Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center[1][2][3][4][5]
9 December 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(12/102) Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 8, 2020 that, 4 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in Kağızman district of Kars on August 26, 2020.
(12/103) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 8, 2020 that, Muhammet Ali Taş, a prisoner in Silivri Prison was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers. Muhammet Ali Taş was a military school student and was sentenced to life imprisonment in a case on July 15 coup attempt; Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu states the following on the physical violence: “He was severely beaten and eventually he lost consciousness. He was dragged into a padded room. The room was very dirty and after being kept there for about 2 or 3 hours, he was taken to another place with his head and neck bended. And then we have heard about this and tried to publicize via social media. His lawyer visited him and saw that he was badly beaten. It is stated by his lawyer that there is a bruise covering the area under his left eye to the left ear, and irritation on his arms due to being dragged.” It is learned that Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu submitted a parliamentary question addressing the Minister of Justice.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 8, 2020 that, 28 people are kept in a ward for 18 people in Manisa Salihli T Type Prison.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 8, 2020 that, 12 people are kept in a ward for 8 people in Manisa Alaşehir M Type Prison.
(12/104) Armed Assault to Political Party Executive’s House…
On December 8, 2020, an armed assault was organized to the house of Ayhan Sefer Üstün, deputy chair of the Future Party, in Adapazarı district of Sakarya. It is learned that nobody was injured in the assault.
(12/105) Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…
The police prevented the press declaration at Aksaray Square in Fatih district of December 8, 2020, organized by Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Free Women’s Movement (TJA) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Assembly, about the hunger strikes in prison which have started to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. It is learned that the group marched to Marmara Solidarity Association of Prisoners’ Families (MA-TUHAY-DER) office to have the press declaration, and was prevented by the police once again. The press declaration was held in front of HDP Fatih district office and 1 person (HDP district executive Erkin Barın) was detained in the police intervention following the declaration.
(12/106) Detained HDP Member in Şırnak…
HDP Youth Assembly member Ercan Oğuz is detained at a police control point in Cizre district of Şırnak on December 8, 2020. The reason of detention is unknown.
(12/107) Detained HDP Executive in Mersin…
Ali Bilen, provincial executive of HDP in Mersin who was detained through a Maraş based investigation on December 7, 2020, is released from Maraş Provincial Gendarmerie Command on December 8, 2020 after he tested positive for Covid-19.
(12/108) Detained People in Muş…
On December 8, 2020, 5 people (Yüksel Gül, Anıl Kaya, Cüneyt Sucu, Naim Şahin and one person with unknown name) are detained in house raids in Muş. The reason of detention is unknown.
(12/109) Journalist on Trial in Tekirdağ…
The final trial of the case against journalist Rıfat Doğan, for he shot photographs during the trial of the case on train crash which happened on July 8, 2018 in Çorlu district of Tekirdağ, is held at Çorlu Penal Court of First Instance No 4 on December 8, 2020. The court acquitted Rıfat Doğan.
(12/110) HDP Executive on Trial in Erzurum…
The final trial of the case against Ömer Cemal Yazıcıoğlu, provincial deputy co-chair of HDP in Erzurum, is held at Tekman Penal Court of First Instance on December 8, 2020. The case was opened on the grounds of an internet article titled “Actual Moment: Society and politics in Turkey in HDP’s companionship” by Ömer Cemal Yazıcıoğlu. The court sentenced Ömer Cemal Yazıcıoğlu to 11 months and 20 days on the charge of ‘insulting the President’.
Ömer Cemal Yazıcıoğlu was detained in Tekman district of Erzurum on February 2, 2018, on the grounds of a supposed protest plan which was reported to the police, and this investigation has resulted in non-prosecution. However, another investigation was initiated against Ömer Cemal Yazıcıoğlu based on the examination on his personal cell phone.
(12/111) German Citizen on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’ in Antalya…
The first trial of the case against German citizen Kristian W. B., is held at Antalya Penal Court of First Instance No 12 on December 8, 2020. Kristian W. B. was detained on the grounds of his expressions that he used in a quarrel he had at Antalya Airport on November 4, 2020, and was arrested on the charges of ‘insulting the President’, ‘provoking the public to hatred and hostility’, and ‘degrading state organs of the Republic of Turkey’.
Kristian W. B. attended the trial and made his defence. After defence hearings the court sentenced Kristian W. B. to 11 months and 20 days on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ and to 5 months on the charge of ‘publicly degrading a section of the public on grounds of social class, race, religion, sect, gender or regional differences’. The court released Kristian W. B. upon verdict.
(12/112) Cases Against People Evacuated from Sur…
The trials of the cases against 40 people including 19 arrestees who were evacuated from the buildings they were stuck in during the curfew in Sur district of Diyarbakır during February and March, 2016; is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 5 on December 8, 2020.
The court has decided to separate the cases for each person on January 10, 2020.
The court sentenced 1 person (Emine Abiş) to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
The prosecutor declared the legal opinion on the case against Mazlum Dolan, a reporter of Dicle News Agency which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, and demanded sentence on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’. The court adjourned the trial to December 22, 2020.
(12/113) Ban of Access to Web Contents…
It is learned that the news reports about the sexual assault against a child by 27 people some of whom are claimed to be soldiers, police officers and village guards in Gercüş district of Batman, published on https://www.gazeteduvar.com.tr/, https://www.birgun.net/, https://www.evrensel.net/ (2 news reports) and https://sol.org.tr/ websites are banned to access on the grounds of “protection of national security and public order” by Gercüş Penal Court of Peace on December 7, 2020.
(12/114) Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On December 8, 2020, 204 people including military members in active duty are detained in operations covering 50 cities through an Izmir based investigation; 21 people including doctors in Gulhane Military Medical Academy are detained in Ankara; 22 people are detained in Istanbul; 5 people are detained in Malatya; 4 military members in active duty Mardin, 6 military members in active duty in Erzurum; 6 military members in active duty in Kırklareli and 4 military members in active duty in Edirne are detained; 2 people are detained in Samsun.
(12/115) Covid-19 Pandemic…
The Ministry of Health declared that 211 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 6,593 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on December 8, 2020. It is also declared that the daily number of Covid-19 case is 33,198.
The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 15,314 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 552,304 as of December 8, 2020.
It is learned that 3 health workers (pharmacist Nazım Yiğit in Konya, doctor Hamdi Kandilcioğlu and doctor Metin İber in Izmir) lost their lives due to Covid-19 on December 8, 2020.
It is learned from the news coverage of December 8, 2020 that prisoners who have Covid-19 symptoms in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 3 are not tested except for the ones in serious condition.
[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.