Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
29 September 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/293) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
Ministry of National Defence declared that 1 soldier (Serdar Temelli) died due to an explosion during an operation of Turkish Armed Forces in Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government.
(09/294) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that, Mahmut Konuk, who was arrested in Ankara and then was transferred to Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison under coercion, was not given diet food although he has chronic diabetes, and was not given paper and pen to write petitions to prison administration. Mahmut Konuk was one of the participators of “I Want My Job Back” protests in Yüksel Street, Ankara. It is also stated in the news reports that Mahmut Konuk had a discussion with wardens for not being given paper and pen, and these wardens committed physical violence to him and threatened to put him in a padded cell.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that, the book “Freedom of Expression: Principles and Turkey”, which has Zühtü Arslan, the President of the Constitutional Court as one of the co-authors, was sent to a prisoner in Diyarbakır Women’s Prison and was not given to her on the grounds of “being found inconvenient”.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that prisoners kept in Covid-19 quarantine ward in Tarsus T Type Prison No 1 were not given sufficient and hygienic meals, and the food given to prisoners is contaminated with foreign substances, and the goods are sold at high prices at prison commissary. It is also stated in the news reports that prisoners in quarantine ward were not allowed into open-door areas and in case of a newcomer to the quarantine ward, 14-days of quarantine period for prisoners is started over again.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that, prisoners in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison were not given sufficient cleaning and hygiene stuff for protection from Covid-19 pandemic.
(09/295) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is claimed in the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that, in Tarsus T Type Prison No 1, ill prisoners who are taken to infirmary are given medication without being medically examined.
(09/296) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations which were made within the scope of “I Want My Job Back Protest” going on for 1420 days in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 28, 2020 at 18.00 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence.
(09/297) Prevention of a Press Declaration in Kocaeli…
The press declaration of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Gebze district of Kocaeli on September 29, 2020, to protest detention of HDP members and executives through an Ankara based investigation, is prevented by the police on the grounds of Gebze Sub-Governorate Office’s ban decision.
(09/298) Detained Co-Mayor, Former Parliamentary Members, Executives and Members of HDP Through an Ankara Based Investigation…
On September 28, 2020, 20 people including Kars city co-mayor Ayhan Bilgen; Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) former Ankara MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder, HDP former Diyarbakır MP Altan Tan who were detained on September 25, 2020, through an Ankara based investigation on protests about Kobanê city which were held on October 5-8, 2014, are referred to the court for extension of detention period. It is learned that lawyers were not companying 20 people during defence hearings at the court. It is reported that the court approved to extend detention period for 4 days and 20 people were taken back to Ankara Security Directorate.
(09/299) Detained People Through an Istanbul Based Investigation…
15 of 19 people who were detained through an Istanbul based investigation against “Movement of the Nameless” on September 25, 2020, are released on September 28, 2020. 4 of them (Tamer Doğan, Defne Halman, Özen Kulaçoğlu, İsmail Keleş, Tayfun Uçar) are released with a ban on leaving the country. 3 people (Şehmus Kavak, Misli Cihan Şenleten and Özgür Doğuş Erhan) are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘insulting the President’. Journalist Hakan Gülseven was also detained and he was released after statement procedures on the same day.
(09/300) HDP Executive and Rosa Women’s Association Chair on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The first trial of the case against HDP Yenişehir district co-chair Remziye Sızıcı and Rosa Women’s Association chair Adalet Kaya, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on September 28, 2020.
After defence hearings the court released Remziye Sızıcı and decided to consolidate the case with another case in Diyarbakır, adjourning the trial to January 25, 2021.
(09/301) HDP Executive on Trial in Muş…
The trial of the case against Ferhat Çakı, former Muş provincial chair of HDP, is held at Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 on September 28, 2020.
The indictment demands Ferhat Çakı to be sentenced on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
After defence hearings the court released Ferhat Çakı and adjourned the trial.
(09/302) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against journalist Durket Süren is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on September 28, 2020.
The indictment demands jail sentence for Durket Süren from 1 year to 8 years, on the charge of ‘aiding an illegal organisation’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, for her social media posts and distributing banned issues of Azadiya Welat and Özgür Gündem newspapers which are closed down by state of emergency decrees.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to January 25, 2021.
(09/303) Investigation Against Journalist in Istanbul…
It is learned that an investigation is initiated against Merdan Yanardağ, executive editor of TELE1 television channel, for news reports about Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman’s visit to the President after his wedding ceremony. It is reported that Merdan Yanardağ gave his official statement at Istanbul Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office and was released by the court with a ban on leaving the country.
(09/304) Hande Buse Şeker Case…
The trial of the case against police officer V.H. 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 September 28, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for the police officer on the charges of ‘injury by probable intent’, ‘wilful murder’, ‘qualified robbery with the use of weapon in property’, ‘insulting the memory of a person’, ‘qualified sexual assault’.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded sentence for the defendant police officer on the charges of ‘wilful murder’, ‘qualified robbery’, ‘qualified sexual assault’ and ‘injury’. The court adjourned the trial to November 26, 2020.
(09/305) Harassing Demonstration Near the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 28, 2020 that, following clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a group with Azerbaijan flags had a demonstration to support Azerbaijan, nearby the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul in Kumkapı neighbourhood of Fatih district of Istanbul on September 28, 2020. It could be seen in the videos covered by media that a convoy of cars with flags tour around Kumkapı and pass by the Armenian Patriarchate.
(09/306) Ban of Events in Kars and Tunceli…
Kars Governorate has made a declaration on September 28, 2020 and announced that, all open-door events such as demonstrations, press declarations with more than 50 people, car convoys, any type of meetings for greeting or farewell, sit-ins, hunger strikes, opening stands and tents, delivering leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned for 15 days as of September 28, 2020.
Tunceli Governorate has made a declaration on September 28, 2020 and announced that, all open-door events such as demonstrations, press declarations, protests, sit-ins, hunger strikes, opening stands and tents, delivering leaflets, hanging banners, carrying torches, collecting petitions, concerts, festivals, conferences and so on are banned for 15 days as of September 29, 2020.
(09/307) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 65 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,412 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on September 28, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 8,062 and total number of confirmed cases is 315,845 as of September 28, 2020.
[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.