Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
5 – 7 December 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/072) Child Subjected to Physical Violence of Police in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 6, 2020 that, a child whose name is unknown was detained by the police forcing him to face down on the ground and handcuffed behind his back, in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır.
(12/073) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of Police in Izmir…
It is learned that Serhat Demir, a shop owner in Menemen district of Izmir was subjected to physical violence of the police officers that he had a quarrel with, on December 6, 2020.
Serhat Demir stated the following: “I was not at the shop to make sale; I was there to write down the addresses of the customers of bottled water service. I have the permit of the sub-governor’s office for bottled water service, the police did not even allow me to show the permit. I could not find the permit at that moment because I was panicked. I told them I could have it in the other shop, and I could show them if we go there. The police insulted me and said ‘You are wasting our time; we will take you to the station’. I said I would not go to the station; I am not a criminal. The police said ‘You will come with us if we say so’, and they handcuffed me behind my back when I rejected to this. Another police officer tripped me up and I fell on the pavement. A group of police officer with motorbikes arrived, and one of them stepped on my head and sprayed pepper gas on my face. They hustled me into the police car. The police cursed to my family, and they said ‘We are sick of you, you will leave this country’. I asked, ‘I am from Erzurum, who are you sick of, which country’s police are you?’. They battered me at the station once again, my hands and eyes were tied, and we were in a room which is not covered by surveillance cameras. Then they took me to hospital, I was handcuffed behind my back. The doctor asked them to unfasten the handcuffs, 6 police officers could not find the keys.”
(12/074) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2020 that, Mehmet Sıdık Meşe, a prisoner in Diyarbakır T Type Prison No 3, was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers. It is stated in the news reports that Mehmet Sıdık Meşe was injured at one ear and eyes because of torture and ill-treatment. Mehmet Sıdık Meşe’s lawyer stated the following: “There are hepatisation under the right eye, black ecchymosis under the eyelashes, blood blister around the pupil; black ecchymosis at the bottom of eyelashes on the left eye and swellings on both eyes. My client has a blurred sight. There is hepatisation in the left eye, and bruises like scratches and rash under the same ear towards the neck. My client said he has difficulty in moving his neck, and has severe pain in the bruised area. The area under the right shoulder has a rash, and there is severe muscle pain in the upper left arm, and armpits; and there is a bruised area in the back covering both sides of the spine which suggests being hit by an object. There are bruises around the waist, and palm sized bluish purple ecchymosis under and on both sides of both feet. (…) On December 2 and 3, unexceptional contacts were made with my client. He was systematically called by the prison administration and recommended and preached to drop the issue.”
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2020 that, personal belongings (nook, notebook, desk, television and radio) of a prisoner, Serhat Karsu, who is kept in a single ward in Rize Kalkandere L Type Prison, was seized by correction officers after a ward search and that he was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers for he rejected to this.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2020 that the food given to prisoners in Hatay T Type Prison is inadequate.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2020 that, in Antalya L Type Prison, prisoners were not given the winter clothes that are sent by their relatives, the letters written by prisoners were not sent and the letters addressed to them were not delivered.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 5, 2020 that, the wards of prisoners who are on hunger strike to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, were raided by correction officers three times a day; and their personal belongings were scattered, their books and pencils were seized.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 5, 2020 that Latif Mollaahmetoğlu, a prisoner in Bolu F Type Prison, was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers on the grounds that he chanted slogans and banged the doors as a protest. A relative of the prisoner stated the following: “They dragged my brother into the visit room. They rushed into the room before the visit was over and dragged him out.”
It is learned from the news coverage of December 5, 2020 that, prisoners above the age of 65 in Urfa T Type Prison No 2 were kept in single wards, as a part of precautions for Covid-19 pandemic.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 5, 2020 that 408 prisoners in Siirt E Type Prison are being transferred to Batman Beşiri E Type Prison on the grounds of closure of the prison in Siirt.
(12/075) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 5, and 6, 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:
- Mersin Tarsus Women’s Prison: 3 prisoners (suspended co-mayor of Savur district Gülistan Öncü, Elif Akçaren and Zelal Karayi)
- Urfa T Type Prison No 2: 8 prisoners (Abdullah Eşiyok, Muhammed Kaya, Osman Ay, Serhat Bulut, Ahmet Yılmaz, Mehmet Şiyar Kayadağ, Mustafa Mak, Hayati Ömer)
- Düzce T Type Prison: 2 prisoners (Vedat Turgut and Vedat Gültekin)
- Antalya L Type Prison: 4 prisoners (Eshet Dalkılıç, Selim Kığı and 2 prisoners)
- Van High Security Prison: 3 prisoners (names unknown)
- Van F Type Prison: 3 prisoners (names unknown)
- Van T Type Prison: 1 prison (name unknown).
(12/076) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on December 4, 2020 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by families of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Hamili Yıldırım, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktaş in order to visit them was rejected the same day on the grounds of disciplinary penalties.
(12/077) 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. 6 people (Nafiye Geçgel, Aydın Deniz, Nevzat Kaygusuz, Leyla Erdem, Yakup Barkın, Resul Uysal) are released by the court on judicial control conditions on December 6, 2020. 2 people (Dursun Çakır and Yunus Özen) are arrested on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. It is learned that 1 person who is in hospital receiving treatment for Covid-19 will be referred to the court after being discharged. 13 people were released on judicial control conditions on December 2 and 3, 2020 while 1 person was arrested.
(12/078) Detained Union Member in Izmir for Social Media Posts…
Ünal Kaymak, organising secretary of Union of Agriculture and Forestry Public Employees (TARIM-ORKAM-SEN) Izmir branch is detained for his social media posts on December 5, 2020.
(12/079) People Detained in Adana for Social Media Posts…
On December 4, 2020, 3 people are detained for their social media posts, in house raids in Adana. Names of detained people are unknown.
(12/080) Detained Person in Mersin…
Barış Rojvan Pişkin, who was detained on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, on November 30, 2020 in Mersin, is released by the court on judicial control conditions on December 4, 2020.
(12/081) Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against Can Dündar, former executive editor of Cumhuriyet newspaper for publishing the footage of MIT (National Intelligence Service) trucks stopped in Adana and Hatay on January 19, 2014, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14 on December 4, 2020.
The indictment demands jail sentence for Can Dündar on the charges of ‘disclosure of information that, due to its nature, must be kept confidential for reasons relating to the security of the state for the purpose of political or military espionage’ and ‘aiding an illegal organisation without being a member of it’.
The court rejected the recusation appeal of Can Dündar’s lawyers and adjourned the trial to December 23, 2020.
(12/082) Former MP on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Halil Aksoy, former Ağrı MP of HDP, is held at Istanbul Penal Court of Peace No 20 on December 4, 2020.
Halil Aksoy joined the trial form prison via sound and vision system. The court sentenced Halil Aksoy to 8 years and 9 months on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court released Halil Aksoy upon verdict.
Halil Aksoy was arrested on January 22, 2016.
(12/083) Curfew in Bitlis…
Bitlis Governorate made a declaration on December 4, 2020 and announced curfew in 46 villages of the central district as of December 4, 2020 until a further notice. Villages under curfew are: Ayrancılar, Alaniçi, Narlıdere, Ağaçpınar, Yeşilsırt, Cumhuriyet, Abacılar, Sarıkonak, Çalıdüzü, İçgeçit, Akçalı, Yukarıölek, Aşağıölek, Ilıcak, Kalupat, Üçevler, Karakuş, Aşağıbalcılar, Yukarıbalcılar, Çeltikli, Aşağıkoçak, Aşağıyolak, Yukarıyolak, Yukarıçerman, Dursun, Beşkaynak, Yarönü, Uçankuş, Dikme, Yukarıdikme, Aşağıdikme, Bayırlı, Kınalı, Kutlu, Akgün, Çobansuyu, Aşağıçobansuyu, Güllüce, Esenburun, Harmanyeri, Dutköy, Cevizdalı, Karaca, Kaşıklı, Konalga, Kayalıbağ.
(12/084) Ban of Events in Van…
Van Governorate made a declaration on December 3, 2020 and announced that, all open-door meetings and demonstrations are banned for 15 days as of December 5, 2020. All events are banned in Van for 1489 days since November 21, 2016.
(12/085) Ban of Access to Websites…
It is learned that website of Jinnews news agency http://jinnews12.xyz is banned to access on the grounds of “protection of national security and public order”, by Diyarbakır Penal Court of Peace No 3 on December 4, 2020.
It is learned that website of Gazete Yolculuk http://gazeteyolculuk.net is banned to access on the grounds of “protection of national security and public order”, by Ankara Penal Court of Peace No 5 on December 4, 2020.
(12/086) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 4, 2020, 66 people are detained through an Izmir based investigation.
7 of 43 people who were detained through an Izmir based investigation are arrested by the court on December 5, 2020.
(12/087) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 193 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,903 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 4, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 32,736.
The Ministry of Health declared that 196 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,128 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 5, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 30,402.
The Ministry of Health declared that 195 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,093 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 6, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 30,402.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 14,900 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 539,291 as of December 6, 2020.
It is learned that 6 health workers (doctor İbrahim Akyıldız in Diyarbakır, Hasan Demir in Tokat, Adnan Çetin in Istanbul, doctor Ahmet Bacanlı in Denizli, doctor Ümit Erdem in Istanbul, Hakan Yücel in Hatay) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on December 4, 2020.
It is learned that 6 health workers (pharmacist Muharrem Kanmaz in Hatay, health officer Mehmet Aslan in Diyarbakır, nurse Nur Yavuz in Kocaeli) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on December 5, 2020.
It is learned that 3 health workers (doctor Ali Osman Gayret, Abdurrahman Aygün in Osmaniye and pharmacist Süleyman Koca in Denizli) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on December 6, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 5, 2020 that prisoners in Urfa T Type Prison who have Covid-19 symptoms are not tested.
[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.