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30 November – 02 December 2019 HRFT Documentation Center Daily Human Rights Report

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]

30 November – 02 December 2019 Daily Human Rights Report

(12/001) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…

It is learned that 2 police officers got wounded due to explosion during passage of an armoured police vehicle in Nusaybin district of Mardin on November 29, 2019.

It is learned from the news coverage of November 30, 2019 that, 1 HPG militant died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Lice district of Diyarbakır on November 3, 2019.

It is learned from the news coverage of December 1, 2019 that 6 HPG militants died in an air operation of Turkish Armed Forces to rural areas of Uludere district of Şırnak.

(12/002) Journalist Subjected to Assault in Iğdır…

It is learned that journalist Metin Işık was subjected to assault of a group including Iğdır Grey Wolves leader on November 27, 2019. It is claimed in the news reports that the reason of assault was Metin Işık’s news reports on Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) MP Yaşar Karadağ. Iğdır Governorate announced that 4 people are detained in relation to the assault.

(12/003) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…

On December 2, 2019, Aygül Demirtaş, lawyer of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) former co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, announced via social media posts that, Selahattin Demirtaş lost consciousness due to chest tightness and asphyxiation he had in Edirne F Type Prison on November 26, 2019, and was given immediate medical attention in the ambulance called to prison. It was stated in social media posts that, Selahattin Demirtaş was not refereed to hospital for 7 days although lawyers and prison doctor demanded so. It is learned that Selahattin Demirtaş is taken to hospital on December 2, 2019.

(12/004) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…

Esin Kavruk, who was detained and then arrested on October 11, 2019, for her social media posts about Turkish Armed Forces operation to north and east Syria, and was put in Bakırköy Women’s Prison, was attempted to be detained once again, from prison this time, by Anti-Terror Department police upon instruction of the prosecutor’s office and was forcefully taken to Forensic Medicine Institution for DNA sample on November 11, 2019. It is learned from the news coverage of November 30, 2019 that, Esin Kavruk’s ward in prison (B-6) was raided by prison managers and wardens on November 28, 2019; and prisoners in the ward were subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Esin Kavruk’s lawyer Gülizar Tuncer states the following: “Prison manager and chief ward pulls Dilek Geçkin’s and Esin Kavruk’s hair. They dragged all women, kicked them and hit them with their shields, crushed their hands and legs. They hit some women’s heads to walls. They kicked Dilek Geçkin at her genitals, she cannot walk now. They then put prisoners in single cells”. It is learned that Esin Kavruk was taken to Haseki Public Hospital by gendarmerie, where Anti-Terror Department police officers took saliva sample from her by using physical violence. It is learned that medical reports evidencing torture and violence are given for Esin Kavruk, Dilek Geçkin and Zuhal Sürücü.

It is learned from the news coverage of December 1, 2019 that in Patnos L Type Prison, prisoners were not given hot water, and the water given to them was dirty which causes several diseases in prisons including skin and tooth problems, and that prisoners were not referred to hospital.

(12/005) Torture, Ill-Treatment and Imposition Under Custody in Mardin…

It is learned from the news coverage of November 29, 2019 that, Azat Akansel, one of 7 members of HDP Youth Assembly who were detained in house raids in Mardin on November 27, 2019, was subjected to physical violence of the police and was injured at the head. It is also reported that 1 of detainees, a student of Mardin Artuklu University was forced to being informant by the police saying “We will not let you graduate. We can speak to your professors at university and will not leave you in peace. We can help you. We know that you could not pay for your electricity service, so pity that you will not have it during cold winter. If you help us, be or friend you can have anything you want”.

(12/006) 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 1118 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on November 29, 30, and December 1, 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 November 29, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Şahin) were detained.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on November 30, 2019, 2 people (Alev Şahin and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Alev Şahin and Merve Demirel) were detained.

It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on December 1, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) were detained.

Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on November 29, 30, and December 1, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.

(12/007) 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 766th time on November 30, 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.

(12/008) Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…

 “F sit-in”, which is organized for the 401st time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on November 30, 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.

(12/009) Police Raid to Cultural Center in Istanbul…

It is learned that Idil Cultural Center in Istanbul is raided by the police on November 29, 2019 and 6 people are detained. Detained people are: Grup Yorum band members Sultan Gökçek, Bergün Varan and Tuğçe Tayyar, Coşkun Öztekin, Hüseyin Kütük, Yusuf Gülen. Sultan Gökçek, Bergün Varan and Tuğçe Tayyar are arrested by the court on December 2, 2019. It is learned that Idil Cultural Center is raided 10 times within the last 2 years.

(12/010) Raid to Political Party Offices in Antep…

10 of 57 members and executives of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) who were detained by the police raiding HDP’s provincial office in Antep and offices in Şahinbey and Şehitkamil districts on November 14, 2019 and were released on judicial control conditions are arrested upon appeal of prosecutor’s office on December 1, 2019. Arrested people are: HDP Antep co-chair Sultan Bayındır, provincial executive Mustafa Tunç, HDP Party Assembly members Ömer Faruk Koç and Şefik Sondu, Durri Kaygusuz, Fadile Dikici, Cumali Taşçı, Ramazan Kuas, Azime Bali and Müslüm Özkan. With the last arrest, the number of arrested people through this investigation raised to 35.

(12/011) Detained Journalists in Istanbul…

It is learned that Mezopotamya News Agency reporters Sadiye Eser and Sadık Topaloğlu are detained in house raids in Istanbul on November 29, 2019. It is reported that lawyers are prevented from seeing journalists for 24 hours.

(12/012) Detained People in Ankara…

14 people including members and executives of HDP, Human Rights Association (IHD) and Health and Social Services Employees’ Union (SES) who were detained in house raids in Ankara on November 27, 2019 are released on November 29, 2019. It is reported that 1 person (Ethem Özgan) is released on house confinement conditions, 2 people (Şehriban Kavak and Nuri Ağırman) are released on judicial control conditions and with ban on leaving the country, and 11 people (IHD Ankara co-chair Fatin Kanat, SES executives Fikret Çalağan and Belkıs Yurtsever, HDP Party Assembly member Bereket Kar, HDP member Mazhar Yerlikaya and Şehriban Başak, Ethem Özgan, Sabahattin Karlı, Kemal Akalın, Ziya Cebeci) are released with ban on leaving the country.

(12/013) Detained Person in Şırnak…

On November 29, 2019, Mervan Dündar is detained during a road check in Idil district of Şırnak. Mervan Dündar has made a complaint to the police and applied to Human Rights Association after he was attempted to be abducted by persons claiming to be police officers in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır on November 13, 2019.

(12/014) Detained Person in Hatay…

It is learned that Emsal Atakan, Ahmet Atakan’s mother, was detained in Hatay on November 30, 2019 and was released on December 1, 2019. Ahmet Atakan died due to gas canister fired by the police in Hatay during Gezi Park protests in 2013. It is learned that the reason of detention of Emsal Atakan was a social media post about Dilek Doğan, who was killed by the police searching her house in 2015.

(12/015) Detained People in Diyarbakır…

7 people (N. S., B. S., Ç. K., A. Ç., Y. U., İ. U. and Y. S.) who were detained on the grounds of ‘financing terrorism’ in Silvan district of Diyarbakır on November 29, 2019 are released after statement procedures on November 30, 2019.

(12/016) Detained People in Van…

5 of 20 people who were detained in house raids in Van on November 26, 2019 are arrested on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ on November 29, 2019. 15 people are released on judicial control conditions. Arrested people are: İzzet Işık, Nihat Işık, Hazar Dayan, Harun Boğa and Ferhat Arslanboğa.

(12/017) June 5 – Diyarbakır Case…

The case on the bombing attack to HDP’s rally in Diyarbakır on June 5, 2015, is held on Sincan West Courthouse Heavy Penal Court No 2 on November 29, 2019. It is learned that defence lawyer Savaş Kaya verbally and physically attacked complainant lawyers during the trial and was forced out of the courtroom. It is learned that prosecutor declared legal opinion on the case and demanded acquittal of Burhan Gök due to lack of evidence. For İsmail Korkmaz, Mustafa Kılınç and Orhan Gönder, prosecutor demands heavy life imprisonment for 4 times each of on the charge of ‘intentional killing with bomb’; and heavy life imprisonment on the charge of ‘attempt of intentional killing of 216 people’, on the charge of ‘violating Constitution’ and ‘possession or exchange of hazardous substances without permission’. The court adjourned the trial to December 13, 2019.

(12/018) Police Chief on Trial in Van…

It is learned from the news coverage of December 1, 2019 that Koçer Sason Yapıcı, who was subjected to torture under custody at Gürpınar District Security Directorate on July 22, 2016 in Van is sentenced to 1 year and 7 months by Gürpınar Penal Court of First Instance on the charge of ‘insulting an officer’ and ‘resisting an officer to prevent his duty’. However, police chief M. A. K. who was also on trial on the charge of ‘injury’ is acquitted by the court saying “it could be understood that he committed to violence under the influence of fierce distress due to threats and violent behaviours of Koçer Sason Yapıcı”.

(12/019) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…

The final trial of the case against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of HDP, on the charge of ‘insulting a public officer’ is held at Viranşehir Penal Court of First Instance No 1 on November 29, 2019. The court acquitted Selahattin Demirtaş. On August 4, 2013, a group on their way to Ceylanpınar for a peace event including Selahattin Demirtaş, co-chair of Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) back then, was stopped by the police in Viranşehir district and was subjected to intervention of the police using pepper spray, rubber bullets and water cannon vehicles. Selahattin Demirtaş was sued because of reacting against this intervention.

(12/020) People on Trial in Van…

The case against 28 people including 8 arrestees, for being delegates of Democratic Society Congress (DTK), is held at Van Heavy Penal Court No 5 on November 29, 2019. The court decided to release 8 arrestees (Bazi Aslan, Çetin Uyar, Ramazan Duman, Hakan Demir, Faysal Parlak, Mehmet Ali Sönmez, Mesut Erzengin and Abdulsettar Güneş) and adjourned the trial.

28 people were detained through an investigation on DTK on March 21, 2019 and 8 of them were arrested on March 26, 2019.

(12/021) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…

On November 29, 2019, former security director Mete Cengiz is detained in Ankara and a person named O. Ö. departed from England to Turkey is detained at Istanbul Airport.

6 of 7 people who were detained in Edirne in alleged attempt to illegally cross to Greece on November 29, 2019 are arrested on the same day.

(12/022) Seizure of Passport of Journalist…

It is learned from the news coverage of December 1, 2019 that journalist Hasan Cemal’s passport was seized at Istanbul Airport on the grounds of a ban on leaving the country. It is reported that the ban decision was dated on November 11, 2019.

(12/023) Cancelled Press Credentials…

It is learned that Vice President Fuat Oktay stated on November 30, 2019 that press credentials of 685 journalists are cancelled since July 15, 2016, on the grounds of “relation, connection or junction to structures that threat national security”.

(12/024) Ban of Events in Hakkari and Antep…

Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on November 29, 2019 and announced that, all open 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 November 30, 2019. All events are banned in Hakkari for 255 days since April 4, 2019.

Antep Governorate made a declaration on November 30, 2019 and announced that, all open 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 November 30, 2019. All events are banned in Antep for 115 days since August 22, 2016.

[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.