Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
7 September 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(09/034) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 7, 2023 that, 3 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in the rural areas of Şırnak on July 27, 2023.
(09/035) Flood in Kırklareli…
It is learned that the number of deaths in floods in Kırklareli raised to 5 as of September 7, 2023.
(09/036) Attack on CHP Executive in Kastamonu…
It is reported that the Republican People’s Party (CHP) district chair Mehmet Soysal in Hanönü district of Kastamonu was attacked by a group including the mayor candidate of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and was injured at several body parts.
Mehmet Soysal stated the following to the press: “There is a copper mine in Hanönü (…) The chemical waste was discharged into nature there. I shared the previous and current images of this place. When Mr. M. announced his candidacy, we told him that he would take care of this place. I said, ‘I hope you will stand behind us’. But they cursed me. They threatened, ‘We will have a shroud sewn for you’. They called my wife and threatened me with death. Then they went to my father with guns. My father also said they shouldn’t make it a big deal. They called us today. We thought they would apologize. However, as soon as we reached them, they attacked us with iron sticks. I was beaten on my head, back and arms.”
(09/037) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 6, 2023 that the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) co-chair lawyer Özlem Gümüştaş and the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) executive and the Law Office of the Oppressed member lawyer Sezin Uçar who were detained at Çağlayan Courthouse in Istanbul where they went to make official statements through an investigation on September 5, 2023, were forced to give hair samples at Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
The ÖHD made a statement and said the following: “Blood and similar fluids or hair could be taken from the person if there is a situation that requires sample matching. But there is no case that requires matching in this file. Moreover, these samples are taken based on consent (…) Our colleagues do not accept because they want to perform an action that has nothing to do with the file. Later, the gendarmerie asks for hair samples to be taken, but they do not accept this either. Then their hair samples were taken by torture”.
(09/038) Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan Not Responded…
It is learned that the appeal made on September 7, 2023 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by the lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, in order to visit him was not responded.
(09/039) Detained People in Istanbul…
2 of 5 people (Fırat Şengel and Fırat Kaya) who were detained in Bağcılar district of Istanbul on September 3, 2023, are arrested by the court on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on September 6, 2023. 3 people were released on judicial control conditions.
(09/040) Journalist on Trial in Hakkari…
The final trial of the case against journalist Ruşen Takva over a social media post is held at Hakkari Penal Court of First Instance No. 1 on September 6, 2023. The indictment demands sentence for Ruşen Takva on the charge of ‘publicly disseminating misleading information’. The court acquitted Ruşen Takva.
(09/041) Investigation Against Journalist…
It is learned that an investigation was launched against journalist Pelin Özkaptan, upon the complaint of a person named M. A. who was acquitted in a rape case in Ankara, and that Pelin Özkaptan made her official statement through the investigation at Karaköy Police Station in Istanbul on September 6, 2023.
(09/042) Former Interior Minister on Trial…
The final trial of the case against former Interior Minister and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Istanbul MP Süleyman Soylu, for his expressions about the Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair is held at Ankara Civil Court of First Instance No. 15 on September 7, 2023. The court sentenced Süleyman Soylu to pay a compensation of 40,000 Turkish Liras.
(09/043) Gezi/Çarşı Case…
The retrial of the case against 35 people including Beşiktaş football team’s fan club Çarşı group members, for the Gezi Park protests in 2013, is held on September 7, 2023, as the acquittal of the local court was overturned. The court adjourned to February 1, 2024.
(09/044) Vartinis Massacre Case…
The retrial of the case against former gendarmerie lieutenant Bülent Karaoğlu, for death of 9 members of Öğüt family including 7 children, in their house that was burned down by soldiers on May 17, 1993 in Altınova (Vartinis) town of Korkut district in Muş; is held at Kırıkkale Heavy Penal Court No. 1 on September 7, 2023. The court adjourned the trial to September 27, 2023.
The final trial of the case was held on March 1, 2016; and the local court has acquitted all 4 defendants (Hasköy Gendarmerie Commander lieutenant Bülent Karaoğlu, Hasköy District Company Commander Lieutenant Hanifi Akyıldız, Gökyazı Gendarmerie Commander master sergeant Turhan Nurdoğan and Muş Security Directorate Special Task Department chief police Şerafettin Us). On January 26, 2021, the Penal Department No. 1 of the Court of Cassation has approved the acquittal for 3 defendants but reversed the local court’s verdict regarding Bülent Karaoğlu, who was the commander of Hasköy Gendarmerie Station back then.
(09/045) Ban of Events in Bursa…
Bursa Governorate’s Office made a declaration and banned all open-door and indoor meetings, marches, press declarations, hunger strikes, opening stands and tents, distributing leaflets, hanging banners and so on for 6 days as of September 5, 2023, on the grounds of the march of the Solidarity Association of Prisoners’ Families (TAYAD) from Istanbul to Ankara.
[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.