Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
5 January 2021 Daily Human Rights Report
(01/023) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2021 that, 2 people (Roni Dıtın Gören and Ferhat Can) who were detained in the police intervention to the protest at Boğaziçi University on January 4, 2021; were forced to strip search under custody and their clothes were forcibly taken off by the police using physical violence.
It is learned that LGBTIQ+ activists Yıldız İdil Şen and Havin Coşkun, who were among 17 people detained in house raids in Istanbul, for participating in protests at Boğaziçi University; were forced to strip search under custody, and were subjected to physical and psychological violence and rape threats.
(01/024) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 2021 that, lawyer Aytaç Ünsal in Edirne F Type Prison was not given the medication required for his treatment. It is stated in the news reports that Aytaç Ünsal has weight loss, bruises on his body and pain due to nerve ending infection. Aytaç Ünsal was on hunger strike to demand a fair trial, and after 213 days of strike, he was released from prison by verdict of Penal Department No 16 of the Court of Cassation. He was then detained in Edirne on December 9, 2020 and was sent to prison after being arrested.
(01/025) Detained University Students in Istanbul…
It is learned that at least 17 university students are detained in house raids in Istanbul on January 5, 2021. It is reported that the reason of detention is the press declaration at Boğaziçi University campus which was held on January 4, 2021 to protest the new rector appointed to the university by the President. It is learned that a detention warrant is issued for 11 more students. The names of detained people are: Ferhat Ergen, Ulaş Bedri Çelik, Azad Aksoy, Ferhat Can, Taylan Karatepe, Yıldız İdil Şen, Cihan Çiçek, Şiran Delepalta, Burak Çetiner, Arda Yüksel, Doğukan Gürbey, Roni Gören, Denizhan Eren, Kudret Çetinkaya, Tuana Uğuz, Ahmet Furkan Polatkan and Havin Özcan.
(01/026) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the protest in front of Çankaya Public Health Directorate on January 4, 2021, who rally to regain their jobs from which they had been dismissed by state of emergency decrees, and detained Mahmut Konuk by using physical violence.
(01/027) Former HDP Co-Chair on Trial…
The trial of the case against Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), on the grounds of insulting Ahmet Davutoğlu, Prime Minister back then, is held at Istanbul Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 27 on January 4, 2021. The court adjourned the trial to March 22, 2021.
(01/028) Penalty Fine to Newspaper…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2021 that, Evrensel daily newspaper is imposed an administrative fine of 20,953 Turkish Liras by the Ministry of Commerce for the television commercial of the newspaper for its 25th anniversary which involved the footage of a child carrying a scarf in green, red and yellow colours. On August 28, 2020 the Supreme Board of Radio and Television has imposed an administrative fine on Tele1 television channel for this commercial.
(01/029) Investigation Against Former MP…
It is learned that Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against Fikri Sağlar, former Mersin MP of Republican People’s Party (CHP), on January 4, 2021. The investigation is on the grounds that Fikri Sağlar was ‘provoking public to hatred and hostility and degrading public’ in his expressions “I have doubts that a judge with headscarf would defend justice. Some of them work militantly and in under ideological affect, we should struggle against this”.
(01/030) Investigation Against Journalist…
It is learned that Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation against journalist Can Ataklı on January 4, 2021. The investigation is on the grounds that Can Ataklı was ‘provoking public to hatred and hostility and degrading public’ in his expressions “Would Tayyip Erdoğan leave power with an election? I do not think so. It does not seem possible to me that Tayyip Erdoğan would leave power with an election”.
(01/031) Constitutional Court Decision on Torture and Ill-Treatment…
It is learned from the news coverage of January 4, 2021 that, the Constitutional Court concluded on the individual appeal of Rüya Ağdaş Sönmez who was subjected to torture and ill-treatment, including strip search, under custody.
The court decided that the ban on ill-treatment was violated procedurally for Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has decided on non-prosecution of torture and ill-treatment allegations of Rüya Ağdaş Sönmez. The court also decided to send the verdict to Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office to resolve the consecutions of violation.
(01/032) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On January 4, 2021, 26 people are detained in operations covering 11 cities through an Edirne based investigation.
(01/033) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 197 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 1,508 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on January 4, 2021. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 13,695.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 21,685 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 2,255,607 as of January 4, 2021.
It is learned that doctor Soyer Şimşek in Mersin lost his life due to Covid-19 on January 4, 2021.
[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.