Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
23 October 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/338) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that 1 soldier died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Derecik town in Hakkari on October 22, 2018.
(10/339) Allegation of Kidnapping in Istanbul…
Hamza Ağırman, who made a press declaration at Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office on October 22, 2018; stated that he was kidnapped in front of İstanbul Üsküdar Ferry terminal, and was forced to get in a car where he was subjected to physical violence and was forced to be a police informant by persons who claim themselves as police officers. Hamza Ağırman also expressed that these people have called and threatened him later on.
Hamza Ağırman stated the following: “They took my phone. And then took me to the wood on a narrow path. They threatened me and said ‘It will not be good for you if you keep going to HDP’. They attempted to beat me. (…) They forced me to be a police informant. They told me they have threatened my friends as well. They said ‘Tell us what is going on at HDP district office. In that case nobody will bother you’. I did not accept. Then they beat me and kicked me out of the car.”
(10/340) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on October 22, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 756th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(10/341) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 713 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on October 22, 2018 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on October 22, 2018, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on October 22, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(10/342) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on October 22, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 31st time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(10/343) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
It is learned that the prosecutor’s office appealed to the release on 47 people on juridical control, who were detained through a Diyarbakır based investigation on October 9, 2018 and following days; and that the court issued a detention warrant for 7 of these people. It is learned that Derya Aslan is arrested based on the warrant. The names of people for whom detention warrant is issued are: Derya Aslan, Ahmet Aslan, Eylem Ceylan, Dilbaz Emekçi, Leyla Ayaz, Abbas Çelik and Emrullah Kaplan.
(10/344) Seized Books and Detained Person in Batman Book Fair…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 22, 2018 that at the book fair organized by Batman Governorate, “1880 Kürt Ayaklanması Şeyh Ubeydullah Nehri” [1880 Kurdish Uprising and Sheikh Ubeydullah Nehri], the book published by Avesta Publishing House was seized by the police. It is also stated in the news reports that Şiyar Danışman, who works at Avesta Publishing House’s fair stand was detained and was released after statement procedures.
(10/345) People Detained in İzmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of October 22, 2018 that 3 people are detained on their way back from a funeral service in Buca district of Izmir on October 19, 2018. It is learned that 3 people were detained on the grounds of attending the funeral organized for Teslim Demir, one of the founders of Communist Workers’ Party of Turkey (TKİP) on October 7, 2018. It is stated in the news reports that 2 of them are released with a ban on leaving the country while 1 is released on juridical control conditions.
(10/346) Police Officers on Trial for Torture in Antalya…
The case against 22 police officers on the charge of torturing Çağrı Danışman to death, on Antalya Heavy Penal Court No 6 is held on October 22, 2018. Çağrı Danışman was a patient with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and was alleged to murder 3 police officers. The indictment demands sentence for police officers on the charges of ‘wilful murder’ and ‘torturing a person who is physically or mentally incapable of defending himself’. Lawyers of the complainant stated that a CD which was a solid evidence was missing and demanded it to be found.
(10/347) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against Lecturer Naciye Gülengül Altıntaş who is dismissed from Bahçeşehir University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on October 22, 2018. The court sentenced Naciye Gülengül Altıntaş to 1 year and 3 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(10/348) ‘METU Students Detained for ‘Insulting the President’…
The case against 4 students of Middle East Technical University (METU) on Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 11, for carrying a banner containing “The Kingdom of Tayyips” cartoon at graduation ceremony, started to be held on October 22, 2018. Students attended the trial. The court decided to ask the Ministry of Justice whether to proceed trials although the President withdrew his complaint against students; and to ask whether humour magazine Penguen’s executives were judged or not due to the cartoon. The court lifted the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to April 4, 2019.
4 students were arrested on July 11, 2018, and Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 8 released 4 students upon objections. It is learned from the news reports that the court stated that the evidence is collected and possible attempts of 4 students to escape could be prohibited by juridical control conditions.
(10/349) People on Trial for Murder of Derik Sub-governor…
The final trial of the case against 15 defendants including 6 arrestees, for the murder of Derik sub-governor Muhammet Fatih Safitürk, on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 3 is held on October 22, 2018. Muhammet Fatih Safitürk, who was also the trustee of Derik municipality appointed by the Ministry of Interior, was killed by a bombing attack in his office. The court sentenced Şerif Mesutoğlu, chief clerk of sub-governorate, to heavy life imprisonment 2 times and to 18 years. The court acquitted 14 defendants on the charge of murder. The court sentenced 1 defendant to 1 year and 10 months for ‘damaging public properties’ and 1 defendant to 5 years for ‘opposing the law for firearms and knives and other tools’.
(10/350) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On October 22, 2018, 10 people including 1 lieutenant are detained in operations covering 8 cities through a Kocaeli based investigation; 17 people are detained in operations covering 11 cities through a Konya based investigation and 1 person in Adıyaman is detained.
(10/351) Investigated Social Media Accounts…
The Ministry of Interior made a declaration on October 22, 2018 and announced that 250 social media accounts were investigated between October 15 and October 22, 2018; and legal proceedings have been initiated against 227 people within this week.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.