Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
24 June – 3 July 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/001) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of National Defence announced that 1 soldier (Alpay Aras) who was wounded on June 15, 2023 during the Claw-Lock military operation of the Turkish Armed Forces units in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government died in hospital on June 22, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 2, 2023 that, 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in the rural areas of Hakkari on June 20, 2023.
(07/002) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 24, 2023 that, personal belongings of prisoners in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison were damaged during ward searches and some of their belongings were seized.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 26, 2023 that, television, refrigerator, electric fan and some other devices of a prisoner named İbrahim Yiğit who was transferred from Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No. 3 to Kırşehir S Type Prison were damaged during transfer.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 26, 2023 that, 8 prisoners in Düzce T Type Prison were poisoned by the food. It is reported that 4 of them were referred to hospital and was taken back to prison after treatment and 4 of them were treated in the prison infirmary.
(07/003) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 26, 2023 that, an ill prisoner named Aytekin Bulut in Tekirdağ T Type Prison was not given his regular medications for a month.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 1, 2023 that, an ill prisoner named Süleyman Ayaz who was transferred from Diyarbakır D Type High Security Prison to Kırşehir S Type Prison after the Antep and Maraş earthquakes on February 6, 2023, was not receiving treatment.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 1, 2023 that, the application for organ transplant to an ill prisoner named Fırat Nebioğlu who is living on dialysis due to kidney failure, although a suitable donor candidate was found.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 1, 2023 that, an ill prisoner named Nuriye Adet in Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison was not given anymore the dietary food recommended by the doctor, and that the prison administration replied her application by saying “she can buy it from the commissary”.
(07/004) Asylum Seekers Poisoned in Kütayha…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 29, 2023, that 12 Afghan asylum seekers held in Kütahya Repatriation Center were taken to Kütahya Evliya Çelebi Training and Research Hospital on suspicion of poisoning.
(07/005) Interventions and Bans on Pride Month Events…
Izmir Governorate’s Office made a declaration on June 23, 2023 and banned all events such as meetings, marches, press declarations, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, picnics, festivals and so on to be held as part of “Izmir 11th Pride Week” for 2 days as of June 24, 2023.
Kocaeli Governorate’s Office made a declaration on June 23, 2023 and banned all events such as meetings, marches, press declarations, sit-in protests, opening stands and tents, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, picnics, festivals and so on to be held as part of the Pride Week for 8 days as of June 24, 2023.
The police intervened in the Istanbul 21st LGBTI+ Pride March on June 25, 2023 and detained 113 people including 2 children by using physical violence and handcuffing them behind their backs. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording. It is learned that 5 of the detainees were foreign nationals and 1 of them who was injured at the foot was not receiving treatment, and they were not allowed to see their lawyers. It is stated in the news reports that Iranian citizen Elyas Torabibaeskendari, one of the detainees, was taken to Tuzla Repatriation Center after being detained in Istanbul, and then transferred to the Repatriation Center in Urfa and faced with the risk of execution in Iran if deported. The Human Rights Association (IHD) chair Eren Keskin stated the following at the press declaration held at IHD Istanbul branch on June 30, 2023: “Detained people were subjected to ill-treatment and torture. Not only that, the state sent some of our non-Turkish detainees to repatriation centers in violation of the contracts it signed. One of them is Elyas, Iranian citizen. Although Elyas is a person under the International Protection Status and although the Republic of Turkey is a party to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Rights Convention, and could not even send such a person to a repatriation center, unfortunately they sent Elyas there.”
The police intervened in the Izmir 11th LGBTI+ Pride March in on June 25, 2023 and detained 53 people including 1 child and 53 lawyers by using physical violence and handcuffing them behind their backs. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording and that Kaosgl reporter Aslı Alpar was subjected to physical violence. It is also reported that the police prevented the Greens and Left Future Party (YSP) Izmir MP Burcugül Çubuk from documenting the torture and ill-treatment during the intervention.
(07/006) Police Intervention to Press Declarations in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration of Saturday Mothers/People held at the Galatasaray Square of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on June 24, 2023, and detained 29 people including the HRFT Istanbul representative Ümit Efe, the HRA chair Eren Keskin and HRA Istanbul branch chair Gülseren Yoleri and handcuffed them behind their backs. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording the intervention and forced them away. It is reported that YSP deputies who came to support the group were prevented by the police and YSP Diyarbakır MP Ceylan Akça was injured at the leg after being bite by the police dog. Detained people are released on the same day. Detained people were: Hanife Yıldız, İrfan Bilgin, İkbal Eren, Mikail Kırbayır, Maside Ocak, Hasan Karakoç, Aylin Tekiner, Eren Keskin, Gülseren Yoleri, Leman Yurtsever, Ümit Efe, Meriç Eyüboğlu, Hatice Onaran, Cüneyt Yılmaz, Cihan Kaplan, Ayşe Çelik, İsmail Yücel, Devrim Barış Yılmaz, Pelin Laçin, Sema Kılıç, Esmanur Yıldız, Nezaket Sena Çakırgöz, Yaşar Aktaş, Ali Tosun, Yakup Özdemir, Kenan Yıldızerler, Arat Dink, Hatice Korkmaz, Ekrem Karalı.
The police intervened in the press declaration of Saturday Mothers/People held at the Galatasaray Square of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on July 1, 2023, and detained 21 people including the HRA chair Eren Keskin, HRA Istanbul branch chair Gülseren Yoleri and HRA Istanbul branch secretary Oya Ersoy. It is learned that the police prevented journalists from recording the intervention. Detained people are released on the same day. Detained people were: Hanife Yıldız, Eren Keskin, Mikail Kırbayır, Ali Ocak, Besna Tosun, Sebla Ercan, Gülseren Yoleri, Oya Ersoy, Leman Yurtsever, Hatice Onaran, Ömer Kavran, Deniz Aytaç, Kemal Bulut, Meryem Bars, Hüseyin Aygül, Zehra Demir, İsmail Yücel, Pelin Laçin, Gülendam Özdemir, Arat Dink, Hatice Korkmaz and Kenan Yıldızerler.
(07/007) Interventions and Bans on July 2 Commemorations…
It is learned that the event to be held in Sultangazi district of Istanbul to commemorate 33 people who were killed in the Madımak Massacre, in Sivas on July 2, 1993, was banned by the District Governorate’s Office on June 23, 2023, on the grounds that Grup Yorum music band might give a concert.
The police intervened in the commemoration event of Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association at Tuzluçayır Square in Mamak district of Ankara on June 24, 2023. It is learned that nobody was detained.
The police used pepper spray to intervene in the commemoration held in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul on July 2, 2023 and detained 6 people including 1 journalist. Detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day. Detained people were: Journalist Emre Orman, Diyar Sarıkuş, Metin Kaya, Deniz Ayık, Gamze Toprak, Esra Bilici.
(07/008) Arrested Journalist…
TELE1 television channel executive editor Merdan Yanardağ was detained on June 26, 2023 on the grounds of his expressions about the isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Merdan Yanardağ was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on June 27, 2023.
(07/009) Detained Journalist…
Journalist Mehmet Yetim was detained in Urfa on June 27, 2023 on the grounds of sharing the footage of the allegation of sexual abuse of a 2-year-old child by a 74-year-old person. Mehmet Yetim was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(07/010) Detained People in Izmir…
14 people who were detained in Izmir on June 30, 2023 on the grounds of making propaganda for an illegal organisation were released on July 1, 2023.
(07/011) Arrested HDP Executive in Istanbul…
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Party Assembly member Özcan Teker who was detained in Istanbul through a Tekirdağ based investigation on June 23, 2023, was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on June 25, 2023.
(07/012) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The indictment of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Abdurrahman Gök was accepted by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on June 23, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Abdurrahman Gök on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The first trial of the case will be held on September 14, 2023.
Abdurrahman Gök was detained on April 25, 2023 and was arrested by the court on April 27, 2023.
(07/013) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The indictment of Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office against journalist Mehmet Şah Oruç was sent to Bitlis Heavy Penal Court as Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 4 decided lack of venue on the case.
Mehmet Şah Oruç was detained on April 25, 2023 and was arrested by the court on April 27, 2023.
(07/014) City Council Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Birsen Güneş, HDP’s city council member in Sur district of Diyarbakır who was suspended by the Ministry of Interior, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 5 on June 23, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Birsen Güneş on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 24, 2023.
(07/015) Union Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against the Bread Producers Union chair Cihan Kolivar, over his expressions in a television programme reading “Bread is the basic food of stupid societies. Since our society eat full of bread, we have such rulers in power for 20 years”, and over his social media posts is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 17 on June 23, 2023. Cihan Kolivar is charged with ‘insulting the President’, ‘provoking hatred and hostility among public’ and ‘degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey, the bodies and institutions of the state’. The court decided to send the video footage provided by Cihan Kolivar’s lawyer to an expert for analysis and adjourned the trial to October 20, 2023.
Cihan Kolivar was arrested on November 9, 2022 and was released from prison upon his lawyers’ objection on November 18, 2022.
(07/016) Union Executives on Trial in Izmir…
The indictment of Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office against DISK’s Genel-Is union Izmir Branch No. 2 former chair Arif Yıldız and branch executive Ercan Ağar, on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’ over the press declaration held in Izmir on September 15, 2022, to demand “Cancellation of the state of emergency decree No. 696, stop forced retirements, and tenure for workers”, was accepted by the court on June 23, 2023. The first trial of the case will be held on October 10, 2023.
(07/017) Rights Defenders on Trial in Muğla…
The final trial of the case on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent public duty’ and ‘insulting a public official’ against Füsun Ergün and Gülören Demir, who were forcibly moved away by the gendarmerie on 11 August 2021 from the protest against the lignite mine intended to be established in the Akbelen Forest in the Milas district of Muğla, is held at Milas Penal Court of First Instance No. 2 on June 26, 2023. The court sentenced Gülören Demir to a penalty fine of 11,020 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘insulting a public official’; and sentenced Gülören Demir and Füsun Ergün to 6 months and 20 days each on the charge of ‘’resisting to prevent public duty’ and converted the jail sentence to a penalty fine of 4,000 Turkish Liras.
(07/018) Police Officers on Trial in Diyarbakır…
Diyarbakır Lice Penal Court of First Instance has ruled lack of jurisdiction about the indictment of Lice Public Prosecutor’s Office against 5 police officers on the charge of ‘deprivation of liberty’ regarding torture and ill-treatment of a 14-year-old child (Y. D.) in Lice district of Diyarbakır on March 21, 2023; and has sent the case to Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court on the grounds that the deeds of the police officers constitute the charges of ‘torture’ and ‘looting’. It is learned from the news coverage of June 23, 2023 that, Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 1 has cancelled the lack of jurisdiction decision on the grounds that there were no criminal elements for ‘torture’, and released 3 arrested police officers.
(07/019) Police Officer on Trial in Şırnak…
Şırnak Penal Court of First Instance has ruled lack of jurisdiction on the case against the police officer S. E., on the grounds of injuring lawyer Serkan Karakaş by hitting him with his vehicle on April 10, 2022, and has sent the case to the heavy penal court. The trial of the case at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No. 3 is held on July 3, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for the police officer on the charge of ‘intentional injury’. The court rejected to arrest the police officer and decided to wait for the report of the Forensic Medicine Institution and adjourned the trial to October 4, 2023. Police officer S. E. was arrested after the incident but was released after the prosecutor’s indictment was accepted by the court.
(07/020) Banned Play in Aydın…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 24, 2023 that, the play “Husband and Wife Affairs: A Lovers’ Skirmish”, which will be staged in Nazilli district of Aydın on July 13, 2023, has been cancelled by the district municipality. Regarding the cancellation decision, district mayor Kürşat Engin Özcan from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) made the following statement on social media: “When we saw the statements by some artists that they divided our society and disrespected our values, during and after the election, we could not remain unresponsive. For this reason, Yunus Günçe’s play called ‘A Lovers’ Skirmish’ was not allowed in our hall.”
(07/021) Cancelled Concerts in Samsun and Çankırı…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 26, 2023 that, the concerts of musician Eypio to be held in Çarşamba district of Samsun on June 25, 2023 and in Şabanözü district of Çankırı on July 1, 2023 were cancelled by AKP municipalities, over the reactions against him over his social media posts.
(07/022) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports about a judge published on https://halktv.com.tr (2 news reports), https://artigercek.com, https://www.birgun.net, https://www.evrensel.net, https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr (2 news reports), https://www.diken.com.tr, https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr websites were banned to access and ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No. 5 on June 23, 2023.
It is learned that the news reports about a relative of Ahmet Mahmut Ünli known as Ahmet Hodja in Robe, published on https://www.sozcu.com.tr, https://www.diken.com.tr, https://www.birgun.net websites were banned to access and ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No. 5 on June 23, 2023.
It is learned that 4 contents published on the Freedom of Expression Association’s website https://ifade.org.tr were banned to access and ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No. 5 on June 23, 2023.
It is learned that 45 news reports on several websites and 48 social media posts about the Reuters news report on the President’s son Bilal Erdoğan, were banned to access and ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No. 5 on June 27, 2023.
(07/023) Curfew in Bitlis…
Bitlis Governorate’s Office made a declaration on July 2, 2023 and announced curfew in 10 villages of Hizan district as of July 2, 2023 at 21.00 until a further notice. The villages under curfew are: Bilgili, Yaylacık, Sarıbal, Yeniçay, Yolbilen, Çalışkanlar, Gedik, Akyazı, Erencik and Otluk.
(07/024) Special Security Zones in Şırnak…
Şırnak Governorate made a declaration on June 28, 2023 and announced 14 regions (Cudi Mountain, Bestler Dereler, Kurt Mountain, Kureşin, Karaçalı T., Kel Mehmet D., Serin V., 2088 Rk T., Küçük Su Y., Gabar Mountain, Altın Mountain, İncebel Mountain, Oymakaya, Tanin Tanin) in central, Cizre, Silopi, Uludere, Güçlükonak, Beytüşşebap districts as special military security zones between June 30-July 14, 2023.
(07/025) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
It is learned that 2 people were detained including Fethullaf Gülen’s niece were detained in Istanbul on June 24, 2023; and they were arrested by the court on June 26, 2023.
It is learned that 9 people were detained in Edirne in alleged attempt to illegally flee abroad on June 27, 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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[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.