report about the recordings of Sibel Tekin, to return the digital material which were examined so far, to lift signature provision as judicial control condition and to continue the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to June 8, 2023.
Sibel Tekin was detained on December 16, 2022, was arrested by the court on December 17, 2022; and was released on judicial control conditions on January 30, 2023.
(02/197) Journalist and HDP and DBP Executives on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 21 people including journalist Haydar Ergül and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and HDP executives, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 22 on February 23, 2023. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for the defendants on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court adjourned the trial to May 31, 2023.
(02/198) Constitutional Court Decision on Saturday Mothers…
The Constitutional Court decision dated November 16, 2022 regarding the application of Maside Ocak Kışlakçı, who was detained during the police intervention to the 700th week of Saturday Mothers/People on June 25, 2018, was published in the Official Gazette on February 23, 2022. The Constitutional Court decided that the freedom of assembly and demonstration was violated, that the applicant should be paid 13,500 Turkish Liras of non-pecuniary damage and a copy of the decision should be sent to the Beyoğlu District Governor’s Office to prevent further violations.
(02/199) Police Officers on Trial in Istanbul…
After the Constitutional Court ruled that journalist Gökhan Biçici was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment by the police while following the news during the Gezi protests in 2013, the trial against the responsible police officers at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 48 on February 23, 2023. It is learned that the police officer Y. U., for whom a detention warrant was issued earlier, was caught and his official statement was taken. The court issued a warrant against police officer A. E. who did not attend the trial and adjourned the trial to May 23, 2023.
(02/200) Administrative Fine for TV and Radio Channels…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 22, 2023 that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) issued Halk TV channel for the “Great Disaster” programme and Tele 1 channel for the “18 Minutes” programme with broadcast ban for 5 times and with administrative fine. It is also learned that RTUK issued Tele 1 channel for the “Forum” programme, FOX Tv channel for the “Center Fold” programme and Halk TV channel for the “Public Square” programme with administrative fines for the criticisms about search and rescue efforts after the earthquakes.
(02/201) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2023 that, a total of 340 internet addresses, including the websites of Avesta Publications, Rudaw News Agency, JİNHA News Agency, Xwebun newspaper, Jinnews News Agency, Mezopotamya News Agency, Ronahi TV, Nuçe TV and several social media accounts were banned to Access upon the complaint of the General Directorate of Security by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No. 4.
It is learned that the website https://eksisozluk.com was banned to access on the grounds of “protection of national security and public order” by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No. 4 on February 22, 2023.
[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.