Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
4 October 2017 Daily Human Rights Report
(10/033) Civilian Dead in Van, Erciş…
A witness spoke on the incident in Van’s Erciş district where taxi driver Zafer Ceyhan and Önder Polat were killed after their car was shot at by police officers on September 28, 2017. The statement of the witness to press is as follows: ‘‘Taxi entered the school’s street. I saw military vehicles coming after the taxi. 200-300 meters later the car stopped and people in it fled. Owner of the car approached to police officers. Officers stopped the car. Many police officers and special forces took the man out of the taxi and made him lay on the ground. I heard a couple of gunshots. Than they asked the driver his father’s, mother’s name. The man did not respond. I heard a couple of more shots. 2 minutes passed then I heard the man on the ground yelling. I didn’t see how many people fled the car. But one was running away. They held the man that got away from the car 200 meters. They killed him there.’’
(10/034) Torture Allegation in İstanbul Police Headquarters…
A joint press briefing was made by TIHV and IHD for Mustafa Koçak who has been kept in İstanbul Police Headquarters Counterterrorism branch for 10 days. Koçak has been tortured allegedly. IHD Istanbul Chair, co-Chair Gülseren Yoleri, TIHV Chair Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur and TIHV Istanbul Officer Ümit Efe attended the meeting.
During the meeting, it was stated that Koçak faced physical and psychological torture. Police officers reportedly put a tin can around Koçak’s head and continuously hit the can for hours.
Koçak was also forced to become a spy, was threatened with his life and rape of his mother and sister. It is also declared that a restriction order was issued for 109 attorneys that had publicized the torture claims.
(10/035) Assault Towards AKP District Executive in Şırnak…
It is learned that Cahir for AKP Beytüşşebap District Kamil Durmuş’s car was blocked by a group, allegedly HPG militants on October 3, 2017. After 1 person in the car was taken out, the car was set on fire.
(10/036) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
Governorate of Hakkari declared on October 4, 2017 that a bombed attack occurred during a military vehicle passing and killed 4 soldiers. 4 soldiers were injured.
(10/037) Police Operations in Silvan …
It is reported that after Sergeant Mehmet Kızıl was shot during an armed assault in Diyarbakır’s Silvan district on October 3, 2017, operations began in the area. Reportedly, every vehicle passing through Diyarbakır Street is stopped for ID controls. It is also learned that many houses were raided resulting with detentions. No information is provided on the number of detentions, names of the detainees and where they were taken.
(10/038) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned that 13 prisoners in Muş Type E prison were transferred to several other locations in Karadeniz. Allegedly a tunnel was found within the ward of PKK defendants and it is reported that the tunnel is the reason of the transfer. Names of defendants learned: Mesut Şancı, Cihan Yıldırak, Sabahattin Nergis.
It is learned from news coverage of October 3, 2017 that routine morning and evening counts are executed by military personnel in Ağrı prison. It is reported that social and sportive rights of prisoners were limited and prisoners were forced to carry prisoner identities whenever they leave their cells to meet with attorneys, make a phone call or go to the infirmary.
It is learned from news coverage of October 4, 2017, that routine morning and evening counts are executed by military personnel in Afyonkarahisar prison. Prisoners are reportedly forced to stand in military fashion, books and magazines belonging to prisoners are taken by the administration, letters written in Kurdish by the prisoners or sent by the prisoners were prohibited and investigated. It is reported that prisoners decided to boycott closed and open visitations and phone calls to protest right violations.
(10/039) Hunger Strike in Prison….
It is learned from news coverage of October 4, 2017 that 3 political prisoners named Mehmet Sinan Ayçiçek, Agit Adsoy and Cemal Muhammed began an indefinite hunger strike to protest ill-treatment and rights violations they have been experiencing in Kilis Type L Prison.
(10/040) Number of Children Between Ages of 0-6 in Prison…
Minister of Justice Abdülhamit Gül answered HDP İzmir MP Müslüm Doğan’s parliamentary question regarding the number of children in prison. Gül declared that as of April 7, 2017, the number of children between ages of 0-6 staying in prison with their mothers is 594.
(10/041) Rejection of Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that on October 3, 2017 PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s attorneys İbrahim Bilmez, Ebru Günay and Faik Özgür Erol requested from Bursa Public Prosecutor’s Office to meet with him. The request was denied on the same day based on limitations regarding the convicted prisoners due to Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275. With this latest decline meeting requests with Öcalan have been denied for the 691st time.
(10/042) Police Intervention Towards ‘‘I Want My Job Back’’ demonstrations in Ankara…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with KHK legislations planned for a press meeting in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 3, 2017. The resistance of the group has been going on for a certain period. Two meetings planned at 13.00 and 18.00 respectively were both prevented by the police forces who clocked entrance to the street by barriers.
During the police intervention at 13.30 police teared a banner one woman was carrying and detained her. It is learned that 3 other people were physically abused and detained later at the 18.00 meeting.
(10/043) Arrested Journalist…
It is learned that 4 people detained during the raid in Idil Culture Center in Istanbul, Okneydanı were arrested on October 3, 2017. 4 people including FOSEM employee Merak Gökoğlu were detained back in September 24, 2017. Names of the arrested detainees are: Meral Gökoğlu, Özgür Gültekin, Neslihan Albayrak and Taylan Gültekin.
(10/044) Police Operation Towards DHKP’C …
It is learned that 24 of 33 people issued with detention requests through an Istanbul based ‘‘DHKPC Investigation’ were arrested on October 4, 2017. Operations in 9 cities were in place for the investigation. Learned names of some detainees: Cengiz Kırlangıç, Hatice Kalkan, Haydar Yıldırım, Aysun Kaşdaş, Şevket Avcı, Nevzat Özer, Okan Özer, Meltem Özer, Onur Bilgiç, Deniz Kocamış, Ayşe Lerzan Caner, Attorney Naim Eminoğlu, cancer patient Cemal Şahin.
(10/045) Detentions on Allegations of Insulting the President…
It is learned that one person named S.Ş in Edirne on October 3, 2017 and one person named B.Y. in Tekirdağ on October 4, 2017 were detained due to an allegation of insulting the president through their social media posts. It is learned that S.Ş. was released with judiciary control condition.
(10/046) Attorney Detained in Van …
It is reported that ÖHP member attorney Erhan Çiftçiler was detained and sent to Van Police Headquarters on October 3, 2017 during a raid to his house in Van. The reason of his detention is unknown.
(10/047) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It is learned that 35 of 112 people with detention requests were detained on October 3, 2017 due to alleged ByLock usage. 112 people with detention requests are employees of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and 18 other district municipalities.
It is learned that detention requests were issued for 121 personnel of Ministry of Youth and Sports on October 3, 2017 in Ankara. 82 of these personnel were detained.
It is learned that on October 3, 2017 44 people in Antalya, 4 former police officers in Adıyaman and former district governor Soner Özer in Sakarya’s Kaynarca district were detained.
It is reported that on September 26, 2017 through a Sivas based investigation 36 were detained. It is learned that 7 of 36 including 2 Majors and 3 Lieutenants were arrested. 1 was released with judiciary control condition. Through the same investigation 7 people were released previously with judiciary control conditions. Detention process for 21 people reportedly continues.
(10/048) Trials of Co-Mayors…
The trials for 90 defendants with 7 arrested including co-Mayor of Muş’s Bulanık district Figen Yaşar continued October 3, 2017. The case was opened by Patnos Heavy Penal Court. Following the defenses the court ruled for the continuity of arrests and adjourned the trial to December 5, 2017. Ministry of Interior appointed on September 11, 2016 a trustee in Figen Yaşar’s place who was detained on 23 April 2016.
(10/049) Trials of HDP Executives in İstanbul…
The trial of 12 HDP executives with 11 of them arrested including former HDP Istanbul provincial co-chairs Doğan Erbaş and Aysel Güzel began on October 3, 2017. The case was opened by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14. All defendants were present in the court room. The court ruled for the release of 6 defendants including Aysel Güzel and adjourned the trial to a further date.
(10/050) Trial of Police Officers Killed in Ceylanpınar…
The trial for the killings of 2 police officers at their houses in Ceylanpınar continued on October 3, 2017. 4 of 9 defendants of the case were already arrested. Prosecution requested extra time for the preparation of the final opinion as to the accusations for the 4th time. The court ruled for the continuity of arrests and adjourned the trial to November 22, 2017. Defendants testimonies in Kurdish were recorded as ‘an unknown language to the court’.
(10/051) Trial of Medeni Yıldırım…
It is learned from news coverage of October 4, 2017 that defendant soldier Adem Çiftçi’s acquittance in Medeni Yıldırım case was overruled by Gaziantep District Court. Medeni Yıldırım was shot dead on June 28, 2013 while protesting the construction of a new patrol in Diyarbakır’s Lice district. Yıldırım was shot at from the patrol.
(10/052) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
The final hearing for the trial of 7 former police officers took place on October 3, 2017. The case was opened by Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 17. 7 officers were accused of locking the gun cabinet and preventing distributions of rifles and steel vests during July 15 Coup attempt. Following the defenses the court sentenced Eyüp Sami Duran and Serdal Bilgin to life sentences. Other defendants were sentenced to 9 to 12 years.
The final hearing for the trial of Attorney Nazmi Değirmenci took place in Adana 11th Heavy Penal Court. Following the defenses the court sentenced Değirmenci to 6 years 3 months due to ‘membership of an illegal organization’.
(10/053) Trials for the Murder of Derik Mayor…
Trial for the murder of Derik District Mayor and trustee appointed to Derik Municipality Muhammet Safitürk continued October 2, 2017. Safitürk was killed on November 10, 2016 through a bomb attack to his Office. 11 of 15 defendants were already arrested. Following the defenses the court ruled for the release of 3 defendants and adjourned the trial date to November 20, 2017.
(010/054) Dismissal of MP Status for HDP MP…
HDP Siirt MP Besime Konca’s MP status has been dismissed after her definitive prison sentence was declared at the General Assembly. Konca was sentenced by Batman Heavy Penal Court to 2 years 6 months, due to ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’. The penalty was definitive as of July 13, 2017. With Konca’s dismissal the number of seats HDP has in TBMM deacreased to 54. Previously MP statuses of following MP’s were dismissed: Figen Yüksekdağ, Nursel Aydoğan, Tuğba Hezer Öztürk and Faysal Sarıyıldız.
[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, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, Ntv, Bianet.org, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Özgür Radyo, Sendika.org, El Cezire,BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar.