Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
24 November 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/255) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 23, 2020 that, in Mersin Tarsus Prison there is no hot water provided to wards and the heating do not work.
(11/256) Detained Human Rights Defenders, Lawyers and Members of Associations in Diyarbakır…
On November 20, 2020, 75 people including human rights defenders, politicians, lawyers; members and executives of trade unions, foundations and associations were detained on the warrant issued by Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a warrant through the investigation against Democratic Society Congress (DTK). 45 people are referred to the court on November 23, 2020.
The court arrested 5 people [Yılmaz Kan, Haknas Sadak, Diyaiddin Noyan, İrfan Kanğal and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) former central council member and current Honorary Board member doctor Şeyhmus Gökalp] on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. 40 people are released on judicial control conditions.
30 people including Human Rights Association (IHD) Adıyaman branch chair lawyers Bülent Temel, Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) co-chair lawyer Bünyamin Şeker and lawyers from IHD and ÖHD, were released after statement procedures at the police on November 20, 21, and 22, 2020.
(11/257) Detained DBP Executive in Diyarbakır…
On November 22, 2020, İhsan Çapan, Silvan district executive of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), was detained at Silvan District Security Directorate, where he went to make his official statement in relation to the quarrel with the people having a sit-in protest in front of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır office. İhsan Çapan is released by the court on judicial control conditions on November 23, 2020.
(11/258) Police Raid to Cemevi in Istanbul…
5 people were detained in the police raid to Armutlu Cemevi (an Alevi place of worship) in Sarıyer district of Istanbul on November 20, 2020. 2 people (Halil Yakut and Eser Çelik) are arrested by the court, 3 people (Beyhan Gün, Emircan Yazı and Rezzan Şengül) are released on judicial control conditions on November 23, 2020.
(11/259) Police Prevention to Women’s Protest in Van…
The balloon flying protest of Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA) members within 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Van on November 23, 3030 is prevented by the police.
(11/260) Investigation Against Journalist in Istanbul…
It is learned that an investigation on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is initiated against journalist Melis Alphan, for her social media post about Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır in 2015. It is learned that Melis Alphan made her official statement through this investigation at Press Offences Bureau of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office on November 23, 2020.
(11/261) The Case Against Saturday Mothers in Istanbul…
The indictment of Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office against 46 people including human rights defenders and relatives of forced disappeared persons, who were detained in the police intervention against Saturday Mothers’ protest in its 700th week; is accepted by Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 21 on November 23, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 46 people on the charge of ‘violation of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’.
The 700th weekly gathering of Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday at Galatasaray Square in Istanbul for their relatives who were disappeared under custody, was banned by Beyoğlu Sub-governorate’s Office on August 25, 2018; and the police intervened those who gather at Galatasaray Square and detained 46 people.
(11/262) Co-Mayors on Trial in Van…
The trial of the case against Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan, co-mayors of Muradiye district of Van, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 7 on November 23, 2020. Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan were suspended and a trustee was appointed for district municipality.
Yılmaz Şalan joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court released Yılmaz Şalan on house confinement and adjourned the trial to March 10, 2021.
Yılmaz Şalan and Leyla Balkan were detained on December 6, 2019; Yılmaz Şalan was arrested, Leyla Balkan was released on judicial control conditions on December 9, 2019. The Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Muradiye district on December 7, 2019.
(11/263) Helin Hasret Şen Case…
On September 24, 2020, Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 1 has ruled that the proceedings against police officer A. E., for death of Helin Hasret Şen, should end lack of permission to investigate the defendant police officer. Helin Hasret Şen, a 12-year-old child, had lost her life due to fire opened from an armoured police vehicle on October 12, 2015, during curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır. It is learned that Helin Hasret Şen’s family’s appeal to the local court’s verdict is rejected by Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 2.
(11/264) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Baransu, former reporter, and Murat Şevki, former editor in chief of Taraf daily newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 2 on November 23, 2020. The case was opened for a news report titled “The decision of finishing Gülen is made by National Security Council in 2004”.
Mehmet Baransu joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court sentenced Mehmet Baransu to 3 years and 4 months on the charge of ‘securing information that, due to its nature, must be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security or domestic or foreign political interests of the state’; to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘disclosure of information that, due to its nature, must be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security or domestic or foreign political interests of the state’; to 4 years and 2 months on the charge of ‘violation of the National Intelligence Law by securing information about activities of the National Intelligence Organisation’; and to 3 years and 4 months on the charge of ‘disclosure of information about activities of the National Intelligence Organisation’. The court acquitted Murat Şevki.
(11/265) Person on Trial for Social Media Posts in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 23, 2020 that, the final trial of the case against Rahmetullah Öral, former executive of Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen) Branch No 5 in Istanbul, for his social media posts, was held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 27. The court sentenced Rahmetullah Öral to 3 years and 4 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
It is stated in the news reports that Rahmetullah Öral declared that his social media account was hacked and the posts were not of him. It is reported that Rahmetullah Öral was suspended from his duty as a teacher, following the court’s verdict.
(11/266) The Case Against CHP Executive in Istanbul…
Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office had initiated an investigation against Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu for photographs of house of Fahrettin Altun, Communications Director Republic of Turkey, and the investigation has ended in non-prosecution decision. The non-prosecution is lifted by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of First Instance No 8, upon Fahrettin Altun’s lawyers’ appeal on November 23, 2020. It is learned that the case is sent back to the prosecutor’s office for investigation.
(11/267) Non-Prosecution for Police Officers in Ankara…
It is learned that the investigation of Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office, about physical violence of the police intervening the “Las Tesis” protest of women on December 12, 2019; resulted in non-prosecution on November 23, 2020.
(11/268) Ban of Events in Mardin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on November 23, 2020 and banned all events such as open-door meetings, demonstrations, press declarations, opening tents and stands, sit-in protests, commemorations, festivals, plays, shows etc. for 30 days as of November 23, 2020.
(11/269) Curfew in Midyat…
On November 22, 2020, Mardin Governorate announced a curfew in 2 rural neighbourhoods of Midyat district as of 23.00 on November 22, 2020 until a further notice. The curfew is lifted as of 20.00 on November 23, 2020. Neighbourhoods under curfew were: Doluca and Yumurtalı.
(11/270) Curfew in Dargeçit…
On November 22, 2020, Mardin Governorate announced a curfew in 2 rural neighbourhoods of Dargeçit district as of 23.00 on November 22, 2020 until a further notice. The curfew is lifted as of 20.00 on November 23, 2020. Neighbourhoods under curfew were: Tanyeri and Beğendi.
(11/271) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 153 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,713 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 23, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 12,511 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 453,535 as of November 23, 2020.
It is learned that 5 health workers (pharmacist Erhan Yüksel and hospital worker İhsan Sarohan in Istanbul, pharmacist Hasan Özışık in Denizli and academician Erkan Özkan in Bursa) died from Covid-19 on November 23, 2020.
[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.