Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
27 November 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(11/298) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that, in Balıkesir Kepsut L Type Prison, some prisoners have to sleep on the floor because of over-capacity in the wards; and there are mice in the wards; a ward for 45 people is given hot water only for 3 hours once in 3 days; tap water is often cut off; and the meals given to prisoners is inadequate in terms of nutrition and quality. It is also reported in the news report that prisoners were not given face masks, gloves, cleaning supplies and disinfectants to be protected from Covid-19 pandemic.
It is claimed in the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that, in Kırıkkale F Type Prison a Covid-19 patient prisoner were put in a ward of non-infected prisoners.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that, in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 2, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were prevented; prisoners were not given face masks, gloves, cleaning supplies and disinfectants to be protected from Covid-19 pandemic; the wards were not disinfected; electricity bills that are paid by prisoners were too high; and the goods were sold at prison commissary at very high prices.
(11/299) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 2, ill prisoners were not referred to prison infirmary or to hospital; and they were given only painkillers for medication.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that in Balıkesir Kepsut L Type Prison, ill prisoners were not referred to prison infirmary or to hospital.
(11/300) Police Intervention to Workers’ Protest in Karaman…
On November 25, 2020, 30 people including Tahir Çetin, chair of Independent Miners Labour Union (Bağımsız Maden-İş) were detained by the police intervening the miners who wanted to march from Ermenek district of Karaman to Ankara to demand their compensation rights. Detained people are released after statement procedures at the prosecutor’s office on November 26, 2020.
(11/301) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration which is made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” going on for 1479 days in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on November 26, 2020 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(11/302) Detained Deputy Mayor, Journalists, Members and Executives of Political Parties and Associations in Istanbul…
On November 26, 2020, 26 people including Şişli district deputy mayor Cihan Yavuz, journalists Davut Uçar and Kesire Önel, and members and executives of political parties and associations are detained through an investigation against Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) in Istanbul.
Names of detained people learned so far are: Şişli district deputy mayor Cihan Yavuz, HDK Peoples and Beliefs Assembly member Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar, journalists Davut Uçar and Kesire Önel, Anadolu Solidarity Association of Bereaved Families (ANYAKAY-DER) member Alaattin Altıntaş, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Üsküdar district former co-chair Erşan Ongulu, Marmara Solidarity Association of Families of Prisoners (MA-TUHAYDER) co-chair Hüsnü Taş and executives Muhlis Bozdemir, Nazım Adıgüzel, Yusuf Çelik, Emine Kaya, Mehmet Karadağ, Muhsin Demir.
It is learned that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a confidentiality order on the investigation.
Journalist Davut Uçar is released by the court on judicial control conditions on the same day.
(11/303) Detained Journalist in Van…
Mezopotamya News Agency reporter Dindar Karataş who was detained through an Erzurum based investigation on November 24, 2020 in Van, is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 26, 2020.
(11/304) Detained People in Mersin…
On November 26, 2020, 6 people (Bedran Etiz, Xabat Aslan, Şahin İlhan, Civan Tamur, Fatma Çetinkaya and Agit Işık) are detained through the investigation about a blast bomb exploded in a neighbourhood of Akdeniz district of Mersin.
(11/305) Detained People in Bitlis…
2 of 3 people (İmdat Tokmak and Ergin Savaş) who was detained on November 24, 2020 in Bitlis, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 26, 2020. 1 person (Ejder Yoldaş) is released on judicial control conditions.
(11/306) Detained Person in Antep…
On November 26, 2020, 1 person (Hasibe Yaman) is detained in a house raid in Antep. The reason of detention is unknown.
(11/307) Prevention of a Union Member from Distributing Leaflets in Izmir…
It is learned that, Bülent Türkmen, union manager of Union of All Municipality and Local Administration Services Employees Union (Tüm Bel-Sen) who was distributing the leaflet of his union and Confederation of Public Employees Unions (KESK) about 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in the municipality building of Bergama district on November 26, 2020 was prevented by Human Resources Director of the municipality. It is reported that the director was not wearing a face mask and not following social distance rules.
(11/308) HDP MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case through an investigation on Democratic Society Congress (DTK) against Kemal Bülbül, Antalya MP of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 4 on November 26, 2020.
The court rejected to end the proceedings with regard to Article 83 of the Constitution which covers impunity of parliamentary members; and sentenced Kemal Bülbül to 6 years and 3 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(11/309) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against journalist Kibriye Evren is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on November 26, 2020. The indictment demands Kibriye Evren to be sentenced for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
Kibriye Evren attended the trial to make her defence. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 9, 2021.
Kibriye Evren was arrested after being detained with 141 others through a Diyarbakır based investigation on October 9, 2018, and was released at the first trial on November 12, 2019.
(11/310) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against İsmail Çoban, former editor in chief of Azadiya Welat newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 on November 26, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for İsmail Çoban on the charge of ‘successively making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ for the news reports published on the newspaper.
İsmail Çoban joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to February 16, 2021.
(11/311) Person on Trial for Social Media Posts in Izmir…
The trial of the case against Banu Özdemir, former provincial deputy chair of Republican People’s party (CHP) in Izmir, for her social media posts about the song “Bella Ciao” heard from mosques in several districts of Izmir, is held at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 50 on November 27, 2020. The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for Banu Özdemir on the charge of ‘provoking the public to hatred and hostility through the press’. The court adjourned the trial to December 10, 2020.
(11/312) Hande Buse Şeker Case…
The final trial of the case against police officer Volkan Hicret on the grounds of sexually assaulting and killing trans woman Hande Buse Şeker in Izmir on January 9, 2019, is held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 4 on November 26, 2020.
The court sentenced Volkan Hicret to life imprisonment on the charge of ‘wilful murder’; to 21 years on the charge of ‘qualified sexual assault’; 16 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘qualified robbery’, to 1 year and 6 months on the charge of ‘injury’, and to 2 years on the charge of ‘insulting the memory of a person’.
(11/313) Security Staff on Trial on the Charge of Sexual Assault in Van…
The first trial of the case against 2 security staff (İ. H. K. and Y. V.) of Kurubaş Repatriation Center of Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in Van, on the charge of sexual assault to an Iranian woman Z. M., is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 1 on November 26, 2020.
It is learned that journalists were not allowed in the courtroom on the grounds of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic. The defendants joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. Z. N. and her lawyer attended the trial. After defence hearings the court decided to file a criminal complaint against officers in charge of the Repatriation Center for Z. N. is still being kept there and her statement was taken 3 days after the assault. The court adjourned the trial to January 21, 2021.
(11/314) Constitutional Court Decision on Administrative Fine for Sit-in Protestors…
The Constitutional Court’s decision on October 14, 2020 regarding the individual appeal on administrative fine against persons who held sit-in protests in order to regain their jobs from which they had been dismissed by state of emergency decrees, is published on the Official Gazette on November 26, 2020. The court stated that “administrative fines on the grounds of default of permission obligation, which were imposed on the applicants participating in a peaceful protest that does not prevent traffic or public services, is not accepted as a proportional restriction with regard to the purpose pursued during the state of emergency”, and decided that right to demonstrate and meeting of the applicants were violated. The court ruled a compensation of 6,000 Turkish Liras for each 4 applicants out of 5; and to send the verdict to Penal Court of Peace No 1 and 2 in Malatya for a retrial.
(11/315) Police Raid to HDK Central Office…
HDK central office in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul is raided by the police on November 26, 2020. It is learned that nobody was at the office during the police raid. It is reported that after police search, personal computers, digital material, some banners and books were seized by the police.
(11/316) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 475 people including 365 arrestees, for the at Akıncı Air base in Ankara during the coup attempt, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 4 on November 26, 2020. The court sentenced 291 defendants including 4 civilians to heavy life imprisonment up to 79 times on the charges of ‘violation of the Constitution’, ‘assassination attempt on the President’, ‘killing 77 people’. The court sentenced 46 defendants to life imprisonment on the charge of ‘attempt to demolish the constitutional order’. The court sentenced 22 people to jail sentenced from 12 years and 6 months to 16 years and 8 months on the charges of ‘aiding to the attempt to demolish the constitutional order’, ‘aiding to the assassination attempt on the President’, ‘deprivation of liberty’. The court sentenced 41 defendants to jail penalties from 6 years and 3 months to 9 years on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court acquitted 70 defendants, and separated the case against 5 defendants.
(11/317) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 174 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,876 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 26, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 29,132.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 13,014 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 474,606 as of November 26, 2020.
It is learned that doctor Kahraman Pehlivan in Çankırı died from Covid-19 on November 26, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 26, 2020 that 2 prisoners in Urfa Hilvan T Type Prison No 1 tested positive for Covid-19.
[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.