Person Died in Prison…: It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, Sıtkı Bektaş an ill prisoner kept in Tekirdağ F Type Prison, had gastric bleeding and lost his life at Edirne Public Hospital.
Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison… : It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, the meals given to prisoners in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 1 were not hygienic and have extraneous material in them; Yeni Yaşam and Evrensel newspapers were not given to prisoners although prisoners pay for them via their accounts; and prisoners who wrote letters to Human Rights Association (IHD) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) about the right violations were subjected to disciplinary proceedings which result in prevention of family visits. It is also stated in the news reports that prisoners were not given disinfectants to be protected from Covid-19 pandemic, and they were given only 3 face masks for a month; wardens who enter the wards for search and roll-calls due not wear gloves and face masks and do not follow social distance rules.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, 4 prisoners including Kars city co-mayor Şevin Alaca who was suspended, were transferred from Kars Prison to Diyarbakır Women’s Prison (Şevin Alaca, Medya Tagay and Şengül Erkmen) and to Erzurum Oltu T Type Prison (Hazal Agdeva) under coercion.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that in Çorum L Type Prison the heating was run at very low degrees in wards, the broken radiators were not repaired, and the petitions of prisoners were not put into process.
It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, the meals given to prisoners in Manisa T Type Prison were of poor quality, and some prisoners have to sleep on the floor because of overcapacity.
Rejection to Meeting Request with Abdullah Öcalan…: It is learned that the appeal made on November 11, 2020 to chief public prosecutor’s office in Bursa by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers in order to visit their client was rejected the same day on the grounds of the ban for Abdullah Öcalan which prevents lawyer visits for 6 months.
HDP Member Assaulted in Mersin…: It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, Şiyar Özdemir, a member of HDP was assaulted by 3 unidentified people in Akdeniz district of Mersin on November 9, 2020. It is learned that Şiyar Özdemir will make a criminal complaint to Mersin Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Şiyar Özdemir stated the following: “When I came home from work around 9 p.m. a black car pulled over in front of me in the street I live. One of the passengers called me over. When I went to them he asked ‘Are you Şiyar Özdemir?’, and I said ‘Yes, and who are you?’. They got off the car and said ‘We will show you who we are’. Then 3 people started to beat me. I tried to get rid of them and screamed for help. When I scream, one of them choked my throat and dragged me into the back seat of the car. He continued to beat me in the car. They said ‘What are you doing in HDP? It is going to end bad for you if you keep going there. We don’t want to see you around the party again’ and threatened me.”
Police Intervention to Workers’ Protest in Istanbul…: The police intervened the sit in protest of Bimeks workers at Boğaziçi University campus on November 10, 2020 and detained 4 people by using physical violence. It is learned that the police also prevented journalist from recording the protest. Bimeks workers who were dismissed without being paid wages and compensation, wanted to protest Vedat Akgiray, owner of the company, who also lectures at the university.
Police Intervention to a Protest in Istanbul…: It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, the police intervened the members of Furkan Foundation who held a press declaration at Saraçhane Park in Istanbul on November 8, 2020, to announce acquittal of Alpaslan Kuytul, founder president of the foundation. The police detained 40 people by using physical violence, the detainees were released on the same day.
Detained HDP Executive in Bingöl…: HDP Party Assembly member Murat Aydın who was detained on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’ on November 10, 2020 in Bingöl, is released after statement procedures at the police on November 11, 2020.
Arrested Person in Antalya…: It is learned from the news coverage of November 11, 2020 that, İsmail Demirbaş, who was detained for his expressions in a street interview in Antalya, was released on house confinement conditions by the court. It is reported that İsmail Demirbaş went to the courthouse on November 1, 2020 to appeal the house confinement verdict of the court, was arrested. İsmail Demirbaş was detained for another street interview on October 24, 2020 and was released on judicial control conditions.
Journalist on Trial in Ankara…: The final trial of the case against Sözcü newspaper’s columnist Yılmaz Özdil, for his expressions about Hulusi Akar, the Minister of National Defence, is held at Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 3 on November 9, 2020. Yılmaz Özdil has said “I would not even go for a walk with Hulusi Akar, let alone going into a war” during a television programme that he attended. The court sentenced Yılmaz Özdil to 5 months on the charge of ‘publicly affront or deriding’ and deferred the announcement of the verdict.
Rosa Women’s Association Member on Trial in Diyarbakır…: The final trial of the case against Narin Gezgör, a founder member of Rosa Women’s Association, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on November 11, 2020. The court sentenced Narin Gezgör to 7 years and 6 months on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’.Narin Gezgör was detained on May 22, 2020 and was arrested by the court on May 24, 2020. At the first trial held on September 4, 2020, Narin Gezgör was released on judicial control conditions.
The trial of the case against Sevim Coşkun, a member of Rosa Women’s Association, is held at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 9 on November 11, 2020. The indictment demands jail sentence from 7 years to 15 years for Sevim Coşkun on the charge of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, for activities and demonstrations she participated in. Sevim Coşkun joined the trial from prison via sound and vision system. The court decided to continue detention of Sevim Coşkun and adjourned the trial to December 23, 2020. Sevim Coşkun was detained on May 22, 2020 and was arrested by the court on May 24, 2020.
ESP and SGDF Members and Journalist on Trial…: The trial of the case against 23 people including Etkin News Agency reporter Adil Demirci, the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) member Mesut Çeki and Socialist Youth Associations’ Federation (SGDF) central executive board member Özge Doğan, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 25 on November 11, 2020. After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to March 17, 2021.
People on Trial for Attending Funeral of İbrahim Gökçek…: Grup Yorum band member İbrahim Gökçek who was on death fast to demand an end to pressures and bans on Grup Yorum, has lost his life on May 7, 2020, after ending the death fast. The first trial of the case against 5 people (Cemil Kurt, Bahar Ertürk, Dilan Ekin, Sevda Kurban, Tuğçe Tayyar) who were arrested for attending to İbrahim Gökçek’s funeral, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 32 on November 11, 2020. After defence hearings the court released 5 people and adjourned the trial.
Covid-19 Pandemic…: The Ministry of Health declared that 86 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 2,693 new Covid-19 ill patients were diagnosed on November 11, 2020. The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 11,145 and total number of confirmed ill patients is 402,053 as of November 11, 2020.
| General Remarks: Incidents mentioned in the reports of the documentation centre of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey remain allegations until they are verified by research and become elements of the balance sheets. The Documentation Centre of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT) prepares the daily human rights reports on the basis of reports in the media (newspapers, Internet portals…) and information from the network that the HRFT has established. The sources of information include: Akşam, Zaman, Yeni Şafak, Vatan, Star, Sabah, Radikal, Milliyet, Hürriyet, Evrensel, Birgün, Cumhuriyet, Vakit, Fırat News Agency, Atılım, Gündem, Ntvmsnbc.com, Bianet.org, İndymedia.org, Sesonline.net, Gazetem.net, Haber7.com, Yeni Özgür Politika, Libre News Agency, Halkinsesi.tv, Cnnturk, Alinteri, Kızılbayrak, Taraf, Günlük. Evren Özer – Barış Karacasu |