Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center – 12 September Report
Child Hit by an Armoured Police Vehicle in Diyarbakir…
On September 11, 2019, a six-year old child, E. T. (m) is hit by an armoured police vehicle in Baglar district of Diyarbakir. It is learned that E. T. is taken to hospital with brain haemorrhage and is still in critical condition.
Abduction Attempt in Ankara…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 11, 2019 that Hayrullah Narin, a member of Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen) in Eryaman district of Ankara was forced to get in a black van and was attempted to be abducted by people claim themselves to be police officers. It is learned that Hayrullah Narin made an official complaint about the abduction attempt.
Hayrullah Narin stated the following: “They told me that they were friends with me. I objected to it and told them that I would call my lawyer in case of a legal detention. One of them in the vehicle said ‘Don’t be such a show-off, get in the car’, another one held my arm and tried to pull me in and I turned towards a grocery store shouting ‘They are kidnapping me’. These 3 people got in the car and went away after some people around came nearby.”
Police Raid to Union Offices in Diyarbakir…
On September 11, 2019, the police raided Diyarbakir offices of Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen) and Health and Social Service Employees Union (SES) and removed the banners saying “My Vote is My Political Will” on the grounds of prosecutor’s decision.The police have raided union offices previously, to remove the banners saying “Do Not Touch to My Political Will”.
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 1037 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 11, 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 11, 2019, 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Acun Karadag) were detained.
Thus in total 4 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 11, 2019. It is learned detained people were released on the same days they were detained.
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 Serdar Degirmencioglu from Dogus University and Assist. Professor Özlem Savas from Bilkent University) for signing the petition “We will not be a party to this crime!” on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 30 for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’ are held on September 11, 2019. The court acquitted 2 academicians.
The case against Research Assistant Esra Cesur Erdem from Middle East Technical University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 is held on September 11, 2019. The court decided to send the case to Ankara Heavy Penal Court on the grounds of lack of venue decision.
The separate cases against 2 academicians (Professor Ayse Berkman from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and Lecturer Chris Stephenson from Bilgi University) for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 36 are held on September 11, 2019. The court adjourned both trials to September 12, 2019.
The case against Assist. Professor Ilker Gökhan Sen from Anadolu University for the same reason on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 13 is held on September 11, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to December 5, 2019.
The cases against 11 academicians (Assoc. Professor Yildirim Sentürk from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Lecturer Özlem Köseoglu, Yörük Kurtaran and Assoc. Professor Bülent Bilmez from Bilgi University, Professor Ali Çeliksöz from Cumhuriyet University, Assist. Professor Hilal Alkan Zeybek from 29 Mayis University, Assist. Professor Kasim Akbas from Anadolu University, Professor Onur Hamzaoglu from Kocaeli University, Research Assistant Asena Pala from Artuklu University, T.E.K. from Pennsylvania University and Professor Erhan Ünlü from Dicle University) on Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 is resulted in acquittal as a preceding judgment of the court on September 11, 2019.
Former Co-Mayor on Trial…
The case against Sara Kaya, former co-mayor of Nusaybin district of Mardin, is held on Mardin Heavy Penal Court No 4 on September 11, 2019. Sara Kaya joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system.The court decided to continue detention of Sara Kaya and adjourned the trial to November 6, 2019.
Austrian Journalist on Trial…
The final trial of the case against Austrian Max Zirngast and Social Freedom Party (TÖP) members Mithatcan Türetken and Hatice Göz, on Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 26, is held on September 11, 2019. The court acquitted 3 people decided to release 3 people with a ban on leaving the country and to hold the first hearing on April 11, 2019.
Max Zirngast, Mithatcan Türetken and Hatice Göz were detained in house raids in Ankara and Hatay on September 11, 2018 and all were arrested on September 21, 2018.The court accepted the indictment against them on December 24, 2018 and released 3 people on scheduling order.
Journalist on Trial in Diyarbakir…
The trial of the case against Evrensel newspaper columnist Yusuf Karatas, for his activities within Democratic Society Congress (DTK) is held on Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 9 on September 11, 2019. The court rejected to lift the ban on leaving the country and adjourned the trial to December 25, 2019.
The trial of the case against journalist Aysegül Dogan, for her interviews with Democratic Society Congress (DTK) executives and the events she attended, is held on Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court No 9 on September 11, 2019. The court adjourned the trial to December 25, 2019.
Journalist on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against journalist Ugur Dündar, on the grounds of insulting Binali Yildirim, AKP’s Izmir MP back then, in a column he published on April 5, 2014, is held on Istanbul Küçükçekmece Penal Court of First Instance No 2 on September 11, 2019. The court sentenced Ugur Dündar to 11 months and 20 days and then converted the jail sentence to the obligation to read books, articles and dissertations related to “crimes against honour” in university libraries for at least 2 hours a week during 5 months and 25 days.
Serzan Kurt Case…
The retrial of the case against retired police officer Gültekin Sahin, who was sentenced to 16 years for shooting university student Serzan Kurt to death on May 19, 2010, is held on Eskisehir Heavy Penal Court No 1 on September 11, 2019. The Supreme Court has reversed the 16-years’ sentence earlier. The court sentenced Gültekin Sahin to 12 years on the charge of “aggravated injury on account of its consequences” and then reduced it to 7 years and 6 months on the grounds of unjust provocation and good conduct.
Çorlu Train Crash Case…
The case against 4 officials of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) about the train crash on July 8, 2018, in Çorlu district of Tekirdag where 25 people died and 328 people got wounded, is held on Çorlu Heavy Penal Court No 1 on September10 and 11, 2019. 4 officials of TCDD on trial are: Turgut Kurt, railway maintenance manager at TCDD Regional Directorate No 1 Halkali Railway Maintenance Directorate No 14; Özkan Polat, railway maintenance and repair chief at Çerkezköy Maintenance and Repair, Celaleddin Çabuk, line maintenance and repair official at Railway Maintenance Directorate and Çetin Yildirim, chief in charge of bridges who has signed the annual inspection report issued on May 2018.
The indictment demands jail sentence from 2 years to 15 years for defendants on the charge of ‘reckless killing and injury’. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to December 10, 2019.
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