Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
24 March 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/268) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2021 that in Istanbul Silivri Closed Prison No 5, the wards were being searched two or three times a day, prisoners were being subjected to physical violence of the correction officers during the searches and their personal belongings were being seized; and the wards were over capacity.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2021 that, in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison the visor that prisoner Didem Akman uses to be protected from Covid-19 during hospital transfers was seized in a ward search.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2021 that Hakan İnci was transferred from Edirne F Type Prison to Aydın E Type Prison under coercion.
(03/269) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened the press declaration in Istanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on March 22, 2021, organized by Solidarity Association of Families of Prisoners (TAYAD) members to demand release of ill prisoner Ali Osman Köse, and detained 2 people. Detained people (Feridun Osmanağaoğlu and Bengisu Demirel) are released after statement procedures on the same day.
(03/270) Attack to a Journalist in Istanbul…
Journalist Levent Gültekin has been attacked by an anonymous group outside of Halk TV channel headquarters where he went to participate in a programme on March 8, 2021. 3 people are detained in relation to the attack, 2 of them (Ö. D. and M. E. K.) are arrested, 1 person (M. A. D.) is released on judicial control conditions on March 23, 2021.
(03/271) Detained People in Adana…
4 of 15 people who were detained in house raids in Adana on March 19, 2021 are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on March 23, 2021. 2 people are released on house confinement; 9 people are released on judicial control conditions.
(03/272) Detained People in Kocaeli…
4 of 13 people who were detained in house raids in Kocaeli on March 19, 2021 are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on March 23, 2021. 9 people are released. Arrested people are: Gökhan Babayiğit, Mehmet Turgay, Atilla Akkaya and Fikret Kaya.
(03/273) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
On March 23, 2021, 21 people are detained in house raids in several districts of Diyarbakır, on the grounds of participating in Newroz celebrations. It is learned that a detention warrant was issued for 15 more people. Some of the detained people are: Ayşegül Söğüt, Yasin Çetin, Sıddık Polat, Vedat Kızıl, Talat Özdemir and Metin Vural.
(03/274) Arrested ESP Member in Adana…
Ömer Temel, a member of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) who was detained for carrying an issue of Atılım newspaper in Newroz celebration in Adana on March 21, 2021, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’ on March 23, 2021.
(03/275) Person on Trial in Urfa…
The final trial of the case against Dozgin Temo (Çiçek Kobanê), a Syrian citizen, is held at Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 23, 2021. The court sentenced Dozgin Temo to heavy life imprisonment on the charge of ‘disrupting unity and integrity of the state’; and to 10 years and 10 months on the charge of ‘killing’. Dozgin Temo was brought to Turkey by Free Syrian Army forces on October 21, 2019 and was arrested in Urfa.
(03/276) TJA Activist on Trial…
The trial of the case against Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activist Sevil Rojbin Çetin is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 23, 2021.
Sevil Rojbin Çetin joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention of Sevil Rojbin Çetin and adjourned the trial to June 17, 2021.
Sevil Rojbin Çetin was detained on June 26, 2020 in Diyarbakır and was arrested on July 7, 2020.
(03/277) HDP Executives on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır provincial co-chairs Zeyyat Ceylan and Hülya Alökmen Uyanık, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on March 23, 2021.
The indictment demands sentence for Zeyyat Ceylan and Hülya Alökmen Uyanık on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
Hülya Alökmen Uyanık attended the trial in person while Zeyyat Ceylan joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court decided to release of Zeyyat Ceylan and Hülya Alökmen Uyanık and adjourned the trial.
Hülya Alökmen Uyanık and Zeyyat Ceylan were detained after the police raid to HDP’s Diyarbakır office on October 22, 2020; and they were arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on October 30, 2020.
(03/278) Newspaper Employee on Trial in Adana…
The first trial of the case against İbrahim Karakaç, an employee of Yeni Yaşam newspaper, is held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 11 on March 23, 2021.
After defence hearings the court decided to continue detention of İbrahim Karakaş and adjourned the trial to May 4, 2021.
İbrahim Karakaş was arrested on November 6, 2020.
(03/279) People on Trial for Participating in a March in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 24 people is held at Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 43 on March 23, 2021. 24 people inducing Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Center Ataşehir district chair Gülsev Kaya and executive board member Bahar Tekin Gayretli were detained in the police intervention to the march as a part of “2 September Foundation Festival” in 1 Mayıs neighbourhood of Ataşehir district of Istanbul on September 6, 2020, and they were released on judicial control conditions on September 7, 2020.
The court decided to complete defendants’ statements and adjourned the trial to July 1, 2021.
(03/280) SGDF Member on Trial in Eskişehir…
The first trial of the case against Gözde Sivaslıoğlu, a member of Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) is held at Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 23, 2021. After defence hearings the court acquitted Gözde Sivaslıoğlu. Gözde Sivaslıoğlu was detained through an investigation against ESP and SGDF on September 8, 2020 and was arrested on September 11, 2020.
(03/281) Person on Trial for ‘Insulting Communications Director Republic of Turkey’…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2021 that, Hüseyin Gör, a person lives in Hatay city, was sentenced to 8 months and 25 days by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 16, on the charge of ‘insulting Fahrettin Altun, Communications Director Republic of Turkey’. It is learned that the case was opened based on Hüseyin Gör’s “like” for a comment on a social media post; and the court ruled without holding a trial, and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(03/282) Person on Trial for Degrading One Section of the Public Based on Race…
The final trial of the case against Murat Övüç, on the charge of ‘publicly degrading one section of the public based on race’ for his expressions “You are a creep Armenian… You Armenians are creep!” in a social media video, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 14 on March 23, 2021. The court acquitted Murat Övüç.
(03/283) Constitutional Court Decision on Right to Liberty and Security…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2021 that, the Constitutional Court has concluded on the individual appeal of human rights defender Özlem Dalkıran. The court ruled that the right to liberty and security (Article 19 of the Constitution) was violated by unlawful arrest and that a compensation of 40,000 Turkish Liras should be paid. Özlem Dalkıran was detained on July 5, 2017 along with 9 human rights defenders at a meeting in Büyükada, Istanbul and was arrested on July 12, 2017; she was in prison until she was released by the court on judicial control conditions on October 25, 2017.
(03/286) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On March 23, 2021, 3 people are detained in Edirne in an alleged attempt to illegally flee abroad.
(03/287) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against former sergeant H. K. is held at Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 23, 2021. The court sentenced the defendant to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(03/288) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 138 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,006 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on March 23, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 26.182.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 30,316 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 3,061,520 as of March 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.
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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.