Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
4 – 6 July 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(07/046) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2020 that, 1 militant died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Hakurk area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on July 1, 2020; and 3 militants died in a clash in rural areas of Ovacık district of Tunceli on June 24, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 5, 2020 that, 2 militants died in a clash between Turkihs Armed Forces units and HPG militants in Hakurk area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, and 1 HPG militant died in a clash in rural areas of Lice district of Diyarbakır on June 16, 2020.
(07/047) Asylum Seekers Died in Van…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2020 that number of asylum seekers died in a sinking boat in Van Lake on June 26, 2020 is 11; while at least 50 asylum seekers are lost.
It is reported that 5 of 15 people who were detained in relation to the incident, 7 people were released provided that 3 of them will be on judicial control conditions. 3 people are still under custody.
(07/048) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned that on July 4, 2020, 5 more prisoners (Hidayet Düger, Hıdır Demirtaş, Erkan Bayram, Mehmet Tahir Özcan and Reber Varhan) joined the hunger strike of 5 prisoners (İlyas Yeşilçayır, Ahmet Sabaç, Emrullah Oruç, Serhat Bulut and Bahtiyar) which started on July 24, 2020 to demand an end to right violations in Urfa T Type Prison.
(07/049) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 3, 2020 that, Ekim Polat, an ill prisoner in Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison, was being kept in a solitary cell and was threatened to death by wardens. It is claimed in the news reports that wardens say to ordinary prisoners “he is an enemy of the state, you can do him whatever you want”, about Ekim Polat.
(07/050) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 3, 2020 that, ill prisoner Ekim Polat in Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison was not given his medications and was not treated.
It is learned from the news coverage of July 5, 2020 that, journalist Murat Ağırel in Silivri Prison was not taken to infirmary and to prison physician despite of his written requests for 20 days.
(07/051) Person Subjected to Violence of Watchmen in Istanbul…
It is learned that lawyer Cihat Duman, who warned the watchmen committing physical violence to people while they were intervening a scene in Beyoğlu district of Istanbul on July 5, 2020; was also subjected to physical violence of the watchmen and was detained after being handcuffed behind his back. It is learned that Cihat Duman got a medical report evidencing torture and ill-treatment and made criminal complaints against officers.
Lawyer Cihat Duman made a statement and described torture and ill-treatment that he was subjected to: “2 citizens were being beaten and sprayed pepper gas on their faces by a group of 10-15 men dressed as watchmen in Mis Street of Istiklal Avenue; and while they were being detained I went nearby and said ‘You will be judged at penal court. What you do is crime, it is ill-treatment. I am a lawyer and I know that these acts certainly turn against officers in accordance with related legal foundation. And then I was attacked by two of them. I was handcuffed behind my back. They did not remind me my rights. And they did not declare the accusation. Although I said I was a lawyer, they did not check my ID and did not give the bar association a notice. I was taken to Beyoğlu Police Station with two other detained people, and when I asked them why I was being detained they said that I was going to pay for insulting Süleyman Soylu and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; and they twisted my arm, squeezed the handcuffs and pushed my neck to bend it down while they were making me walk to the police station. It became clear that these persons dressed as watchmen were really watchmen, after police officers at the station accepted them in. They did not open my handcuffs for a long while and did not start the procedures for almost 7,5 hours. I got a medical report at Taksim İlkyardım Hospital, evidencing injuries and bruises on my body. Besides, they continued psychological torture by making me to wait standing, did not let me talk to others, and constantly teasing me and other people under custody”.
(07/052) Journalist Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Ankara…
It is learned that Artı TV Ankara correspondent Sibel Hürtaş, who was detained by the police while she was following the protest of bar associations in front of Grand National Assembly on July 3, 2020; got a medical report evidencing torture and ill-treatment that she was subjected to and will make a criminal complaint against officers in charge. Sibel Hürtaş was released on the same day, after she was fined for violating social distancing rule.
Sibel Hürtaş stated the following: “I was taken to Kavaklıdere Police Station and I was being choked all the way. The huge police officer next to me put his arm on my neck and throat and closed my mouth and nose with the other hand. I shouted, ‘I cannot breathe, I don’t feel good’. Then he put the other hand on my mouth and nose and yelled ‘Die, die’ at me. They took their hands on my mouth and nose afterwards but my neck and throat was being squeezed until we were at Kavaklıdere Police Station. My lawyers were not allowed to reach there”.
(07/053) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1335 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on July 3, 2020 at 13.30 and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence. The police intervened the press declaration at 18.00 and detained 1 person (Alev Şahin). Detained person was released on the same day.
The police intervened the press declarations on July 4 and 5, 2020 at 13.30 and at 18.00 forced people away from the monument by using physical violence
Thus, 1 person is detained in police interventions to press declarations on July 3, 4, and 5, 2020.
(07/054) Police Intervention to a Protest in Ankara…
On July 3, 2020, the police intervened the press declaration of Alev Şahin in order to regain her job from which she was dismissed by a state of emergency decree, in front of Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning in Ankara and detained her on the grounds of governorate’s ban. Alev Şahin is released after being fined.
(07/055) Police Intervention to a Protest in Mardin…
The police prevented the sit-in of farmers protesting power cuts in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on July 4, 2020.
(07/056) Police Intervention to People Distributing Leaflets in Adana…
The police prevented members of youth organisations distributing leaflets of “Do not touch social media” in Adana on July 4, 2020, on the grounds of governorate’s instruction. It is learned that the police made ID check to these people and kept them for an hour.
(07/057) Arrested HDP Members in Maraş…
4 people including Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) district co-chair Naci Kızıler who were detained for “Sister family campaign” of HDP, in Pazarcık district of Maraş on June 30, 2020, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘financial aid to an illegal organisation’ on July 3, 2020. Arrested people are: Naci Kızıler, party executives İbrahim Ganidağlı and Mesut Gözlügöl, former district co-chair Murat Güvenç.
(07/058) Detained People in Diyarbakır…
On July 3, 2020, 2 people (Hebat Saçal and Serdar Canpolat) are detained in house raids in Lice district of Diyarbakır. The reason of detention is unknown.
(07/059) Detained People in Mardin…
On July 3, 2020, 10 people are detained in Mardin, on the grounds of participating in several protest and events in 2015. Aynur Kuaç, one of the detainees who has a 10 months old baby is released on July 4, 2020. It is learned that 9 people are still under custody.
(07/060) Former DTP MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Hamit Geylani, former Hakkari MP of Democratic Society Party (DTP), for participating in a meeting of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) in 2011, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on July 3, 2020.
The court sentenced Hamit Geylani to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(07/061) The Case Against Former Co-mayor and Former DBP Co-chair…
Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 5 has sentenced Gültan Kışanak, former co-mayor of Diyarbakır, to 14 years and 3 months; and Sebahat Tuncel, former co-chair of Democratic Regions Party (DBP), to 15 years; and Penal Department No 18 of Antep Regional Court has reversed the verdict.
The retrial is held at Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 5 on July 3, 2020. Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel joined the trial via sound and vision system. The court ruled to continue detention of Gültan Kışanak and Sebahat Tuncel and adjourned the trial to September 4, 2020.
(07/062) Mayor on Trial in Izmir…
The final trial of the case through “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation /Parallel State Structure Investigations”, against İbrahim Burak Oğuz, Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor of Urla district of Izmir, is held at Izmir Heavy Penal Court No 17 on July 3, 2020. The court sentenced İbrahim Burak Oğuz to 6 years and 3 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and decided to release him upon verdict.
İbrahim Burak Oğuz was detained on December 16, 2019 and was arrested by the court on the same day. Ministry of Interior appointed Urla Sub-governor as a trustee after suspending İbrahim Burak Oğuz on December 18, 2019.
(07/063) People on Trial in Urfa…
The first trial of the case against 30 people including 5 arrestees is held at Urfa Heavy Penal Court No 5 on July 3, 2020.
The indictment demands sentence for 30 people on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation member’.
After defence hearings the court released 2 people (Mehmet Kültür and Vahit Akgün) and decided to continue detention of 3 people (Songül Arpa, Ahmet Yenilmez and Muzaffer Çakmak) and adjourned the trial to September 17, 2020.
30 people were detained on October 9, 2020 and 25 of them were arrested on October 21, 2019. 15 people were released at the first trial held on February 7, 2020, and 5 more people were released on following trials.
(07/064) Non-Prosecution Decision on Death of Fatma Elarslan…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 5, 2020 that, Şırnak Public Prosecutor’s Office decided non-prosecution in the investigation on death of a 13 years old child, Fatma Elarslan, during curfews in İdil district of Şırnak.
It is reported that Şırnak Prosecutor’s Office states the following in its decision: “It is considered that [she] was involved in clashes with security forces, and was killed by security forces during her armed activities against security forces (…) it is concluded that security forces followed a legal order given by a competent authority”.
It is learned that the appeal to Şırnak Penal Court of Peace was rejected.
(07/065) Non-Prosecution Decision on Police Officers…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2020 that Samandağ Public Prosecutor’s Office made a non-prosecution decision for 2 police officers threatened a person named S. O. and her family in Samandağ district of Hatay. S. O. and her family was threatened for attending screening of the documentary on Emel Korkmaz, mother of Ali İsmail Korkmaz who was killed in Eskişehir during Gezi Park protests.
It is stated in the news reports that the police came to the house of S. O. and said to her family “Your daughter is on the edge of a cliff; she can fall anytime. Next time we will nor knock your door like this. We will get in and take your daughter”.
It is reported that the appeal to Hatay Penal Court of Peace was also rejected.
(07/066) Official Announcement and Advertisement Ban on Newspaper…
It is learned from the news coverage of July 4, 2020 that the Press Advertisement Agency has issued Evrensel newspaper with a ban on official announcements and advertisements for 5 days, for the news report “CHP MP Özel reacted against Altun for his unpermitted construction” published on April 13, 2020.
(07/067) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that access to a news report on several websites and social media accounts https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/, https://twitter.com/ececelk, https://odatv4.com/, https://twitter.com/sozluk is banned on verdict of Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 3 on July 2, 2020.
(07/068) Ban of Events in Aydın and Hakkari…
Aydın Governorate made a declaration on July 3, 2020 and banned all open-door events except for press declarations in political party offices with less than 50 people; and entrance of supporters of these events into the city and exit of people to support events in other cities apart from parliamentary members are restricted for 10 days as of July 3, 2020, according to Provincial Health and Hygiene Board decision.
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on July 4, 2020 and banned all open door meetings, demonstrations, sit-in protests, hunger strikes, opening tents and stands, press declarations, concerts, festivals, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on as of 00:01 on July 5, 2020 until 23:59 on July 18, 2020.
(07/069) Ban of Event in Kocaeli…
It is learned that “From Biology to Economy-politics: Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond1 forum of Kocaeli Solidarity Academy which was to held on July 5, 2020 is banned by Kocaeli Governorate.
(07/070) Covid-19 Pandemic…
Ministry of Health declared that 19 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,172 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 3, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 20 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,154 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 4, 2020.
Ministry of Health declared that 19 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,148 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on July 5, 2020.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 5,225 and total number of confirmed cases is 205,758 as of July 5, 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.