Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
29 April – 2 May 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(05/001) Person Injured in Explosion in Hakkari…
It is learned that on April 30, 2023, a person named Ali Kaya, who went to collect beets in Helane village of Şemdinli district of Hakkari, was injured as a result of the explosion of a mine reported to belong to the security forces. It is reported that the security forces that they put a sign on the explosion area saying “Mined area” after the incident.
(05/002) Person Injured by Police Fire in Istanbul…
It is learned that a person named O. A., was injured as a result of the fire opened in the air by the police who intervened in a quarrel in Fatih district of Istanbul on April 30, 2023. Istanbul Governorate’s Office made the following statement regarding the incident: “A warning shot was fired into the air by the officers who intervened to end the fight, and one of the residents of the neighbourhood, O. A., who watched the incident from the window of his residence, was injured as a result of a bullet hit. According to the first information received, it was understood that the citizen, who was transferred to the hospital by the 112 Emergency Health teams, is in danger of life”.
(05/003) Operations and Attacks…
The Ministry of Interior announced that 1 soldier (Mehmet Gündüz) died and 1 soldier was injured in the clash between security forces and HPG militants in the rural areas of Nusaybin district of Mardin on April 29, 2023.
The Ministry of National Defence announced that 2 soldiers died and 4 soldiers were injured in a military personnel vehicle rolling over on Şırnak-Uludere roadway on April 30, 2023.
Urfa Governorate’s Office announced that 2 police officers died and 7 police officers were injured in an explosion in Tel Abyad area of Syria on April 30, 2023.
(05/004) Journalist Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment…
It is learned that journalist Sedat Yılmaz who was detained in Diyarbakır through an Ankara based investigation on April 29, 2023, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the police bringing him from Diyarbakır to Ankara. It is also reported that Sedat Yılmaz was forced to be a police informant at Ankara Provincial Security Directorate. It is learned that Sedat Yılmaz was suffering from hear loss due to torture and ill-treatment about which his lawyers make a criminal complaint. Sedat Yılmaz stated the following to his lawyer: “Before I was taken out of the police station in Diyarbakır and put on the bus to be taken to Ankara, a police officer on my right side kicked me in the head, and I suffered hearing loss and severe pain in my ear. I was insulted during the attack. Since we were held in handcuffs for 15 hours, there was also severe pain in the neck and arm. I was forced to be a police information under the name of ‘conversation’ at Ankara Security Directorate. I was insulted because I rejected it.”
(05/005) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 28, 2023 that, the arm of a person named Yıldırım Bozkuş who was detained at the election campaign stand of the Greens and Left Future Party (YSP) in Sancaktepe district of Istanbul on April 25, 2023; was broken by the police. It is stated that Yıldırım Bozkuş was given a report for 9 days but not given a medical report to evidence the physical violence at the hospital. Yıldırım Bozkuş stated the following to the press: “We had a reaction against the operation in Diyarbakır. The police came, and said ‘put your hands down’. And we said that they were not acting lawfully. Two police officers held my arms and twisted backwards. I felt a terrible pain in my arm in the detention vehicle. I asked them to release my hands but they did not. I was taken to the police station in such condition. They did not beat us but there was verbal violence. They said ‘you will see’, ‘you will see what else will happen to you’, ‘these are your better days’ (…) I told them that my arm was hurting and I should be taken to a hospital but they made me wait for 6-7 hours in that condition (…) I went to the hospital once again and demanded a report to evidence the violence. They said they could give only the rest report.”
(05/006) May 14, 2023 General Elections…
It is learned that 20 of 141 people including journalists, political party executives, lawyers and artists who were detained in house raids in 21 cities through a Diyarbakır based investigation on April 25, 2023, are arrested by the court on April 29, 2023. 28 people including 4 journalists (Mezopotamya News Agency editor Abdurrahman Gök and reporter Mehmet Şah Oruç, Jinnews reporter Beritan Canözer, and Remzi Akkaya) 3 lawyers (Serhat Hezer, Burhan Arta and Özüm Vurgun) were arrested on April 27 and 28, 2023. The number of arrestees raised to 48 and 93 people are released provided that 31 of them will be on judicial control conditions as of April 29, 2023. The names of arrested people learned so far are: Halise Aksoy, Mizgin Karataş, Erkan Vurmaz, Velat Esin, Nasır Tura, Mahir Yıldız, Helin Sayın, Hülya Ertaş, Ahmet Göğün, Şahin Tanrıverdi, Fikri Ay, Hilal Ada, Mehmet Yalçin, Mehmet Andok Bayram, Agit Kaysı, Alattin Zuğurli, Faris Türk, Evin Doster, Nurettin Bakan, Devrim Roni Atik, Kadir Şenci, Berfin Can, Muhsin Acar, Osman Demir, Rumet Çetin, Mehdi Kaya, Cotkar Amara Yürek, Hamza Cihangir, Hasret Yelboğa, Suat Arda Işık, Şahin Biçimli, Hakim Kaya, Tacettin Araz, Nurullah Özgün, Abdulbari Mavlay, Ferit Aktepe, Şervan Doğan, Cesur Yılmaz, Süleyman Ulucan, Hamza Sümeli.
The Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) Ankara deputy candidate Elif Çongur who was detained at Esenboğa Airport in Ankara on April 28, 2023, was released after statement procedures on the same day. It is learned that the reason for detention was an investigation on the grounds of insulting the Justice and Development Party (AKP) group deputy chair.
It is learned that 5 members and executives of the Republican People’s Party (CHP district youth branch chair Lokman İncel and Fuat İncel, Uğur İncel, Nedim Canboğa, Baver Aslankılıç) were detained during election campaign in Hazro district of Diyarbakır on April 28, 2023.
It is learned that 2 of 10 people (Abedin Kızılsoy, Agit Aydemir) who were detained by the police intervening after the rally of YSP in Muş on April 27, 2023, were arrested by the court on April 28, 2023. 8 people were released on judicial control conditions.
It is learned that journalist Filiz Gazi who asked a question to the Interior Minister regarding his statements “14 May 2023 is a political coup attempt that can bring together each of the preparations to dissolve Turkey” on April 28, 2023 in Istanbul, was intervened by the minister’s guards, her phone and ID card were seized and her recordings were attempted to be deleted.
2 members of the Students’ Collective and the Feminist University Students’ Collective who were detained on the grounds of hanging a banner reading “You ate up, you destroyed, you killed! Don’t think you will leave without account Erdoğan” in the Capital Nation’s Garden in Ankara where the AKP will hold a rally on April 29, 2023, were released by the court on judicial control conditions on April 30, 2023.
It is learned that 17 people including 2 journalists (Mezopotamya News Agency editor Sedat Yılmaz and Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association co-chair Dicle Müftüoğlu) and political party executives were detained in house raids in 15 cities through an Ankara based investigation on April 29, 2023. It is learned that those who were detained outside of Ankara will be taken there. The names of detained people learned so far are: Dicle Müftüoğlu, Sedat Yılmaz, Selma Yılmaz, Filiz Yılmaz, Cahit Kanbay, Hasan Özhan, Cihan Güneş, Ramazan Debe, Erol Balcı, Evin Özbek, Rıdvan Aslan, İsmail Adanmış, Cahit Ablay, Mahmut Doğu, Devran Ak and Şemsettin Toprak.
It is learned that 23 people including YSP deputy candidates, the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), the Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) members and executives and Etkin News Agency reporters and editors were detained in house raids in 8 cities on April 30, 2023. The names of detained people learned so far are: ESP co-chair Şahin Tümüklü, ETHA editor Nadiye Namoğlu Gürbüz, ESP Party Assembly member Uğur Ok, YSP Istanbul deputy candidate Burcu Ayyıldız, YSP Izmir deputy candidate Meryem Yıldırım, YSP Eskişehir deputy candidate Müslüm Koyun, Serdal Işık, Leyla Can, Sadrettin Polat, Selfinaz Göçmen, Hasan Polat, Sinem Çelebi, Kalender Polat, Merve Havalı, Bedran Çoğaltay, Adnan Özcan, Ebrar Uz, F. Deniz Kanpolat and Tuncay Yıldırım Özen.
The police intervened in the groups after the campaign event of YSP in Bağcılar district of Istanbul on April 30, 2023, and detained 13 people. It is learned that the police sprayed pepper gas into the eye of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul MP Züleyha Gülüm. It is reported that the police prevented journalists from recording.
On April 30, 2023, HDP Menemen district co-chair Ekrem Karakoç was detained by the police on the grounds of slogans chanted at the opening of election campaign office of YSP in Menemen district of Izmir.
It is learned that a group reported to be Maltepespor club fans attacked the campaign office of YSP in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul on April 30, 2023. It is reported that the attack caused material damage in the office.
It is learned that the campaign office of YSP in Darıca district of Kocaeli was subjected to armed attack by anonymous person or persons on April 30, 2023, which caused material damage.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 30, 2023 that, the posters of CHP in Rize were removed and replaced by AKP posters.
It is learned that the campaign vehicle of AKP was intervened by a group and had to leave the area in Okmeydanı neighbourhood of Şişli district of Istanbul on April 30, 2023.
It is learned that anonymous person or persons attacked the campaign vehicle of YSP in Arnavutköy district of Istanbul on May 1, 2023 which injured 1 person named Kamuran Güneş. It is reported that Kamuran Güneş was then detained by the police.
It is learned from the news coverage of May 1, 2023 that, CHP Sincan dsitrict youth branch chair Osman Çağatay Ayrıçal was attacked by anonymous persons and was injured, on the grounds that the removed the poster reading “Attention! Don’t vote for bullet to Turkish soldier”.
It is learned that anonymous persons attacked the Free Cause Party campaign stand in Mersin and injured 1 person.
It is learned that 32 members and executives of HDP and YSP Youth Assembly were detained in house raids in Istanbul on May 2, 2023. Detained people are: Devin Doğa Ayaz, Hülya İlyas, Serkan Şengül, Eylem Taşdemir, Mustafa Şişman, Serhat Tokuş, Arafat Emekçileri, Tufan Emekçileri, Erkan Özmen, Cevdet Biçer, Yunus Aslan, Berfin Koçak, Hividar Özdemir, Ömer Gülsül, Mervan Beyret, Adem Özgen, Onur İlbars.
(05/007) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on April 28, 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.
(05/008) Interventions Against 1 May Events…
The police intervened in two groups gathering in Beşiktaş district to march towards Taksim Square in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on May 1, 2023 and detained 35 people. It is learned that 2 members of the Struggle Alliance (Delal Erol and Cemal Kara) were detained by physical violence and handcuffed behind their backs at Taksim Square. Journalist Zeynep Kuray and Energy Workers’ Union general secretary Emin Atsız and founder chair Kamil Kartal were also detained by the police at Taksim. It is learned that at least 192 people were detained in interventions at and around Taksim. It is also learned that journalists Hazar Dost, Bülent Kılıç, Eylem Sultan Keleş and Gencer Keten were subjected to physical violence and the police prevented journalists from recording by forcing them away. Detained people were released after statement procedures on May 2, 2023.
The police intervened in the Partizan members, on the grounds of flags depicting İbrahim Kaypakkaya as they were entering the rally in Maltepe district of Istanbul on May 1, 2023 and detained at least 10 people by suing physical violence and handcuffing them behind their backs.
The police intervened in the press declaration held in Sarıgazi neighbourhood of Sancaktepe district of Istanbul on May 1, 2023 and detained 2 people including 1 executive of the Community House.
(05/009) Police Intervention to Protest in Istanbul…
The police intervened in the press declaration of journalists to protest detention and arrest of journalists, held in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on April 28, 2023; and detained 6 journalists by using physical violence and handcuffing behind their backs. It is learned that journalists subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the detention vehicle. The police prevented other journalists recording the protests and forced them away. Detained journalists were released after statement procedures on the same day. Detained journalists were: Pınar Gayıp, Zeynep Kuray, Eylem Nazlıer, Serpil Ünal, Esra Soybir and Yadigar Aygün.
Journalist Eylem Nazlıer stated the following to the press: “They handcuffed us behind our backs. When I said they could not do that, a police officer said ‘You will learn to shut up’ and pushed me into the vehicle. Then they brought Serpil Ünal in the vehicle, they were beating her and as I knew she had a condition I said ‘She has health issues, what you are doing is a crime’. A police officer who I suppose to be Kadıköy police chief said ‘You cannot answer me’ and started punching and slapping me. We were kept in the vehicle with handcuffs behind our backs for hours (…) There were bruises on our arms because of the handcuffs.”
(05/010) 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 April 29, 2023, and detained 25 people including the Human Rights Association (HRA) Istanbul branch chair Gülseren Yoleri and HRFT General Secretary Coşkun Üsterci. It is learned that 2 people were handcuffed behind their backs. Detained people are released on the same day. Detained people were: Zübeyde Tepe, Hanife Yıldız, İrfan Bilgin, Mikail Kırbayır, İkbal Eren Yarıcı Ali Ocak, Besna Tosun, Ayşe Tepe, Hasan Karakoç, Hüseyin Ocak, Ali Tosun, Gülseren Yoleri, Fırat Akdeniz, Arat Dink, Sevil Turgut, Ümit Efe, Coşkun Üsterci, Veli Saçılık, Nazım Dikbaş, Hatice Korkmaz, Hünkar Yurtsever, Arzu Eriş, Elçin Dayanır, Bilal Yıldız, Taylan Bekin.
(05/011) Detained People in Istanbul…
Sibel Balaç and İleri Kızılaltın, who were released from prison on suspension of execution, after the death fast they started to demand a fair trial, and were detained in Sultangazi district of Istanbul on April 27, 2023, are arrested by the court on April 28, 2023.
(05/012) Detained People in Şırnak…
19 of 20 people who were detained in house raids in the villages of İdil district of Şırnak on April 26, 2023, are released after statement procedures on May 2, 2023. It is learned that 1 person was still under custody.
(05/013) Child on Trial in Istanbul for ‘Insulting the President’…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 30, 2023 that, the indictment of Istanbul Gaziosmanpaşa Prosecutor’s Office against a 13-year-old child (B. C. G.) on the grounds of ‘insulting the President’ was accepted by Gaziosmanpaşa Juvenile Court.
(05/014) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that a content of https://ifade.org.tr website was banned to access and ruled to be deleted on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Anadolu Penal Court of Peace No. 4 on April 25, 2023.
It is learned that the article of Barış Pehlivan titled “Organized ‘paradise’ deception” published on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr website and the news reports about this article published on https://www.diken.com.tr, https://www.birgun.net websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Bakırköy Penal Court of Peace No. 4 on April 28, 2023.
It is learned that the news reports about Mehmet Ağar, published on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr, https://www.birgun.net, https://www.diken.com.tr websites are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights by Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No. 5 on April 28, 2023.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 29, 2023 that, 5 social media accounts of Muhammet Yakut are banned to access on the grounds of ‘protection of public order’.
(05/015) Curfew in Nusaybin…
Mardin Governorate’s Office announced curfew in 9 rural neighbourhoods of Nusaybin district as of 04.00 on May 2, 2023. The governorate’s office lifted the curfew as of 09.30 on the same day. The rural neighbourhoods under curfew were: Tekağaç, Sapanlı, Mağaracık, Arpalı, Bahminin, Kaleli, Şekrin, Yol, Güneli.
(05/016) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
It is learned that 12 people were detained in operations covering 9 cities through an Ankara based investigation on May 2, 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.
[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.