Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
29 April 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/200) Person Shot by the Police for Disobeying Stop Warning in Adana…
On April 27, 2020, Ali El Hemdan, a 19 years old Syrian person was killed by police shot on the grounds of disobeying stop warning, in Seyhan district of Adana. Police officer F. K. who shot Ali El Hemdan is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘intentional killing’ on April 28, 2020.
It is learned from the news reports that police officer F. K. officially stated the following: “I ran after the person when he ran away. The crime of incident is an uncanny neighbourhood, so my gun is always unlocked there. I am fasting during Ramadan, when I was following the person I lost my balance and felt, the gun might have been fired at that moment (…) It is not true that I have had directly shot the boy. I do not accept what the witnesses declared. I accept the offence charged as I told the details”.
It is learned from the news coverage that the preliminary autopsy report of Adana Forensic Medicine Institute states that Ali El Hemdan has a 1 centimetre length wound at left chest around heart which is the reason of death.
Hasan Hacı Ahmed, a witness, states the following: “We noticed police control check point about 30 meters ahead at traffic lights. We submitted our ID cards because we were above 20 years old. Hemdan went into an alley because he was younger than 20 and he did not want to be fined. A police officer followed him into the alley. Hemdan was looking at the police and saying ‘I will not give my ID’. I heard a gunshot, when I went into that alley Hemdan was on the ground, and he was bleeding on his chest.”
Human Rights Association (IHD) Adana branch, Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), Adana Bar Association Human Rights Commission and Confederation of Public Employees Unions (KESK) Adana Platform prepared a report on the case and stated the following: “There is no indication of any serious crime committed or any assault to the police officer by the person who was killed, apart from the suspect’s testimony that he disobeyed stop warning. On the contrary it is proven by witness testimonies that he stopped obeying the warning and was shot at the time when he turned to the police officer (…) Although it is stated in written and visual media coverage that authorities claim that the police officer fired his gun into the air and the person was shot at the leg; it is clear by medical examination and autopsy report that the person was shot at a fatal area, his upper chest, by one single bullet. Considering the incident, witness testimonies and autopsy report, it is confirmed that ‘Right to Live’, which is a negative responsibility of the state provided by Article 17 of the constitution and Article 2 of European Convention of Human Rights, was violated.”
(04/201) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1267 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on April 28, 2020 at 13.30 and at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(04/202) Police Intervention to a Protest in Düzce…
On April 28, 2020, the police intervened the press declaration of Alev Şahin in order to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, in front of Düzce Governorate and detained her. Alev Şahin was released on the same day, after being fined for violating Law of Misdemeanour and Public Health Law.
(04/203) Detained People in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 28, 2020 that, 10 people are detained on the grounds of “having a house party” in Bağcılar district of Istanbul. Detained people are sentenced to house confinement for 2 months on the charge of ‘violating precautions for contagious diseases’ by the court.
(04/204) Investigation Against CHP Executive in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 28, 2020 that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu on the charges of ‘praising an offence and offender’ and ‘instigation’; and that Canan Kaftancıoğlu was called to give official statement. The investigation is about taking pictures of house of Fahrettin Altun, Communications Director Republic of Turkey.
(04/205) Investigation Against Diyarbakır Bar Association…
It is learned that on April 28, 2020, Diyarbakır Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Diyarbakır Bar Association, on the charge of ‘degrading the religious values of a section of the public’, for their declaration against Director of Religious Affair’s statements targeting LGBTIQ+ people.
(04/206) Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on April 27, 2020 and announced that, all open-door events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, festivals, concerts, delivering leaflets and so on are banned for 15 days as of April 28, 2020. All events are banned in Hakkari for 413 days since April 4, 2019.
(04/207) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
One person who was detained in Mardin is arrested by the court on April 28, 2020.
(04/208) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 92 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 2,392 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on April 28, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 2,992 and total number of confirmed cases is 114,653 as of April 28, 2020.
Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül declared on April 28, 2020 that 120 prisoners in 4 prisons tested positive for Covid-19.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 28, 2020 that 55 prisoners in Konya E Type Prison who tested positive for Covid-19 were referred to hospitals.
[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.