Human Rights Foundation of Turkey Documentation Center – 07/09 September Report
Operations and Attacks in Southeast…
It is learned that Special Operations Chief of Mardin Security Directorate died and 1 village guard was wounded in a clash between security forces and HPG militants in rural areas of Mardin’s Ömerli district on September 7, 2019.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 4, 2019 that, a military operation was launched in Sulakdere and Duygulu rural neighbourhoods of Mardin’s Ömerli district and Büyükkardes and Küçükkardes rural neighbourhoods of Nusaybin district after a curfew was announced covering these areas; and that a forest fire broke out in rural areas of Ömerli district after the operation.
Suicide Attempt in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 6, 2019 that, Mecrun Akkoyunlu, a prisoner in Bolu F Type Prison attempted to kill himself by drug overdose. Mecrun Akkoyunlu’s family is among the families who is holding a sit-in protest in front of People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakir office, claiming that their children have gone missing. It is reported that Mecrun Akkoyunlu was put in a solitary cell after his medical treatment in Bolu Public Hospital was completed.
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
On September 7, 2019, a letter from prisoners stating right violations they are subjected to in Patnos L Type Prison is covered by media. According to the letter, prisoners are not given newspapers for a year; their radios are seized; their social, cultural and sport rights are limited; they are subjected to verbal and physical violence of the wardens; their personal belongings are being scattered around during searches; tap water is dirty and smelly; prisoners are not given hot water and their petitions and applications are not called.
Association of Lawyers for Freedom members in Mersin have visited political prisoners in Kayseri Bünyan Women’s Prison and stated the details on their visit on news reports on September 7, 2019. According to their statements political prisoners were assaulted by other prisoners 2 times within the last 3 months and prison administration made no move about these assaults. It is also reported that prisoners were not given Yeni Yasam newspaper and Jineoloji magazine.
Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…
It is learned that the appeal made on September 6, 2019 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s sister and brother and tutelary along with the families of Hamili Yildirim, Ömer Hayri Konar and Veysel Aktas in order to visit, was rejected the same day on the grounds of limitations for prisoners in accordance with the Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures Number 5275.
Police Interventions and Preventions Against Protests After Appointment of Trustees to Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van…
8 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Mamak district co-chair who were delivering leaflets about appointment of trustees to Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van in Mamak district of Ankara on September 8, 2019, are detained by the police. It is learned that the detainees were released on the same day after statement procedures. It is reported detainees were given a fine of 250 Turkish Liras each. The names of detainees are: HDP Mamak district co-chair Nasihat Varli, Dilan Karaer, Adem Bucagi, Hüseyin Çelik, Celal Atas, Muhammed Batur, Ercan Özbey, Kazim Coskun.
On September 8, 2019, leaflets and stickers printed by HDP Batman related to trustee appointments, is seized by the police getting inside the provincial office, by the verdict of prosecutor’s office.
On September 8, 2019, leaflets and stickers printed by HDP related to trustee appointments, is seized by the police getting inside HDP Izmir office, by the verdict of Izmir Public Prosecutor’s Office. It is reported that prosecutor’s verdict is based on the decision of Mardin Penal Court of Peace No 2.
It is learned from the news coverage of September 8, 2019 that, the car of HDP’s Kayapinar district co-chair in Diyarbakir was stopped by the police and the leaflets and stickers found in the car (which were about trustee appointments) were seized.
The police intervened HDP members having a protest in Beylikdüzü district of Istanbul on September 8, 2019 and detained 9 people including HDP Avcilar district co-chair. It is learned that detainees were released on the same day after statement procedures. The names of detainees: HDP Avcilar district co-chair Mahmut Cakan, Murat Cakan, Metin Dag, Alattin Duygun, Ali Çakil, Mustafa Duman, Mevlut Çaliskan, Mevlüt Yalpazoglu and Hüsnü Tas.
On September 7, 2019, the banner hung at HDP’s Mersin office, saying “Trustee Appointments Are Seizure of Political Will, People’s Will Constitute the Basis” is removed by the police based on the ban of governorate.
7 people including Lice co-mayors Tarik Mercan and Ruken Yilmaz, Diyarbakir city council members Sevim Coskun and Sehriban Zohurli who were detained in the police intervention against the human chain in Baglar district of Diyarbakir on September 5, 2019, are released on September 6, 2019 after statement procedures.
3 people (Seyri Sokak reporter Oktay Ince, Ahmet Tugaç and Aziz Benli) who were detained by the police intervening the press declaration in front of Türkan Saylan Cultural Center in Izmir on September 5, 2019, are released on September 6, 2019 after statement procedures.
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 1034 days to regain their jobs, intended to be held in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on September 6, 7, and 8, 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 6, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Acun Karadag) and at 18.00 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Sahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 7, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Sahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Acun Karadag and Alev Sahin) were detained.
It was reported that during police intervention against the press declaration which was planned to be held at 13.30 on September 8, 2019, 2 people (Mehmet Dersulu and Alev Sahin) and at 18.00 2 people (Nazan Bozkurt and Merve Demirel) were detained.
Thus in total 12 people were detained due to press declaration intended to be held in Yüksel Street on September 6, 7, and 8, 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 754th time on September 7, 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 389th time by Human Rights Association (IHD) Istanbul Branch Prison Watch Committee, to demand release of ill prisoners, on September 7, 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.
Detained City Council Members and Political Party Executive in Urfa…
16 people including city council members Fatma Tas Ekmez and Suphi Koçyigit and HDP executive Vahit Akgün, who were detained in house raids in Urfa on August 29, 2019; are released on September 6, 2019, provided that 11 of them are on judicial control conditions.
Detained HDP Youth Assembly Member in Mersin…
On September 6, 2019, 10 people inducing HDP Youth Assembly members are detained in house raids in Mersin.
CHP Executive on Trial in Istanbul…
The final trial of the case against Republican People’s Party (HDP) Istanbul chair Canan Kaftancioglu, for her social media posts, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 37 on September 6, 2019.
The court sentenced Canan Kaftancioglu to 2 years and 8 months for ‘publicly inciting hatred and hostility among people’; 1 year and 6 months for ‘making propaganda for an illegal organisation’; 2 years and 4 months for ‘insulting the President’; 1 year and 8 months for ‘publicly degrading Turkish Republic’; 1 year 6 months and 20 days for ‘insulting a public officer due to his duty’ which makes in total 9 years 8 months and 20 days. It is learned that the court did not reduce any of the sentences.
The Cases Against Academics Who Are the Signatories of the Petition “We will not be a party to this crime!”…
The case against Research Assistant Özlem Sendeniz from Igdir 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’ is held on September 6, 2019. The court acquitted Özlem Sendeniz.
Gendarmerie Personnel on Trial for “Excessive Use of Force”…
Ali Ihsan Opçin, Abdulsamet Opçin, Ayhan Opçin and Tuncay Opçin who were detained in operations in villages of Diyarbakir’s Hani district, after a police officer dies in a clash nearby on December 17, 2018; were subjected to torture and ill-treatment which was evidenced by medical reports. It is learned from the news coverage pf September 7, 2019 that, the indictment of District Prosecutor’s Office which demands jail sentence from 6 months to 1 year for gendarmerie personnel Hasan Hüseyin Y., Mevlüd T. and Murat S., on the charge of “excessive use of force”, is accepted by Hani Penal Court of First Instance.
Detentions and Arrests in Alleged Link to Coup Attempt…
2 people who were detained in a house raid in Istanbul on August 27, 2019, are arrested by the court on September 6, 2019. 1 person who was also detained through the same investigation is released on judicial control conditions. On September 7, 2019, a former prosecutor is detained on a warrant in Balikesir.
Curfew in Ömerli…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on September 7, 2019 to announce curfew in 2 rural neighbourhoods of Ömerli district as of 14.00 on September 7, 2019, until a further notice. The neighbourhoods under curfew are: Sulakdere and Duygulu.
Curfew in Nusaybin…
Mardin Governorate made a declaration on September 7, 2019 to announce curfew in 2 rural neighbourhoods of Nusaybin district as of 14.00 on September 7, 2019, until a further notice. The neighbourhoods under curfew are: Büyükkardes and Küçükkardes.
Labor Killings…
On September 7, 2019, Worker Health and Worker Safety Council (ISIG) revealed that at least 148 workers including 14 children, 12 women, and 11 asylum seekers died while working in August, 2019. According to ISIG data at least 1174 workers died due to labor killings/labor accidents within the first 8 months of 2019.
Ban of Event in Mardin…
It is learned from the news coverage of September 6, 2019 that, concert and other events organized for opening of a municipality facility in Derik district of Mardin, is banned on the grounds of Mardin Governorate’s interdict of events.
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