Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
29 June – 1 July Daily Human Rights Report
(07/001) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
Ministry of National Defence declared on June 28, 2019 that 1 soldier died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Çukurca district of Hakkari.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, 3 militants died in a clash in rural areas of Diyarbakır on June 2, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 30, 2019 that, 1 soldier died in a clash in rural areas of central district of Hakkari.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 30, 2019 that, 4 HPG militants died in a clash in rural areas of Şemdinli district of Hakkari on June 24, 2019.
(07/002) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, Ümit Tamur, a prison kept in Tarsus T Type Prison No 1, had a quarrel with the wardens during a ward search, which became intensified, and was subjected to physical violence of about 30 wardens. It is also stated in the news reports that Ümit Tamur was taken to a place where surveillance cameras cannot record and torture and ill-treatment continued there too. It is reported that an official complaint was made to Mersin Public Prosecutor’s Office.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, prisoners in Trabzon Beşikdüzü T Type Prison were told “this is not prison, this is a military school” and were forced to stand in military order during roll-calls, and that the prisoners who reject to do so were subjected to physical violence.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, a prisoner named Sedat Atsız was transferred to Bolu F Type Prison from Diyarbakır D Type Prison under coercion.
It is claimed in the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, in Diyarbakır Women’s Prison, surveillance cameras were put in wardens which can capture restrooms. It is learned that prisoners who react against this were subjected to disciplinary proceedings and 4 prisoners were penalised to solitary confinement for 11 days each.
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, Furkan Foundation founding chair Alpaslan Kuytul, who is kept in Bolu F Type Prison was subjected to limitation of right to phone.
(07/003) Newspapers Which Are Not Given to Prisoners…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, prisoners in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1 were not given Yeni Yaşam newspaper and that Evrensel newspaper was given to them only on weekdays.
(07/004) Prevention of Right to Health of Prisoners…
Lawyer Ekin Yeter, stated in his declaration on news coverage of June 28, 2019 that 312 prisoners who went on a hunger strike in Van F Type and T Type prisons, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, were not referred to hospitals after ending hunger strike.
(07/005) Person Who Was Subjected to Physical Violence of the Police in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of June 28, 2019 that, a person named Hüseyin Topkaya was subjected to physical violence of the police in a house raid in Arnavutköy district of Istanbul. It is learned that Hüseyin Topkaya has a fissure on his brow ridge due to a kick at his face. It is learned that the police said “it is wrong address, sorry about that” and left the house. It is reported that Hüseyin Topkaya got a medical report evidencing the violence and made an official complaint.
Hüseyin Topkaya states the following: “At around 02.00 in the midnight, I woke up with kicks on my door (…) A police officer got me down on the floor and held his gun to my head as soon as I opened the door. 3 or 4 police officers entered into the other rooms (…) The police officer watching me kicked my face. There is a fissure on my right brow ridge due to kick (…) They pulled a gun towards my wife while she was with our children. I was telling them again and again that they are at the wrong address and that I have no relation with the case. Finally, they believed in me and left the house saying ‘It is wrong address sorry about it’.”
(07/006) 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 964 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on June 28, 29, and 30, 2019 at 13.30, and at 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on June 28, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Merve Demirel and İlker Işık) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on June 29, 2019, 5 people (Nuriye Gülmen, Acun Karadağ, Nazan Bozkurt, Alev Şahin and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on June 30, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and İlker Işık) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and İlker Işık) were detained.
Thus in total 15 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on June 28, 29, and 30, 2019. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(07/007) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
On June 28, 2019, Cemal Yıldırım, holding a press declaration on Sakarya Street in Çankaya district of Ankara in order to regain his job from which he was dismissed, and Acun Karadağ, Veli Saçılık, Mahmut Konuk and Alev Şahin who were there to support him, are detained by police intervention. It is learned that 5 people were released on the same day.
(07/008) Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 744th time on June 29, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
(07/009) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 379th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on June 29, 2019, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
(07/010) Police Intervention Against LGBTI+ Pride in Istanbul…
The police used pepper spray and rubber bullets to intervene the press declaration on June 30, 2019, in Mis Street on Istiklal Boulevard in Taksim, Istanbul, which was held to protest Istanbul Governorate’s ban on the pride within LGBTI+ Pride Week. It is learned that at least 5 people are detained by police intervention which continued all day.
(07/011) Detained Journalist in Istanbul…
Ali Ergin Demirhan, editor of sendika.org news portal, who was detained on June 28, 2019, on the grounds of a warrant issued through a case against him for his social media posts, is released by the court after statement procedures on June 29, 2019.
(07/012) Detained HDP Executive in Şırnak…
On June 28, 2019, 3 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) district co-chair in Uludere district of Şırnak, are detained in house raids. The reason of detention is unknown. The names of detained people are: Feride Ender, Asya Üren and İdris Ürün.
(07/013) Detained HDP Member in Manisa…
On June 28, 2019, Fuat Şengül, who was mayor candidate of HDP for March 31 local elections, is detained in a house raid, on the grounds of his social media posts, in Yunus Emre district of Manisa.
(07/014) Detained Students in Ankara…
On June 30, 2019, 5 students of Middle East Technical University were detained in house raids in Ankara. It is learned that 5 people who were detained on the grounds that “they would make a protest at graduation ceremony”, were released on the same day.
(07/015) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 9 academicians (N.S.Ö., H.B.B. from Bilgi University, Pınar Önen from Okan University, Assist. Professor Burak Onaran and PhD student Bahtiyar Mermertaş from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Assist. Professor A.B.Y., Assoc. Professor Alaeddin Şenel retired from Ankara University and Assoc. Professor Özlem Özkan and Assist. Professor Derya Keskin from Kocaeli University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on June 28, 2019. It is learned that the permission of the Ministry of Justice in order to continue proceedings according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code is included in all cases. The court decided to consolidate the cases against N.S.Ö., H.B.B., Alaeddin Şenel, Burak Onaran, A.B.Y. and Bahtiyar Mermertaş, with other cases against academicians. The consolidated cases will be held on December 27, 2019. The court did not consolidate the cases against Özlem Özkan, Derya Keskin and Pınar Önen on the grounds of uncompleted defence hearings. The court adjourned these three trials to October 25, 2019.
(07/016) Onur Yaser Can Case…
The case on the charge of ‘counterfeiting official documents’ and ‘damage of an official document’ against 2 police officers, who interrogated Onur Yaser Can under custody, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 6 on June 28, 2019. Onur Yaser Can was detained in Istanbul in 2010, and jumped to death from his balcony after he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment under custody. The court adjourned the trial to October 25, 2019.
(07/017) DBP Co-Chair on Trial…
The case against Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Mehmet Arslan, on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ is held on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10 on June 28, 2019. The court decided to consolidate the case with another case against Mehmet Arslan on Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11.
(07/018) Executive of CHP on Trial in Istanbul…
The first trial of the case against Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Istanbul provincial chair of Republican People’s Party (CHP), on the grounds of social media posts, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 on June 28, 2019.
It is learned that journalists without accreditation cards were not allowed in the courtroom. The chief judge decided to take lawyer Ömer Kavili out of the courtroom.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to July 18, 2019.
(07/019) Newspaper Employees on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against 14 people, including 3 arrestees, who were employees of Özgürlükçü Demokrasi that was closed down by a state of emergency decree, is held on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 23 on June 28, 2019.
The court sentenced Mehmet Ali Çelebi, Hicran Urun, Reyhan Hacıoğlu, İshak Yasul to jail penalties from 3 years 1 month and 15 days to 3 years and 9 months on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’. The court sentenced İshak Yasul also to 1 year 6 months and 22 days on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court sentenced İhsan Yaşar to 10 months on the charge of ‘possessing weapon’. The court acquitted other people.
The court released Reyhan Hacıoğlu, Mehmet Ali Çelebi, İhsan Yaşar.
(07/020) People on Trial in Şırnak…
The first trial against 9 people including Hasan Birlik, for attending funeral of Lokman Birlik, is held on Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 3 on June 28, 2019. Lokman Birlik was shot by the police in Şırnak and his dead body was dragged around an armoured vehicle. The indictment demands sentence for 9 people on the charges of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and ‘inciting hatred and hostility among people’. The court adjourned the trial to November 22, 2019.
(07/021) Person on Trial in Şırnak…
The final trial of the case against a person named Lütfiye Duymak is held on Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 1 on June 28, 2019. The court sentenced Lütfiye Duymak to 3 years 1 month and 15 days for ‘knowingly and willingly aiding an illegal organisation’. Lütfiye Duymak was detained on March 20, 2018 in Cizre district of Şırnak and was arrested on March 29, 2018 on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. She was released from prison on May 3, 2018.
(07/022) The Constitutional Court’s Decision on Journalist Deniz Yücel…
The decision of The Constitutional Court on individual appeal of Deniz Yücel, former Turkey correspondent of Die Welt newspaper is published on the Official Gazette on June 28, 2019.
The court decided that Deniz Yücel’s “right to liberty and security” and “freedom of expression and of press” were violated. Deniz Yücel was detained on February 14, 2017 and was arrested on February 27, 2019 on the grounds of his news reports. The court verdicts 25.000 Turkish Liras to be paid to Deniz Yücel as immaterial damages.
(07/023) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On June 28, 2019 a warrant is issued for 27 people including military members on active duty through an Ankara based investigation against Naval Forces personnel.
19 of 35 people who were detained on June 25, 2019 through an Izmir based investigation are arrested by the court on June 28, 2019. 16 people are released on judicial control conditions.
(07/024) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against 54 people including former Adana Chief Prosecutor Süleyman Bağrıyanık, former Adana Deputy Chief Prosecutor Ahmet Karaca, former prosecutors Özcan Şişman, Aziz Takcı, former Adana Gendarmerie Regional Commander Brigadier General Hamza Celepoğlu, former Adana Gendarmerie Provincial Commander Colonel Özkan Çokay, in relation to trucks of the National Intelligence Service which were stopped in Seyhan district of Adana on January 19, 2014, is held on Penal Department No 16 of The Supreme Court is held on June 28, 2019. The court sentenced Süleyman Bağrıyanık, Ahmet Karaca, Özcan Şişman, Aziz Takcı, Hamza Celepoğlu, Özkan Çokay to jail penalties from 17 years and 3 months to 26 years on the charges of ‘securing and disclosing information of the state that is to be kept confidential’ and ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court sentenced 16 defendants to jail penalties on several charges. The court acquitted 32 people.
(07/025) Banned Event in Istanbul…
Şişli Sub-Governorate banned premiere of “Gitmek”, a documentary about Suruç massacre, which was to be held on June 28, 2019 in Şişli Nazım Cultural Center, on the grounds that ‘the content of the documentary might be propagandising of an illegal organisation’.
(07/026) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on June 30, 2109 and announced 5 areas in central, Çukurca, Yüksekova and Derecik districts as special security zones as of July 1, 2019 until July 15, 2019.
(07/027) Special Security Zone in Tunceli…
Tunceli Governorate made a declaration on June 30, 2109 and announced 29 areas in central, Ovacık, Pülümür, Hozat and Nazımiye districts as special security zones as of July 1, 2019 until July 15, 2019.
[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.