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24 May 2019 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

24 May Daily Human Rights Report

(05/284) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Urfa…

It was claimed that 54 people who were detained after the clash in Dergili neighbourhood of Halfeti district of Urfa on May 18, 2019, where 1 police officer and 2 militants died, were subjected to torture and ill –treatment at Urfa Police Headquarters Anti-Terror department.

It is learned that Ruken Deniz, who was detained and was released on judicial control conditions on May 23, 2019, states the following at the court: “They tortured me at the police directorate, gave electric shocks, hit my head on the floor. I cannot feel my hands and feet, I have pain in my ribs, I have been tortured for a couple of days”.

It is learned that the lawyers demanded that detainees should be taken to The Forensic Medicine Institution so that torture allegations could be evidenced, however, the prosecutor’s office rejected the demand.

9 of 10 people who were referred to the court on May 23, 2019, are released on judicial control conditions. 1 person (People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Halfeti district co-mayor candidate Abdullah Çiftçi) is arrested on the grounds of social media posts. The names of released people are: Ahmet Yıldırım, Emine Yıldırım, Güle Çiftçi, Hanifi Alakuş, Kamile Kaçar, Kemal Şahin, Rabi Kaplan, Ruken Deniz, Suphi Gül.

It is learned that detention period for other detainees is extended 4 days more.

(05/285) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 23, 2019 that in Giresun E Type Prison, personal belongings of prisoners such as radios and books were seized during ward searches.

It is learned from the news coverage of May 23, 2019 that, in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison personal belongings of prisoners such as radios and books were seized; prisoners were not given newspapers; prisoners were forced to stand in military order during roll-calls; and the water supplied to prisoners were dirty and smelly.

(05/286) 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 926 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on May 23, 2019 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 May 23, 2019, 1 person (İlker Işık) and at 18.00 2 people (Gülnaz Bozkurt and İlker Işık) were detained.

Thus in total 3 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on May 23, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

(05/287) Police Intervention to Protests in Izmir and İstanbul…

The police intervened into the protest of prisoners’ families and members and executives of political parties (HDP and DBP), about the hunger strike in prisons, which was to be held in Izmir on May 23, 2019, and detained 11 people including HDP Izmir co-chair Besriye Tekgür, by using physical violence. It could be seen in video records that a police chief says a prisoners’ mother “I don’t care if your child dies” during the intervention. It is reported that HDP Izmir MP Murat Çepni was forced to leave the area by the police. The names of detainees are: Besriye Tekgür, Semra Uzunok, EGE TUHAYDER member Mazlum Koç, HDP Youth Assembly members Velat Yalçınkaya, Cemal Bulut, H.K. (16), Yiğit Şakir Özdemir, Oktay Çelik, prisoners’ mothers Nufusa Ataç, Hazal Yaşar and Leyli Tikan.

The police prevented the sit-in protest for the same reason which was to be held in front of Istanbul Bakırköy Women’s Prison on May 23, 2019.

(05/288) Police Intervention to Protests in Eskişehir and Ankara…

The police intervened the march from Istanbul to Ankara of TAYAD (Association of Prisoners’ Families) members saying “We Want Justice” on May 22, 2019 and detained 3 people. It is learned that the detainees are released on the same day.

The police intervened the press declaration “We Want Justice” of TAYAD members on May 23, 2019 in front of the Ministry of Justice in Ankara, and detained 17 people by using physical violence. It is learned that Nazan Bozkurt who was recording the press declaration was also detained. The names of detainees are: Serhat Parlak, Yıldız Turan, Ayşe Arapgili, Taylan Sungur, Merve Demirel, Deniz Aydın, Sinan Yanbal, Feridun Osmanağaoğlu, Hasan Kocaman, Nazan Bozkurt, Hanife Elmadağ, Naime Kara, Cemile Temizkalp, Cemalettin Karagözoğlu, İsmail Çolak, Bülent Özgül, Sinan Yanbal. Detainees were released on the same day.

(05/289) Detained HDP Members in Adana…

Erhan Aka, 1 of 10 HDP members who were detained on May 20, 2019 in Adana, is arrested by the court on May 23, 2019. 9 people are released on judicial control conditions.

(05/290) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The separate cases against 4 academicians (Assist. Professor Esra Mungan, Assist. Professor Meral Camcı, Assist. Professor Muzaffer Kaya and Assoc. Professor Kıvanç Ersoy) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on May 23, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to October 15, 2019.

The case against Research Assistant Sedat Yağcıoğlu from Hacettepe University for the same reason is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 24 on May 23, 2019. The court decided to send the case to Ankara Heavy Penal Court on the grounds of lack of venue.

The case against Assist. Professor Hafize Öztürk from Akdeniz University for the same reason is held on Antalya Heavy Penal Court No 8 on May 23, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to June 17, 2019.

(05/291) The Cases Against People for Supporting Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…

The separate cases against 2 people (Halim Bulutoğlu and Zeynep Tanbay), amongst 17 people who turned themselves on the prosecutor’s office and announced a declaration to support 1128 academicians who were charged for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”, started to be held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on May 23, 2019. The court adjourned both trials to September 24, 2019.

These 17 people who supported the academicians are: Arat Dink, Ayşegül Devecioğlu (Writer), Bahadır Altan (Retired military officer), Bülent Deniz (Lawyer), Ceyda Karan (Journalist), Erol Önderoğlu (Journalist), Ferhat Tunç (Musician), Füsun Çeliker, Gürhan Ertür, Halim Bulutoğlu (Business person), Necmi Demir (Economist), Necmiye Alpay (Writer), Nergiz Savran (Industrial Engineer), Nevzat Onaran (Journalist), Pınar Aydınlar (Musician), Şanar Yurdatapan (Musician) and Zeynep Tanbay (Dancer and choreographer).

(05/292) Former CHP MP on Trial…

The final trial of the case against Muharrem İnce, former Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP and presidential candidate for the elections held on June 24, 2018, on the grounds of ‘Insulting the President’ in a speech he made in Balıkesir, is held on Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 22 on May 23, 2019. The court sentenced Muharrem İnce to a fine of 20.000 Turkish Liras as immaterial damages.

(05/293) The Indictment Against CHP Istanbul Chair…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 23, 2019 that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against Canan Kaftancıoğlu, CHP’s Istanbul chair. The indictment demands sentence for Canan Kaftancıoğlu, for ‘insulting the President’, ‘insulting a public officer due to his duty’, publicly degrading the Republic of Turkey’, ‘publicly inciting hatred and hostility among people’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, on the grounds of her social media posts.

(05/294) ÖHD and TUHAD-FED Executives on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against 37 people, members and executives of Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) and TUHAD-FED (Association for Solidarity with Prisoners’ Families), which were closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on May 23, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 31, 2019.

(05/295) ESP Executives on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against members and executives of The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) including ESP chair Çiçek Otlu and former ESP chair and HDP co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 1 on May 23, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to November 28, 2019.

(05/296) Journalists and ESP Members and Executives on Trial…

The case against 27 people including Etkin News Agency reporter Meşale Tolu and writer Mukaddes Erdoğdu Çelik, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 29 is held on May 23, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 11, 2019.

(05/297) Newspaper Employee on Trial in Urfa…

The case against Mustafa Göktaş, an employee of Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 2 on May 23, 2019. It is learned that the prosecutor repeated the legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for Mustafa Göktaş on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court decided to continue detention of Mustafa Göktaş and adjourned the trial to September 12, 2019.

(05/298) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…

The case against Safiye Alağaş, Jinnews agency executive editor, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 on May 23, 2019. The indictment demands sentence for Safiye Alağaş on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for the news reports published on website of the agency. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to October 2019.

(05/299) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against journalist Necla Demir, on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ started to be held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 33 on May 23, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to July 11, 2019.

(05/300) People on Trial in Urfa…

The case against Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Bekir Karageçili, HDP Urfa co-chair Aliye Kızıldamar, Peace Mothers Hadle Oğur and Selvi Öztunç, and Mehmet Şükrü Turgut, for the hunger strike they went on in HDP’s Urfa office on December 4, 2018, is held on Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 6 on May 23, 2019.

The indictment demands sentence on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’.

After defence hearings the court released Hadle Oğur, Selvi Öztunç, Mehmet Şükrü Turgut and decided to continue detention for Bekir Karageçili and Aliye Kızıldamar and adjourned the trial to June 26, 2019.

(05/301) Diyarbakır Prison Massacre Case…

The case against 89 people, for the incidents on September 24, 1996, in Diyarbakır E Type Prison where 11 prisoners died and 24 prisoners got wounded, is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 3 on May 23, 2019. The court dropped the case on the grounds of statute of limitation.

(05/302) Police Officer on Trial in Istanbul…

It is learned that the indictment of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office against police officer Murat A., on the grounds of hitting and breaking the back of lawyer Zeycan Balcı, during a press declaration on March 30, 2016 in front of Istanbul Court House, is accepted by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 22. The indictment demands sentence for Murat A. on the charges of ‘injury’, ‘intentional injury that cause bone fracture’, ‘extensive use of force’. The first trial will be held on June 27, 2019.

(05/303) Indictment Against a Police Officer in Ankara…

It is learned that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against police officer Sezgin S., on the grounds of sexual assault to Merve Demirel, during a press declaration of TAYAD members in Ankara on February 16, 2019. The indictment demands jail sentence from 2 years to 5 years for Sezgin S., on the charge of ‘sexual assault’.

It is learned that the prosecutor declared a non-prosecution decision on the charges of ‘torture’ and ‘sexual assault’ for other police officers involved.

(05/304) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On May 23, 2019, 6 people including a lawyer are detained in house raids in Izmir.

(05/305) Proceedings Against Parliamentary Members…

It is learned from the news coverage of May 23, 2019 that, the proceedings against Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) chair Erkan Baş and TİP Hatay MP Barış Atay are submitted to the Constitution and Justice Committee of the Grand National Assembly.

(05/306) Ban on Events in Antep…

Antep Governorate made a declaration on May 23, 2019 and announced that all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins and opening stands and so on are banned as of May 23, 2019 until June 6, 2019.

[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.