Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
25 February 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/327) Allegation of Suicide in Prison…
Ramazan Akbaşlı (55), who allegedly attempted suicide in Van F Type Prison, lost his life at intensive care unit of Van Dursun Odabaşı Hospital on February 24, 2021.
(02/328) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2021 that, lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, kept in Edirne F Type Prison, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings for he rejected to be searched by correction officers violating social distancing rules and without face masks and gloves; and that he was penalised with one day of solitary cell confinement. It is also stated in the news reports that the number of books given to Aytaç Ünsal is limited to 20 books per year, and his letters addressing journalists and parliamentary members are not sent on the grounds of “being inconvenient”. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has went on a hunger strike in Edirne F Type Prison, and after 213 days of strike, Penal Department No 16 of Court of Cassation ruled to halt the sentence until he recovers and he was released on September 3, 2020. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal was detained and arrested once again in Edirne on December 9, 2020.
(02/329) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2021 that, lawyer Aytaç Ünsal in Edirne F Type Prison was not given the proper diet and pure vitamin B1 for his treatment. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has went on a hunger strike in Edirne F Type Prison, and after 213 days of strike, Penal Department No 16 of Court of Cassation ruled to halt the sentence until he recovers and he was released on September 3, 2020. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal was detained and arrested once again in Edirne on December 9, 2020.
(02/330) Police Prevention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The press declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Arts and Culture Committee, against cultural assimilation and censorship, which was to be held in Avcılar district of Istanbul on February 24, 2021.
(02/331) Police Prevention to Protest About Hunger Strikes in Prison…
The police prevented the press declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakır on February 24, 2021; which was held to draw attention to indefinite hunger strikes that started on November 27, 2020 in prisons to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. The group had a sit-in protest after police prevention.
(02/332) Detained People in Ankara for Hanging Banners…
On February 24, 2021, 2 people (Celil Resuloğulları and Hüseyin Ege Kök) are detained on the grounds of hanging banners saying “University Cannot Be Handcuffed, What’s Next Is Up to Us” in Çankaya district of Ankara.
(02/333) Detained Members and Executives of ESP…
On February 24, 2021, 3 people are detained in operations covering 3 cities through an Istanbul based investigation against members and executives of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP). Detained people are: Istanbul provincial executive Çınar Altan, Mehmet Ali Genç, Arda Özdoğan.
(02/334) Detained Person in Istanbul for Social Media Posts…
On February 24, 2021, a person (S. E.) is detained in Istanbul on the grounds of a social media post about the Minister of Interior. Detained person is released on the same day by the court on house confinement and on condition of attending anger management seminar weekly.
(02/335) Co-Mayor and City Council Members on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Bayram Çiçek, co-mayor of Erciş district of Van and city council members Erhan Akbaş and Abdülkerim Akbaş, is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 7 on February 24, 2021.
The court sentenced Bayram Çiçek and Abdülkerim Akbaş to 2 years and 1 month each on the charge of ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’ and acquitted Erhan Akbaş.
(02/336) Co-Mayor on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Belgin Diken, HDP co-mayor of Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır who was suspended and replaced by a trustee, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on February 24, 2021.
After witness hearing the court rejected to lift the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to May 3, 2021.
Belgin Diken was detained on March 23, 2020 and was released on house confinement on March 24, 2020. Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Yenişehir district on November 13, 2019.
(02/337) Former Co-Mayors on Trial in Hakkari…
The final trial of the case against former Hakkari co-mayors Dilek Hatipoğlu and Nurullah Çiftçi, and 24 former members of city council, is held at Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 3 on February 24, 2021.
After defence hearings the court sentenced Dilek Hatipoğlu to 2 years 2 months and 20 days ‘embezzlement’. The court sentenced Nurullah Çiftçi to 5,500 Turkish Liras of penalty fine on the charges of ‘improperly undertaking public duty’ and ‘misconduct in office’. The court sentenced city council members to penalty fines on the charge of ‘misconduct in office’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(02/338) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-chair of HDP, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 on February 24, 2021.
The indictment demands Figen Yüksekdağ to be sentenced from 30 years up to 83 years for ‘leading an illegal organisation’, ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, ‘opposing to the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’, and ‘inciting hostility and hate among people’ for her activities in Democratic Society Congress (DTK).
The court decided to consolidate the case with the case on Kobanê protests in 2014, opened at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 22 and to continue detention of Figen Yüksekdağ adjourned the trial.
(02/339) HDP Members on Trial in Kocaeli…
The final trial of the case against 27 people (6 of them are arrested) including HDP’s Kocaeli co-chairs is held at Kocaeli Heavy Penal Court No 2 on February 24, 2021.
After defence hearings the court sentenced 4 people (HDP Party Assembly member Mehmet Alçınkaya, HDP Gebze district co-chair Ebubekir Çoban, HDP member Damla Bağcı and CHP’s Gebze city council member Osman Kurum) to 7 years and 6 months each; 2 people (Mehmet Karaaslan and Kutbeddin Güneşsu) to 6 years 10 months and 15 days each; and 2 people (HDP Kocaeli co-chair Leyla Aygün and Emine Karaaslan) to 6 years and 3 months each on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court decided to continue detention of 6 people (Damla Bağcı, Mehmet Alçınkaya, Mehmet Karaaslan, Ebubekir Çoban, Osman Kurum, Kutbeddin Güneşsu) and acquitted 19 people.
The court has released 8 people (HDP Kocaeli co-chair Leyla Aygün, HDP Party Assembly member Engin Güleser, HDP Gebze district co-chair Meryem Uslu, HDP Darıca district former co-chair Kudret Davutoğlu, HDP members Emine Karaaslan, Mekiye Aydın, Necla Erdoğan and Hasret Erdem), at the first trial held on July 8, 2020.
(02/340) Former MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against former parliamentary member Mahmut Alınak for his book “Mehmet Tunç and Bêkes” is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on February 24, 2021. The court sentenced Mahmut Alınak to 1 year and 6 months.
Mahmut Alınak’s 2017 dated book “Mehmet Tunç and Bêkes” was banned b7 Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 2 on December 5, 2019.
(02/341) HDP Executive on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case through the investigation on Rosa Women’s Association, against Besile Narin, former Kayapınar district co-chair of HDP, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 on February 24, 2021. The court acquitted Besile Narin.
(02/342) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case through the investigation on DTK, against journalist Hakkı Boltan is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on February 24, 2021. The court acquitted Hakkı Boltan.
(02/343) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against co-executive editor Hüseyin Aykol, managing editor Reyhan Çapan and journalist Hasan Başak and Kemal Aykut from Özgür Gündem newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 on February 24, 2021. The court adjourned the trial to June 22, 2021.
(02/344) Proceedings Against Parliamentary Members…
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2021 that, 33 proceedings demanding lift of impunity of 25 parliamentary members are submitted to Grand National Assembly.
Parliamentary members subjected to proceedings are:
- Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chair and Diyarbakır MP Saliha Aydeniz (1 proceeding);
- HDP Co-chair and Istanbul MP Pervin Buldan (2 proceedings);
- HDP Group Deputy and Siirt MP Meral Danış Beştaş (2 proceedings);
- HDP Group Deputy and Istanbul MP Saruhan Oruç (1 proceeding);
- HDP Urfa MP Ayşe Sürücü (2 proceedings);
- HDP Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan (2 proceedings);
- HDP Batman MP Ayşe Acar Başaran (2 proceedings);
- HDP Mardin MP Pero Dündar (2 proceedings);
- HDP Ağrı MP Berdan Öztürk (2 proceedings);
- HDP Van MP Sezai Temelli (2 proceedings);
- HDP Izmir MP Serpil Kemalbay Pekgözegü (1 proceeding);
- HDP Mersin MP Fatma Kurtulan (1 proceeding);
- HDP Istanbul MP Hüda Kaya (1 proceeding);
- HDP Diyarbakır MP Hişyar Özsoy (1 proceeding);
- HDP Batman MP Feleknas Uca (1 proceeding);
- HDP Diyarbakır MP Dersim Dağ (1 proceeding);
- HDP Istanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm (1 proceeding);
- HDP Hakkari MP Sait Dede (1 proceeding);
- HDP Siirt MP Sıdık Taş (1 proceeding);
- HDP Istanbul MP Oya Ersoy (1 proceeding);
- HDP Ağrı MP Dirayet Dilan Taşdemir (1 proceeding);
- CHP Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır (1 proceeding);
- CHP Tekirdağ MP Candan Yüceer (1 proceeding);
- CHP Niğde MP Ömer Fethi Gürer (1 proceeding);
- Democratic Party (DP) Ordu MP (1 proceeding).
(02/345) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On February 24, 2021, 135 people are detained in operations covering 47 cities through an Izmir based investigation; and 13 people are detained in operations covering 10 cities through an Istanbul based investigation.
(02/346) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Osman Özdil is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 24 on February 24, 2021. The court sentenced the defendant to 9 years 4 months and 15 days on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(02/347) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 72 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 660 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on February 24, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 9,561.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 28,285 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,665,194 as of February 24, 2021.
It is learned that doctor Eşsiz Çınaroğlu in Istanbul lost his life from Covid-19 on February 24, 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.