Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
3 December 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/029) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 2, 2020 that, 4 HPG militants died in the air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to Herekol area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on September 28, 2020.
(12/030) People Wounded by Police Fire in Hakkari…
It is learned that a traffic police officer shot and wounded 2 people (Remzi Duman and Metin Öztunç) with whom he had a quarrel in Hakkari on December 2, 2020.
Remzi Duman, one of the wounded persons, stated the following: “We were waiting for a friend at city center. At the moment when our friend was getting on the car, the police officer behind us honked the horn. He got off his car and said ‘go away’ and cursed. We said him not to swear, and that we were waiting for a friend. Then he took his service pistol and shot both of us.”
(12/031) Child Subjected to Physical Violence of Municipality Police in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 2, 2020 that a 9-year-old peddling with his father in Esenler district of Istanbul was subjected to physical violence of the municipality police seizing their stalls. The child stated that the municipality police said “you will know the state and the municipality police” while they were choking him.
(12/032) People Subjected to Physical Violence of Police in Mardin…
It is learned that a person named Kemal Oral was subjected to physical violence of the police raiding a house in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on December 2, 2020. It is also reported that Kemal Oral and his wife were held a gun to their heads, and residents of the house were waited facing towards the wall for 3 hours.
(12/033) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
The report of Progressive Lawyers’ Association (ÇHD) Ankara branch Women and Gender Studies Committee on their visit to Ankara Sincan Women’s Prison is declared on December 2, 2020. According to the report, in Sincan Women’s Prison, non-contact visit is restricted to twice a month, social and cultural rights of prisoners are restricted, the goods at prison commissary is of poor quality but sold at high prices, prisoners are not given the newspapers they demand, packages sent to prisoners are delivered with delay, the meals are inadequate and of poor quality, the heating does not work sufficiently, and power sockets in common areas do not work.
(11/034) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 2, 2020 that a group of prisoners joined the indefinite hunger strike in turns which started in prisons on November 26, 2020, demanding an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and to right violations in prisons.
The prisoners joining the strike are:
- Diyarbakır High Security Prison No 2: 2 prisoners (İbrahim Hayme and Cengiz Uğurlayan);
- Diyarbakır D Type Prison: 5 prisoners (Celalettin Gürgen, Garip Nazlıer, Onur Kangal, Hamdusena Ada and Şahin Karahan).
(12/035) Detained Trans Women in Istanbul…
It is learned that 9 trans women living in Bayram Street of Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, were detained by the police and their houses were sealed on December 2, 2020.
Lawyer Levent Pişkin made a statement about detention and said the following: “First of all, this proceeding cannot be actually called as a custody procedure. There is neither a crime nor a criminal charge. Trans women are taken from their homes in the evening to consult their information. This is not a lawful procedure. The police do not have the authority to obtain information. They tried to take statements under the name of getting information. According to the reports of women who were detained, the police pushed two men passing through the street into their homes and took based their intervention on the two men’s statements. (…) After the detention, we returned to their homes to retrieve their belongings and saw that the police have blocked the street with tapes. According to the information given by the police, the houses will be sealed tomorrow, but there is no Provincial Hygiene Board decision sent to us regarding this issue.”
On November 9, 2020, 18 trans women living in this street were detained on the grounds of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic and they were released later.
(12/036) Detained Deputy Mayor, Journalists, Members and Executives of Political Parties and Associations in Istanbul…
On November 26, 2020, 26 people including Şişli district deputy mayor Cihan Yavuz, journalists Davut Uçar and Kesire Önel, and members and executives of political parties and associations were detained through an investigation against Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) in Istanbul. 6 of them are arrested by the court on December 2, 2020. 12 people are released on judicial control conditions.
Arrested people are: Cihan Yavuz, Sedat Acay, Nazım Adıgüzel, Alaattin Altıntaş, Muhlis Bozdemir and Yusuf Çelik. Emine Kaya who was released through this investigation is also arrested through another investigation.
Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Davut Uçar, who was also detained, were released earlier.
(12/037) Detained Co-Mayor, Members and Executives of Political Parties in Şırnak…
On December 1, 2020, 23 people including Cizre co-mayor Berivan Kutlu who was suspended and replaced by a trustee, and members and executives of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) were detained through an investigation against Democratic Society Congress (DTK) in house raids in central, Idil, Cizre, Uludere and Silopi districts of Şırnak. 7 people are released by the court on judicial control conditions on December 2, 2020. It is learned that 16 people are still under custody.
People released on judicial control conditions are: Cizre co-mayor Berivan Kutlu, Ayşe Altay, Aycan Azma, Asuman Külter, Sekvan Kılınç, Ali Güven, Abdullah Acar.
(12/038) Detained People in Van…
On November 27, 2020, 28 people were detained through a Van based investigation. 7 of them are arrested, 21 of them are released by the court provided that 12 of them will be on judicial control conditions, on December 2, 2020.
Arrested people are: Ferhat Azan, Fatih Fidan, Sinan Öztürk, Vedat Ayaz, Arjin Tüncer, Şiyar Beyaz, Deniz Adar Eldemir.
(12/039) Detained People in Urfa…
1 person (Şükrü Kahraman) who was detained in Ceylanpınar district of Urfa on November 30, 2020 is arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on December 2, 2020.
(12/040) Detained People in Mardin…
On December 2, 2020, 3 people (Kemal Oral, İhsan Kılınç, Abdullah Kılınç) are detained on the grounds of ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’, in house raids in Kızıltepe district of Mardin.
(12/041) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The final trial of the case against Dicle Müftüoğlu, Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association (DFG), for her social media posts, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on December 2, 2020. The court sentenced Dicle Müftüoğlu to 1 year and 3 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
(12/042) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Evrensel newspaper writer Ender İmrek, on the grounds of ‘insulting President’s wife Emine Erdoğan’, for his article “Hermes bag was shining bright”, is held at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on December 2, 2020. The court acquitted Ender İmrek.
(12/043) Journalist on Trial in Muş…
The trial of the case against journalist İdris Sayılğan is held at Muş Heavy Penal Court No 2 on December 2, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for İdris Sayılğan on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to February 1, 2021.
(12/044) Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The first trial of the case against journalist Alican Uludağ, for his social media posts about Yüksel Kocaman, former public prosecutor of Ankara, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 18 on December 2, 2020.
The prosecutor declared legal opinion at the first trial and demanded sentence for Alican Uludağ on the charge of ‘targeting a public officer who took part in the fight against terrorism’. The court adjourned the trial to February 3, 2021.
(12/045) CHP MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Özgür Özel, Republican People’s Party (CHP) group deputy and Manisa MP, on the charge of ‘insulting Hulusi Akar, the Minister of National Defence’ is held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 28 on December 2, 2020. The court ruled a compensation of 15,000 Turkish Liras should be paid by Özgür Özel for non-pecuniary damages to Hulusi Akar.
(12/046) Co-Mayor on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Belgin Diken, HDP co-mayor of Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır who was suspended and replaced by a trustee, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on December 2, 2020.
The adjourned the trial to February 24, 2021.
Belgin Diken was detained on March 23, 2020 and was released on house confinement on March 24, 2020. Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Yenişehir district on November 13, 2019.
(12/047) Association Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Selma Altan, founder member of Aegean Association of Families of Prisoners (EGE TUHAY-DER) is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 on December 2, 2020. The court accepted to exempt Selma Altan for the next trials and adjourned the trial to April 13, 2021.
Selma Altan was detained on November 12, 2019 and was arrested on November 16, 2019. She was released from prison at the first trial held on June 16, 2020.
(12/048) Person on Trial in Balıkesir…
The trial of the case against Taylan Kulaçoğlu, for the social media posts of the account “Movement of the Nameless”, is held at Balıkesir Heavy Penal Court No 3 on December 2, 2020.
Taylan Kulaçoğlu joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to release Taylan Kulaçoğlu on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to March 24, 2021.
Taylan Kulaçoğlu was detained on the grounds of ‘provoking to commit offense’ and ‘praising offense and offender’, and he was later released. After the appeal of the prosecutor’s office he was arrested on May 20, 2020.
(12/49 DBP Executive on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The trial of the case against Celal Yoldaş, provincial executive of Democratic Regions Party (DBP) is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on December 2, 2020.
Celal Yoldaş joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to release Celal Yoldaş on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to February 24, 2021.
Celal Yoldaş was detained through the investigation against Rosa Women’s Association on May 22, 2020, and was arrested on May 24, 2020.
(12/050) Musician on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against musician Ferhat Tunç for his social media posts is held at Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 4 on December 2, 2020. The court decided to wait for the warrant issued for Ferhat Tunç and adjourned the trial to March 3, 2021.
(12/051) People on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against 2 people (Roza Kahya and Pelin Şahin) for protesting delivery of delight in Boğaziçi University campus to celebrate Turkish Armed Forces’ military operation to Afrin, with a banner reading “There is no delight in occupation and massacre”, is held on December 2, 2020. The court sentenced Roza Kahya to 1 year, Pelin Şahin to 10 months on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. It is learned that the court postponed the sentence given to Pelin Şahin but decided to arrest Roza Kahya.
(12/052) Suspended Provincial Council Members in Şırnak…
3 members of Provincial Council in Şırnak (Asuman Külter, Sabri Erdoğmuş and Süleyman Adıyaman) from HDP, are suspended by the Ministry of Interior on December 2, 2020. 3 people were detained in Şırnak on December 1, 2020.
(12/054) Broadcast Ban for a Television Channel…
On December 2, 2020, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued Habertürk television channel with a broadcast ban for five times, and administrative fine at the top level, for expressions of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Mersin MP Ali Mahir Başarır during a programme.
(12/055) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that an article of Yalçın Bayer, a columnist of Hürriyet newspaper and an entry on https://eksisozluk.com/ website are banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Bakırköy Penal Court of Peace No 1 on December 2, 2020.
It is learned that a news report titled “Super power rectors” published on https://www.birgun.net/ website is banned to access on the grounds of violation of personal rights, by Malatya Penal Court of Peace No 1 on December 2, 2020.
(12/056) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 2, 2020, 1 person is detained on a warrant in Trabzon.
(12/057) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 193 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,690 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 2, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 31,923.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 14,129 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 513,656 as of December 2, 2020.
It is learned that 3 health workers (Yunus Kaya in Istanbul, pharmacist Tevfik Fikret Atılgan in Edirne and doctor Zuhal Çakırca Çakmaklı in Izmir) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on December 2, 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.