Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
9-11 December 2023 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/077) Operations and Attacks…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 10, 2023, that 2 militants died in a clash between Turkish Armed Forces units (TSK) and HPG militants in the Zap region of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKBY) on July 13, 2023.
(12/078) People Who Were Injured and Lost Their Lives in the Landslide in Zonguldak…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 11, 2023, that 2 people (Perihan Çakar and Sait Çakar) lost their lives due to the collapse of a house in a landslide in Zonguldak, and 21 people were injured, 2 of them seriously, due to a second landslide during search and rescue operations in the area.
(12/079) Police Officer on Trial in Kayseri…
The indictment prepared against police officer Ş.K., who shot and killed Fevzi Süleyman Sökmen with his personal pistol after an argument, was accepted by Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No. 2. The indictment demands a sentence for the accused police officer on the charge of ‘intentional killing.’
(12/080) People Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment by Watchmen and Police in Giresun…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 11, 2023, that on November 25, 2023, two people in the Central district of Giresun were subjected to physical violence by watchmen and police officers with whom they had a quarrel on the grounds of listening to loud music.
The Governorate of Giresun stated the following in its press release regarding the incident: “On November 25, 2023, the driver of the vehicle playing loud music in Teyyaredüzü Neighborhood of our province was duly warned by our Bazaar and Neighborhood Watchmen on duty. After the driver of the vehicle left the gas station by playing loud music despite the warnings, our foot patrols tried to stop him, but he did not obey the warnings and fled. The vehicle in question came back to the gas station after a while and threatened and insulted our officers inside the station by using offensive words. The suspects, who were tried to be calmed down by our officers, resisted and attacked our officers with fists, and the suspects were taken under control. The suspects were released by the judicial authorities on judicial control condition. In addition, the necessary administrative investigation has been initiated by the Ministry of Interior, and our Security Organization continues to work for the peace and security of our people 24/7.”
(12/081) Students Threatened with a Gun at a University in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 10, 2023, that a group of students decorating the New Year tree at Yıldız Technical University were subjected to insults and threats by another group. After the incident, university students who called to decorate the New Year tree together were threatened with a photo of a gun on social media.
(12/082) Disciplinary Proceedings Against Prisoners on Hunger Strike…
The gendarmerie intervened with batons and tear gas against those who were protesting the dismissal of a worker in front of his workplace in Urfa and detained 92 people, including BİRTEK-SEN Executive Çayan Dursun and BİRTEK-SEN Organizing Expert Deniz Kar by using physical violence. It is learned that some workers were injured during the intervention.
(12/083) Gendarmerie Intervention Against a Protest in Urfa…
The trial of the case against journalists Osman Akın and Veysi Sarısözen continued on December 7, 2023, at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13. The indictment demands a sentence for 2 journalists on the charge of ‘making propaganda for an illegal organization.’ The court adjourned the hearing to April 3, 2024.
(12/084) Journalist Detained and Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 9, 2023, that JINNEWS reporter Elfazi Toral was subjected to physical violence by the police while covering the press declaration of Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP) in Istanbul on December 8, 2023, and was detained. Elfazi Toral stated that she was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by the police under custody, including strip search, and was released by the court on judicial control condition on December 9, 2023.
(12/085) Lawyer Arrested in Maraş…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 11, 2023, that lawyer Ayhan Özdemir, a member of Maraş Bar Association, had a quarrel with the Chief Public Prosecutor at Afşin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, where he went to give his testimony for an investigation against him, after he objected to giving his testimony standing up, and was arrested by the court on the charge of ‘resisting to prevent the execution of duty’. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) made a statement on the incident: “Both the detention procedure and the procedure applied, as well as the referral to the Penal Court of Peace for arrest on the charge of “resisting to prevent the execution of duty” under Article 265/2 of the Turkish Penal Code, and the subsequent decision to arrest, constitute a clear and persistent abuse of their duties by judicial officials. This arbitrary practice, which constitutes a crime, is a clear violation of the person’s right to liberty and security and cannot be simplified or passed off as a wrong legal assessment.”
(12/086) HEDEP Executive and Others Detained in Mersin…
Among the 5 people who were detained on December 6, 2023, in Mersin on the charge of ‘being a member of an illegal organization’ and were referred to the court on December 8, 2023, HEDEP Party Assembly member Ali Bilen was released on house confinement while 4 others were released on judicial control conditions.
(12/087) People Detained in Malatya…
3 people (Bahar Köse, Ahmet Turan Sertkaya, Tahsin Çolak) who were detained on December 5, 2023, in Malatya on the allegations of ‘financing an illegal organization’, were released by the court on judicial control condition after statement procedures on December 8, 2023.
(12/088) Village Guard on Trial in Şırnak…
The trial of the case against village guard R. B., on the grounds of subjecting a child to qualified sexual abuse in the Uludere district of Şırnak, continued on December 6, 2023, at Şırnak Heavy Penal Court No 3. The court decided to continue the detention of R.B. and adjourned the trial to December 18, 2023.
(12/089) Ban of Access to Web Content…
It is learned that İstanbul Criminal Peace Judgeship No 7 ruled on December 5, 2023, to ban access to news reports about former Istanbul Deputy Police Chief on https://www.gercekgundem.com, https://halktv.com.tr, and https://bianet.org websites on the grounds of violation of personal rights and ordered the deletion of the aforementioned content.
[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.
[2]To subscribe to the e-mail group: please write ‘daily human rights reports subscription application’ to the title of your e-mail and sent it to dokumantasyon@tihv.org.tr.
[3]https://www.facebook.com/TIHV.HRFT
[4] https://twitter.com/insanhaklari
[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.