Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center – 18 September Report
Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 17, 2019 that 2 militants died in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Muş on September 11, 2019.
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 17, 2019 that, PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım who are kept in Imrali Prison are penalised with 3 months of disciplinary punishment.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 17, 2019 that Beyar Uğurlu and Celil Keskin, two ill-prisoners in Elazığ T Type Prison are put in solitary cells although a medical report states that they cannot be kept in solitary cells.
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 1043 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 17, 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 September 17, 2019, 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Mahmut Konuk) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 17, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
Police Intervention Against a Protest in Diyarbakır…
The police intervened Peace Mothers who make a sit-in protest with a banner of “Mothers Demand Peace” in front of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Diyarbakır office on September 17, 2019 and detained 5 people. It is learned that detained people were released after statement procedures on the same day. The names of detained people are: Nazime Yürek, Aklime Hanas, Aysel Tufan, Sultan Aksoy and Vahide (unknown surname).
Police Intervention Against a Protest in Ankara…
The police intervened the sit-in protest in front of Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Ankara office on September 17, 2019 by Cemal Yıldırım who rally to regain his job at Ministry of Finance from which he had been dismissed by state of emergency decree, and detained him. It is learned that Cemal Yıldırım was released on the same day.
Arrested Co-Mayor…
It is learned that Melike Göksu, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-mayor of Erzurum’s Karayazı district, is put in prison on September 17, 2019, upon Supreme Court’s approval of 7 years and 6 months’ sentence given to her on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Co-Mayor on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Filiz Buluttekin, HDP co-mayor of Diyarbakır’s Sur district, for a speech she made at Women’s Conference in Diyarbakır on January 7, 2018, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 11 on September 17, 2019. The court sentenced Filiz Buluttekin to 10 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Professor Halil Resmi from Dokuz Eylül University and Research Assistant Serdar Başçetin from Erzincan University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 are held on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted both academicians.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Research Assistant Esra Demir Gürsel from Marmara University and Research Assistant Emre Özyetiş from Artuklu University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 are held on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted both academicians.
The case against PhD Cenk Yiğiter from Ankara University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32 is resulted in acquittal as a preceding judgment of the court on September 17, 2019.
The case against Professor Cengiz Erçin from Kocaeli University for the same reason on Kocaeli Heavy Penal Court No 5 is held on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted Cengiz Erçin.
195 of 808 cases against academicians for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” are resulted in acquittal as of September 18, 2019.
Union Members on Trial in Aydın…
The final trial of the case against 6 members (Orhan Görü, Turgay Elçi, Gökhan Gök, Dursun Keleş, Mustafa Dağlı and Mehmet Sarıtaş) of Education and Science Workers’ Union (Eğitim-Sen), for activities and events they participated, is held at Aydın Heavy Penal Court No 2 on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted 6 people.
Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against Fatih Polat, Evrensel newspaper executive editor, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ in his article “What do respondents say about the allegations about Erdoğan family?”, is held at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 31 on September 17, 2019. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to November 14, 2019.
Journalist on Trial in Ankara…
The final trial of the case against Hüseyin Özkaya, former reporter of Taraf newspaper which was closed down by a state of emergency decree, as a part of “Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation / Parallel State Structure Investigations”, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 16 on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted Hüseyin Özkaya to 7 years and 6 months for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Grup Yorum Band Members and Others on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against 15 people (5 arrested) including Grup Yorum music band members Helin Bölek and Bahar Kurt, on the charges of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ and ‘leading an illegal organisation’, on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 35 is held on September 17, 2019. The court rejected demand of release of arrested defendants and adjourned the trial to November 20, 2019.
Singer on Trial in Edirne for ‘Insulting the President’…
The final trial of the case against Saide İnaç (Hozan Cane), a German citizen singer, on Edirne Penal Court of First Instance No 6, on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ is held on September 17, 2019. The court sentenced Saide İnaç to 1 year and 1 month and 15 days and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
Saide İnaç was detained on June 23, 2018 in Edirne where she came to support HDP’s campaign for elections on June 24, 2018; she was arrested on June 26, 2018 on the grounds of her social media posts.
Constitutional Court Decision on Halk TV Channel’s Appeal…
Constitutional Court’s decision on the appeal of Halk Radio and Television Broadcasting Corp. is published on the official gazette on September 17, 2019. The appeal was about broadcast ban on news reports related to parliamentary investigation commission to inquire bribery and corruption allegations for former ministers Mehmet Zafer Çağlayan, Muammer Güler, Egemen Bağış and Erdoğan Bayraktar. The court decided that freedom of press and expression was violated by the broadcast ban.
Police Officer on Trial for Death of Ömer Barış Topkara in Istanbul…
The re-trial of the case against police officer H. D. S. for death of Ömer Barış Topkara (16) is held at Penal Department No 1 of Istanbul Regional Court, upon Supreme Court’s reversal of the 15 years’ sentence given by the same court earlier. The court sentenced H. D. S. to 7 years and 6 months (with good time conduct) on the charge of ‘causing death with conscious negligence’ following Supreme Court’s decision.
Ömer Barış Topkara and a friend of him were detained in a shopping mall in Esenyurt district of Istanbul on February 16, 2017 and were handcuffed to each other. Upon their attempt to run away after exiting the hospital where they were taken for health check the police have fired a warning shot into the air and the children have stopped afterwards. The police officer H.D.S. has hit Topkara at the head with his gun and the child has died due to gunfire after the impact. The local court has given 11 years and 8 months’ jail sentence for ‘killing with an eventual intention under unjust provocation’ and it was reversed by Penal Department No 1 of Istanbul Regional Court which sentenced H.D.S. to 15 years. Supreme Court reversed this verdict and decided the police officer to be sentenced on the charge of ‘causing death with conscious negligence’.
Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 17, 2019, 14 people are detained in operations covering 8 cities through an Ankara based investigation and 9 people are detained in Ankara for using ByLock.
On September 17, 2019 a detention warrant is issued for 14 people including military members on active duty and dismissed police officers, through an Izmir based investigation. It is learned that operations are initiated in 9 cities.
Trials in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
The final trial of the case against Mehmet Kaya, former judge of Supreme Court, is held at Penal Department No 9 of Supreme Court on September 17, 2019. The court sentenced the defendant to 15 years for ‘being an illegal organisation member’.
Ban of Events in Adana…
Adana Governorate made a declaration on September 17, 2019 and announced that over trustee appointment to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van; all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, festivals, concerts, delivering leaflets and so on are banned for 15 days as of September 18, 2019. This is the third time of governorate ban on events for 15 days in Adana.
Ban of Events in Hakkari…
Hakkari Governorate made a declaration on September 17, 2019 and announced that over trustee appointment to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van; all events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, festivals, concerts, delivering leaflets and so on are banned for 30 days as of September 16, 2019 until October 15, 2019. This is the second time of governorate ban on events for 30 days in Adana.
Trustee Appointed to Kulp District…
It is learned that Ministry of Interior suspended Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay, HDP co-mayors of Diyarbakır’s Kulp district on September 17, 2019 and appointed district sub-governorate Mustafa Gözlet as trustee.
Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay were detained through the investigation on the attack in Kulp district on September 12, 2019, which killed 7 people including 3 village guards, and were arrested on September 16, 2019.
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