Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
6 March 2024 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/055) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that the police broke the door of Hamiyet Furan’s apartment in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul, police used verbal and physical violence against Hamiyet Furan’s father Cengiz Furan, and seized a book in the house.
(03/056) Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 5, 2024, that Bülent Zengin, a prisoner in Izmir Kırıklar Prison was transferred to Antalya S Type Prison, Mesut Koç and Ahmet Çiçek were transferred to Burdur S Type Prison against their will and their families were not informed about the transfers.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that Berzan Güneş, a prisoner in Van High Security Prison was prevented from social activities in the prison and from seeing other prisoners and was kept in a single room.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that the ward of Tahir Batak, a prisoner in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison was changed 3 times in 2 weeks, and Tahir Batak was banned from visits for 3 months due to disciplinary proceedings against him.
(03/057) Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that Berzan Güneş, a prisoner in Van High-Security Prison had health problems but was not referred to hospital.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that Tahir Batak, a prisoner in Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison, could not get medical treatment because he refused to be searched inside the mouth, and that he has not had dental treatment for 4 years.
(03/058) March 31st Elections…
Through an investigation conducted by Urfa Public Prosecutor’s Office, 12 people, including Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Suruç district co-chair and municipality council member candidates (DEM Party Suruç district co-chair Nazlı Binici, Nihat Demirbilekli, Müslüm Baran, Metin Bali, Baran Karak, Fadıl Kocakaplan, Ahmet Ceylaner, Mehmet Yüce, Bilal Zeren and municipality council member candidates Serkan Bali, Selami Kip and Zeliha Polat) were detained in house raids on March 6, 2024. The reason for the detentions was not available and the case was reportedly under a confidentiality order.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that Hilal Temel’s election posters for the Atakent neighborhood of Istanbul’s Küçükçekmece district were vandalized by unidentified person(s) and Hilal Temel received threatening messages on social media.
(03/059) People Detained in Istanbul…
On March 6, 2024, 2 people, Ramazan Özdemir and Hamiyet Furan, were detained in separate house raids. It is reported that a 24-hour restriction on lawyers was imposed on the case. The reason for the detention could not be learned.
(03/060) The Hrant Dink Case…
On March 6, 2024, the trial of the new case against 11 people, including Yasin Hayal, one of the instigators of the murder, former police chiefs Ramazan Akyürek, Ali Fuat Yılmazer and Ogün Samast, who was sentenced to 22 years and 10 months in prison for the murder of Hrant Dink and released on probation on November 15, 2023, “in consideration of good behavior”, continued at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 14. The indictment demands sentence for the defendants on the charges of ‘attempting to overthrow the constitutional order’, ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and ‘intentional killing’. Ogün Samast, who attended the hearing, said in his statement to the court: “No names were mentioned, but Yasin always told me ‘the state is behind us, relax’…” He also stated that police officers at Samsun Provincial Security Directorate told him: “Relax, my friend, no one can do anything to you”. Following the defenses, the court adjourned the hearing to May 29, 2024.
(03/061) The Tahir Elçi Case…
The trial of the case against police officers S.T., and F.T., dismissed police officer M.S. and fugitive defendant U.Y. for the killing of Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tahir Elçi on November 28, 2015, in Diyarbakır, continued on March 6, 2024, at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 10. The court rejected all demands of the complainant’s lawyers and adjourned the trial to June 12, 2024.
(03/062) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul…
The trial of the case against İzel Sezer, Editor-in-Chief of İleri News, and Batuhan Batan, Managing Editor, for the news article titled “It was journalism on trial again”, upon the complaint of Mustafa Doğan İnal, former lawyer of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, continued on March 5, 2024, at Istanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 25. The indictment demands a sentence for journalists on the charges of ‘insult’ and slander’. The court adjourned the hearing to June 13, 2024.
(03/063) Journalists on Trial in Ankara…
The final hearing of the lawsuit filed against DİSK Basın-İş Chair and Gerçek Gündem Managing Director Faruk Eren and Gerçek Gündem Editor Furkan Karabay, upon the complaint of former Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor and later Constitutional Court Member İrfan Fidan, on the allegation of ‘targeting people who took part in the fight against terrorism’, was held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 22 on March 5, 2024. The court acquitted the journalists.
(03/064) Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakır…
The retrial of the case against journalist Hakkı Boltan for insulting the President and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey continued on March 5, 2024, at Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 12. The court adjourned the hearing to July 11, 2024.
(03/065) Documentary Filmmaker on Trial in Ankara…
The final trial of the case against documentary filmmaker Sibel Tekin on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ was held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 26 on March 5, 2024. The court acquitted Sibel Tekin.
Sibel Tekin was detained on December 16, 2022, arrested on December 17, 2022, and released on January 30, 2023, on judicial control condition following a detention review.
(03/066) A person on Trial in Denizli…
The first trial of the case against Hatice Kocalar (75, F), who opposed the activities of a mining company in the Tavas district of Denizli, started on March 5, 2024, at Denizli Tavas Penal Court of First Instance. The indictment demands a sentence for Hatice Kocalar on the charge of ‘simple injury’. The court adjourned the trial to May 28, 2024.
(03/067) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 5, 2024, that news reports on https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr, https://www.birgun.net and https://halktv.com.tr about alleged irregularities in Ziraat Bank were banned to access by Istanbul Anadolu Criminal Peace Judgeship No 6 on March 1, 2024, on the grounds of violation of personal rights, and that the content was ordered to be deleted.
It is learned from the news coverage of March 6, 2024, that Istanbul Anadolu Criminal Peace Judgeship No. 9 ruled on March 4, 2024, to delete 1 news article on https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr and 2 social media content about people who received high scholarships given by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) during the AKP era, on the grounds of violation of personal rights.
[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.