Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
24 February 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/310) Allegation of Suicide in Prison…
It is claimed in the news coverage of February 23, 2021 that, Ramazan Akbaşlı (55), a prisoner in Van F Type Prison, attempted to suicide. It is learned that Ramazan Akbaşlı is at intensive care unit of Van Dursun Odabaşı Hospital and his condition is life critical.
It is also learned that the court ruled the release of Ramazan Akbaşlı from prison.
(02/311) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on February 23, 2021 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was not responded.
(02/312) Detained Association Executive in Mersin…
İzzettin Ege, former chair of Batman Religious Scholars’ Association, is detained in Mersin on February 23, 2021. The reason of detention is unknown.
(02/313) Arrested Lawyer for Social Media Post in Istanbul…
Lawyer Mert Yaşar is detained in Istanbul on February 23, 2021, for his social media post about Justice and Development Party (AKP) group deputy and Tokat MP Özlem Zengin. Mert Yaşar is arrested by the court on the same day, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’.
It is learned that the Ministry of Justice send a writ to Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office for Istanbul Bar Association to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Mert Yaşar.
(02/314) House Raid to HDP Member and Detained Person in Diyarbakır…
On February 23, 2021, the police raided the house of Zozan Doğru, a member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), and detained her father Nasır Doğru. It is learned that a detention warrant was issued for Zozan Doğru on the grounds of her social media posts, but she was not detained for not being home.
(02/315) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against journalist Abdurrahman Gök who has captured the moment Kemal Kürküt was killed by police officers at the Newroz celebration in Diyarbakır in 2017, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on February 23, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for Abdurrahman Gök on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, for his social media posts and journalism.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to June 3, 2021.
(02/316) Journalist on Trial in Izmir…
The trial of the case against Mezopotamya News Agency reporter Ruken Demir, on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 19 on February 23, 2021.
After defence hearings the court lifted judicial control conditions for Ruken Demir and adjourned the trial to June 8, 2021.
Ruken Demir was detained on November 12, 2019 and was arrested by the court on November 16, 2019. Ruken Demir was released at the first trial held on March 5, 2020.
(02/317) Constitutional Court Decision on Journalist’s Application…
The Constitutional Court concluded on individual application of journalist Hakan Aygün on January 12, 2021 and the verdict is published on the Official Gazette on February 23, 2021.
Journalist Hakan Aygün was detained and arrested on April 3, 2020, on the grounds of social media posts, and he was released from prison on May 5, 2020. The Constitutional Court ruled that the right to freedom and security was violated and Hakan Aygün should be paid a compensation of 40,000 Turkish Liras for immaterial damages.
(02/318) ESP Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Uğur Ok, Party Assembly member of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on February 23, 2021.
Uğur Ok could not join the trial because of failure of sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention of Uğur Ok and adjourned the trial to March 10, 2021.
(02/319) People on Trial in Izmir…
The first trial of the case against 24 people, for the dance performance “Las Tesis”, to protest male violence against women, is held at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 7 on February 23, 2021.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to April 28, 2021.
(02/320) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 6 people, for the dance performance “Las Tesis”, to protest male violence against women, is held at Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 29 on February 23, 2021.
The court rejected to hear the witnesses on the grounds that “gathered evidence would be adequate for verdict” and adjourned the trial to June 10, 2021.
(09/321) Musician on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’…
The trial of the case against musician Ferhat Tunç, on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ is held at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 14 on February 2021. The court adjourned the trial to September 14, 2021.
(02/322) Threats Against Journalist…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2021 that Yeniçağ newspaper writer Murat Ağırel receives death threats over social media.
(02/323) Investigation Against Parliamentary Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 23, 2021 that Van Public Prosecutor’s Office decided non-jurisdiction on the investigation against HDP Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk, HDP Van MP’s Sezai Temelli, Muazzez Orhan Işık, Tayip Temel and Murat Sarısaç, which was initiated o the charges of ‘degrading Turkish nation, Republic of Turkey, and state institutions’ and ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’ and sent the case to Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(02/324) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that 6 news reports on https://odatv4.com website are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Sakarya Penal Court of Peace No 3 on February 23, 2021.
It is learned that http://mezopotamyaajansi27.com website of Mezopotamya News Agency is banned to access by Kayseri Penal Court of Peace No 3 on February 22, 2021.
(02/325) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 23, 2021, 50 people are detained in operations covering 22 cities through an Antep based investigation; and 14 people are detained in operations covering 5 cities through a Siirt based investigation.
(02/326) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 75 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 633 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 23, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 9,107.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 28,214 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,655,633 as of February 23, 2021.
[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.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[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.