Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
27 – 29 May 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/195) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 26, 2023 that, 3 militants died in a clash between the Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Avaşin area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on May 5, 2023.
(05/196) May 14/28 2023 General Elections…
6 of 27 people (the Democratic Regions Party [DBP] executives Kadri Ezel, Cengiz Dere, the Peoples’ Democratic Party [HDP] Yenişehir district former co-chair Emrah Deniz, HDP Youth Assembly members Mehmet Halis Saykan, Özkan Yalçın and Azat Taş) who were detained in house raids in Mersin, Antalya, Adana, Ankara and İzmir through a Mersin based investigation on the Prisoners’ Families Association (Çukurova TUAY-DER) were arrested by the court on May 26, 2023. 4 people (TUAY-DER executive Selim Ekici, HDP provincial executive Devrim Aydın, HDP Yenişehir district co-chair İbrahim Kaylan and HDP Youth Assembly member Süreyya Ceylan) were released on house confinement while 4 others were released on judicial control conditions by the court on the same day. 12 of the detainees were released on May 23, 2023, and journalist Delal Akyüz was released on judicial control conditions on May 24, 2023.
The Greens and Left Future Party (YSP) Saruhanlı district executive Gülsüm Tozan, YSP Manisa deputy candidate Ayşe Karagöz, Kardelen Çetin and Murat Elmastaş who were detained in house raids in Manisa on May 24, 2023, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 26, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 26, 2023 that the banners hanged by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Tarsus district of Mersin, containing pictures of Gaffar Okan, Diyarbakır Provincial Police Chief of the time, and Konca Kuriş who were killed as a result of an armed attack by Hezbollah, were removed by the police upon the District Election Board instruction.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 26, 2023 that, the screen to be used at the election campaign stand of CHP at City Square in Osmangazi district of Bursa, was banned by the District Election Board.
21 of 24 people including political party members and executives who were detained through Tekirdağ based investigation were arrested by the court on May 26, 2023. The names of arrested people learned so far are: HDP Çanakkale provincial executives Seza Büyükkılıç, Turgut Haksal, Servet Taşkın, Rahmi Diren, Cezmi Yaman, Turgut Gökçe, Çetin Kale, Adnan Kurt, Ceylan Deniz Adıyaman, Senem Özbey, Zübeyde Karaoğlan, Mehmet Akyürek, Ayla Eroğlu, Ömer Faruk Kırnıç, Aytekin Bulut, Ayşe Yolkesen, Hilmi Karaoğlan, Sinan Göksel.
It is learned that 1 person who made a heart sign while the bus with Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu was passing by in Üsküdar district of Istanbul was detained by the police using physical violence on May 26, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 26, 2023 that the messages to be sent to the voters by the CHP chair were prohibited by the Information Technologies and Communications Authority.
It is learned that an attack was carried out on the HDP office in Bayraklı district of Izmir on May 28, 2023, by an unknown person or persons, and racist words were written on the walls of the office.
The violations detected on May 28, 2023, the day of presidential election are as follows:
It is learned that Erhan Kurt, a ballot board member on behalf of the Iyi Party, died after being attacked by a group that wanted to celebrate the election results in Gülyalı district of Ordu.
It is learned that Murat Çalık, the CHP mayor of Beylikdüzü district was subjected to verbal and physical violence of the persons who were reported to be ballot board members ok AKP.
It is learned that a YSP observer who reacted against a person voting openly in Esenler district of Istanbul, and HDP Esenler district co-chair who came to the school for support, were subjected to physical violence of the persons who were reported to be AKP and HUDA PAR members.
It is learned that a CHP observer in a school in Esenler district of Istanbul was injured after being subjected to physical violence of the persons reported to be AKP and MHP members.
It is learned that a ballot board member on behalf of YSP in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul was subjected to the physical attack of a person reported to be AKP member and was injured and admitted to hospital.
It is learned that Dokuz8 News reporter Fatoş Erdoğan who was following the elections in a school in Kağıthane district of Istanbul was subjected to physical violence of a person reported to be AKP observer attendant and was injured.
It is learned that a ballot board member was subjected to physical violence of persons reported to be AKP members in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul.
It is learned that KRT channel reporter Sultan Eylem Keleş who was following the elections in a school in Kadıköy district of Istanbul was prevented from recording by a person reported to be AKP observer attendant.
It is learned that the voters in a school in Kadıköy district of Istanbul was subjected to physical violence of a group reported to be of AKP and MHP members.
It is learned that an observer and a lawyer who reacted against irregularities during voting in Fatih district of Istanbul were subjected to physical violence.
It is learned that the celebrations to be held by the members of the People’s Alliance parties in Okmeydanı neighbourhood of Şişli district and Sarıgazi neighbourhood of Sancaktepe district of Istanbul were prevented by another group. It is reported that the police intervened in those who wanted to prevent the celebrations in Sancaktepe. The number of people detained by the police could not be learned.
It is learned that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against the owners of social media accounts “Haber Report, Darkweb Haber, Militer Doktrin, Ajans Muhbir and Solcu Gazete” on the grounds of social media posts about the elections and that detention warrants were issued for 5 people.
It is learned that a YSP observer was subjected to physical violence of persons reported to be AKP mayor’s guards in Mamak district of Ankara.
It is learned that the ballot board chair was subjected to physical violence of a person reported to be AKP member in Gölbaşı district of Ankara.
It is learned that Artı TV reporter Anıl Cengiz Bölükbaş, who was following at Ankara Chamber of Commerce building, the counting of foreign votes, was prevented by the police and removed from the building.
It is learned that 2 members of CHP were attacked by a group reported to be MHP members in Bornova district of Izmir.
It is learned that a CHP observer and CHP former Istanbul deputy Ali Şeker who were reacting against the men who were voting on behalf of women in Karaali rural neighbourhood of Eyyübiye district of Urfa were subjected to physical violence of a group and that Ali Şeker was injured.
It is learned that a ballot board member from CHP was subjected to physical violence for rejecting massive voting in Yazlıca rural neighbourhood of Akçakale district of Urfa. It is learned that CHP Urfa MP Mahmut Tanal who went there later was also subjected to physical violence.
It is learned that the YSP committee including YSP Urfa MP Ferit Şenyaşar were subjected to physical violence in Yeniköy rural neighbourhood in Haliliye district of Urfa. It is reported that a journalist was also subjected to physical violence and their camera was damaged.
It is learned that 1 person was injured by the fire opened in the air by those celebrating the election results in Siverek district of Urfa.
It is learned that the police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to force people away from a school yard in Cizre district in Şırnak.
It is learned that the group including YSP Hakkari MP Onur Düşünmez who went to Samanlı village of Derecik district of Hakkari upon the allegations of massive voting, were subjected to physical violence of the persons reported to be AKP and the New Welfare Party members.
It is learned that 2 observers (Berkant Doran and Süleyman Yeral) in a school in Antakya district of Hatay were subjected to physical violence and were injured.
It is learned that the observers who reacted against massive voting in Hanyolu rural neighbourhood of Altınözü district of Hatay were subjected to physical violence.
It is learned that Jinnews reporter Öznur Değer who was following the voting in a school in Kızıltepe district of Mardin was prevented from recording by AKP Mardin deputy’s guards and advisors and her phone was seized upon the prosecutor’s order.
It is learned that ballot board members in a school in Midyat district of Mardin who reacted against persons who wanted to vote openly, were subjected to physical violence.
It is learned that those who fire into the air to celebrate the election results in Nusaybin district of Mardin attacked and injured a person named Ahmet Akbulut who reacted against them.
It is learned that a person named Abdulaziz Çakmak was injured by the fire opened into the air during celebrations for election results in Midyat district of Mardin.
It is learned that YSP observers in a school in Battalgazi district of Malatya were subjected to physical violence of persons reported to be AKP members.
It is learned that the celebrations of the People’s Alliance member parties in Hopa and Kemalpaşa districts of Artvin were prevented by other groups.
It is learned that a CHP observer in a school in Kartepe district of Kocaeli was subjected to physical violence of a group and was injured.
It is learned that a CHP observer attendant at a school in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır was subjected to physical violence of a HUDA PAR member.
It is learned that the police did not allow the Vote and Beyond observers into a school in Sur district of Diyarbakır.
It is learned that an observer in a school in Büyükorhan district of Bursa was subjected to physical violence of persons reported to be AKP members.
It is learned that CHP and YSP observers were not allowed into a school in Tosuntarla village of Pervari district of Siirt.
It is learned that CHP and YSP observers were forced out of a school in Sungu town of Muş.
It is learned that the Labour Party observers in Pamukkale district of Denizli were subjected to physical violence of persons reported to be AKP members.
It is learned that the police intervened in the people who make victory sign to those celebrating the election results in Batman and detained at least 20 people. It is learned that Batman Burada newspaper grant holder Vedat Aker was also detained.
(05/196) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Hakkari…
It is learned from the news coverage that at least 8 people were detained by torture and ill-treatment in house raids in Yüksekova district of Hakkari on May 29, 2023.
Cevahir Bor, mother of a detainee named Mustafa Bor, stated the following to the press: “Those who came to the house were special operations officers and had facemasks. As soon as the police entered the house, they started to torture Mustafa by locking him in another room (…) I could hear the sounds of torture to my son, who was locked in the room. (…) They were keeping me in the living room and not allowing me to enter the room. They tortured us all for hours, insulted us. They tortured us keeping in rooms from 05:00 to 07:00 in the morning (…) They did not give any reason. They said ‘We came to get Mustafa. We came to kill him; we will destroy him. We will not let him live’. My son’s face was unrecognizable. They wouldn’t even let me give him a glass of water. While two masked policemen tortured my son in the room, a female police officer hurled insults and threats at me in the hall, saying, ‘I will handcuff your hands, I will tear your mouth out’.”
(05/197) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on May 26, 2023 to the chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by families and tutelary of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Hamili Yıldırım and Veysi Aktaş in Imralı Prison, in order to visit them was not responded.
(05/198) Police Intervention to Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration of Saturday Mothers/ People held at the Galatasaray Square of Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on May 27, 2023, and detained 18 people including the Human Rights Association (HRA) chair Eren Keskin, the HRA Istanbul branch chair Gülseren Yoleri, the HRFT General Secretary Coşkun Üsterci, the HRFT Executive Board member and Istanbul representative Ümit Efe. It is learned that the police handcuffed detainees behind their backs. Detained people were released on the same day. Detained people were: Eren Keskin, Gülseren Yoleri, Ümit Efe, Besna Tosun, İrfan Bilgin, Coşkun Üsterci, Hüseyin Aygül, İkbal Eren, Maside Ocak, Hanife Yıldız, Ali Ocak, Mikail Kırbayır, Hasan Karakoç, Hünkar Yurtsever, Cüneyt Yılmaz, Leman Yurtsever, Mehmet Mert Karatağ and Özge Bakır Efe.
(05/199) Person Arrested for Social Media Post in Antep…
It is learned that one person (İbrahim Halil Keser) of 5 people who were detained on the grounds of slogans chanted during an event in Antep, was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on May 26, 2023. 4 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/200) Detained People in Ağrı…
On May 26, 2023, 35 people were detained in house raids in Tutak district of Ağrı, on the grounds of banners held in a rally in 2014. Detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day. The names of detained people learned so far are: Nevzat Dağ, Celalettin Karataş, Sadık Reşat İyi, Ahmet Öztaş, Bekin Polat, Mehmet Uçar, İbrahim Öztaş, Adem Balta, Cemil Vural, Celal Altun, Kasım Yıldırım, Kerem Artiş, Muhammed Emin Dırbaş, Halit Turan, Şakir Akici, Veysel Uçar and Aydın Porsuk.
(05/201) Detained People in Bingöl…
On May 26, 2023, 6 people were detained in house raids in the villages of Karlıova district of Bingöl, on the grounds of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation on social media’. Detained people were released on the same day provided that 2 of them will be on judicial control conditions.
(05/202) Detained People in Şırnak…
7 of 25 people who were detained in house raids in İdil and Cizre districts of Şırnak were arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on May 26, 2023. 18 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(05/203) Detained People in Izmir…
4 people who were detained in Izmir on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on May 24, 2023, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on May 26, 2023.
(05/204) Former Mayor on Trial…
The final trial of the case against former Diyarbakır mayor Feridun Çelik, on the grounds of being the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Permanent Assembly Coordination, Law and Human Rights Commission and Diplomacy Commission member, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 6 on May 26, 2023. The court sentenced Feridun Çelik to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court decided to apply judicial control conditions for Feridun Çelik.
(05/205) Former Co-Mayor on Trial in Van…
The final trial of the case against HDP Democratic Local Authorities Board member and former Edremit district co-mayor Sevil Rojbin Çetin is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No. 2 on May 26, 2023. Sevil Rojbin Çetin joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court sentenced Sevil Rojbin Çetin to 10 years on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and decided to continue detention of her.
Sevil Rojbin Çetin was detained on June 26, 2020 in Diyarbakır and was arrested on July 7, 2020.
(05/207) District Council Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Ceylan Aslan, HDP district council member in Ergani district of Diyarbakır is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No. 11 on May 26, 2023. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for Ceylan Aslan on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’. The court adjourned the trial to September 27, 2023.
(05/208) Saturday Mothers on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against 14 people including Saturday Mothers and human rights defenders who were detained by the police intervening in the press declaration on 30 August International Day of Enforced Disappearances, held at Altınşehir Solitary Cemetery in Küçükçekmece district in 2022, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 1 on May 26, 2023. The court acquitted 14 people.
(05/209) Investigation Against Journalist…
It is learned from the news coverage of May 26, 2023 that, Rize Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation against Mezopotamya News Agency grant holder Ferhat Çelik on the grounds of the news reports and social media posts, and that Ferhat Çelik made his official statement through the investigation at Şişli District Security Directorate in Istanbul.
(05/210) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against 25 people who were detained by the police intervening in the “Gemlik March” held in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on June 12, 2022, to demand an end to isolation of the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No. 9 on May 26, 2023. The court acquitted 25 people on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’, and sentenced HDP Kadıköy district co-chair Koray Türkay to a penalty fine of 3,000 Turkish Liras on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent public duty’.
(05/211) Ankara JİTEM Case…
Ankara Heavy Penal Court No. 1 has acquitted former Interior Minister Mehmet Ağar, İbrahim Şahin, Korkut Eken, Ayhan Çarkın, Ayhan Akça, Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, Ercan Ersoy, Ahmet Demirel, Ayhan Özkan, Seyfettin Lap, Enver Ulu, Uğur Şahin, Alper Tekdemir, Yusuf Yüksel, Abbas Semih Sueri, Lokman Külünk, Mahmut Yıldırım, Nurettin Güven, Muhsin Korman, on the case known as “Ankara JİTEM case”, regarding the unidentified murders committed in and around Ankara between 1993 and 1996. Ankara Regional Court Penal Department No. 1 has overturned the local court’s verdict and ruled a retrial. The final retrial is held on May 26, 2023. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded acquittal for the defendants. The court rejected the complainant lawyers’ requests for time against the opinion, on the grounds that “it was aimed at prolonging the trial”, decided to acquit all the defendants.
(05/212) Nihat Kazanhan Case…
The retrial of the case against police officer N. G., regarding death of a 12-year-old child, Nihat Kazanhan, who died by police fire in Cizre district of Şırnak on January 14, 2015, is held at Cizre Heavy Penal Court No. 1 on May 26, 2023, as the Court of Cassation has ruled that the right to live was violated. The defendant police officer did not attend the trial. After defence hearings the court rejected to issue a red notice for the defendant police officer and adjourned the trial to October 20, 2023.
(05/213) Police Officers on Trial in Mardin…
The final trial of the case against 4 special operations police officers (A. A., F. Ş., N. K., M. Y.) on the grounds of committing physical violence to 2 people including 1 child who were wearing traditional clothes in Nusaybin district of Mardin, is held at Nusaybin Penal Court of First Instance on May 26, 2023. The court sentenced the defendant police officers to a judicial fine of 18,000 Turkish Liras on the charge of injury by using weapon committed by public officers misusing their influence’ to be paid in 20 monthly instalments. The court also decided to defer the announcement of the verdict.
(05/214) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports about a ballot board chair who did not give official reports to the observers during the May 14 general elections, published on http://mezopotamyaajansi35.com, https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr, https://haber.sol.org.tr/ websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Diyarbakır Penal Court of Peace No. 3 on May 25, 2023.
It is learned that the news reports about a child who was sexually abused in Zonguldak, published on https://www.bbc.com/turkce, https://secim2023.evrensel.net, https://sendika.org websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Çaycuma Penal Court of Peace on May 25, 2023.
It is learned that the news reports about the Ministry of Health, published on https://t24.com.tr, https://www.birgun.net, https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No. 10 on May 25, 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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[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.