Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
5 December 2018 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/047) Asylum Seekers Found Dead in Edirne…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2018 that 3 people found dead in Adasarhanlı and Akçadam villages of Meriç district of Edirne, near the Greek border; and it is learned from the investigation of the prosecutor’s office that 3 people were asylum seekers who freeze to death while attempting to cross to Greece. It is stated in the news reports that numbers of asylum seekers were detained in the same area by gendarmerie and were taken to Edirne Immigration Directorate. Jamaluddin Malangi, an Afghan who was detained, stated the following in the news reports: “We stayed in the forest for 3 days after crossing. Greek police came up to a village nearby. They caught and took us. After keeping us overnight they brought us near the river. There were 2 boats working systematically, one for arriving one for departing. They sent us back to Turkey in this way. I have seen the Afghan asylum seeker who died there, in the police station they kept us in Greece.”
(12/048) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2018 that Remziye Karadağ and 2 other prisoners in Elazığ High Security Prison, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens during open visits. It is learned that Remziye Karadağ has went on a hunger strike 31 days ago to protest right violations in the prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2018 that, Helin Bölek, a member of Grup Yorum band who is kept in Silivri Prison No 9, was not given the sweater brought by her mother Aygül Bilgi on the grounds of being inappropriate according to prison regulations, and that prison officials responded Aygül Bilgi upon her objection as “Yes the regulations are not same for all”. It is learned that Aygül Bilgi made an official complaint to Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office.
(12/049) Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2018 that 2 prisoners (Tansu Taş and Zeynep Mete) in Şırnak T Type Closed Prison started a 10-day hunger strike to support People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Hakkari MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Leyla Güven’s hunger strike.
(12/050) Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on December 4, 2018 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the law on the execution of sentences and security measures (law no 5275). With the last rejection, it was the 769th time that appeals for visiting Öcalan have been rejected so far. Abdullah Öcalan has met his lawyers on July 27, 2011 for the last time.
(12/051) Prevention of Press Declaration in Mersin…
It is learned that Mersin Governorate banned the press declaration to be hold on December 5, 2018 in front of HDP’s Mersin office to demand release of 10 people who were detained on December 2, 2018. 10 people were detained by the police raiding the HDP Mersin office where people went on a hunger strike to support Leyla Güven’s hunger strike.
(12/052) Gendarmerie Intervention to a Protest in Aydın…
It is learned that on December 4, 2018, the gendarmerie and police used anti-riot water cannon vehicles and pepper spray to intervene into the residents of Kızılcaköy village in İncirliova district of Aydın, who protest attempts of geothermal power plant construction at the village and the officials of the power company entering the village being protected by the gendarmerie. It is reported that 3 women were wounded due to intervention and they were taken to Aydın Public Hospital.
(12/053) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened into the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 755 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on December 4, 2018 at 13.30 and 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on December 4, 2018, 3 people (Mahmut Konuk, Nazan Bozkurt and Acun Karadağ) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Acun Karadağ) were detained.
Thus in total 5 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on December 4, 2018. It is learned that detainees were released the same day.
(12/054) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul…
Türkan Albayrak, who was dismissed from her job at Sarıyer district Health Department, on the grounds of ‘personnel security investigation’ and ‘archive search’, on August 3, 2018; made a press declaration to regain her job on December 4, 2018 and attempted for a sit-in protest in front of Health Department. The police intervened into the sit-in and detained Türkan Albayrak. It is learned that Türkan Albayrak was released the same day. It is the 55th time of detention of Türkan Albayrak.
(12/055) Detained Workers in Ankara…
On December 4, 2018, the police intervened into workers of TOKİ construction who are picketing at Mamak district of Ankara, for not receiving their wages for a while; and detained 10 workers. It is learned that detained workers were taken to Mamak Police Station. The police have intervened the picket line on December 2, 2018 and detained 7 people.
(12/056) Detained Members and Executives of HDP in Erzurum…
On December 4, 2018, 4 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Erzurum co-chair Muammer Duman are detained in house raids in Erzurum. The names of detained people are: HDP Erzurum co-chair Muammer Duman, HDP provincial executive Şahap Karakuş, HDP Youth Assembly members Sinan Durmaz and Beytullah Çelik.
(12/057) Detained Members of ÖDP in Istanbul and Kocaeli…
On December 4, 2018, 2 members of Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) are detained in house raids in Istanbul and Kocaeli. The names of detainees are: Kaan Tural and Melike Kayacı.
(12/058) Detained Executive of Revolutionary Party in Istanbul…
It is learned that Benazir Coşkun, central executive board member of Revolutionary Party is detained by Anti-Terror Department, at the police station she was called for official statement on December 3, 2018. The reason for detention is unknown.
(12/059) The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against Professor Taner Gören from Istanbul University for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ is held on December 3, 2018. The court adjourned the trial to December 10, 2018.
The separate cases against Research Assistant Yonca Güneş Yücel from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Assist. Professor Ahmet Kerim Gültekin from Munzur University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 28 are held on December 4, 2018. The court sentenced Yonca Güneş Yücel to 1 year and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and decided to apply probation for 2 years. The court decided to send the case against Ahmet Kerim Gültekin to Tunceli Heavy Penal Court based on lack of venue.
The case against PhD Ceren Lord from Kadir Has University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 is held on December 4, 2018. The court decided to send a writ to the Ministry of Justice to continue proceedings according to Article 301 of Turkish Penal Code and adjourned the trial to June 18, 2019.
The separate cases against Assoc. Professor S.B. from Bilgi University and Professor Mehmet Emin Aslan from Işık University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 are held on December 4, 2018. The court adjourned the trial of the case against Mehmet Emin Aslan to April 2, 2019. The court sentenced S.B. to 1 year and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, and increased the penalty to 1 year 10 months and 15 days on the grounds of “successive offence”; and lastly reduced the penalty to 1 year 6 months and 22 days for “behaviours of the defendant during trials”, and deferred the announcement of the trial.
(12/060) Prosecutions on Gezi Park Protests…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 4, 2018 that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office has prepared an indictment against 120 people for participating in Gezi Park protests and demands 6 cases against those 120 people. It is learned that the indictment states June 2, 2013 as the date of the committed offences which are specified as ‘participating in unlawful assembly or demonstrations and resisting despite the warning or use of force’ and ‘resisting to public officials to prevent their duty’. It is also reported that investigations on 600 people for the same reason is being carried on.
(12/061) Former HDP Co-Chair and MP on Trial…
Penal Department No 2 of Istanbul Regional Court, approved the jail sentences given by Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 to Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair and Istanbul MP of HDP and to Sırrı Süreyya Önder, former Ankara MP of HDP. This approval prevents the application of ECHR decision for Selahattin Demirtaş’s appeal. ECHR has ordered Turkey “to take all necessary measures to put an end to the applicant’s pre-trial detention” on November 20, 2018.
The final trial of the case against Selahattin Demirtaş and Sırrı Süreyya Önder, for the speeches they made at Newroz celebration in Istanbul in 2013, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 26 was held on September 7, 2018. The court has sentenced Selahattin Demirtaş to 4 years and 8 months and Sırrı Süreyya Önder to 3 years and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’.
(12/062) Former HDP MP on Trial…
On December 4, 2018, Penal Department No 16 of The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal to the 7 years and 6 months’ sentence given to İdris Baluken, former Diyarbakır MP of HDP, for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. It is stated in the verdict that “there is no inappropriateness in charging the defendant with ‘being a member of an armed organisation’ because of continuity, variety and intensity of defendant’s actions”. On January 4, 2018, İdris Baluken was sentenced to 4 years and 7 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, to 4 year and 7 months for ‘opposing to the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations’ along with 7 years and 6 months’ sentence. Penal Department No 4 of Gaziantep Regional Court has approved the jail sentences on May 23, 2018.
(12/063) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 4, 2018, 54 people are detained through an Istanbul based investigation against Kaynak Holding; 4 people are detained in Samsun; 28 people are detained for using ByLock in Ankara; 7 people are detained in operations covering 6 cities through a Zonguldak based investigation; 25 military members on active duty are detained in operations covering 24 cities through a Konya based investigation and 8 people are detained in operations covering 6 cities through a Kayseri based investigation.
19 of 41 people who were detained in Ankara are arrested by the court on December 4, 2018. 22 people are released on judicial control conditions.
16 of 33 people including military members on active duty who were detained in Istanbul are arrested by the court on December 4, 2018. 17 people are released on judicial control conditions.
(12/064) Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trials of the separate cases against 2 people for leaking the questions of Public Personnel Selection Exam in 2010, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 2 is held on December 4, 2018. The court sentenced 2 defendants to 6 years and 3 months each for ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court also sentenced 1 defendant to 4 years 2 months for ‘chain fraud towards public institutions’.
The final trial of the case against Müjgan Boydak, spouse of Boydak Holding’s former executive Mustafa Boydak, on Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No 4 is held on December 4, 2018. The court sentenced the defendant to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
(12/065) Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on December 4, 2018 and announced 30 areas with given coordinates in central, Çukurca, Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts as special security zones as of December 5 to December 19, 2018.
[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, YeniYaşam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, 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.