Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
3 April 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(04/019) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that 2 militants died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) units and HPG militants in the Zap area of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) on March 19, 2024.
(04/020) Workers Who Lost Their Lives in a Fire in Istanbul…
As of April 3, 2024, the number of workers who lost their lives in a fire caused by an explosion during the renovation of a nightclub in the Gayrettepe neighborhood of the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul on April 2, 2024, is 29 and the number of injured people is 2. It is learned that 9 people, including the owner of the workplace, were detained. Names of workers who lost their lives are Ahmet Sever, Ahmet Uzun, Alparslan Salih Derelioğlu, Atanur Aladağ, Barış Güngör, Emrah Demiroğlu, Fahrettin Korkut, Musa Korkut, Gökhan Yıldırım, Kadir Orhanoğlu, Mehmet Okumuş, Özkan Baş, Sinan Yılmaz, Adem Özçelik, Ahmet Kartal, Ahmet Mehduş, Akın Kıhrı, Ahmad Kabas, Binali Çayır, Cengiz Aksoy, Efe Demir, Gökay Tevlek, Gökhan Akbulut, Hüseyin Ak, Muhammet Ali Yıldırım, Ramazan Altan, Shır Agha Bigzade, Şivan Dolu, Yılmaz Kıhrı.
(04/021) Prisoner Who Went Missing After Being Released from Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 2, 2024, that Ali Veli, a Syrian citizen who was released from Erzincan L Type Prison on March 13, 2024, and was not heard from again, and whose family was threatened by being sent pictures of Ali Veli being subjected to torture, was visited by anonymous people while he was kept in Mardin E Type Prison. It is learned that these people showed Ali Veli pictures of his family members, asked where his father was and threatened Ali Veli. It is reported that Ali Veli was taken to a removal center after his release from prison, but his family and relatives were not informed which removal center he was taken to.
(04/022) March 31st Elections…
6 people who were detained in the police intervention against the march of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) towards Bitlis Provincial Election Board for a recount of votes in Bitlis on April 2, 2024, were released the same day after statement procedures at the police station.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 2, 2024, that at least 2 people were wounded and 10 people were detained in the police intervention against the people who demanded the cancellation of the elections in Şırnak with the call made by DEM Party Provincial Organisation against holding the elections with carried voters and wanted to march from Şırnak Provincial Organisation to the courthouse. The names of detainees could not be learned.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 2, 2024, that the police prevented the march called by the DEM Party from the district office to the courthouse in the Hilvan district of Urfa, where DEM Party won the elections, against Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) objection to 15 ballot boxes.
According to the news coverage of April 2, 2024, the police intervened with rubber bullets and tear gas against the press statement held in İnönü Park in the Seyhan district of Adana upon the call of DEM Party Provincial Organization against the Van Provincial Electoral Board’s decision to give the municipal co-chair to the party which ranked 2nd in the elections. It is learned that at least 6 people got wounded due to intervention.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that Hakkari Justice and Development Party (AKP) provincial chair and his bodyguards pointed guns and fired randomly at people protesting the same decision in central Hakkari, and threatened journalists with physical violence. It is reported that the police intervened against the protests by using pressurized water, tear gas and rubber bullets, 2 people were wounded by rubber bullets and 9 people were detained in total. The names of detained people could not be learned.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that 29 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during the police intervention against people protesting the same decision in the Yüksekova district of Hakkari. The names of detained people could not be learned.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that 6 people were detained by the police intervening against the press statement of Labour and Democracy Forces in Izmir on April 2, 2024, against the same decision, and were subjected to torture and ill-treatment. While Rıfat Gültekin was released by Public Prosecutor’s Office on April 3, 2024, 2 of 5 people (Sibel Örkmez and Sedanur Uğur) who were referred to Criminal Peace Judgeship on the same day were arrested, 3 people (Deniz Uslu, Fadime Özdemir, Figen Eskier) were released on judicial control conditions.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that journalists Kadir Cesur and Rabia Önver were wounded due to rubber bullets and journalist Ruşen Takva was subjected to pressurized water during a live broadcast in Van.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that the police intervened against the group including Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) chair Erkan Baş, who gathered in front of Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK) Van Office to protest the same decision, with tear gas and prevented journalists from taking footage. It is reported that the police prevented the delegation from marching to the area where the press statement was to be held.
According to the news coverage of April 3, 2024, at least 14 lawyers, including Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair Lawyer Eren Keskin, were detained in the police intervention against the press statement of lawyers in front of Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. Names of detained lawyers are: Esra Bilen, Kemal Aytaç, Eren Keskin, Sezin Uçar, Ahmet Baran Çelik, Habat Demircan, Rezan Gezer, Emrah Bey Baran, Meltem Özel, Emre Yaşar, Jiyan Kaya, Gülizar Tuncel, Hazal Bilgili. All of the detainees were released from the hospital on the same day after health checks without any statement procedures.
The Ministry of Interior announced on April 3, 2024, that 89 people (26 in Van, 38 in Hakkari, 4 in Siirt, 5 in Batman, 5 in Şırnak, 10 in Şırnak and 6 in İzmir) were detained during the protests on April 2, 2024, against the Van Provincial Electoral Board’s decision to give the municipal co-chair to the party which ranked 2nd in the elections.
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that DEVA Party member Dündar Bilen lost his life and 4 people got wounded due to a quarrel between members of the DEVA Party and Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the Pervari district of Siirt.
(04/023) Police Intervention against an Event in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 2, 2024, that the police prevented the ‘Yeryüzü Soup Table’ meeting of “Bayram Street 12 Platform” in Beyoğlu Bayram Street, where houses where trans women live and some shops were sealed by the police on March 4, 2024, and 8 people were detained. It is reported that the police erased the footage taken by journalists following the news reports.
(04/024) Curfew in Pervari…
The Governorate of Siirt announced on April 2, 2024, that a curfew was declared in Pervari district center and all villages from 01.00 on April 3, 2024, until 09.30 on April 4, 2024.
(04/025) Banned Events and Demonstrations…
The Governorate of Van announced on April 2, 2024, that demonstrations, outdoor and indoor meetings, press statements, sit-ins and surveys, setting up/opening tents and stands, organizing petitions, distributing leaflets, brochures, and flyers, and all kinds of protests and entry and exit of people who are considered to be participating in these protests are banned for 15 days between April 3, 2024, and April 17, 2024.
The Governorate of Bitlis announced on April 3, 2024, that due to the protests after March 31, 2024 elections, demonstrations, open-air meetings, indoor and outdoor meetings, press statements, sit-in protests and surveys, setting up/opening tents and stands, organizing petitions, distributing leaflets, brochures and flyers and all kinds of protest actions and the entry and exit of people who are considered to participate in these protests are banned for 15 days between April 3, 2024 and April 17, 2024.
(04/026) The Case of Prison Massacres…
The trial of the case against 196 people who were in charge of Gendarmerie Command at the time, in connection with the killing of 12 people and wounding of 29 people in Bayrampaşa Prison during the operation called “Return to Life” on 19 December 2000 in 20 prisons to ensure the transition to F Type prisons and to put an end to hunger strikes, continued on April 1, 2024, at Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court No 13. The lawyers of the complainants demanded that a criminal complaint be filed to the prosecutor’s office for the prosecution of Saadettin Tantan, the Minister of Interior of the time, who testified as a witness in the interim hearing held on February 26, 2024 without informing the complainants. The court rejected the request of the complainant’s lawyers and adjourned the hearing to September 20, 2024.
(04/027) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against journalist Elif Akgül, on the allegations of ‘chained illegal organization propaganda’ in her social media posts, started on April 2, 2024, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13. The prosecutor declared his final opinion on the case and demanded a sentence for the journalist. The court adjourned the trial to June 27, 2024.
(04/028) Halkevleri Chair on Trial…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 1, 2024, that the final trial of the case against Nebiye Merttürk, chair of Halkevleri, for insulting the President and MHP chair Devlet Bahçeli in a social media post, was held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 70 on March 28, 2024. It is reported that the court sentenced Nebiye Merttürk to 1 year 2 months and 17 days for insulting the President.
(04/029) Lawyers on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 7 lawyers from Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) who gathered in Beşiktaş on February 22, 2019, to fly a wishing lantern to draw attention to lawyers on hunger strike in prisons and were detained, was held on Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 46 on April 2, 2024. The prosecutor repeated his final opinion demanding a sentence for 7 people on the charge of ‘violating Law No 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations’ and acquittal on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent duty’. The court adjourned the trial to October 17, 2024.
(04/030) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against 35 people for participating in the March 8 Feminist Night Walk in 2020, continued on April 2, 2024, at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 58. The prosecutor declared the final opinion on the case and demanded a jail sentence from 6 months to 1 year for 35 people on the charge of ‘violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No 2911’. The court adjourned the trial to May 2, 2024.
(04/031) Attack on a Party Building in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that DEM Party Ankara Keçiören District Office was attacked by an anonymous person or persons on April 2, 2024, causing material damage and destroying DEM Party flags.
(04/032) Constitutional Court Decision on the Law on the Prevention of Financing of Weapons of Mass Destruction…
It is learned from the news coverage of April 3, 2024, that the Constitutional Court (AYM) annulled the powers granted to the Minister of Interior by the “Law No. 7262 on Prevention of Financing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction” on January 18, 2024, to temporarily dismiss the organs of associations, to suspend the association from its activities and to appoint trustees to the management of the association as ‘contrary to the freedom of association’.
(04/033) People Detained and Arrested in Relation with the Coup Attempt…
The Ministry of National Defence announced on 2 April 2024 that 1 person was detained after allegedly trying to illegally cross to Greece from Edirne.
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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.