Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center – 19 September Report
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 18, 2019 that, Ramazan Çekmen, a prisoner in Denizli T Type Prison was subjected to disciplinary proceedings on the grounds that he spoke Kurdish with an officer on duty during family visits in prison. It is reported that Ramazan Çekmen was penalised with being prevented from some activities in prison, on the grounds of ‘speaking to or behaving towards institution staff improperly’.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 18, 2019 that, wards in Izmir Kırıklar Prison were searched 9 times within last 15 days and personal belongings of prisoners were scattered around during searches.
Lawyers Were Subjected to Police Violence in Bursa…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 18, 2019 that, lawyer Fesih Demir in Bursa was stopped by the police while he was driving his car and that the police wanted to search his car although he states that he is a lawyer. It is reported that a quarrel took place and Fesih Demir was subjected to insults and threats of the police and was forcefully taken into the police car.
It is learned that lawyers from Bursa Bar Association Lawyers’ Rights Center who came to the police station where Fesih Demir was taken, were also subjected to verbal violence of the police.
Bursa Bar Association made the following statement: “Our colleague stated that he will make an official complaint against the police officers and upon this, police officers at the station made a report based on groundless allegations against lawyer Ümit Özcan from Bursa Bar Association Lawyers’ Rights Center and attempted to treat him as a suspect although he was there in the line of duty, and his cell phone was tried to be seized on the grounds of ‘prosecutor’s instruction’. Police officers who assaulted lawyer Fesih Demir continued to verbally attack all our colleagues at the station.
Our colleague who was taken to station by a police car at 10 p.m. and another colleague from Bursa Bar Association Lawyers’ Rights Center who went there on duty were kept at the station until 8 a.m. without prosecutor’s instruction. Our colleague who was assaulted was taken to hospital for forensic report upon his demand however he was accompanied with police officers although there was no prosecution instruction.”
Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Diyarbakır…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 18, 2019 that, 5 people who were detained by the police using physical violence to intervene sit-in protest of Peace Mothers in front of Justice and Development Party (AKP) Diyarbakır office on September 17, 2019, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during detention and in detention vehicle.
Person Was Forced to be Police Informant in Istanbul…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 18, 2019 that, a person named Soner İlbas was forced to be an informant by persons claiming to be Gendarmerie Special Operation Force members. It is stated in the news reports that, Soner İlbas went to Güvercintepe Police Station in Başakşehir district of Istanbul after he and his family members were called several times and then he was taken to a park and was forced to be an informant by those who called him.
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 1044 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 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 September 18, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadağ and Nazan Bozkurt) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 18, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
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 18, 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 Cemal Yıldırım and Labourist Movement Party (EHP) Ankara chair Sanem Deniz Kural. The police also detained Emine Uyanık and Melek Çetinkaya, mothers of military school students sentenced to life imprisonment after July 15 coup attempt, since they wanted to have a sit-in protest there too. It is learned that 4 people were released on the same day.
Police Interventions and Preventions Against Protests After Appointment of Trustees to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van…
The police intervened the press declaration about appointment of trustees to Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van, which was to be held in front of Türkan Saylan Cultural Center in Izmir on September 18, 2019, and detained 6 people. Detained people are released on the same day. The names of detained people are: Mustafa Kazak, Recep Acar, Ferhat Harun Pehlivan, Hacay Yılmaz, Şerafettin Yetin and Yurdakul Üstekler.
It is learned that 1 person was detained on the grounds of a warrant, during the press declaration on September 17, 2019 in Diyarbakır for the same reason. The name of detained person is unknown.
Community House Branch Chairs on Trial in Ankara…
The final trial of the case against Mutlu Community House branch chair Seher Gümüşay, Mamak Community House branch chair Dilara Doğanbaş, Keçiören Community House branch chair Şebnem Kıymet Yar, Eryaman Community House branch chair Şenay Yılmaz Güner and İlker Community House branch chair Eray Kurt, on the charges of ‘praising offense and offender’ and ‘being an illegal organisation member’, is held at Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 13 on September 17, 2019. The court acquitted 5 people.
Musician on Trial for ‘Insulting the President’…
The case against musician Ferhat Tunç on the charge of ‘insulting the President’ is held at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 14 on September 17, 2019. The court rejected to lift the warrant on Ferhat Tunç and adjourned the trial to February 14, 2020.
Musician on Trial in Istanbul…
The case against musician Ferhat Tunç on the charge of ‘inciting hatred and hospitality among people’ is held at Istanbul Büyükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 14 on September 17, 2019. The court decided to issue a warrant on Ferhat Tunç and adjourned the trial to December 4, 2019.
Mazlum Turan Case…
Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 2 has reversed the verdict of Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 1 on April 27, 2019, which sentenced police officer Süleyman Esenboğa to 1 year 10 months and 15 days and then suspended the execution on January 18, 2019. Mazlum Turan (16) died due to the fire opened to his car, by special operations force applying road check in Kızıltepe district of Mardin on August 29, 2015, after an attack against police shuttle. It was claimed that Mazlum Turan disobeyed the stop warning for not having driving licence.
The retrial of Süleyman Esenboğa started on September 18, 2019. It is learned that the board of judges and the prosecutor of the case were changed three times so far. The prosecutor declared legal opinion which contradicts the earlier, and stated that the police officer should be acquitted on the grounds that “following an order cannot be sentenced”. The court rejected the demand for arrest of Süleyman Esenboğa and adjourned the trial to October 18, 2019.
Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
On September 18, 2019, 2 people are detained in Ankara through an investigation against Samanyolu TV channel which was closed down by a state of emergency decree.
111 of 180 people who were detained through an Istanbul based investigation against Turkish Armed Forces personnel, are arrested by the court on September 18, 2019. 69 people are released 27 of which on judicial control conditions.
Ban of Events in Mardin and Mersin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on September 18, 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 19, 2019. This is the second time of governorate ban on events for 30 days in Mardin.
Mersin Governorate made a declaration on September 18, 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 17, 2019. Governorate has banned all events two times before, on August 20, and August 30, 2019, each for 10 days.
Trustee Appointed to Karayazı District…
It is learned that Ministry of Interior suspended Melike Göksu, HDP co-mayor of Erzurum’s Karayazı district on September 18, 2019 and appointed district sub-governorate Mesut Tabakçıoğlu as trustee. Melike Göksu was arrested on September 17, 2019, upon the sentence of 7 years and 6 months given to her was approved by Penal Department No 16 of Supreme Court.
After local elections on March 31, 2019, trustees are appointed to 5 municipalities (3 to metropolitan cities and 2 to districts).
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