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27 – 30 April 2018 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

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

27 – 30 April 2018 Daily Human Rights Report

(04/296) People Subjected to Physical Violence of Gendarmerie in Urfa…

CHP Istanbul PM and The Grand National Assembly Human Rights Committee member Mahmut Tanal, shared a video footage on his social media accounts on April 26, 2018. The video shows 2 people being subjected to the physical violence of gendarmerie around Aydınlar village of Urfa’s Harran district. It could be seen on the video that 2 people were kicked, punched and beaten by clubs by gendarmerie. It is learned that Urfa Governorate defines the incident as a “clash” and opened an administrative investigation.

(04/297) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…

It is learned that 1 soldier died and 1 soldier got injured in an attack organized by HPG militants to security forces in Kani Rash area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on April 27, 2018.

It is learned from news coverage of April 27, 2018 that 6 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Osmaniye on March 31, 2018.

It is learned that 1 police got injured in an attack organized by HPG militants to a checkpoint in Ergani district of Diyarbakır on April 28, 2018.

It is learned that 1 soldier died in an attack to a military base in Kuyutepe, Şırnak on April 29, 2018.

It is learned that 3 soldiers got injured due to a military vehicle’s fell over in Çaldıran district of Van on April 29, 2018.

It is learned from news coverage of April 29, 2018 that 1 militant died in an air strike to Kandil on April 27, 2018, and 2 militants died in a clash in rural areas of Diyarbakır’s Lice district on April 19, 2018.

It is learned that 3 soldiers got injured in a clash in rural areas of Tunceli’s Pülümür district on April 30, 2018.

It is learned from news coverage of April 30, 2018 that 2 HPG militants died in clashes in rural areas of Ağrı’s Doğubayazıt district on April 14 and 15, 2018.

(04/298) Ill Prisoner Died in Prison…

It is learned from news coverage of April 28, 2018 that Halime Gülsu, a prisoner with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in Tarsus Women’s Prison No 3, died because her medication was not given to her. Her family made a declaration to press and stated that Halime Gülsu’s medical reports was lost during her detention and arrestment period and she fell into coma 2 times due to not taking her medication.

According to Human Rights Association (IHD), the number of seriously ill political prisoners is 1154.

(04/299) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

It is learned from news coverage of April 26, 2018 that Sadiye Sürer Baran, Kulp co-mayor, was subjected to undressed search compulsion and verbal violence of wardens in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 1, where she was transferred.

(04/300) Hunger Strike in Prison…

It is learned from news coverage of April 27, 2018 that 4 ill prisoners (Ergin Aktaş, Dicle Bozan, Yusuf Bulut and Ehmedê Xemî) in Menemen R Type Prison are on hunger strike since April 22, 2018 demanding better conditions in prison and not being prevented from right of health.

(04/301) Uniform Imposition and Reactions…

The police intervened to the press declaration of TAYAD (Prisoner’s Families’ Solidarity Association) members against uniform imposition in prisons, in Sakarya Street in Ankara on April 28, 2018 and detained 2 people (Mehmet Yılmaz and İbrahim Halil Şener).

(04/302) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…

It is learned that the appeal made on April 26, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 750th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.

It is learned that the appeal made on April 27, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother along with the families of Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275. With the last rejection, it was the 73rd time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected since September 11, 2016.

 

(04/303) The Person Kidnapped in Ankara…

It was claimed that Orçun Senyücel, a person who was dismissed by the state of emergency decree, was kidnapped by a black transporter vehicle in Türkkonut, Ankara on April 21, 2018. CHP Istanbul PM Sezgin Tanrıkulu raised a parliamentary question to the Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on April 27, 2018. Sezgin Tanrıkulu asked where are 7 people who were claimed to be kidnapped in Ankara including Orçun Senyücel and whether there was an investigation on these incidents.

(04/304) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…

It is learned that the police intervened the students and faculty members of Gazi University who wants to protest the government decision on dividing 10 universities, used pepper gas and detained a great number of people. The government wants to divide well-established universities such as Gazi, Istanbul and Inonu universities and wants to establish new universities.

It is also reported that a group of racist organisation members (Grey wolves) also attacked the protestors and a gun was fired up in the air.

(04/305) 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 for a while to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on April 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2018 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 April 26, 2018, 3 people (Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt, and Mehmet Dersulu) were detained. It is learned that Mehmet Dersulu was punched by the police while he was in the custody car.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on April 27, 2018, 3 people (Alev Şahin, Nazan Bozkurt, and Mahmut Konuk) and at 18.00 3 people (Alev Şahin, Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on April 28, 2018, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Alev Şahin and Gülnaz Bozkurt) were detained.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on April 29, 2018, 3 people (Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt and Gülnaz Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) were detained.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on April 30, 2018, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Mehmet Dersulu) and at 18.00 5 people (Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt, Gülnaz Bozkurt, İlker Işık and Muhammet Polat) were detained.

Thus in total 28 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on April 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.

 

(04/306) Detained and Arrested HDP Executive…

It is learned that in operations covering 6 cities through an Izmir based investigation 37 people are arrested on April 27, 2018. The names of detainees known so far are: Abdurahman Turgal, Haydar Aradağ, Ferhat Adar, Ahmet Özel, Sıddık Genç, Cengiz Karakuş and Mürsel Çiftçi.

The police raided a public meeting at HDP Güngören district office on April 28, 2018 and detained 41 people including HDP Istanbul co-chair Cengiz Çiçek, Mezopotamya News Agency reporters Servet Karaduman and Melike Ceyhan. It is reported that 31 of 41 people detained were released that same day after procedures at the police station, 10 people including Cengiz Çiçek are still under custody.

It is learned that in house raids in Denizli on April 28, 2018 HDP Denizli co-chair Cevahir Kayar’s husband Muhlis Kayar and a person named Gökhan Öner are detained.

(04/307) Detained Freedom and Solidarity Party Members and Executives…

Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) central executive board member Onur Kılıç and ÖDP members Cihangir Köroğlu and Necati Özdemir are detained for their social media posts, in Izmir on April 26, 2018.

(04/308) Detained Prisoners’ Families’ Legal Solidarity Association Executives in Van…

Aynur Bağış, Van co-chair of Prisoners’ Families’ Legal Solidarity Association which was closed down by the state of emergency decree, and Van executive Çetin Uyar are detained in Van on April 27, 2018.

(04/309) Preventions and Interventions Against May 1 Preparations…

It is learned from news coverage of April 28, 2018 that May 1 banners of Manisa Labour and Democracy Platform was removed by Manisa Metropolitan Municipality.

On April 30, 2018, 10 people including Labour Party executive, unionists and university students were detained in operations in Aydın.

On April 30, 2018, Polat Siper, a member of Thought Clubs Federation (FKF) is detained in Tekirdağ.

(04/310) Detentions and Arrests…

On April 26, 2018, a person named Mukadder Binici is detained in Urfa. It is reported that Mukadder Binici was detained a month ago and then was released by the court on juridical control conditions. The reason for second detention is unknown.

It is learned that 3 people (Zeki Menekşe, Aziz Menekşe and Özgür Menekşe) were detained in a raid to Yalımlı hamlet, during operations covering the rural areas of Lice, Kulp and Genç districts of Diyarbakır on April 26, 2018. Detainees are taken to Lice district centre with helicopter.

It is learned that on April 27, 2018, 10 people are detained in house raids in Antep, for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’ on social media posts.

On April 29, 2018, 3 people (Sıdıka Kaya, Şaban Kaya and Zeki Kaya) are detained in house raids of gendarmerie in Doğanca hamlet of Hakkari’s Ördekli village.

It is reported that on April 29, 2018, in house raids through a PKK investigation in Van, 14 people are detained.

(04/311) Detained Socialist Party of the Oppressed Executives and Members…

On April 27, 2018, in house raids through an investigation on Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) members, council member Ümmühan Özdemir, Maltepe district chair Kerem Bükreş, Mustafa Kubilay Sever, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association Zeytinburnu executive Hasan Kılık, HDP Bağcılar district executive Erkan Çelikcan are detained.

(04/312) Foundation Office Raided by the Police in Istanbul…

On April 27, 2018, Kadıköy office of Science, Education, Aesthetic, Culture and Art Research Foundation (BEKSAV) was raided by the police. It is learned that the police broke the door of the office, and seized the computers and security cameras after searching the office.

(04/313) Kemal Kurkut Case…

The case against police officer Y.Ş. who killed university student Kemal Kurkut, on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 continued to be held on April 26, 2018. Y.Ş. killed Kemal Kurkut by shooting him behind at Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır, in 2017, and he is on trial for ‘killing with an eventual intent’ on a life time sentence appeal.

It is learned that the defendant police officer was taken to the courtroom by the door used by prosecutors and judges. Kemal Kurkut’s mother Sercan Kurkut’s speech was interrupted by the chief judge. And then the police officer made his defence. The court rejected the demand of Kemal Kurkut’s families’ lawyers for arrestment of the defendant police officer and adjourned the trial to September 20, 2018.

(04/314) The Police Officer on Trial for Necmettin Fendik’s Death…

The first trial of the case against special operation police A. F. K. for death of Necmettin Fendik, on Yüksekova Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on April 26, 2018. Necmettin Fendik died by a police gunshot during a house raid in Yüksekova district of Hakkari on July 18, 2018. The indictment demands jail sentences up to 6 years for defendant police officer for ‘causing death by reckless act’. The defendant police officer A. F. K. attended the trial via sound and vision system and made his defence. The court adjourned the trial to June 28, 2018.

(04/315) Kızıltepe JİTEM Case…

The case against 4 soldier and 5 temporary village guards about the crimes of JİTEM (Gendarmerie Intelligence and Anti-Terror Unit) members between 1992-1996 in Kızıltepe district of Mardin, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on April 26, 2018.

After declarations of complainant lawyers, the court decided to take Zeynep Yalçınkaya’s witness statement and adjourned the trial to September 13, 2018.

(04/316) Impunity Decision on Enes Ata and Mahsum Mızrak Case…

The final trial of the case against special police force officers Bilal Özkara, Hayrettin Akar and Nuri Özgenç for causing death of Enes Ata (8) and Mahsum Mızrak (14), on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 1 is held on April 26, 2018. Enes Ata and Mahsum Mızrak died by gas bomb shell on March 28, 2006 in Diyarbakır.

After defences and complainant declarations the court acquitted 3 defendants on the grounds that they were not proven to be guilty of Enes Ata and Mahsum Mızrak’s death.

During the trials, the bomb shell got lost in property and evidence unit. The investigation about a police officer for missing evidence ended up in non-prosecution due to time-out. And, Enes Ata’s clothes and police radio records of the day were also destroyed without the court’s decision.

(04/317) Journalist on Trial in Muş…

The case against Seda Taşkın, Mezopotamya News Agency reporter, on Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 started to be held on April 30, 2018. Seda Taşkın attended the trial via sound and vision system. Seda Taşkın’s lawyer stated that the witness report for Seda Taşkın’s detention was made by the police and made a demand for determining the IP address of the e-mail sent for witness reporting. After defence hearings the court decided on continuation of detention and adjourned the trial to July 2, 2018.

Seda Taşkın was detained in Muş on December 20, 2017 and was released on juridical control conditions by the court on December 23, 2017. After the objection of the prosecutor’s office Seda Taşkın was detained on January 22, 2018 and arrested by the court for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on January 23, 2018.

(04/318) HDP PM’s on Trial…

The case against HDP former co-chair and Istanbul PM Selahattin Demirtaş, and Ankara PM Sırrı Süreyya Önder for their speeches in 2013 Istanbul Newroz celebrations, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 continued on April 30, 2018. After Sırrı Süreyya Önder’s defence the court did not allow the lawyers’ declaration. After the debate raised due to this, the court board decided to allow only 3 lawyers in the room and to get remaining lawyers out. Upon this decision all lawyers and the audience left the courtroom. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for Selahattin Demirtaş and Sırrı Süreyya Önder for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court decided to make Selahattin Demirtaş attend to the next trial via sound and vision system and adjourned the trial to June 8, 2018.

(04/319) DBP Co-chair and Diyarbakır Co-mayor on Trial…

The case against DBP co-chair Sebahat Tuncel and Diyarbakır co-mayor Gültan Kışanak on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 8 (which was later transferred to Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 1 for security reasons) continued to be held on April 27, 2018. The indictment demands 240 years of sentence for Gültan Kışanak for ‘starting and leading an illegal organisation’, ‘attending illegal meetings and demonstrations’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’ (41 times) and 145 years of sentence for Sebahat Tuncel for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda of an illegal organisation’.

After defence hearings the court decided to submit the case file to the prosecutor’s office for legal opinion, and continuation of detention for Sebahat Tuncel and Gültan Kışanak and adjourned the trial.

(04/320) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…

The case against 46 journalists on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued to be held on April 27, 2018. The court rejected the demand for lifting the ban of leaving the country, based on state of emergency no 667 and adjourned the trial to September 7, 2018.

(04/321) Curfew in Lice…

Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2018 and lifted the curfew announced on April 25, 2018 on 10 villages and 40 hamlets of Lice district as of April 27, 2018, 21:00. The villages and hamlets are: Yalımlı, Akçabudak, Ulucak, Kılıçlı, Yorulmaz, Güldiken, Baharlar, Üçdamlar, Yaprakköy, Yünlüce villages; Keşkuvari, Çiftlik, Leyhosor, Mahmutlu, Tahtakülek, Ballıca, Mahmudan, Yeniyazı, Hij, Gözeli, Dergan, Alıçlıyayla, Buban, Kaynaktaşı, Dokuzkat, Aliyan, Abdurrahmanağa, Aşağıhodik, Konuklu, Perpank, Yeşilburç, Kilimli, Gelberi, Bilgin, Hegogözer, Koçmarin, Mehmedil, Sağlık, Gönen, Hamzabey, Sıkas, Guçik, Eskiköy, Semezi, Yaka, Karaç, Kayadibi, Baverda and Kumumirza hamlets.

(04/322) Curfew in Kulp…

Diyarbakır Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2018 and lifted the curfew announced on April 25, 2018 on 7 villages and 13 hamlets of Kulp district as of April 27, 2018, 21:00. The villages and hamlets are: Ağıllı, Akdoruk, Ağaçlı, Aşağıelmalı, Çağlayan, Kaynakköy, Karpuzlu villages; Ağıllı, Derecik, Harabe, Güldiken, Dirlik, Kefan, Yukarıelmalı, Deveboynu, Astal, Işıklar, Gümüşsuyu, Soğanlı and Çotuk hamlets.

(04/323) Special Security Zone in Bingöl…

Bingöl Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2018 and announced that 26 areas in Merkez, Adaklı, Genç, Solhan, Yayladere, Kiğı, Karlıova, Yedisu districts are special security zones between April 30 and May 14, 2018.

(04/324) Special Security Zone in Şırnak…

Bingöl Governorate made a declaration on April 30, 2018 and announced that 40 areas are special security zones between May 1 and May 15, 2018.

(04/325) Ban on Events in Van…

Van Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2018 and announced that as of April 29, 2018 all events such as meetings, demonstrations, outdoor and indoor public meetings, hanging banners, distributing leaflets etc. are banned for one month all over the city.

(04/326) Ban on Events in Antep…

Antep Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2018 and announced that between May 1 and June 1, 2018 all events such as meetings, demonstrations, outdoor and indoor public meetings, hanging banners, distributing leaflets etc. are banned all over the city. The governorate made another declaration on April 30, 2018 and lifted the ban.

(04/327) Elections on June 24, 2018….

The tent which was opened by Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul is demolished by the order of Sancaktepe mayor on April 26, 2018.

It is learned from news coverage of April 26, 2018 that the talk of Saadet Party Leader Temel Karamollaoğlu (“Students Ask, Wise Leader Answers”) in Mümtaz Turhan Social Sciences High School on April 26, 2018 was cancelled with no reason.

(04/328) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On April 26, 2018, 22 people in operations covering 5 cities through a Kastamonu based investigation, 20 people including 16 military members on active duty in operations covering 8 cities through an Eskişehir based investigation, 20 people in operations covering 19 cities through a Muğla based investigation, and 1 person in Istanbul are detained.

On April 27, 2018, 18 military officers in operations covering 12 cities through an Ankara based investigation, 34 teachers in operations covering 11 cities through an Ankara based investigation, 6 military members on active duty in operations covering 4 cities through a Bursa based investigation, 29 military members in operations covering 22 cities through a Giresun based investigation, and 16 people including military members on active duty in operations covering 10 cities through a Burdur based investigation are detained.

11 of 41 people detained through an Istanbul based investigation against Turkey High Education Youth Foundation, which was closed down by the state of emergency decree, are arrested by the court on April 27, 2018. It is learned that 17 people are released after procedures at the police, 3 people after prosecutor’s office and 10 people by the court on juridical control conditions.

A person named Erdoğan Tuna who was detained in Karaman is arrested by the court on April 27, 2018.

Hüseyin Avcı, Fethullah Gülen’s nephew, who was detained in Erzurum is arrested by the court on April 27, 2018.

On April 28, 2018, 63 people in operations covering 26 cities through an Istanbul based investigation, 15 military members on active duty in operations covering 11 cities through a Manisa based investigation, 4 people in operations covering 2 cities through a Manisa based investigation, and 4 people through a Burdur based investigation are detained.

On April 30, 2018, 15 people in operations covering 12 cities through an Ankara based investigation against “Air Force organisation” are detained.

(04/329) Zaman Newspaper Case…

The final trial of the case against 18 former executives and employees of Zaman newspaper which was first attained to trustee and then closed down, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 is held on April 30, 2018. The court sentenced 10 defendants for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ to jail penalties differing from 3 years 1 month and 15 days to 9 years. The court separated the cases of 3 defendants and acquitted 5 defendants.

(04/330) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

The final trial of the case against 131 people including 50 arrestees about the incidents happened at Mechanized Infantry Brigade No 66 during June 15 coup attempt, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22, is held on April 26, 2018. The court sentenced 18 defendants to heavy life penalty for ‘violating the Constitution’, 35 defendants to life time penalty and 9 defendants to differing jail penalties. The court acquitted 69 defendants.

The final trial of the case against Doctor Kürşad Boyraz, dismissed by the state of emergency decree on Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 2, is held on April 26, 2018. The court sentenced Kürşad Boyraz to 10 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.

The final trial of the case against 6 people including former commander of land forces training and doctrine command combat and training support Lieutenant General Metin İyidil on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on April 27, 2018. The court sentenced 3 people to heavy life penalty for ‘violating the Constitution’ and acquitted 3 defendants.

 [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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.