Documentation Centre of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey[1][2][3][4][5]
6 October Daily Human Rights Report
(10/070) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast
It was reported that a soldier was seriously wounded during the clashes between the military forces and PKK militants in Eruh, Siirt on October 6, 2017.
(10/071) Raids on Houses in the village of Altınsu
As reported in the media on October 6, 2017; special forces were reported to have arrived in the village of Altınsu- located in the county of Şemdinli, Hakkari- by 20 armored vehicles and entered the houses breaking the doors. As a result of the operations, 3 villagers were reportedly detained. Earlier this year on August 6, 2017; the villagers were claimed to have been subjected to ill-treatment and torture during the operations by the security forces in the village of Altınsu and 36 villagers were detained and then they were all released.
(10/072) The Police Officers on Trial for Torturing in Diyarbakır
The hearing of those police officers E. K., H. A., and A. T. on the grounds that they were the perpetrators of act of torture on Meshut Eşen and Mervan Eşen in custody took place in Diyarbakır Heavy penal Court No 6 on October 5, 2017. The indictment wants the 3 police officers to be sentenced for 15-year-imprisonment for causing ‘intentional injury’. The defendants did not appear in the hearing and the court rejected the request for issuing an arrest warrant of the defendants. While the hearing has been adjourned to December 2017, the court accepted the request for Mervin Erşan’s participation as an intervening party in the upcoming hearings.
Meshut Eşen was detained in Bismil, Diyarbakır on April 3, 2013 on the grounds that he had been video recording the police officers interfering a fight and he was subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Upon his brother’s detention, Mervan Eşen went to the District Police Station and he was also beaten by the police.
Meshut Eşen, then, reported about the torture and ill-treatment acts he was subjected to as follows: “The police stepped on my head and jumped and asked his co-worker if his foot size were stamped on his forehead. Then they dragged me into a room with no cameras mounted and tortured me for minutes.”
(10/073) Torture and Other Ill-treatments in Prison
According to the news on October 6, 2017; it takes a month- even in emergency situations- to get an official response for the petitions of prisoners in Type-E Prison of Mardin in an attempt to see a doctor (access to medical care) and those who raise their objections against this are reported to have been transferred to another prison. What is more, it was reported that the number of the prisoners is already over capacity.
(10/074) Rejection of Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that on October 5, 2017 PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s attorneys Rezan Sarıca, Cengiz Çiçek, and Serbay Köklü 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 691 times.
(10/075) Workers’ Death…
Worker’s Health and Job Safety Assembly (İSİG) reported that minimum 147 workers 8 of whom were children lost their lives. According to the figures revealed by İSİG, the overall death toll resulting from workplace accidents/workplace killings is minimum 1485 within the first 9 month period of this year.
(10/076) Police Intervention in Ankara towards “I Want My Job Back” demonstration…
Civil servants discharged from their jobs with KHK legislations planned for a public statement in front of the Human Rights Monument in Ankara Yüksel Street on October 5, 2017. The demonstrations have been going on for several weeks. Two meetings planned at 13.30 and 18.00 respectively were both prevented by the police forces who clocked entrance to the street by barriers. It is learned that during the intervention towards the 13.30 meeting, officers teared the banners protestors were carrying, sprayed tear gas from talking distance, physically abused a person named Mehmet Dersulu and detained him.
While 2 protestors were detained during the intervention in the press statement held at 13.30, 4 other protestors (Turgut Türksoy, Deniz Yılmaz and 2 others whose identities could not be identified) were detained during the intervention in the press statement held at 18.00. Based on this, 6 protestors in sum were detained during two separate press conference held in Yüksel Street of Ankara on October 5, 2017.
(10/077) A Person arrested in Istanbul for his Social Media Posts…
Detained in Istanbul on October 1, 2017; Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul executive Veysel Seyitvan was arrested because of his posts on the on October 2, 2017. During police interrogation, Seyitvan was asked to answer the following questions: “What does the word ‘socialism’ in your post on the social media ‘Persistence in socialism means persistence in being a human’ means to you?”, “Do you approve Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça’s ongoing demonstrations? Do you still support them?” Besides, the retweet of a statement- “APO President PKK Champion” on Twitter by a columnist for Daily Sabah- by Seyitvan was considered as an element of a crime.
(10/078) The Lawyer Detained in Van…
Detained in Van on September 3, 2017; Attorney Erhan Çiftçiler, ammember of ÖHP (Platform of Free Lawyers), was released with a judicial control condition by the court on October 5, 2017.
(10/079) The Artists who were Detained in İzmit for ‘Making Propaganda of an Illegal Organisation…
According to the media coverage on October 6, 2017; B.B. and S.B. were detained on the grounds that they uttered words like ‘Apo, PKK, guerrilla’ while singing during a wedding ceremony in İzmit.
(10/080) Detentions and Arrests…
During raids on houses in Bitlis and its distircts on October 4, 2017; 11 people were reported to have been detained including executive of DBP and aldermen. The full names of those detained: Vahit Yeniyöndem, Doğan Akbulut, İbrahim Yılmaz İnal, Medeni Başkan, İsmet Özarslan, Yaşar Yamanoğlu, Halit Kılıçkıran, Nusret Akcan, Ali Demir, Reşit Yavuz, Zeynel Abik. The reson for the detentions remain unknown.
On October 6, 2017; it was revealed that 5 HDP members including HDP City Co-chair Yüksel Akgün and member of HDP Party Counsil Kezban Dumlu were detained in Bursa. The full names of those detained: Yüksel Akgün, Kezban Dumlu, Tevfik Erdoğan, Sevgi İmal Polat, Abdulküdüs Ak.
In the distirct of Küçükçekmece , İstanbul on September 21, 2017; İbrahim Kavakçıoğlu (66), Lale Kavakçıoğlu (56), Dilan Turan (23), and Rewşan Ağaç (20) were detained and they were all reported to have been arrested by the court on October 5, 2017. It was revealed that İbrahim Kavakçıoğlu has undergone angiography for 2 times in the last year and he has undergone a bypass surgery.
(10/081) Detentions and Arrests in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
It was revealed that 18 former teachers dismissed by statutory decrees were detained in Ankara; 19 soldiers including 2 lieutenant colonels were detained with reference to an investigation started in Trabzon; 14 people were detained with reference to an investigation started in Uşak; 9 people were detained in Adana and 7 in Bitlis.
On September 21, 2017; 20 out of 44 detainees were arrested based on the claim that they had used ‘ByLock’ by the court on October 5, 2017 and the remaining 24 were released with a judicial control condition.
It was revealed that 12 out of 28 people detained in İzmir on September 22, 2017 were arrested by the court on October 5, 2017 and the remaining 16 were released with a judicial control condition.
It was revealed that a former district governor, Soner Özer, was detained in Samsun on October 3, 2017 and he was arrested on October 5, 2017.
With reference to an investigation started in Sivas, 35 soldiers and 1 police officer were detained on September 26, 2017 and 5 out of 36 detainees were arrested by the court on October 5, 2017 and 3 of them were released with a judicial control condition.. Including the latest arrests, 18 people were arrested in total and 13 were released with a judicial control condition within the scope of this investigation. It was also reported that 4 soldiers and 1 police officer have still been under custody.
On October 5, 2017; it was revealed that detention warrants were issued about 101 Ministry of Finance staff- 99 of whom have been dismissed by statutory decrees- and 32 Ministry of Labor and Social Security staff- 30 of whom have been dismissed by statutory decrees- and it was reported that operations started in an attempt to detain those people.
(10/082) Dismissed Judges and Prosecutors…
It was revealed that the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors dismissed 39 judges and prosecutors on October 5, 2017. Including the latest dismissals upon the coup attempt, the total number of those judges and prosecutors dismissed from their posts is reported to be 4,560.
(10/083) HDP MPs on Trial…
The trial against HDP Urfa MP Osman Baydemir in Diyarbakır Penal Court of First Instance No 4 took place on October 5, 2017 on the grounds that ‘defaming a civil servant based on his/her duty’ during an official explanation in front of the Governor’s Office upon the Diyarbakır Governate’s prohibition of an activity to be held in 2012 by BDP. During the hearing, the lawyers’ request for the inclusion of two people as witnesses was rejected by the court on the grounds that it will not contribute to the case by any means. Following the defense, the court revealed the verdict and therefore Osman Baydemir was sentenced to 1-year-5 month-15 day imprisonment and the verdict was not postponed on the grounds that he had been issued fine in another former trial.
HDP Ağrı MP Leyla Zana’s hearing due to her participation in 9 different events in 2010 took place in Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 3 on October 5, 2017. Opinion as to the accusations was revealed by the judge during the hearing in the absence of Leyla Zana. The judge suggested the hearing in pursuant 6352 numbered law on the grounds of ‘making propaganda of an illegal organization’ and ‘violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations’ during 5 events be postponed. In addition, the judge demanded Leyla Zana be sentenced to 7 year-15-month imprisonment on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ with reference to 4 events. The hearing was pushed back in order that the defense can be completed against the opinion as to the accusations.
(10/084) Co-mayors on Trial…
The trials of Nusaybin Co-mayors Sara Kaya and Cengiz Kök on the grounds of ‘disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state’ started in Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on October 5, 2017. Jailed pending trial, Sara Kaya and Cengiz Kök attended the hearing by means of SEGBİS. Upon the defense, the court decided Kaya and Kök’s continuation of detention and the hearing was postponed until December 14, 2017.
On September 11, 2016; a trustee was appointed by the Interior Ministry and Sara Kaya and Cengiz Kök were detained in the distirct of Nusaybin, Mardin on September 13, 2017 and they were arrested by the court on January 26, 2017.
(10/085) The People on Trial in Mardin
The trial of 8 people including DBP Nusaybin District Co-Chair President Siraç Dinç and DBP distirct executives on the grounds of ‘disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state’ started in Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 5, 2017. Upon the defense, the court decided the continuation of detention and the hearing was pushed back.
8 people were detained in the distirct of Nusaybin January 13, 2017 and they were arrested by the court on January 26, 2017.
(10/086) Trials in Connection with the Coup d’État Attempt…
Dismissed from his post in the faculty of medicine of Karadeniz Technical University by a statutory decree, former research assistant Avni Mustafa Önder’s trial on the groıunds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ took place in Trabzon Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 5, 2017. Önder was sentenced to 7 year 6 month imprisonment along with the continuation of judicial control.
A former teacher dismissed from his post by a statuary decree, Abdulhalık Demir’s trial on the grounds of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ took place Adana Heavy Penal Court No 2 on October 5, 2017. Demir was sentenced to 6 year 3 months imprisonment.
The trial against 17 soldiers who were accused of having occupied the İstanbul Municipality Disaster Coordination Centre during July 15 coup attempt took place İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 on October 5, 2017. Following the defense, the release request of the 6 arrested defendants were rejected by the court and the hearing was postponed until November 1, 2017.
The trial of 136 defendants on the grounds of being among ‘Military Comission Roster’ took place Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 on October 5, 2017. Released on the condition for judicial control, Aydın Keleş defended himself in order to benefit from ‘effective repentance’ provisions in force during police interrogation. Aydin Keleş claimed that his statement was taken under pressure in the Police Headquarter and therefore they were not true. Following the defence, Aydın Keleş was arrested and 1 defendant was released and the hearing was pushed back.
The trial of 12 defendants of which 7 are arrested and 3 are fugitive, on the grounds of kidnapping Chief of Education and Doctrine of Land Forces retired Full General Kamil Başoğlu during the 15 July Coup Attempt took place Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 17 on October 5, 2017. Following the defense, 1 defendant was sentenced to heavy life imprisonment, 4 defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 2 defendants were sentenced to 9 year imprisonment. Court acquitted 2 defendants and separated the case of 3 fugitive defendants.
(10/087) Police Intervention in the Demonstrations against the ‘Bill Allowing Turkish Muftis to Perform Civil Marriages’
It was reported that following the approval of the bill allowing Turkish muftis to perform civil marriages in Grand Turkish National Assembly Interior Affairs Commission, the access of the women who visited the Assembly on October 5, 2017 were denied on the grounds of their prohibition of entrance to the Assembly.
It was further reported that the police officers pushed the women out by force on the entry to the Assembly and the representatives of the opposing party CHP- Ali Şeker and Orhan Sarıbal- who were present there at the moment were also manhandled.
On October 5, 2017; police interfered in the press conference about the issue held by the women in Samsun on the grounds of ‘the Law of Misdemeanors’.
The press conference held by women in the evening of October 5, 2017 in Sakarya Street of Kızılay, Ankara was also prevented by the police intervention using tear gas. Despite the interference of the police without any detention, the press conference was held.
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[5] General sources of Information and Information Note: Daily Human Rights Violations Report is prepeared using the following newspapers, news agents, web sites along with the network of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (THIV) reviewed by Documentation Centre: Vatan, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Habertürk, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Fırat Haber Ajansı, Gazete Sujin, ETHA, Dihaber, Yurt, Özgürlükçü Demokrasi, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, T724, İleri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alınteri, Kızılbayrak, Sendika.org, El Cezire, BBC, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karınca, Gazete Duvar, Haber Sol.