Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center -17/19 August Report
Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 16, 2019 that, 2 HPG militants died in an air operation to rural areas of Bitlis on July 26, 2019; 1 HPG militant died in an air operation to rural areas of Sirnak on August 6, 2019.
On August 16, 2019, 8 soldiers got wounded due to rollover of a military vehicle patrolling at Syrian border in Kilis.
It is learned from the news coverage of August 18, 2019 that 1 HPG militant died in a clash in rural areas of Diyarbakir’s Çinar district on July 30, 2019; and 1 militant died in a clash in rural areas of Sirnak in August 6, 2019.
It is learned that 1 civilian died due to an explosion during passage of a civilian car near Çatalca village of Hakkari’s Semdinli district on August 18, 2019. It is stated in the declaration of Hakkari Governorate that PKK was responsible for the explosion.
Person Was Subjected to Violence of Gendarmerie in Izmir…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 16, 2019 that, Ali Yasar, a correction officer at Izmir Sakran Prison, was subjected to physical violence at the gendarmerie station where he went to give official statement through an investigation against him for his social media posts. It is also stated in the news reports that, Ali Yasar had a medical report evidencing the violence and went to Aliaga Police Station in order to make an official complaint against the gendarmerie personnel, where police officers communicating with the prosecutor on duty said Ali Yasar “if you do not make official complaint the case will be closed on non-suit decision otherwise you will be reported for threatening gendarmerie personnel”.
Hunger Strike in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 17, 2019 that, Mehmet Adsiz, a prisoner in Elazig Prison No 1, who is on hunger strike since July 29, 2019, to protest right violations he was subjected to, ended the strike after the negotiation with prison director where he was promised to have his demands met. It is reported that Mehmet Adsiz, who has a perforated eardrum due to physical violence he has been subjected to and that he was being kept in a solitary cell for a while, was promised that physical violence would end, his conditions would get better and he will be medically treated on a regular basis.
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 16, 2019 that, Bawer Eye, a prisoner in Denizli T Type Prison was subjected to physical violence of the wardens for rejecting to stand up in military order during roll-calls. It is also claimed that Eye’s demand for taking pictures with his visitors was rejected by the wardens for he spoke Kurdish with his visitors.
People’s Law Office declared on August 17, 2019 4 of their clients (Ismail Kara, Cem Dilmen, Grup Yorum music band member Baris Yüksel who is on hunger strike for 77 days and another person named Ali) kept in Silivri Prison No 9, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens for they shout slogans at the corridor on their way back from visit time.
Prevention of Right to Health in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of August 16, 2019 that, Yavuz Akar, a prisoner with epilepsy in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 2 was not referred to hospital. It is also reported that Yavuz Akar went joined the hunger strike demanding an end to isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and has several health issues due to strike.
Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the press declaration of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1013 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on August 16, 17, and 18, 2019 at 13.30, and at 18.00.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on August 16, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadag and Merve Demirel) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on August 17, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Acun Karadag) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Acun Karadag) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on August 18, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on August 16, 17, and 18, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
Prevention of Saturday Mothers’ Protest in Istanbul…
Police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square in Istanbul to prevent Saturday Mothers who rally every Saturday for 23 years in the same place to gather for the 751st time on August 17, 2019. Upon police prevention, the group including representatives of political parties, human rights defenders and artists along with families of disappeared people held a press declaration on the street of Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul office.
Prevention of Human Rights Defenders’ Event in Istanbul…
“F sit-in”, which is organized for the 386th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on August 17, 2019, is prevented by the police. The police obstructed all the streets around Galatasaray Square. Human rights defenders made the press declaration in front of IHD Istanbul office.
Police Intervention to a Protest in Elazig…
The police intervened into a protest in Elazig on August 18, 2019, which was held in order to point out to the trial on August 22, 2019 of the case against Alpaslan Kuytul, founder president of Furkan Foundation, and detained 25 people including 5 children. The names of detained people are unknown.
Detained Journalist in Mersin…
Mezopotamya News Agency reported Ergin Çaglar is detained at Mersin Courthouse where he went to in relation to a detention warrant on him on August 16, 2019. Detention period for Ergin Çaglar is expanded for 2 more days on August 17, 2019.
Detained City Council Member and HDP Members in Sirnak…
21 people including Mehmet Eraslan and Hatice Kaya, Idil district council members from HDP; Vahap Özel and Idil Yalçinkaya, Cizre district council members, and Güler Tunç, HDP’s district co-chair were detained in house raids in Idil and Cizre districts of Sirnak on August 14, 2019.
Mehmet Eraslan and Hatice Kaya are released after statement procedures at the police on the same day. Güler Tunç is released by the court on judicial control conditions on August 15, 2019. 2 of 5 people who were referred to the court on August 16, 2019 are detained on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Detained HDP Members in Urfa…
On August 17, 2019, 25 people including HDP members are detained in house raids in Urfa. The reason of detention is and the names of detained people are unknown.
Detained HDP Executives in Sirnak…
On August 18, 2019, HDP Idil district executives Yahya Idin, Sinan Koluman, Sekvan Kilinç and Gül Eraslan, wife of Mehmet Eraslan, the district council member who was detained on August 14, 2019 and was released afterwards, are detained in house raids in Idil district of Sirnak.
On August 18, 2019 6 people including HDP district executive Dindar Cin are detained in house raids in Beytüssebap district of Sirnak. The names of detained people are: Dindar Cin, Cemil Cin, Nuri Cin, Selahattin Ataman, Agit Çokdogan and Mazlum Çokdogan.
Detained HDP Executive and Other People in Izmir…
13 people including HDP Narlidere district co-chair Mehmet Gül, who were detained in house raids in Izmir on August 15, 2019 on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on August 16, 2019. The names of detainees known so far are: Mehmet Gül, Bedran Aydin, Yasin Dalbudak, Deniz Yilmaz, Sevket Topkaya, Özcan Ertan, Yasar Kaçar, Murat Isge.
The Local Authority was Arrested for ‘Insulting the President’ in Osmaniye…
Mustafa U., local authority of Akdam village of Adana’s Kozan district who was detained for ‘insulting the President’ and having a quarrel with the gendarmerie officials during a road check in Kadirli district of Osmaniye, is arrested by the court on August 18, 2019 on the charges of ‘insulting the President’ and ‘resisting against a public official’.
Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On August 16, 2019, 1 person is detained in Eskisehir on a warrant. On August 17, 2019, 2 people are detained in Trabzon.
7 of 9 people who were detained in Bodrum district of Mugla in an alleged attempt to illegally cross to Greece, are arrested by the court on August 18, 2019. It is reported that 2 people are still under custody.
Special Security Zone in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on August 17, 2109 and announced 3 areas in central, Çukurca, Yüksekova and Semdinli districts as special security zones as of August 17, 2019 until August 22, 2019.
Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on August 16, 2019 and announced that all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins and opening stands and so on are banned for 30 days as of August 17, 2019 until September 15, 2019.
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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, Firat Haber Ajansi, Jinnews, ETHA, Mezopotamya Ajansi, Yurt, Yeni Yasam, NTV, Yeni Asya, Bianet, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Tr724, Ileri Haber, Siyasi Haber, Alinteri, Kizilbayrak, Sendika.org, Yüksekova Haber, T24, Diken, Gazete Karinca, Gazete Duvar. Haber Sol, El Cezire, BBC, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, AFP.
