MESOPOTAMIA NEWS COMPLETE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT TURKEY MARCH 2020 (BY IHD)
As a part of precautions for Covid19 pandemic. Ministry of Health declared that 9 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 289 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on March 22, 2020. The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 30 and total number of confirmed cases is 1236 as of March 22, 2020.
24 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/236) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2020 that, 24 prisoners in Maltepe Prisons No 1 and 2 were transferred to Afyon Prison (16 prisoners) and to Bandırma T Type Prisons No 1 and 2 (8 prisoners) on March 9, 2020. It is reported that prisoners who reject strip search at the entrance of prison were subjected to physical violence of the wardens. It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2020 that, number of prisoners in Bandırma T Type Prison No 1 is above capacity and as a result of this some prisoners sleep on the floors; social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners are restricted; and the food given to prisoners is not sufficient and hygienic. It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2020 that, prisoners in Ağrı Patnos L Type Prison are not given cleaning supplies, cologne, face masks and disinfectants despite of Covid-19 pandemic; and prisons demanding these material were responded as “You could buy them from prison commissary”. It is stated in the news reports that prisoners cannot buy these material since they are high priced in prison commissary. It is learned from the news coverage of March 23, 2020 that, prisoners in Rize Kalkandere L Type Prison are not given cleaning supplies, cologne, face masks and disinfectants. (03/237) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara… The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1231 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human
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Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 23, 2020 at 13.30 ant at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence. (03/238) Police Intervention Against a Protest in Istanbul… The police intervened the sit-in protest at Bakırköy Square on March 23, 2020 of Nursel Tanrıverdi who rally for 157 weeks to regain her job from which she had been dismissed by state of emergency decree, and detained her by using physical violence. Nursel Tanrıverdi is released on the same day. (03/239) Police Intervention to a Protest in Batman… The police intervened people gathering in front of Batman Municipality building to protest trustee appointment to municipality on March 23, 2020 and detained 16 people including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Ömer Kulplu and Fatma Ablay by using physical violence. (03/240) Detained Co-Mayors… On March 23, 2020, 8 co-mayors from HDP, who were suspended by Ministry of Interior are detained. Detained co-mayors: Batman Co-Mayor Mehmet Demir, Ergani district Co-Mayor Ahmet Kaya in Diyarbakır, Eğil district Co-Mayor Mustafa Akkul in Diyarbakır, Lice district Co-Mayor Tarık Mercan in Diyarbakır, Silvan district Co-Mayor Naşide Toprak in Diyarbakır; Güroymak district CoMayor Hikmet Taşdemir in Bitlis, Halfeli town Co-Mayor Hasan Safa in Iğdır, Gökçebağ town CoMayor Serhat Çiçek in Siirt. (03/241) Detained Co-Mayor in Diyarbakır… Belgin Diken, HDP co-mayor of Yenişehir district of Diyarbakır is detained on March 23, 2020 in Diyarbakır. Belgin Diken is released by the court on judicial control conditions on March 24, 2020. Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Yenişehir district on November 13, 2019. (03/242) Detained Journalist in Istanbul… Net News Agency reporter Necdet Özsaygın is detained while he was following the press declaration of Nursel Tanrıverdi, who rally to regain her job from which she had been dismissed by state of emergency decree at Özgürlük Square in Bakırköy district of Istanbul on March 23, 2020. It is learned that Necdet Özsaygın was detained for he is over 65 years old, and that he was released with a penalty fine of 3,150 Turkish Liras. (03/243) Detained Newspaper Distributor in Batman… Serhat Bayık, a distributor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper is detained in house raid in Batman on March 23, 2020. It is learned that Serhat Bayık’s computer was seized after his house was searched. (03/244) Detained ESP Executive in Ankara… It is learned that Talip Ali Talipoğlu, Ankara provincial executive of Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) is detained while he was hanging the banner saying “Capitalism kills socialism keeps alive. It is time to strike to live” in Kızılay, Ankara on March 23, 2020. (03/245) Detained People in Bingöl… 3 people (Mehmet Morsümbül [67], Sidar Serinyel and Mazlum Serinyel) who were detained on the grounds of a denouncement, in house raids in Gözeler village of Bingöl’s central district on March 21, 2020, are released after statement procedures at Bingöl Gendarmerie Command on March 23, 2020. (03/246) Detained People for Social Media Posts… On March 23, 2020, 31 people are detained in Adana, on the grounds of ‘inciting fear and panic among people’ and ‘inciting hatred and hostility among people’ in social media posts on Covid-19 pandemic. Ministry of Interior declared that number of detained people for social media posts on Covid-19 pandemic is 316 as of March 23, 2020. (03/247) Covid-19 Pandemic… Ministry of Health declared that 7 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 293 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on March 23, 2020. The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 37 and total number of confirmed cases is 1529 as of March 23, 2020. (03/248) Curfew in Bitlis… Bitlis Governorate made an announced on March 23, 2020 and declared curfew in 16 village of
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central district of Bitlis as of 20.00 on March 23, 2020, until further notice. Villages under curfew are: Çobansuyu, Aşağıçobansuyu, Akgün, Kutlu, Güllüce, Dikme, Aşağıdikme, Esenburun, Kınalı, Uçankuş, Yarönü, Dursun, Aşağıyolak, Yukarıyolak, Aşağıkoçak, Çeltikli. (03/249) Trustees Appointed to Eight HDP Municipalities… It is learned that Mehmet Demir, HDP co-mayor of Batman is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020 and a trustee is appointed to Batman Municipality. It is learned that Ahmet Kaya, HDP co-mayor of Ergani district of Diyarbakır is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Ergani deputy sub-governor Abdulselam Öztürk is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Mustafa Akkul, HDP co-mayor of Eğil district of Diyarbakır is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Eğil sub-governor İdris Arslan is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Tarık Mercan, HDP co-mayor of Lice district of Diyarbakır is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Lice sub-governor Cevdet Bakkal is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Naşide Toprak, HDP co-mayor of Silvan district of Diyarbakır is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Silvan sub-governor Mehmet Uslu is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Hikmet Taşdemir, HDP co-mayor of Güroymak district of Bitlis is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Güroymak sub-governor Muhammet Furkan Sancaktutar is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Hasan Safa, HDP co-mayor of Halfeli town of Iğdır is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Karakoyunlu sub-governor Lütfullah Göktaş is appointed as trustee. It is learned that Serhat Çiçek, HDP co-mayor of Gökçebağ town of Siirt is suspended by Ministry of Interior on March 23, 2020, and Kurtalan sub-governor İhsan Emre Aydın is appointed as trustee. With this last appointments, the number of trustees appointed since local elections on March 31, 2019, raised up to 37 including 3 metropolitan cities and 2 cities.
25 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/250) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison… It is learned from the news coverage of March 24, 2020 that, prisoners in Kandıra F Type Prison are not given cleaning supplies, cologne, face masks and disinfectants despite of Covid-19 pandemic. It is learned from the news coverage of March 24, 2020 that, cleaning supplies of Ali Gülmez, a prisoner kept in solitary cell in Bolu F Type Prison, are seized. (03/251) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara… The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1232 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 24, 2020 at 13.30 ant at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence. (03/252) Detained Co-Mayors… Mustafa Akkul, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) co-mayor of Eğil district of Diyarbakır who was detained on March 23, 2020 is arrested by the court on March 24, 2020. Ministry of Interior has suspended Mustafa Akkul and appointed a trustee to Eğil Municipality on March 23, 2020. Ahmet Kaya, HDP co-mayor of Ergani district of Diyarbakır who was detained on the same day is released on judicial control conditions on March 24, 2020; Tarık Mercan, HDP co-mayor of Lice district and Naşide Toprak, HDP co-mayor of Silvan district of Diyarbakır who were also detained on the same day are released on house confinement on March 24, 2020. (03/253) Detained HDP Members and Other People in Siirt… On March 24, 2020, 7 people including HDP members are detained in house raids in Siirt. The reason of detention is unknown. Detained people are: Leyla Özalp, İbrahim Ekinci, Metin Ekinci, Berxwedan Dayan, Keşti Dayan, Ferhat Dayan and Kadri Dayan. (03/254) Detained Person in Mersin… On March 24, 2020, a person named F. Y. is detained in a house raid in Mersin. The reason of
detention is unknown. (03/255) Investigation Against Chair of Chamber of Medicine in Van… Özgür Deniz Değer, chair of Van and Hakkari Chamber of Medicine, gave his official statement at Van Security Directorate on March 24, 2020, through the investigation against him for an interview he gave on Covid-19 pandemic and the risk at prisons. (03/256) Investigation Against a Person in Diyarbakır… Hülya Oruç, wife of arrested journalist Aziz Oruç, gave her official statement to Diyarbakır Security Directorate on March 24, 2020 through the investigation against her for social media posts on Covid-19 pandemic. (03/257) Covid-19 Pandemic… Ministry of Health declared that 7 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 343 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on March 24, 2020. The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 44 and total number of confirmed cases is 1872 as of March 24, 2020.
26 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/258) Operations and Attacks in Southeast… It is learned that 2 soldiers (İsmail Karataş and Onur Karakaya) died and 2 soldiers got wounded in a clash between HPG militants and Turkish Armed Forces units in “Operation Claw 3”, in Haftanin area of Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government on March 25, 2020. (03/259) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison… It is claimed in the news coverage of March 25, 2020 that, a prisoner in Ankara Sincan L Type Prison No 2 was tested positive for Covid-19. It is learned from the news coverage of March 25, 2020 that prisoners in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 1 are not given cleaning supplies, cologne, face masks and disinfectants despite of Covid-19 pandemic. It is learned from the news coverage of March 25, 2020 that in Van High Security Prison, only 2 boxes of disinfectants per 100 prisoners are given. (03/260) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara… The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1233 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 25, 2020 at 13.30 ant at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence. (03/261) Detained City Council Members, HDP Members, TJA Activists and Other People in Batman… 2 of 9 people who were detained on March 23, 2020 in Batman are arrested by the court on March 25, 2020. Arrested people are: TJA (Free Women’s Movement) activists Siyajin Yıldırım and Emine Erden. 7 people are released: Batman deputy co-mayor Şehriban Aydın, citiy council members Mehmet Salih Çetinkaya, Şükran Çelebi, singer Adil Arslan, actor Abdullah Tarhan, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly members Evin Can and Semanur Can. (03/262) Detained Newspaper Distributor in Batman… Serhat Bayık, a distributor of Yeni Yaşam newspaper who was detained in house raid in Batman on March 23, 2020 is released on judicial control conditions on March 25, 2020. (03/263) Detained People in Ankara for Social Media Posts… On March 25, 2020, 1 person is detained in Ankara, on the grounds of ‘inciting fear and panic among people’ by social media posts on Covid-19 pandemic. Ministry of Interior declared that number of detained people for social media posts on Covid-19 pandemic is 410 as of March 25, 2020. (03/264) People on Trial in Mersin… The final trial of the case against 40 students of Mersin University, for protesting a commemoration at campus for Nihal Atsız on March 11, 2015; is held at Mersin Heavy Penal Court No 2 on March 25,
- The court sentenced 22 students to 6 years and 8 months each for ‘participating in disguise in meetings and demonstrations which becomes propaganda for an illegal organisation’. The court sentenced 11 students to 3 years and 8 months each for ‘not to disperse despite of warnings’, ‘resisting to police’ and ‘participating in meetings and demonstrations with injuring tools such as clubs, stones and bottles’. The court acquitted 7 people. (03/265) Investigation Against Parliamentary Member… People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu announced via social media that a prisoner in Ankara Sincan L Type Prison No 2 was tested positive for Covid-19. Ankara Public Prosecutor’s Office made a declaration and denied it; and initiated an investigation against Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu for ‘inciting fear and panic among people’. (03/266) Covid-19 Pandemic… Ministry of Health declared that 15 people died due to Covid-19 pandemic and 561 new Covid-19 cases were diagnosed on March 25, 2020. The death toll from Covid-19 in Turkey increased to 75 and total number of confirmed cases is 2433 as of March 25, 2020. (03/267) Ban of Events in Siirt and Batman… Siirt Governorate made a declaration on March 25, 2020 and announced that, in accordance with “recommendations of Coronavirus Science Board of Ministry of Health to prevent spread of Covid19 in Turkey”, all open events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, delivering leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned for 30 days as of March 26, 2020, until April 24, 2020. Batman Governorate made a declaration on March 25, 2020 and announced that, “in order to provide national security and protect public order”, all open events such as demonstrations, press declarations, meetings, sit-ins, opening stands and tents, delivering leaflets, hanging banners and so on are banned as of March 26, 2020, until April 9, 2020.
27 March 2020 Daily Human Rights Report
(03/268) Non-Prosecution on Torture and Ill-Treatment Allegation in Prison… It is learned from the news coverage of March 26, 2020 that, Silivri Public Prosecutor’s Office decided non-prosecution on the official complaint about physical violence that Barış Pehlivan, Oda TV website executive editor was subjected at Silivri Prison after he was arrested on March 6, 2020. (03/269) Police Intervention Against “I Want My Job Back” Protest in Ankara… The police intervened the press declarations of public labourers who had been dismissed by a state of emergency decree and have been struggling 1234 days to regain their jobs, in front of Human Rights Monument in Yüksel Street on March 26, 2020 at 13.30 ant at 18.00, and forced people away from the monument by using physical violence. (03/270) Prevention of a Protest in Batman… The police prevented the press declaration at a park near Batman Courthouse on March 26, 2020, after release of Batman co-mayors Mehmet Demir and Songül Korkmaz on judicial control conditions. Batman co-mayors Mehmet Demir and Songül Korkmaz were detained on March 23, 2020. 03/271) Detained Co-Mayors in Batman… Batman co-mayors Mehmet Demir and Songül Korkmaz who were detained on March 23, 2020, are released by the court on judicial control conditions on March 26, 2020. Ministry of Interior has appointed a trustee to Batman Municipality on March 23, 2020. (03/272) Journalists on Trial in Istanbul… The first trial of the case against Mezopotamya News Agency reporters Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser, on the grounds of ‘being an illegal organisation member’, is held at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court No 22 on March 26, 2020. Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser joined the trial via sound and vision system.
After defence and witness hearings the court released Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser on judicial control conditions and adjourned the trial to October 15, 2020. Sadık Topaloğlu and Sadiye Eser were detained on November 29, 2019 and were arrested by the court on December 2, 2019.