COMPLETE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON TURKEY – FEB 2014 HRFT

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (HRFT/TIHV) – February 2014

01-04 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/001) Investigation into the death of Ali İsmail Korkmaz…

Ali İsmail Korkmaz’ın (19) had participated in the protests against the police attacks on the actions concerning the Gezi Park in Istanbul in Eskişehir on 3 June 2013, when he was beaten on his way home by unknown people with sticks. He died on 10 July 2013. At the end of the investigation eight people were indicted, five of them were put in pre-trial detention, while three police officers were indicted but not imprisoned. Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 2 accepted the indictment, but asked Eskişehir Governor Güngör Azim Tuna whether the case could be heard in Eskişehir. The governor argued that Ali İsmail Korkmaz had been injured during protest actions and had died in hospital. Marginal and illegal organizations had made his death propaganda material so that judges and prosecutors could be influenced. Therefore, the case should be heard elsewhere. Earlier the governor had maintained that Ali İsmail Korkmaz might have been beaten by his friends.

The case was about to start on 20 November 2013, when the Court of Cassation No 5 decided on 12 November 2013 that it should be heard in Kayseri. The trial started at Kayseri Heavy Penal Court No 3 on 3 February 2014.

It emerged that 2000 police officers, two TOMA (armoured water cannon designed for riot control) and one helicopter had been placed in town before the hearing. The security forces that had gathered made it difficult for people that had come from towns nearby to observe the hearing to enter the city.

The hearing that started in the morning lasted for 14 hours. During this time the defendants testified on how they killed Ali İsmail Korkmaz and answered questions of the lawyers.

The police officer Mevlüt Saldoğan accused of having caused the death of Ali İsmail Korkmaz by kicking him, maintained that the person they had followed had not been him. Mevlüt Saldoğan said that he had warned a person cursing at him and asked him to go away. He had touched the person’s head with his foot.

One of the civilian defendants Ebubekir Harlar said that he had stepped in front of the person the police wanted to catch. He had not known that they would deadly beat him. İsmail Koyuncu said that he had not intervened. He had helped people in need. Actually he was the victim. At the end of the hearing the court rejected the demand to arrest the police officer Yalçın Akbulut, but prolonged the arrest of the defendants in pre-trial detention and adjourned the hearing to 12 May 2014.

(02/002) Verdict in trial on violence at police school…

On 1 January 2011 it had emerged that in 2007 deputy commissioner at the Rüştü Ünsal Police High School in Buca-Izmir, A.Ç., had beaten two students because they had come late to their education. Another student had filmed the incident with his mobile and sent it to his friends. Although the administration made all students delete all images on mobiles, the case became public, because one student had sent it to a friend outside school.

At the end of the investigation A.Ç. and the then school director had been put on trial. On 3 February 2014 it was learned that the trial had ended. Izmir Peace Court had sentenced A.Ç. to 10 months and the then school director to 2 months and 15 days’ imprisonment. Yet, the judge decided to postpone the declaration of the verdict for five years.

(02/003) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 2 February 2014 it was learned that Adnan Yalçın (52) imprisoned in Diyarbakır D Type Prison had been treated at Diyarbakır Education and Research Hospital because of colon cancer. He had been discharged and sent back to prison.

(02/004) Ill prisoner released…

Rear Admiral Cem Aziz Çakmak imprisoned in Silivri (İstanbul) L Type Prison in connection with the sledgehammer case and certified to be suffering from lung cancer was temporarily released on 1 February 2014 for six months as demanded by the prosecution according to the report of the Forensic Institute.

(02/005) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

Kemal Alemdaroğlu (75), former rector of Istanbul University, who had been sentenced to 15 years, 8 months’ imprisonment in the Ergenekon trial had to be taken to hospital on 1 February 2014 after he became worse during a visit of his wife. It was learned that Kemal Alemdaroğlu had been suffering from health problems for two weeks and had fever not lower than 40 degrees.

(02/006) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 1 February 2014 it was learned that two heart valves of Fatma Tokmak imprisoned in Bakırköy (İstanbul) Womens’ Prison were not working and that the risk of death would increase, if she had an operation.

(02/007) Person on trial…

On 1 February 2014 it was learned that the case against N. Mehmet Güler, writer of the book “The KCK trial/Global State and Kurds without a State”, published by Belge Publishing House, on trial for being a leading member of an illegal organization had continued.

The book had been confiscated after the first book exhibition in Diyarbakır and a court case had been opened at Van Heavy Penal Court No. 6. During the hearing N. Mehmet Güler testified. The court adjourned the hearing to 3 March 2014 for the prosecutor to prepare his final statement.

(02/008) Intervention to the protest in İstanbul Province and the case against the demonstrators…

On 18 February 2013 Lawyers of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Liberal Lawyers Association (ÖHD) who had objected against the pre-trial detention of nine lawyers who had been detained on 21 January 2013 and then had launched a sit-in strike in Çağlayan Courthouse, made a public statement and hanged a placard. During the police intervention with batons and gas bombs seven lawyers had been wounded and five lawyers had been detained.

The investigation that started on complaint of a police officer against the detained lawyers Erman Öztürk, Arman Yılmaz, Muhittin Köylüoğlu, Özgür Esen and Halil Kocabaş was finalized on 5 March 2013.

On 3 February 2014 the case against four lawyers for whom the prosecutor demanded up to 9 years of imprisonment on charges of “opposing to the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” and “resisting public officers due to his duty” and the demand of up to 17 years of imprisonment for Lawyer Muhittin Köylüoğlu on the same charges plus “insulting officers” continued at Istanbul Penal Court 36.

At the hearing the judge heard the testimony of the lawyers and the complaining police officer and adjourned the hearing to listen to the testimony of the police officers who made a protocol of the incident.

(02/009) Intervention in a demonstration in Istanbul…

On 1 February 2014 ten people were detained under beatings at Galatasaray Square (Istanbul) when they wanted to draw attention to the fate of Berkin Elvan (15), still in intensive care after he had been hit by a gas bomb during the Gezi Park actions.

(02/010) Intervention in a demonstration in Istanbul…

On 3 February 2014 five people were detained under beatings at Taksim Square (Istanbul) when they wanted to draw attention to the fate of Berkin Elvan (15), still in intensive care after he had been hit by a gas bomb during the Gezi Park actions.

(02/011) House raids in Van…

On 30 January 2014 police officers of the department to fight terrorism conducted house raids in Van and detained 12 juveniles. Two of them were arrested on 1 February 2014 for having participated in actions on various dates.

(02/012) Continuing KCK/TM main trial in Diyarbakır…

On 3 February 2014 the trial of 175 defendants, 96 in pre-trial detention and 19 on the run charged with membership and activities for Koma Ciwaken Kurdistan (Union of Kurdish Communities) KCK/TM (Turkey Assembly KCK/TM) continued. During the hearing at Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 6 stated that in the future they would not testify to a court with special authorities. The lawyers withdrew from the hearing. The court had a break to decide on the release of former mayor of Viranşehir, Emrullah Cin and Siracettin Irmak and adjourned the hearing to 14 April 2014.

(02/013) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with a Molotov cocktail on the BDP office in Elazığ on 1 February 2014.

On 1 February 2014 unknown people attacked the election offices of the BDP in Erzurum-Çat district. They broke the windows pulled down the nameplate and sprayed the Turkish flag on the wall.

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with a Molotov cocktail on the election office of the Free Case Party (HÜDA-PAR) in Van-Çaldıran district on 2 February 2014.

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack of unknown people with a Molotov cocktail on the election office of the BDP in Mersin-Arpaç town on 2 February 2014.

(02/014) Industrial accident in Erzurum…

On 3 February 2014 an explosion occurred in the building of a distribution company in Erzurum when people tried to heat up a frozen vehicle. The worker S.A. lost his life and four workers were injured.

 

05 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/015) Trial on extra-judicial execution in Mardin…

Yusuf Akın (38) had been killed and Mehmet Eren (48) wounded by fire of a military unit in the rural parts of Heybeli Village of Nusaybin District in Mardin Province on 20 December 2011 on suspicion that they were HPG militants. Following the investigation the prosecutor indicted five soldiers demanding up to three years’ imprisonment for “homicide with negligence”.

The trial against the soldiers B.Y., K.E.O., Ş.T., Y.T.K. and D.G. that started after the indictment had been accepted continued in 4 February 2014. During the hearing at Mardin Heavy Penal Court 1 the intervening lawyers demanded that an on-site inspection should be carried out. The court rejected the demand to arrest the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 1 April 2014 to decide on the other demand.

(02/016) Continuing trial into extra-judicial execution in Diyarbakır…

Following a clash in Bingöl- Solhan district on 24 December 1991 a funeral was held in Diyarbakır-Kulp district for killed PKK members. As a result of fire by soldiers on the crowd seven people had been killed and two people had been injured.

On 4 February 2014 it was learned that the prosecution’s office in Kulp had finalized its investigation that lasted for 22 years. A final note concerning 37 officers and sergeants had been sent to the office of the chief prosecution in Diyarbakır, but because of a decision for confidentiality details could not be established.

(02/017) The trial on the Lice massacre and the killing of Bahtiyar Aydın…

Fourteen people and one soldier had been killed in the incident in Lice District of Diyarbakır Province on 22 October 1993. The then Gendarmerie Regional Commander General Bahtiyar Aydın had gone to the district to evaluate the situation in the place of incident and was killed in the garden of the gendarmerie station by a bullet of unknown people. On the day when the case was about to be closed for lapse of time Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 8 had accepted the indictment.

On 16 January 2014 the defence lawyers had demanded that the case be heard at another place because of security and on 28 January 2014 the 5th Chamber of the Court of Cassation had decided that the trial should continue in Eskişehir. On 4 February 2014 it was learned that Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court 1 will hear the case.

(02/018) The file of Ethem Sarısülük…

On 5 February 2014 it was learned that the administrative investigation against the police officer Ahmet Şahbaz accused of having shot dead Ethem Sarısülük during an action on Gezi Park in Ankara on 1 June 2013 had resulted in a decision to stop his professional promotion for 24 months. The High Disciplinary Council of the General Directorate for Security had approved the decision.

(02/019) Excavation work in Diyarbakır…

The family of Mahmut Topdemir, a PKK militant who had lost his life in a clash in the rural areas of Diyarbakır-Dicle district Şilbeytan (Çavlu) village in 1996, had applied to the Human Rights Association (HRA). As a consequence excavation works for carried out on 3 February 2014 at the place where he was believed to have been buried under observation of the prosecution’s office in Dicle. At the end of the excavation some bone and stuff were found. The bones were sent to Ankara Forensic Institute for a DNA test.

(02/020) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

Istanbul Forensic Institute had issued a report on the prisoner Salih Tuğrul (57) who had suffered a heart attack, was partly paralysed and had lost his reflexes and memory due to a cerebral hemorrhage that he could not care for himself. However on 26 November 2013 Siirt Police HQ had argued that Salih Tuğrul imprisoned in Metris (İstanbul) R Type Prison that he was “dangerous for society”. Accordingly the court had rejected to release Salih Tuğrul. It was learned that the health of Salih Tuğrul now imprisoned in Siirt E Type Prison had deteriorated and he had been taken to the hospital of Dicle University Medical Faculty.

(02/021) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 5 February 2014 it was learned that Mukaddes Çelik and Zeliha Belge imprisoned in Oltu (Erzurum) T Type Prison were taken to Oltu State Hospital because of health problems but were not treated and taken back to prison when the physician refused to treat them while being handcuffed.

(02/022) Writer on trial…

On 4 February 2014 the trial against Nihat Behram, because in one of his articles in the newspaper Yurt he had called the deputy chief of police in Istanbul, responsible for the “fight against terrorism”, Sedat Selim Ay a torturer, continued.

At the hearing in Istanbul Criminal Court 2, where Nihat Behram is charged with slander and insult the judge decided that the testimony of Nihat Behram be taken by another judge, since Nihat Behram is living abroad, and adjourned the hearing to 1 April 2014.

(02/023) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 4 February 2014 it was learned that an indictment had been prepared against the lawyer Mehmet Ümit Erdem and Osman Zeki Erdoğan because they had participated in a protest meeting at the Anadolu Courthouse in Istanbul on 4 June 2013 in support of the actions for Gezi Park. Anadolu Criminal Court 15 accepted the indictment against two people charged with violating Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations demanding imprisonment. The trial will commence on 6 March 2014.

(02/024) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 4 February 2014 it was learned that an indictment had been prepared against 26 people because they had participated in a protest meeting at Taksim Square in Istanbul on 8 July 2013 in support of the actions for Gezi Park. If Istanbul Criminal Court 33 accepts the indictment against 26 people charged with violating Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and the demand for imprisonment the trial will commence in the forthcoming days.

(02/025) Intervention in a demonstration in Izmir…

On 4 February 2014 members of the Platform for Sustainable Life wanted to stage a protest against the wind power plant to be established in İzmir-Çeşme district when the police intervened and detained four members.

(02/026) Siirt KCK trial continued…

On 4 February 2014 the trial against 27 people, eight of them in pre-trial detention who had been detained in Siirt-Kurtalan district in 2011 as part of the KCK investigations continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 5 heard the testimony of the defendants, decided to release Berivan Yasak and Umut Oral and adjourned the hearing to 15 April 2014.

(02/027) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

On 5 February 2014 unknown person/s opened fire on the house of Mehmet Ali Gez, candidate for the local parliament in Yalova province for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). One person was detained in connection with the attack.

 

06 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/028) Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Case…

Anadolu Heavy Penal Court No 8 continued on 5 February 2014 to hear the case against Mehmet Görkem Demirbaş (19) and Cengiz Aktaş launched in connection with the killing of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş (21). On 2 June 2013, the defendants drove their car into the crowd during a Gezi Park demonstration in Ümraniye district in İstanbul and caused the death of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş.

The court did not allow the persons to enter the courtroom, the police intervened the family of Mehmet Ayvalıtaş and supporters of the family by using tear gas and plastic bullets. Relying on the incident outside the courthouse, the court adjourned the hearing to 21 May 2014 without starting to hear the case.

(02/029) Bomb Attack Trial in İzmir…

İzmir Heavy Penal Court No 12 continued on 4 February 2014 to hear the case launched in connection with the bomb attack against a military vehicle on 9 August 2012 nearby Foça district of İzmir. The court took the testimonies of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 6 March 2014 for the preparation of the defence. The court also ruled the continuation of the arrest of the defendants.

An armed clash had taken place after the attack in 2012, 2 soldiers had died and 12 soldiers had been wounded. Freedom Hawks of Kürdistan (TAK) took responsibility for the attack. 8 persons were detained during operations conducted after the incident. One of the detainees was released, 7 of them were arrested.

(02/030) Conditions of Prisoners…

According to the news appeared on the press on 5 February 2014, Kemal Gömi who is suffering from schizophrenia and having 10 medical reports certifying his condition is still kept in Metris (İstanbul) R-type Prison. He was also given a medical report by Forensic Institute certifying that he could not stay in prison.

(02/031) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared on the press on 5 February 2014, a fax by Ali Haydar Saygılı incarcerated in Tekirdağ F-type Prison No 1 was confiscated by the prison administration on the allegations that it was correspondence among illegal organisation members. The fax was about the pressures in the prison and wanted to be sent to İsmail Saymaz who is a journalist with daily Radikal.

(02/032) News Agency Director on Trial…

On 5 February 2014, İstanbul Penal Court of First Instance No 48 started to hear the case against Goncagül Telek, director in charge of the news agency ETHA, on charges of slander and insult. The court suspended the trial relying on the Law on Supervised Release. An investigation had been started upon complaint of Sedat Selim Ay, who had been appointed in 2012 as Vice-Director of the Security Forces responsible with Anti-Terror branch, when ETHA released news on the torture allegation related to Sedat Selim Ay in 1990s.

(02/033) Gezi Park Trials…

18 members of Socialist Party of Oppressed (ESP) who were arrested after the operations conducted on 18 June 2013 for supporting Gezi Park demonstrations were released on 5 February 2014 upon objection of their lawyers. There remained no one under arrest in connection with these operations and the indictment was not prepared yet.

(02/034) Local Elections…

During a quarrel between the supports of AKP and BDP on 5 February 2014 in Diyarbakır, 2 supporters of BDP were wounded.

On 4 February 2014, the premises of BDP in Antalya were attacked by an unidentified person. The person reportedly sketched 3 crescents and wrote “a Turk” beneath.

On 4 February 2014, Molotov cocktails were thrown into the premises of HÜDA-PAR in Bağlar district of Diyarbakır. The attack caused material damage.

(02/035) KCK Trial in Diyarbakır…

On 5 February 2014, Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court No 7 started to hear the re-trial of KCK case. The court released 3 remanded defendants and adjourned the hearing.

On 5 April 2012, the police conducted operations in Karlıova district and Bingöl in connection with a “KCK Investigation” and detained Karlıova Mayor Ferit Çelik, Karlıova District Assembly Member Ahmet Demirbaş, BDP Executive Abdullah Solmaz. The detainees were arrested by the court on the allegations of “aiding and abetting an illegal organisation”.

On 10 December 2012, the court sentenced the defendants to 8 years and 9 months’ imprisonment for “aiding an illegal organisation on purpose and intestinally though not being a member of the organisation”. But 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of the Cassation quashed the verdict.

(02/036) House Raids…

On 5 February 2014, the police conducted house raids in Cizre district of Şırnak and detained 4 persons. The reason of the raids was not disclosed.

(02/037) Work Accident in Yozgat…

When a tunnel construction for high-speed train collapsed in Akmağdeni district of Yozgat on 5 February 2014, Hüseyin Al (23) died and 3 workers were wounded.

(02/038) Work Accident in Ağrı…

Kemal Kir was heavily wounded on 5 February 2014 when a power distribution unit exploded. Kemal Kir was a subcontracted worker for the electricity distribution company Aras Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. working in Iğdır and Ağrı.

 

07 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/039) Impunity on investigation into case of police brutality…

On 9 September 2013 the anti-riot police attacked a demonstration in Ankara-Mamak district, Tuzluçayır quarter against a joined project of Fethullah Gülen and the honourable President of the Cem Foundation, İzzettin Doğan on establishing a mosque-cemevi-soup kitchen and threatened and attacked the reporters of the daily Evrensel Hasan Akbaş and Hayat newspaper, Birkan Bulut who observed the protest from the building site. On 6 February 2014 it was learned that the prosecutor had decided to drop the case.

(02/040) Excavation work in Diyarbakır…

During excavation work in Diyarbakır in the garden of the General Galip Deniz Barracks six graves and bones of human beings were found on 6 February 2014.

(02/041) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 6 February 2014 the case against five people, three of them in pre-trial detention, who had participated in a support demonstration in Antalya for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty started. Antalya Heavy Penal Court 5 heard the testimony of the defendants, ordered the release of the defendants Murat Sezgin, Mustafa Cihan Yılmaz and Ayşe Deniz Karacagil and adjourned the hearing to a later date.

(02/042) Persons acquitted…

On 6 February 2014 the case against 49 people continued. On 4 October 2012 they had protested in front of the AKP office in Çanakkale against the motion on Syria. The court acquitted the defendants who had been charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.

(02/043) Persons acquitted…

On 4 October 2010 there was an attempt to protest the meeting of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the directors in his office in Istanbul Dolmabahçe Palace. On 6 February 2014 it was learned that the case against 10 people who wanted to travel from Ankara to Istanbul for this purpose and had been attacked by the police in Tuzla had ended. Anadolu Penal Court 20 acquitted the 10 people being charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.

(02/044) People on Trial…

On 6 February 2014 the case against seven people charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations because they had been three hours late to inform on the ForumFest organization to be held on 15 September 2013 under the name of “Come in September”. The related penal court in Anadolu heard the testimony of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 27 February 2014.

(02/045) KCK Trial in Mardin continued…

On 6 February 2014 Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Code 5 continued to hear the case of 22 defendants, seven of them in pre-trial detention. They had been detained in Mardin on charges of being members of Koma Ciwaken Kurdistan (Union of Kurdish Communities) KCK/TM (Turkey Assembly).

The court heard the testimony of the 22 defendants charged with membership of an illegal organization in Kurdish and decided to release the pre-trial detainees Musa Alkan, Ercan Güneş, Ayşe Bozan, Davut Bozan, İrfan Dinç, Nazım Tık and Abdulkadir Aktaş before it adjourned the hearing.

(02/046) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with arms and Molotov cocktails on the election office of the MHP in Istanbul-Şişli district, Okmeydanı quarter on 6 February 2014.

During the election work of Sebgetullah Seydaoğlu, candidate to become mayor in Yenişehir quarter of Diyarbakır there was an attempt of attack with a döner knife on 6 February 2014.

On 6 February 2014 unknown people cause material damage to the election office of the MDP on Konya-Karatay district.

(02/047) People on Trial…

On 5 February 2014 against 25 people, 14 of them in pre-trial detention who had been detained during police operations in Mardin-Nusaybin district in 2012 against members of the Patriotic Democratic Youth Parliament continued. During the hearing Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 7 heard the final statement of the prosecution, ordered the release of Tekoşin Burca, Zınar Çakır and Vedat Er and adjourned the hearing to 7 April 2014.

(02/048) Attack on office of an association…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack by unknown people on the People’s House in Istanbul-Kâğıthane district, Gültepe quarter on 5 February 2014.

 

08-10 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/049) Police officers on trial for incidents in Diyarbakır…

An investigation was demanded against the police officers B.Ö., H.A. and N.Ö. from the special operations’ department charged with having caused the death of Enes Ata (8) during the incidents in Diyarbakır on 28 March 2006 when 14 died and 400 people were injured. The governor of Diyarbakır had rejected the demand on 25 July 2012 maintaining that the perpetrators were unknown. The regional administrative court in Diyarbakır heard the objection against this decision on 4 December 2012. This had become public on 14 February 2013.

On 7 February 2014 it was learned that Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 1 had accepted the indictment that the prosecution had prepared afterwards and that demanded aggravated life imprisonment and 25 years’ imprisonment for the police officers. The case had been combined with another case against the same suspects charged in the Mahsum Mızrak file.

(02/050) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 7 February 2014 was learned that the Forensic Institute issued a report on Halil Güneş, imprisoned in Diyarbakır D-Type Prison, who had been diagnosed bone cancer partly with the effect of having been in prison for 21 years, arguing that he could stay in prison, because the cancer had been stopped and the oxygen in his body had turned normal.

(02/051) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 7 February 2014 Malatya Heavy Penal Court 3 ordered the release of Mehmet Şanlı, suffering from a heart disease and sight problems for whom the Forensic Institute had stated that there were no objections against him to stay in prison.

(02/052) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 9 February 2014 it was learned that Mahmut Bilgiç, imprisoned in Bandırma (Balıkesir) T-Type Prison who had undergone an operation for a slipped disc partly as an effect of being imprisoned for 22 years has difficulties in walking on his own.

(02/053) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 8 February 2014 it was learned that seven investigations against 238 people because they had participated in protest meetings in Kocaeli in support of the actions for Gezi Park had been combined. Kocaeli Penal Court 4 accepted the indictment demanding terms of imprisonment for the defendants for a violation of Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, damaging public property and resisting officials and shall start the trial on 2 June 2014.

(02/054) Intervention in an action against the Internet Law in Istanbul…

On 8 February 2014 the police intervened with plastic bullets, gas bombs and water cannons when a group of people tried to protest the legal provision that left gave full control and authority on access to the Internet to the Presidency for Telecommunication Transmission on Taksim Square in Istanbul. The intervention continued through the night and at least 30 people including one baby were affected by the gas bombs or injured and 10 people were detained.

(02/055) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 7 February 2014 the case against 13 people who had been arrested in Izmir on 9 July 2013 because they had participated in protest meetings in support of the actions for Gezi Park started. The 13 people are being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty. Izmir Heavy Penal Court 8 heard the testimony of the defendants, ordered the release of Serdar Gür, Abdullah Yüksel, Erol Özdemir, Soner İnan and Yunus Kızıltaş and the continuation of arrest for the remaining defendants and adjourned the hearing.

(02/056) House raids in Hakkâri…

Of the three people the police officers of the department to fight terrorism had detained during house raids in Hakkâri-Yüksekova district on 8 February 2014 Ömer Çetinkaya was arrested on 9 February 2014 on charges of having recruited members for an illegal organization.

(02/057) House raids in Diyarbakır…

Of the six people the police officers of the department to fight terrorism had detained during house raids in Diyarbakır-Ergani district on 7 February 2014 Nurullah Kara, Abbas Akhatun and Şadi Yaman were arrested on 9 February 2014 on charges of having made propaganda for an illegal organization.

(02/058) House raids in Şırnak…

Of the four people teams for special operations had detained during house raids in Şırnak-Cizre district on 5 February 2014 Kahraman Aktay (20) was arrested on 8 February 2014 for being a member of an illegal organization.

(02/059) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with Molotov cocktails on the election office of the MHP in İstanbul-Beyoğlu district on 8 February 2014.

(02/060) Industrial accident in Kocaeli…

Two workers were seriously wounded when chemicals leaked at their working place in Kocaeli-Dilovası district on 7 February 2014.

 

11 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/061) Trial on bomb attack in Hatay…

On 10 February 2014 the trial against 33 defendants, two of them from Syria related to two bomb explosions in Hatay-Reyhanlı district on 11 May 2013 started. On that day one bomb had exploded in a car parked in front of the municipality and another one in a car 600 meters away within 10 minutes resulted in the death of 52 people and injuries of 130 people. Adana Heavy Penal Court 10 noted the identities of the defendants, heard their testimony, decided to prolong their arrest, asked for the file on Utku Kalı and adjourned the hearing to 13 May 2014.

(02/062) The case of Ethem Sarısülük…

At the end of the investigation against the police officer Ahmet Şahbaz, accused of having shot dead Ethem Sarısülük during Gezi Park actions in Ankara on 1 June 2013 Ankara Heavy Penal Court 6 had sent back the indictment to Ankara Prosecutor’s Office, since the necessary permission to try him had not been obtained. The prosecutor’s office had rejected this demand arguing that the act of killing was not part of the duty and authority of the police. On 19 July 2013 Ankara Heavy Penal Court 7 had decided that the objection was correct and lifted the decision to stop the prosecution.

On 2 December 2013 Ankara Heavy Penal Court 6 had subsequently continued to hear the case of the police officer Ahmet Şahbaz who was not in pre-trial detention. At this hearing the court’s jury had decided that it was not impartial in this case and according to Article 30/2 of the Code of Criminal Procedures (CMK) 30/2 should withdraw from the case. This decision had been rejected by Ankara Heavy Penal Court 7 and also the Ministry of Justice so that the court’s jury decided to continue hearing the case on 7 April 2014.

(02/063) Concluded case of hate killing in Diyarbakır…

On 10 February 2014 the trial against the father of Roşin Çiçek (17), Metin Çiçek and his uncles Şeyhmus Çiçek and Mehmet Alican Çiçek continued. They are tried for killing him in Diyarbakır in June 2012, for him being homosexual. During the final hearing Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 3 heard the final words of the defendants and sentenced Metin Çiçek to aggravated life imprisonment, Mehmet Alican Çiçek and Şeyhmus Çiçek to life imprisonment.

(02/064) Death in Prison…

On 10 February 2014 it was learned that İmam Avcı (48) who had been arrested on 12 January 2014 on charges of injuring someone and had been taken to Adıyaman E-Type Prison had committed suicide on 16 January 2014 by hanging himself with his bed sheet.

(02/065) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 10 February 2014 it was learned that the Forensic Institute had issued two reports on Ali Ekber Oruç imprisoned for 22 years and being held in Ümraniye (Istanbul) T-Type Prison that he can stay in prison although fellow inmates are looking after the paralysed man and, therefore, the execution of his sentence had not been postponed.

(02/066) Person acquitted …

At the end of an investigation against 13 people including Mehmet Bekaroğlu, chair of the HAS Party for Istanbul province for having participated in an environmental protest in Rize-Fındıklı district on 25 August 2011 a court case had been opened. Another case was prepared against Mehmet Bekaroğlu in connection with the press conference he held on the trial and he was charged with trying to influence the judiciary and insulting a civil servant because of his duty. On 7 February 2014 Fındıklı Penal Court held the final hearing in this case and acquitted Mehmet Bekaroğlu stating that his speech contained heavy criticism.

(02/067) People on Trial…

At the ceremony on the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Adana on 10 November 2013 nine out of 10 people who had protested the governor Hüseyin Avni Coş had been fined 186 TL according to the Law on Delinquency on 11 November 2013. During the protests it had been recorded by cameras that Hüseyin Avni Coş called the protesters “twat”. On complaint of the governor a trial was initiated against three people for having insulted a civil servant because of his duty. On 10 February 2014 it was learned that the trial will commence at Adana Peace Court 8 in the forthcoming days.

(02/068) People on Trial…

On 21 October 2013 police teams had intervened with pepper gas in Ankara when a group of people protested against workers of the municipality in Ankara who on 18 October 2013 had cut trees in the area of the Middle East Technical University and had detained three people. On 11 February 2014 it was learned that an indictment had been prepared against the three people.

The indictment accused the protester with having formed a chain giving plants from one to another and having hindered trucks to pass, thus having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, resisted civil servants to do their duty and having hindered public institutions from performing their duty and demanded terms of imprisonment of 14 years and 6 months. If the indictment is accepted the trial with start at the responsible penal court in the forthcoming days.

(02/069) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 10 February 2014 the trial against eight people who had been detained during house raids in Erzincan following support actions of the actions for Gezi Parkm and had been arrested on 27 June 2013 for being members of the TKP/ML-Conference Organization started. Erzurum Heavy Penal Court 4 took the identity and heard the testimony of the defendants, ordered the release of Çetin Kirsiz, reporter of the journal Özgür Gelecek and the readers Can Koçak, Dağlar Delen, Mukamet Çelik, Özgün Kaya, Özcan Kaya, Ali Sağlık and Ahmet Doğan and adjourned the hearing.

(02/070) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 4 February 2014 it was learned that an indictment had been prepared against 26 people, including representatives of the group “Taksim Solidarity”, because they had participated in a protest meeting at Taksim Square in Istanbul on 8 July 2013 in support of the actions for Gezi Park. Istanbul Criminal Court 33 did not accept the indictment against 26 people charged with violating Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and resisting the anti-riot police with the demand for imprisonment stating that the accusations and complainants were unclear and sent to the indictment back to the prosecutor’s office.

(02/071) Intervention in a demonstration in Istanbul…

On 10 February 2014 six people were detained under beatings at Taksim Square (Istanbul) when they wanted to draw attention to the fate of Berkin Elvan (15), still in intensive care after he had been hit by a gas bomb during the Gezi Park actions.

(02/072) Attack on protest demonstration in Rize…

On 10 February 2014 three villagers were detained when they protested against the hydroelectricity plant to be established in Andon Crek near Rize-Küçükçayır village and were attacked by private security officers of the subcontractor and the gendarmerie.

(02/073) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with stone on the office of BDP in Van-Edremit district on 10 February 2014.

In Istanbul-Beşiktaş district a group of AKP followers who wanted to carry out election activities was hindered by another group that wanted to stage an action on the fate of Berkin Elvan, still in intensive care after he had been hit by a gas bomb during the Gezi Park actions. When the discussions turned into a brawl police teams detained 12 people including two minors from the group that had gathered for Berkin Elvan.

 

12 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/074) The case of the murder of Hrant Dink…

On 2 June 2011 Trabzon Peace Court No. 2 had passed its verdict in the case against mayor Ali Öz, captains Metin Yıldız, the lieutenants Gazi Günay and Hüseyin Yılmaz and the sergeants Hacı Ömer Ünalır and Önder Araz in connection with the murder of Hrant Dink charged under Article 257/2 of the Turkish Penal Code with “negligence of duty”. At the end of the hearing Major Ali Öz, commander of the gendarmerie in Trabzon province and Captain Metin Yıldız had been sentenced to six months and the lieutenants Hüseyin Yılmaz, Hacı Ömer Ünalır, Okan Şimşek and sergeant Veysal Şahin had been sentenced to four months’ imprisonment.

While the trial was continuing the study of the Ministry of Justice had resulted in a second trial under the same charges at Trabzon Heavy Penal Court 1. However the court rejected the case that there could not be two cases on the same accusation. The lawyers of the Dink family had appealed and Penal Chamber 5 of the Court of Cassation had lifted the decision of Trabzon Heavy Penal Court. On 11 February 2014 the case against Ali Öz continued at Trabzon Heavy Penal Court 1. The court decided to wait for the appeal on the case at Trabzon Peace Court 2 where Ali Öz had been convicted and adjourned the hearing.

(02/075) The trial on the Lice massacre and the killing of Bahtiyar Aydın…

Fourteen people and one soldier had been killed in the incident in Lice District of Diyarbakır Province on 22 October 1993. The then Gendarmerie Regional Commander General Bahtiyar Aydın had gone to the district to evaluate the situation in the place of incident and was killed in the garden of the gendarmerie station by a bullet of unknown people. On the day when the case was about to be closed for lapse of time Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 8 had accepted the indictment.

On 16 January 2014 the lawyers of the defendants had demanded that the case be heard at another place because of security and on 28 January 2014 the 5th Chamber of the Court of Cassation had decided that the trial should continue in Eskişehir. On 11 February 2014 Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court 1 heard the case and decided to send the file back to the 5th Chamber of Court of Cassation, since it was no court with special authority.

(02/076) Ongoing trial on operation in prison…

On 19 December 2000 the “Return to Life Operation” had been conducted in 20 prisons resulting in the killing of 32 people. In connection with the death of seven prisoners in Ümraniye Prison (Istanbul) 399 prisoners had been indicted with staging an uprising against the administration, possession of explosives and injuring people. On 1 February 2014 Anadolu Heavy Penal Court 5 continued to hear the case. The court took the demands of the defence lawyers and adjourned the hearing to 14 April 2014 asking that the defendants be present to make their final statements.

(02/077) Posters confiscated…

On 11 February 2014 the judges’ office 2 in Diyarbakır established under Article 10 of the Anti-Terror Law ordered the confiscation of posters prepared by the BDP in Diyarbakır showing a photograph of Abdullah Öcalan.

(02/078) Human rights activist on trial…

Penal Chamber 9 of the Court of Cassation had quashed the verdict against lawyer Eren Keskin on a speech she had held in Istanbul-Çekerzeköy district in 2005 and had been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for having insulted Turkishness. On 11 February 2014 it was learned that after this decision the then Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin had allowed in 2011 to try Eren Keskin according to Article 301.

(02/279) Person Convicted…

On 11 February 2014 the final hearing was held against E.Y. (21) accused of having made propaganda for an illegal organization when he shouted slogans during Workers’ Day in Antalya on 1 May 2013. Antalya Heavy Penal Court 5 sentenced E.Y. to 10 months’ imprisonment, but postponed the declaration of the verdict because the defendant had no previous record.

(02/080) Persons Convicted…

On 11 February 2014 the trial Eskişehir against 17 people who in 2011 had participated in an action against the compulsory health insurance of the People’s Houses and had been charged with insulting the Prime Minister concluded. Eskişehir Peace Court 4 heard the final words of the defendants and sentenced three people to one, 14 people to two years’ imprisonment for having insulted a public servant because of his duty according to Article 125 TPC.

(02/081) Intervention to action in Ankara…

On 11 February 2014 police teams attacked with pepper gas and truncheons in Yüksel Caddesi members of the Platform to Struggle against Isolation who wanted to march to the Ministry of Justice in Ankara and wanted to talk to deputies to draw attention to the situation of relatives of ill prisoners. As a result of the intervention six people were detained under beatings.

(02/082) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 11 February 2014 the case against 54 people who had been arrested in Mersin on 1 June 2013 because they had participated in protest meetings in support of the actions for Gezi Park and had been put on trial after the indictment had been accepted continued. Of the 54 people being charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty Mersin Penal Court sentenced three people to six months’ imprisonment after hearing the testimony of the defendants. The judge postponed the sentence and acquitted the other 51 defendants.

(02/083) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 11 February 2014 Istanbul Penal Court 9 continued to hear the case of 20 people being charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty because they had participated in a support demonstration in Istanbul for the actions on Gezi Park on 7 July 2013. During the hearing the court heard the testimony of the complaining police officers and adjourned the hearing to 14 May 2014 to complete the missing parts of the file.

(02/084) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

On 11 February 2014 unknown people burned the fags that the BP had put up as part of the election activities in Gaziantep 8 February quarter.

Material damage occurred as the result of an armed attack on the election office of the Felicity Party in Kocaeli-Körfez district.

(02/085) Siirt KCK trial continued…

On 10 February 2014 the trial against 18 people, three of them in pre-trial detention who had been detained in Siirt on 8 December 2012 as part of the KCK investigations continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 9 heard the testimony of the defendants prolonged the arrest warrants and adjourned the hearing to 14 April 2014.

(02/086) Case against executives of professional chamber…

On 11 February 2014 it was learned that the Health Ministry had opened a case at Ankara Judicial Court 23 demanding that the board of Ankara Medical Association be dismissed from duty for having established infirmaries for people being injured or having been affected by gas bombs during actions on Gezi Park and having provided voluntary medical help.

(02/087) Alleged suicide of soldier in Siirt…

On 11 February 2014 Yasin Yalabık (20) being registered in Ankara and conducting his military duty in Siirt attempted to commit suicide and as taken to Siirt State Hospital heavily wounded.

 

13 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/088) The case of the murder of Hrant Dink…

On 15 May 2013 the 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation had quashed the verdict that had acquitted 18 defendants in the case of the murder of Hrant Dink from charges of being members of an armed organization on the ground that the formation the defendants belonged to an organization formed in order to commit a crime as proscribed in Article 220 of the Turkish Penal Code (TPC). Thus the defendants had to be retried. On 12 February 2014 Istanbul Heavy Penal Court 14 continued to hear the case. The court heard the testimony of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to 18 April 2014.

(02/089) Torture and Ill-treatment in detention…

On 12 February 2014 it was learned that police teams had detained seven people of the family of Ahmet Atakan (22) who had died in a suspicious manner in Hatay on 9 September 2013 when he fell from the 5th floor of a building, just when the police attacked protesters. The family had organized a presentation on his birthday. The seven people were taken to the police station under beatings and fined them 200 TL under the Law on Delinquency for having put up posters.

(02/090) Ongoing trial on operation in prison…

On 12 February 2014 the court case against 39 soldiers from the Command of the Gendarmerie in Elazığ in connection with the operation “return to life” that had been conducted on 19 December 2000 in 20 prisons aiming at facilitating the transfer to F-type prisons and putting an end to hunger strikes and that had resulted in the death of 32 people, among them 12 prisoners from Bayrampaşa Prison (Istanbul) continued. Bakırköy Heavy Penal Court 13 rejected the demand to listen to the victims and adjourned the hearing to 9 July 2014.

(02/091) Person on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park

On 12 February 2014 the case Kadir Karatel (24), who had participated in a support demonstration in Antalya for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty started. Antalya Penal Court 15 noted the identity of the defendant, took his testimony and announced that Kadir Karatel had to be acquitted.

(02/092) Person on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park

On 12 February 2014 the case Kadim Doğan, who had participated in a support demonstration in Antalya for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty started. Antalya Penal Court 15 noted the identity of the defendant, took his testimony and announced that Kadim Doğan had to be acquitted.

(02/093) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 13 February 2014 it was learned that the case against 23 people, who had participated in a support demonstration in Kırşehir for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations started. On 3 February 2014 Kırşehir Penal Court 2 announced that the defendants had been acquitted without holding a hearing.

(02/094) People on trial in Kocaeli…

Ahmet Atakan (22) had died in a suspicious manner in Hatay on 9 September 2013 when he fell from the 5th floor of a building, just when a scorpion style police car passed the scene of protests that had been attacked the whole night with has bombs, plastic bullets and water cannons. On the same day a protest meeting was held in Kocaeli by the Gezi Park forums. Mesut Yılmaz (20), Emre Akpınar (20) and Adem Süzen (24) had afterwards gone to the Cumhuriyet Park and fallen asleep. On 11 February 2014 a court against them on charged of having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations started. Kocaeli Penal Court 4 noted the identities of the defendants, heard their testimony and announced that they had to be acquitted since a demonstration could only be a crime, if more than seven people had participated.

(02/095) House raids in Şırnak…

On 11 February 2014 teams for special operations conducted house raids in Şırnak-Cizre district and detained two people. No reason was given for the house raids.

(02/096) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Coşkun Demirkol, candidate for the AKP for the parliament in İstanbul-Beylikdüzü district died on 12 February 2014 as the result of an armed attack in front of his election office.

(02/097) Case against executives of professional chamber…

On 13 February 2014 it was learned that the Health Ministry had opened a case demanding that the board of Istanbul Medical Association be dismissed from duty for having established infirmaries for people being injured or having been affected by gas bombs during actions on Gezi Park and having provided voluntary medical help.

 

14 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/098) Killing by unknown assailant in Bingöl…

During an armed attack near Bingöl province, Ilıcalar town, Yukarı Ağaçeli village the temporary village protector Ferhat Tokay (30) lost his life on 13 February 2014.

(02/099) Trial on killing by unknown assailants in Ankara…

On 30 September 1999 Abdülmecit Baskın, the director of Altındağ registration office in Ankara had been kidnapped and killed by unknown people. The main suspect Mehmet Ağar had come to the courthouse in Ankara to testify on 13 February 2014, although the trial was to continue on 19 February 2014. In his statement Mehmet Ağar said, “I don’t know Abdülmecit Baskın. I don’t know who, why and how he was killed.”

(02/100) Deputy acquitted…

The sentence of Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 5 against Diyarbakır deputy Leyla Zana of 10 years’ imprisonment in connection with nine speeches she had held at different dates on charges of being a member of an illegal organization had been quashed two times by the 9th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

These verdicts had been passed for a “lack of evidence”. On 13 February 2014 Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 5 continued the retrial of Leyla Zana. Following the final words of the prosecutor the court decided that Leyla Zana had to be acquitted.

(02/101) People on Trial…

On 13 February 2014 the trial of 8 people who on 3 August 2013 had participated in a protest against the search for gold in Balıkesir-Edremit district Kazdağları mountains and who are charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and having insulted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan started. Edremit Penal Court 2 heard the testimony of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to a later date to complete the missing parts of the file.

(02/102) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 13 February 2014 the case against six members of the People’s Front, five of them in pre-trial detention, who had participated in a support demonstration in Izmir for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and having prevented officers to conduct their duty continued. Izmir Heavy Penal Court 12 heard the testimony of the defendants, ordered the release of the imprisoned defendants and adjourned the hearing to 8 May 2014.

(02/103) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 13 February 2014 the case against five members of the Front for Labour and Freedom, three of them in pre-trial detention, who had participated in a support demonstration in Izmir for the action on Gezi Park in Istanbul and being charged with being members of an illegal organization, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and having prevented officers to conduct their duty continued. Izmir Heavy Penal Court 12 heard the testimony of the defendants, ordered the release of the imprisoned defendants and adjourned the hearing to 8 May 2014.

(02/104) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 13 February 2014 the case against 36 people, seven of them foreigners, who had participated in protest meetings in support of the actions for Gezi Park on 5 August 2013 and therefore had been indicted started. İstanbul Penal Court 26 took the testimony of the defendants who had come and adjourned the hearing, to let defendants who had not come testify. The defendants are being charged with having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, having damaged to public property and resisted officers on duty.

(02/105) Incidents on the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s abduction and handover to Turkey on 15 February 1999…

On 13 February 2014 the police intervened with gas bombs and water cannons against a protest in Van and detained nine people.

In Mardin-Dargeçit district the police intervened in a demonstration and detained four people.

(02/106) Intervention in a demonstration in Istanbul…

On 13 February 2014 the police intervened with gas bombs and water cannons against a protest in İstanbul-Bakırköy district against the 2. Dam Congress and detained one person.

(02/107) Intervention in a demonstration in Ankara…

On 13 February 2014 police teams intervened with gas bombs and coloured water when a group of the Turkish Youth Union had gathered in front of the GNAT to demand the retrial of the Ergenekon and Balyoz trials and protest the long pre-trial detention.

(02/108) KCK trial continued in Diyarbakır…

On 12 February 2014 the trial against 27 people, eight of them in pre-trial detention who had been detained in Diyarbakır-Kayapınar district as part of the KCK investigations because they participated in the lessons at the political academy of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 5 heard the testimony of the defendants and their lawyers, decided to release Kadri Karakaş and Hüseyin Karaman and adjourned the hearing to 24 April 2014.

(02/109) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack of unknown people on the election office of the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) in İzmir-Karabağlar district on 12 February 2014.

(02/110) Industrial accident in Kahramanmaraş…

As the result of an explosion in a paper factory in Kahramanmaraş-Türkoğlu district the worker Murat Doğancı (28) lost his life.

 

15-17 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/111) Reporter beaten by police officers…

Metin Kaplan, reporter of the news agency Dicle declared that police officers from the special operation unit beat him on return from collecting news in Van on 16 February 2014.

(02/112) People beaten by police officers in Şırnak…

On 15 February 2014 police officers from the special operation unit stopped a car in Şırnak-İdil district and beat the five car occupants by calling them terrorists.

(02/113) Death in Prison…

On 10 February 2014 Duran Ali Kütük (21) imprisoned in Yozgat E-Type Prison on ordinary charges was killed by his fellow inmate M.B. by cutting his throat after they had a fight.

(02/114) Prisoner’s protest by setting himself on fire…

On 14 February 2014 Rıdvan Fidan imprisoned in Kürkçüler (Adana) F-Type Prison set himself on fire. Rıdvan Fidan had burn marks to his hands and feet and was sent back to prison after treatment in hospital.

(02/115) Attempted suicide in prison…

On 14 February 2014 Barış Karasu imprisoned in Kürkçüler F-Type Prison attempted to commit suicide by drinking de-scaler and cutting his wrists.

(02/116) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 14 February 2014 it turned out that guardians attacked prisoners in Bolu T-Type Prison who had protested the prison conditions by knocking on their doors and that 10 prisoners had been injured.

(02/117) Prisoner’s protest by setting himself on fire…

On 12 February 2014 Zerdeşt Oduncu imprisoned in Tekirdağ F-Type Prison No. 2 set himself on fire. Burns occurred on the upper part of his body but there was no risk for life.

(02/118) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 14 February 2014 it was learned that Yılmaz Suncak, suffering from thyroid cancer and asthma had been taken from Kırıklar (İzmir) F-Type Prison No. 1 for an operation of his thyroid glance to Atatürk Hospital for Education and Research and had been kept in the prisoners’ ward in the cellar without any treatment.

(02/119) Incidents on the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s abduction in Kenya and handover to Turkey on 15 February 1999…

On 14 February 2014 police teams raided tents that had been erected in Diyarbakır on Batıkent Square and pulled down the posters of Abdullah Öcalan.

On 15 February police teams intervened in a demonstration in Istanbul-Okmeydanı quarter. Cihat Özkan was heavily wounded when he was hit by a gas bomb to his head. After the intervention eight people were detained.

It was alleged that on 15 February 2014 18 people were detained when police teams intervened in demonstrations in Şırnak-Cizre and Silopi district, six people were detained in Batman, four in Diyarbakır, six in Van, seven in Hakkâri, six in Şanlıurfa-Suruç and six people were detained in Siirt. During the intervention in Batman and 18 months old baby was hit by a gas bomb and collapsed and Ömer Erikmen (18) who was hit by the capsule of a gas bomb had to be taken to Diyarbakır. In Cizre Mizgin Tabu from the news agency Jin was hit by a heart object and injured. In Suruç the police officers shot at a group that wanted to stage an action. The child V.Ç. (16) was seriously injured.

Because of the police intervention 10 people were injured in Yüksekova and one person in Bitlis-Tatvan district.

(02/120) Continuing KCK/TM main trial in Istanbul…

On 19 April 2012 the office of the public prosecutor in Istanbul had sent a 2401 page strong indictment on 205 people (23 of them on the run) that had been part of the KCK investigations in 2011 to Istanbul Heavy Penal Court 15 to be accepted.

On 3 April 2014 the trial is to be continued. On 14 February 2014 the court inspected the situation of 77 people and ordered the release of Mehmet Mesut Tanrıkulu (suffering from lymph cancer), Cumali Kaya, Sami Özgen, Ülker Özadikti, Hüseyin Barış, Abdullah Tayboğa and Necmettin Sanamanali.

(02/121 Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

On 16 February 2014 the families of Sakıp Karaoğlu and Ali Bayram Erikçi, candidates to become mayor in Gaziantep-Taşlıca quarter had a fight that resulted in injuries of four people.

On 16 February 2014 unidentified people came to the working place of Sinan Erdem, candidate to become mayor in Istanbul-Maltepe district, Gülsuyu quarter and attacked him with arms. Sinan Erdem was injured by a bullets to his legs and had to be taken to hospital.

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with Molotov cocktails on the election office of the AKP in İstanbul-Bahçelievler district on 15 February 2014.

A right wing group physically attacked people that wanted to participate in the opening of an office for the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) in Istanbul-Sarıyer district.

On 16 February 2014 a vehicle with staff from Hayat TV that followed a convoy in Mersin-Tarsus district for the opening of an office of the BDP was attacked in front of Tarsus Ülkü Ocağı (Idealist Association).

In Zonguldak police teams intervened when a group wanted to stage a protest in front of the election office of the AKP and detained 11 people on 16 February 2014.

In Çanakkale police teams detained eight people on 16 February 2014 on the pretext that they wanted to attacked a stand of the AKP at Kordon Boyu.

On 16 February 2014 Yaşar Topdemir, executive of the BDP in the province went from Diyarbakır-Çermik to Çüngüş district for election activities and was detained by police teams.

In Guzkent village in Kahramanmaraş-Pazarcık district a fight broke out on 14 February 2014 between the relatives of candidates for the post of village headman. The candidate Adem Toktemur died and five people were injured. Five people were detained in connection with the incident.

On 14 February 2014 unknown people attacked the office of the BDP in Kilis, destroyed furniture and put up a Turkish flag.

(02/122) Industrial accident in Istanbul…

On 15 February 2014 a support building for a hotel to be built from two old houses in Istanbul-Şişli district collapsed. Two workers were injured.

(02/123) Workers who lost their lives/were injured in a traffic accident…

On 14 February 2014 a small bus carrying workers from a carpet factory turned over. One worker died and 19 workers were injured, three of them seriously.

 

18 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/124) Ongoing JİTEM Investigation…

It emerged on 18 February 2014 that the military prosecutor of the 7th army corps in Diyarbakır who had started an investigation in 2006 into 26 killings after the book with the confessions of the defector and JİTEM staff member Abdülkadir Aygan had been published had decided not to be responsible since the suspects were members of the military but their crimes wer not of a military nature. In the file that was sent to a civilian prosecutor the victims are named as: “Mehmet Salih Dönen, Zahid Turan, Vedat Aydın, Talat Akyıldız, Harbi Arman, Musa Anter, Hasan Kaya, Metin Can, Mehmet Şen, Necati Aydın, Ramazan Keskin, Mehmet Aydın, Murat Aslan, İdris Yıldırım, Servet Aslan, Edip Aksoy, Mehmet Sıddık Etyemez, Ahmet Ceylan, Şahabettin Latifeci, Abdulkadir Çelikbilek, İhsan Baran, Fehti Yıldırım, Abdulkerim Zuğurli, Zana Zuğurli, İzzettin Acet, Mehmet Emin Kaynar.” The 16 suspects (defectors and soldiers) are: “Tünay Yanardağ (colonel), Aytekin Özen (colonel), Yüksel Uğur (sergeant), Abdulkadir Uğur (sergeant), Nuri Ateş (staff sergeant), Mahmut Yıldırım (civilian staff), Hamit Yıldırım (temporary village guard), Aziz Turan (Abdulkadir Aygan), Fethi Çetin (Fırat Can Eren), Kemal Emlük (Erhan Berak), Ali Ozansoy (Ahmet Turan Altaylı), Hüseyin Tilki (Hüseyin Eren), Sinem Erkal, Selahattin Görgülü, Cemil Işık and Mustafa Deniz.”

(02/125) Death in Prison…

Ersan Kozak (31) imprisoned in Şakran (İzmir) Prison on non political charges died on 1 February 2014 in Atatürk Hospital for Education and Research as the result of pneumonia that he had caught in prison and that he was treated for.

(02/126) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 18 February 2014 it was learned that of the 10 prisoners that guardians had attacked in Bolu T-Type Prison because they had protested the prison conditions by knocking on their doors four were held in “sponge rooms” and six were held in security rooms for 24 hours.

(02/127) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 18 February 2014 it turned out that the name of S.E. who wanted to visit Hüseyin Özarslan, imprisoned in Sincan (Ankara) Prison had been taken from the list on the grounds that Ankara Police HQ had informed the administration that a trial against him was pending.

(02/128) People on Trial…

On 17 February 2014 a trial against 40 people that had been charged by the public prosecutor in Istanbul with denigrating religious feelings of part of the population in headlines of the Internet site Ekşi Sözlük on complaint of Ali Emre Bukağlı continued. Anadolu Peace Court 32 heard the testimony of the defendants including the owner of the site, Sedat Kapanoğlu and adjourned the hearing to complete the testimonies.

(02/129) Incidents on the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s abduction in Kenya and handover to Turkey on 15 February 1999…

Five people, four of them minors, that had been detained in Şırnak-Silopi district on 15 February 2014 were arrested on 17 February 2014 on charges of being members of an illegal organization, possessing explosives, having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations and having resisted police officers.

Of the 12 people that had been detained in Van İsmet Bayram and Mehmet Aşan were arrested on 17 February 2014.

(02/130) Continuing KCK/TM main trial in Istanbul…

Sabriye Orak, on trial at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court 15 as one of 205 defendants (70 of them in pre-trial detention) that had been part of the KCK investigations conducted in Istanbul in 2011, was arrested in Hakkari on 16 February 2014.

(02/131) House raids in Mersin…

Of the six people that had been detained by police officers of the department to fight terrorism in Mersin on 17 February 2014, four were arrested the same day for having carried out illegal actions.

 

19 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/132) People beaten by police officers in Adıyaman…

It emerged that police teams beat A.Y. (35) in Adıyaman-Gölbaşı district on 3 January 2014. A.Y. wanted to file an official complaint at court in Gölbaşı but his petition was rejected. Therefore, he attempted to commit suicide on 18 February 2014. The governor in Gölbaşı talked to A.Y. who had mounted a lighting pole and made him leave the pole.

(02/133) People beaten by police officers in Istanbul…

On 15 February 2014 police teams that carried out a trafic control stopped Kenan Eroğlu in Istanbul-Bayrampaşa district and beat him until he fainted. The images were filmed by a security camera. The victim shared these images with the media on 18 February 2014.

(02/134) Impunity in case of ill-treatment in detention…

On 19 February 2014 it turned out that the prosecutor at Istanbul Heavy Penal Court 10 had decided not to prosecute former director of the department for organized crime at İstanbul Police HQ, Adil Serdar Saçan and seven police officer and the seven police officers Alper Özdemir, Semih Günaydın, Ahmet İhtiyaroğlu, Serdar Akça, Metin Rakipoğlu, Yalçın Işık and Candan Eren suspected of having tortured four people after their detention on 28 February 1997 because the 10 years’ lapse of time had passed.

(02/135) Prisoner’s protest by setting himself on fire…

On 14 February 2014 Halit Özdaşlı (21) imprisoned in Edirne F-Type Prison set himself on fire in protest at the handover of Abdullah Öcalan to Turkey. Heavy burn marks appeared on the body of Halit Özdaşlı. He was taken to Edirne State Hospital and set to sleep in the intensive care unit.

(02/136) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 19 February 2014 it turned out that four prisoners imprisoned in Kepsut (Balıkesir) L-Type Prison on criminal charges are conducting a hunger strike since 42 days to protest the pressure they are imposed to by the representative of their ward, chosen by the administration.

(02/137) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 16 February 2014 a court ordered the release of Halit Tekin (89) being disabled for 87%, held at the infirmary of Diyarbakır E-Type Prison and charged with illegal possession of a firearm his father.

(02/138) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 19 February 2014 it was learned that Mansur Tekin (45) held at Diyarbakır D-Type Prison and having been diagnosed a tumour to his brain was losing sight.

(02/139) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 18 February 2014 it turned out that 46 prisoners had been transferred from Batman M-Type to Van F-Type Prison without having demanded it.

(02/140) Persons Convicted…

The court case against 10 people, two of them in pre-trial detention, who had participated in an activity of the BDP in Bingöl on 23 December 2011 and who were charged with having conducted an action in the name of an illegal organization without being a member of it and having made propaganda for an illegal organization concluded on 18 February 2014. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 4 heard the final words of the defence lawyers and sentenced 10 people to 10 months’ imprisonment for having made propaganda for an illegal organization. The court acquitted the defendants on the other charges and ordered the release of Ömer Bayındır and Emrulah Kaya.

(02/141) People on Trial…

On 18 February 2914 the court case against four people who allegedly insulted the “dictator Erdoğan” in İstanbul-Beşiktaş district when a convoy with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan passed on 25 July 2013 started. Istanbul Heavy Penal Court 15 heard the testimony of the defendants charged under Article 125 TPC and adjourned the hearing to 17 June 2014 to have the images of the scene be inspected by an expert.

(02/142) Hindered Website…

On 19 February 2014 it was learned that the public prosecutor in Ankara had banned access to the Internet site pastebin.com where users can share their files.

(02/143) People on Trial…

On 11 December 2013 eleven students of the Kafkas University in Kars had been arrested because they had participated in a protest on 8 December 2013 at the killing of Mehmet Reşit İşbilir (35) Veysel İşbilir(34) by police officers in Hakkari-Yüksekova district on 6 December 2013. On 18 February 2014 the court case against 35 students, 11 of them in pre-trial detention, charged with having conducted an action in the name of an illegal organization without being a member of it and resisting police officers started. Erzurum Heavy Penal Court 4 noted the identities of the defendants, heard their testimony, ordered the release of the 11 defendants and adjourned the hearing.

(02/144) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 14 February the case against seven trade unionists who had participated in protest meetings in support of the actions for Gezi Park in Sinop on 4 June 2013 and had been charged with having insulted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was heard. Sinop Penal Court 7 heard the testimony of the seven trade unionists charged with having insulted a civil servant on duty and fined Seyfi Çelebi, Uğur Karslı, Derya Kırmızıtoprak, Mustafa Koç, Erkam Kabal, Kayhan Konukçu and Bülent Eroğlu with 7.080 TL.

(02/145) People on Trial…

On 18 February 2014 the court case against 16 people, one of them a US citizen who had protested police brutality in Istanbul-Kadıköy district on 12 September 2013 commenced. Anadolu Penal Court 19 noted the identities of the defendants, heard their testimony on charges of having violated Law 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations, and resisted officers on duty, ordered that one defendant who did not testify be forcibly taken to court and adjourned the hearing.

(02/146) KCK trial continued in Batman…

On 18 February 2014 the trial against 40 people, 18 of them in pre-trial detention who had been indicted after operations as part of the KCK investigations in Batman on 5 February 2012 continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 8 heard the summing up of the prosecutor, ordered the release of Gülistan İnan, Sultan Şaman and Ebedin Satıcı and adjourned the hearing to 24 April 2014.

(02/147) KCK trial continued in Batman…

On 18 February 2014 the trial against 23 people, six of them in pre-trial detention who had been indicted after operations as part of the KCK investigations in Batman on 15 February 2012 continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 8 heard the defence of the defendants, ordered the continuation of pre-trial detention and adjourned the hearing to 17 April 2014.

(02/148) House raids in Hakkâri…

On 17 February 2014 teams for special operations conducted house raids in Hakkâri-Yüksekova district and detained three people. No reason was given for the operation.

(02/149) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

On 18 February 2014 police teams detained five people who had thrown eggs and paint at a truck carrying Barco projectors for the AKP in Istanbul-Kadıköy district.

On 18 February 2014 Mahmut Güç, BDP candidate, İsmail Yılmaz, BDP chair for the district and BDP members of parliament Mustafa Güç and Hüseyin Ağaçcı were attacked in Şanlıurfa-Akçakale district, when they wanted to hand over a list of their members to the election office.

 

20 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/150) Continuing trial on killing by unknown assailants in Muş…

Nine people from the same family -Nasır Öğüt (43), his wife Eşref Öğüt (43), and the children Sevim Öğüt (13), Sevda Öğüt (12), Şakir Öğüt (11), Mehmet Şirin Öğüt (8), Cihat Öğüt, Aycan Öğüt (1), and Cihan Öğüt (4)- had been killed by burning their house on the grounds that they had been helping and harbouring illegal organisation in Korkut District of Muş Province at Altınova town on 17 May 1993. The public prosecutor in Muş had indicted Hasköy Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander Captain B.K., Infantry First-lieutenant H.A., Gökyazı Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander Master Sergeant T.N. and Special Task Force Department vice director demanding 9 times life imprisonment. The case had been sent to Kırıkkale Heavy Penal Court where the trial continued on 19 February 2014. The court heard the defendants that attended the hearing and the lawyers of the families, rejected to arrest the defendants and adjounred the hearing to 28 April 2014.

(02/151) The case of Abdilmecit Baskın killed by unknown assailants…

On 30 September 1999 Abdülmecit Baskın, the director of Altındağ registration office in Ankara had been kidnapped and killed by unknown people. On 20 September 2013 the first investigation into killings by unknown assailants in Ankara in 1999 had started. Ten days before lapse of time the public prosecutor in Ankara authorized under Article 10 of the Ant-Terror Law had finished the indictment concerning the killing of Mecit Baskın and named 12 suspects, with Mehmet Ağar as number one and Korkut Eken as number two. Ankara Heavy Penal Court 13 accepted the indictment and continued the hearing on 19 February 2014.

At the hearing the court hear the lawyers of the victim and adjourned the hearing to 14 April 2014. The other defendants in this trial for whom aggravated life imprisonment has been demanded are: İbrahim Şahin, former director of the department for special operations, and the members of this unit, Ercan Ersoy, Ayhan Çarkın, Ziya Bandırmalıoğlu, Ayhan Akça, Seyfettin Lap, Alper Tekdemir, Uğur Şahin, Ayhan Özkan and Ahmet Demirel.

(02/152) Impunity in concluded case of torture…

On 19 February 2014 the court case against the police officer Süleyman Esirger charged with having chained Cüneyt Uslu in the tunnel of the stadium in Istanbul-Kadıköy district after the match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray and having beaten him on 12 May 2012, an offence for which up to 12 years, six months’ imprisonment had been demanded, concluded on 19 February 2014. Anadolu Penal Court 7 sentenced Süleyman Esirger charged with intentional bodily harm, insult and threatening to one year, 10 months and 15 days’ imprisonment and suspended the execution of the sentence.

(02/153) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

For the former director of the İnönü University in Malatya, Fatih Hilmioğlu (60) serving a sentence of 23 years’ imprisonment in a concluded Ergenekon case, suffering from liver cancer and being held at Silivri (Istanbul) F-Type Prison 2 since 17 April 2009, the medical faculty at Istanbul University had issued a report that he could not stay in prison. On 20 February 2014 the Constitutional Court reviewed the petition of Fatih Hilmioğlu and decided to release him.

(02/154) People on Trial…

At the ceremony on the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Adana on 10 November 2013 nine out of 10 people who had protested the governor Hüseyin Avni Coş had been fined 186 TL according to the Law on Delinquency on 11 November 2013. During the protests it had been recorded by cameras that Hüseyin Avni Coş called the protesters “twat”. On complaint of the governor a trial was initiated against three people for having insulted a civil servant because of his duty. On 19 February 2014 the trial started at Adana Peace Court 8. The judge heard the testimony of the defendants and adjourned the hearing.

(02/155) Hindered action in Istanbul…

The Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (HRA) had asked the governor in Istanbul and received an answer that there was no band for actions on Taksim Square, but when they wanted to stage an action on 19 February 2014 the police teams did not allow it arguing that actions had been banned.

(02/156) Intervention in a demonstration in Ankara…

O 19 February 2014 police teams intervened in Ankara when a group of members of the group Devrimci Liseliler (DEV-LİS) wanted to walk towards the building of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and detained eight students.

(02/157) House raids in Mersin…

F.D. (16) who had been detained by police officers of the department to fight terrorism in Mersin on 17 February 2014 was arrested on 19 February 2014 on the grounds that he had conducted an illegal action.

(02/158) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Beşir Akman, brother of the AKP deputy Yahya Akman was heavily injured in Şanlıurfa-Birecik district on 19 February 2014 by an armed attack of B.K.

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack with stones on the election vehicle of the BDP in Mardin-Midyat district on 19 February 2014.

On 19 February 2014 the joined chair of the HDP, Sebahat Tuncel visited Edirne-Keşan district for the opening of the election office. A racist group threw stones at the bus she was travelling in.

(02/159) Industrial accident in Zonguldak…

As the result of a landslip in a coal mine in a private enterprise in Zonguldak-Kilimli town the worker Recai Akol (39) lost his life.

(02/160) Industrial accident in Istanbul…

On 19 February 2014 a crane went lose from a truck during works of the Istanbul Water and Sewage Administration (ISKI) in İstanbul-Tuzla district and fell into the well. The worker Ercan Özbahçeci lost his life and one worker was injured.

 

21 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/161) Prisoner’s protest by setting himself on fire…

On 20 February 2014 it was learned that Oktay Mert set himself on fire to protest torture and ill-treatment he had suffered in Van F-Type Prison. Oktay Mert had burn marks of the first degree on his body, but when he refused treatment he was sent back to prison.

(02/162) Pressure in the Prisons…

When 20 non-political prisoners in Diyarbakır E-Type Prison objected on 20 February 2014 of being transferred to Giresun E-Type Prison against their will they were beaten by guardians. At the end the prisoners, four of them wounded, were transferred.

(02/163) Pressure in the Prisons…

On 20 February 2014 it was learned that a fax that Mecit Şahinkaya imprisoned in Kandıra (Kocaeli) F-Type Prison 1 that he wanted to send to the reporter of the daily Radikal, İsmail Saymaz explaining that the diet meals he had to take were insufficient was confiscated by the prison administration as being inconvenient.

(02/164) Minors detained in Izmir…

On 24 January 2014 two children staged an action in front of the Directorate for National Education in Izmir. On 20 February 2014 they were taken to court with the demand of their arrest for having insulted State officials. The court rejected this demand.

(02/165) Intervention in a demonstration in Istanbul…

On 20 February 2014 members of the Revolutionary Youth (Dev-Genç) staged a sit-in in Istanbul-Şişli district, Police teams detained three of them.

(02/166) Siirt KCK trial continued…

On 20 February 2014 the trial against 20 people, seven of them in pre-trial detention who had been detained in Siirt in 2010 as part of the KCK investigations continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 4 heard the testimony of the defendants, decided to release Sıdık Taş, Halil Adıgüzel, Mustafa Gündüz and Mehmet Adanır and adjourned the hearing to 17 April 2014.

(02/167) KCK trial continued in Malatya…

On 20 February 2014 the trial against 15 people, nine of them in pre-trial detention who had been indicted after operations of police officers of the department to fight terrorism as part of the KCK investigations in Malatya on 11 January 2013 continued. Malatya Heavy Penal Court 4 heard the testimony of the defendants in Turkish and Kurdish, decided to release five of the arrested defendants and adjourned the hearing to 15 April 2014.

(02/168) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of several attacks on the election office of the People’s Democracy Party (HDP) in Muğla-Ortaca district on 19 and 20 February 2014.

In Istanbul-Gaziosmanpaşa district five people who put up posters as part of the election campaign were detained on 20 February 2014 and fined 189 TL under the Law on Delinquency.

(02/169) Workers who lost their lives/were injured in a traffic accident…

Eight workers were injured when two vehicles with workers crashed in Kahramanmaraş.

(02/170) Soldier’s death in Istanbul…

Gökhan Aslan (26) registered in Isparta had served at the Infantry school in Istnabul-Tuzla, but remained there as sergeant. On 19 February 2014 he fell from a wall that he had climbed and died.

(02/171) Search warrant in Ankara…

On 19 February 2014 it turned out that on demand of Ankara Police HQ Ankara Peace Court 10 had authorized the police to search people and their belongings over 15 days in Çankaya, Altındağ, Keçiören, Mamak, Yenimahalle and Pursaklar districts.

 

22-24 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/172) Hate Crime in Gaziantep…

On 19 February 2014, transsexual Sevda Başar (29) was killed by her boyfriend Erdem Orhan in Gaziantep.

(02/173) Mine Explosion in Mardin…

Laleş Çiftsüren (12) lost one of her legs when she stepped on a mine nearby her house on 23 February 2014 in Nusaybin district of Mardin.

(02/174) Killing of Mehmet Zeki Yılmaz by Unidentified Assailants…

Despite the report of Forensic Institute, Public Prosecutor in Yüksekova district of Hakkari decided not to investigate killing of Mehmet Zeki Yılmaz. He was kidnapped on 25 February 1994 in Yüksekova and his body was found several days later. The news concerning the decision appeared on the press just 3 days before the end of lapse of time.

(02/175) Mehmet Uytun Investigation…

Mardin Administrative Court decided on 29 January 2014 that there was no responsibility of the public administration in the killing of Mehmet Uytun (1,5). The case was launched with the demand of TL 100,000 compensation. The court also ruled that the family be paid TL 20,059 under the Law on Compensation of Terror Damages. Mehmet Uytun was shot at his head by the security forces with a tear gas canister on the balcony of his family’s apartment during the intervention to a demonstration in Cizre district of Şırnak on 9 October 2009. He died on 19 October 2009 at the hospital.

(02/176) 1980 Coup D’état Trial…

Ankara Heavy Penal Court No 12 continued on 21 February 2014 to hear the case against former generals Kenan Evren and Tahsin Şahinkaya who had been the commanders of the 1980 Coup D’état. The indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced to life imprisonment for being responsible for the crimes committed in the chain of command. The court adjourned the hearing to 12 March 2014 to wait for the new law on specially authorized courts.

(02/177) Case of Police Brutality…

Servet Karataş and Kemal Karataş were detained under beatings on 4 August 2012 in Bahçelievler district of İstanbul for using drugs. They were kept beaten in the police vehicle and also in the police station. Kemal Karataş was hospitalised after the incident. His brothers Cengiz Karataş and Diyaettin Karataş were also beaten in the hospital when they had a dispute with the officers when they kicked their mother. And Cengiz Karataş had loss of his sight and Diyaettin Karataş of his hearing.

Four days after the incident police officers filed a complaint against Servet Karataş and Kemal Karataş for insult, resisting and attack. According to the news appeared on the press on 22 February 2014, a court case was launched against them with the demand of term of imprisonment. Servet Karataş and Kemal Karataş are on trial at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 8 and Cengiz Karataş and Diyaettin Karataş at Bakırköy Penal Court of First Instance No 3. Upon official complaint of the brothers a court case against 8 police officers was launched on charges of “wounding on purpose”. The indictment wants the officers to be sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and the trial will start on 8 May 2014.

(02/178) Case of Police Brutality…

Journalist Mustafa Erdem Kahveci and lawyer Burcu Özaydın were warned by police officers on 28 April 2013 not to smoke when they were sitting in an open-air park. When 2 persons replied there was no restriction on smoking in parks, police officers handcuffed them from behind and detained them. After the incident, Kahveci and Özaydın made an official complaint against 5 police officers on the allegations of torture and police officers against them for resisting police officers and insult. The court started to hear the case against police officers on 21 February 2014. The court accepted Kahveci and Özaydın’s demand to join the trial and adjourned the hearing.

(02/179) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news that appeared on 21 February 2014, 50 prisoners incarcerated in Kırıklar (İzmir) F-type Prison were given 20 days’ of isolation for breaking the cameras in the wards.

(02/180) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared on 21 February 2014, İzmir Penal Court of First Instance sentenced the prisoners Eyüp Aygen and Mehdi Işık incarcerated in Kırıklar F-type Prison to 10 months’ imprisonment for damaging public property. The prisoners reportedly drilled a wall and caused TL 10 damage.

(02/181) Pressures in Prison…

The prisoners Faruk Erdoğan and Hicri Selviler who were transferred from Kırıklar F-type Prison No 1 to No 2 were beaten for denying naked body search. According to the news appeared on 21 February 2014, a court case was launched against Hicri Selviler on charges of damaging public property.

(02/182) Web Site Banned…

According to the news appeared on 23 February 2014, Information Technologies and Communication Institution decided to ban access to web site redbazaar.net for its content.

(02/183) Protesters on Trial…

According to the news appeared on 22 February 2014, a court case was launched against Hüseyin Tavas. He was among 7 persons who detained before the visit of Prime Minister to Manisa on 28 December 2013 on the allegations that they could stage protest actions. A banner saying “there is a thief in Manisa” was found in the bag of Hüseyin Tavas. Manisa Peace Penal Court No 4 will start to hear the case on 10 April 2014.

(02/184) Demonstration Prevented…

The gendarmerie detained 5 members of the Youth Union of Turkey who protested Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu during the opening of AKP election office in Serik district of Antalya on 23 February 2014.

(02/185) Meeting Intervened…

The police intervened and dispersed by using tear gas and water cannon a group who wanted to march from Galatasaray Square to Taksim Square on 21 February 2014 to celebrate World Mother Tongue Day. One person was detained during the intervention.

(02/186) Demonstration Prevented…

The police detained one person who protested Minister of Interior Affairs Efkan Ala during the opening of AKP election office in Bor district of Niğde on 23 February 2014.

(02/187) Protest for Internet Regulation Intervened…

The police intervened on 22 February 2014 the demonstration planned to be staged on Taksim Square in İstanbul to protest in the new internet regulations. The police dispersed the crowd by using tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons. 46 persons were detained during the intervention and Veysel Beyazçiçek was arrested for possession of materials with possible explosive elements.

(02/188) Gezi Park Trials…

5 separate cases were started against 472 persons in connection with the Gezi Park demonstrations in Kırklareli on 2 June 2013. All cases started on 21 February 2014. The court adjourned the first 2 cases to 7 April 2014 to decide on the demand of the lawyers for rejection of the judges. In these cases, the indictment wants the defendants to be sentenced for violating the Law Meetings and Demonstrations. The court also adjourned the 3rd case to 10 April 2014 and the 4th case to 28 April 2014 for the same reasons. After the testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to 28 March 2014 for testified defendants and to 28 April 2014 for the remaining defendants. 103 persons are on trial in this case. There are 16 cases against 3108 persons launched in connection with the Gezi Park demonstrations in Kırklareli.

(02/189) Local Elections…

BDP premises in Yakutiye district of Erzurum was attacked on 23 February 2014 by unidentified persons with stones. The attack caused material damage.

A quarrel occurred on 22 February 2014 in Çaldıran district between AKP supporters and another group during the meeting for AKP mayor candidate for Van. 2 police officers and 6 persons were wounded during the incident.

Şefik Özer (25) and Özal Özer (28) were wounded when they were attacked by unidentified persons with fire arms on 22 February 2014 while hanging banners of AKP for local elections in Şemdinli district of Hakkari.

Local election office of CHP candidate for Aydın Özlem Çerçioğlu was attacked on 23 February 2014 by unidentified persons with stones. The attack caused material damage.   Posters on billboards of BDP co-candidates for Akdeniz district in Mersin Yüksel Mutlu and Fazıl Türk were sprayed by unidentified persons on 23 February 2014.

On 23 February 2014, supporters of HDP in Urla district of İzmir were attacked and subjected to a lynching attempt. HDP and BDP premises were also attacked, 10 persons were wounded.

On 23 February 2014, HDP bus was attacked with stones in Kadıköy district of İstanbul. The attack caused material damage.

Flags and posters of HDP were damaged by unidentified persons on 23 February 2014 in Bahçeşehir district of İstanbul.

(02/190) Armed Attack in İstanbul…

Ş.E. who was detained on 20 February 2014 on the allegations of being the killer of Hasan Ferit Gedik was arrested. Members of the People’s Front in Gülsuyu quarter of Maltepe district in İstanbul were attacked by drug dealers several days at the end of September 2013 and Hasan Ferit Gedik was shot to death during the incidents.

(02/191) Seizure and Search Decision in Ankara…

Ankara Penal Court of First Instance No 11 suspended on 21 February 2014 the decision of Ankara Peace Penal Court No 10 which gave the police the authority to search bodies, vehicles or belongings of people from 13 February 2014 to 27 February 2014 in 6 districts of Ankara.

 

25 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/192) Death in Detention…

Ukrainian citizen Luıdmyla Kalashnykova (65) reportedly died on 24 February 2014 in a police vehicle while being transferred to a hospital. She was under arrest in Atatürk Airport Police Station for violating visa regulations.

(02/193) Lice Massacre and Killing of Bahtiyar Aydın…

The case launched in connection with the killing of Brigadier General Bahtiyar Aydın by an unidentified assassin was transferred to Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1 for security reasons. Eskişehir Heavy Penal Court No 1 took the decision of non-jurisdiction on the grounds that the court was not specially authorized court. 5th Penal Chamber at the Court of Cassation sent the files of the case to İzmir Heavy Penal Court on 24 February 2014. The lawyers of the defendants Eşref Hatipoğlu and Tünay Yanardağ wanted previously the case to be transferred to another province for security reasons.

Gendarmerie Regional Commander Brigadier General Bahtiyar Aydın went to Lice district of Diyarbakır for investigation right after the incident which led to killing of 14 civilians and 1 soldier. He was shot to death in the garden of the gendarmerie station by an unidentified assassin.

(02/194) Case of Killing by Unknown Assailants…

Çorum Heavy Penal Court No 2 continued on 24 February 2014 to hear the case against Ankara Gendarmerie Regional Commander Musa Çitil launched on charges of being involved the killings of 13 persons by unidentified assailants in Derik district of Mardin when Musa Çitil was the gendarmerie commander in the region. The case was launched in Mardin, but transferred to Çorum upon the demand of Çitil’s lawyers for security reasons. Musa Çitil testified at the hearing to the effect that he did not hear about the gendarmerie intelligence service JİTEM and refused to accept the accusations. İbrahim Gödek, who was subjected to torture when Musa Çitil was on charge, also testified at the hearing. The court rejected the demand for the arrest of the defendant and adjourned the hearing to 14 April 2014.

(02/195) Zirve Publishing Massacre…

Malatya Heavy Penal Court No 3 continued on 24 February 2014 to hear the case against 21 persons launched on charges of killing Tilman Ekkehart Geske, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel on 18 April 2007 in Zirve Publishing in Malatya for their alleged missionary activities. 16 of the defendants are under arrest in this trial. After the Publlic Prosecutor opinion as the accusations, the court decided to release the remanded defendants Adil Akçay and Adem Gedik. The court adjourned the hearing to 10 April 2014.

(02/196) Prisoner Set Himself to Fire…

Halit Özdaşlı (21) incarcerated in Edirne F-type Prison set himself to fire on 14 February 2014 to protest in the Abdullah Öcalan’s return to Turkey. He was hospitalized due to serious burns and died on 24 February 2014 at the hospital.

(02/197) Pressures in Prisons…

On 24 February 2014, 16 prisoners incarcerated in Tekirdağ F-type Prison No 1 announced that they started hunger strike to protest in the torture and ill-treatment incidents in the prison.

(02/198) Lawyers on Trial…

Silivri Penal Court of First Instance No 2 continued 24 January 2014 to hear the case against 10 lawyers launched on charges of “aiming to influence judiciary”. The lawyers criticized the judges of the Sledgehammer Coup Plan Case at two separate hearings of the case for not allowing them to speak. Upon this a case was launched against the lawyers. After the opinion as the accusations, the court acquitted all the defendants.

(02/199) Gezi Park Trials…

İmir Peace Penal Court No 1 started on 24 February to hear the case against 29 persons launched on charges of “inciting people to civil unrest through social media” under the Article 216 of TPC. The defendants were detained during the Gezi Park demonstrations in İzmir for informing people about the developments through social media. But they were released afterwards. After the testimonies of the defendants, the court adjourned the hearing to wait for the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who was a plaintiff of the case.

(02/200) Local Elections…

Nine persons who attacked HDP members and attempted to lynch them on 23 February 2014 in Urla district of İzmir were reportedly detained on 24 February 2014.

(02/201) House Raids…

2 persons were reportedly detained in Adana while they were selling and promoting the journal Yürüyüş on the grounds there was a confiscation decision for the journal.

 

26 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/202) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 25 February 2014 it emerged that Salih Tuğrul being paralyzed and imprisoned in Siirt E-Type Prison who had not been released since the department to fight terrorism had termed him “dangerous for society” had been taken to the hospital of Dicle University Medical Faculty when his health deteriorated.

(02/203) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 25 February 2014 it emerged that Avni Uçar suffering from a tumour in his left liver and being held in Siirt E-Type Prison had been taken to the hospital of Dicle University Medical Faculty when his health deteriorated.

(02/204) Continuing case on operation in Burdur Prison…

On 5 July 2000 an operation had been conducted in Burdur E-Type Prison after 11 prisoners had boycotted their trials claiming that their lives were in danger. Later the Ministry of Finance initiated a case against 61 prisoners including Veli Saçılık whose arm had been cut by the shovel of a bulldozer that tore down the wall of the prison asking them to pay for the damage. The case continued on 25 February 2014. Burdur Civil Court of First Instance 1 adjourned the case opened with the demand of 29,000 TL to 17 April 2014 to wait for the answer of Council of State.

On 5 July 2000 the walls of the prison had been torn down to reach the prisoners and the right arm the prisoner Veli Saçılık had been ripped off by the shovel. The arm had not been put in its place and thrown on a dustbin, and later was found in the mouth of a street dog. The European Court of Human Rights heard the complaint of Veli Saçılık and the others, found Turkey guilty and apart from Veli Saçılık ordered that the victims be paid 46,000 TL in compensation. The file of Veli Saçılık had been separated to await the decision of the local court in compensation.

Veli Saçılık had opened a case at Antalya Administrative Court 1 which ruled it was inhuman to cut an arm with a bulldozer and that the State was responsible for the security and integrity of the body of the prisoner Veli Saçılık and had decided on compensation of 150,000 TL. In 2007 the Council of State had quashed the verdict claiming that Veli Saçılık had participated in the uprising in prison and that the cutting off of his arm had been caused by his own fault. Subsequently Antalya Administrative Court 1 had ruled not to be competent and had sent the file to Isparta Administrative Court as the correct location. Isparta Administrative Court followed the verdict of the Council of State and ruled that it was Veli Saçılık’s fault and he had no right for compensation. In 2011 the Council of State confirmed the verdict of Isparta Administrative Court.

(02/205) Person on trial…

On 24 February 2014 it emerged that Serdar Tunceli disabled in walking had been put on trial because he had shared a photograph of Abdullah Öcalan on his private account with Facebook in Bingöl on 3 December 2013, the Day of the Disabled. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 5 accepted the indictment on charges of having made propaganda for an illegal organization and shall start the hearings in the near future.

(02/206) Person tried in connection with incidents in Hopa…

On 25 February 2014 Ankara Heavy Penal Court 11 continued to hear the case of 28 demonstrators in connection with the incidents during protests in Ankara against the intervention of the police in Artvin-Hopa district during a visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 31 May 2011 and the death of Metin Lokumcu as the result of the intervention.

The court heard the defendants that were present, the complainants of the joint plaintiffs and their lawyers and ruled that the defendants had to be acquitted from charges of membership of an illegal organization and that the charges on making propaganda for an illegal organization had to be stopped in connection with the 4th Judicial Package.

(02/207) Intervention to action in Şırnak…

On 25 February 2014 soldiers used gas bombs against a group of villagers that wanted to protest the establishment of a security road at the border line including Roboski village in Şırnak-Uludere district and injured one person.

(02/208) Intervention in protest demonstration against the Prime Minister…

On 25 February 2014 police teams intervened with gas bombs, plastic bullets and water cannons when a group tried to protest Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who participated in the opening of 1071 Malazgirt Boulevard crossing part of the land of METU. Three people including Bayram Uluad, reporter of the newspaper Sol, were injured when they were hit by plastic bullets.

(02/209) Intervention in protest demonstration against malpractice and bribery…

After recordings of a conversation between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his son Bilal Erdoğan had shown up protest demonstrations were held in various towns on 25 February 2014. During the demonstrations in Izmir, Ankara, Istanbul and Eskişehir police teams intervened with gas bombs, plastic bullets and water cannons and dispersed the demonstrators.

(02/210) House raids in Şanlıurfa…

On 11 February 2014 teams for special operations conducted house raids in Şanlıurfa-Suruç district and detained six sympathizers of the BDP. No reason was given for the house raids.

(02/211) KCK trial continued in Şırnak…

On 24 February 2014 the trial against 85 people, 32 of them in pre-trial detention who had been charged after operations in Şırnak-Cizre district as part of the KCK investigation with being members of the KCK town parliament continued. Diyarbakır Heavy Penal Court 7 ordered the release of eight defendants and adjourned the hearing in order to wait for the fate of court with special competences.

(02/212) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack by unknown people on the election office of the HDP in Istanbul-Beykoz district on 24 February 2014.

On 25 February 2014 police teams raided the election office of the BDP in Mardin-Ömerli district because of posters of Abdullah Öcalan and confiscated one poster that was found during the search.

Material damage occurred as the result of an attack by unknown people on the election office of the BDP in Mersin-Toroslar Arpaç town on 23 February 2014.

On 25 February 2014 a group of people coming to the election office of the AKP in Ankara-Mamak district sprayed the office and made it unusable.

Three people were injured as the result of attack by a racist group of 150 people on the election office of the HDP in Antalya-Alanya district on 25 February 2014.

In Eskişehir protesters on a different issue ravaged the connection office of the AKP on 25 February 2014.

(02/213) Industrial accident in Istanbul…

On 25 February 2014 the platform of a film studio shooting advertisements in Istanbul-Şişli district, Ayazağa quarter collapsed and injured 15 people.

(02/214) Industrial accident in Konya…

Five workers were injured, two of them seriously when part of a factory in Konya-Ereğli district collapsed.

(02/215) Workers poisoned in Bilecik…

In Bilecik-Osmaneli district workers were poisoned by the lunch they had in their factory on 25 February 2014. Twenty of them had to be taken to hospital.

(02/216) Industrial accident in Ankara…

On 23 February 2014 the worker Yener Oktay (35) lost his life in Ankara-Şereflikoçhisar district when a piece of iron fell on him during maintenance and repair work of electricity poles.

(02/217) Search warrant in Istanbul…

On 25 February 2014 it turned out that on demand of Beyoğlu Police HQ Istanbul Peace Court 35 had authorized the police to search people and their belongings over 15 days between 20 February and 6 March 2014 in Beyoğlu.

 

27-28 February 2014 Daily Human Rights Report

(02/218) Situation of ill and old prisoners…

On 26 February 2014 Izmir Heavy Penal Court 13 rejected the demand of the lawyer of retired General Nusret Taşdeler who had been sentenced to life imprisonment in a concluded “Ergenekon Case” and for whom the Forensic Institute had issued a report on 8 January 2014 certifying that it was to be recommended that he be released in order to continue his treatment and did not release him.

(02/219) Ongoing JİTEM Trial…

On 27 February 2014 Diyarbakir Heavy Penal Court 6 continued to hear the case of two trials that had been combined because of equal charges against 11 defendants (renegades) of Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counterterrorism (JITEM) in one and five defendants in the other trial, a total of 16 defendants who are tried for killings, looting and bombing in Diyarbakır, Mardin, Batman and Şırnak between 1989and 1994. The defendants include the renegade Mahmut Yıldırım, code named Yeşil and the renegade Abdülkadir Aygan who are charged with eight murders in Diyarbakir between 1992 and 1994.

None of the defendants participated in the hearing so that the court prolonged the decisions on apprehension for the defendants Mahmut Yıldırım, Hacı Hasan, Mehmet Zahit Karadeniz and Muhsin Gül and the arrest order in absentia against Abdülkadir Aygan and adjourned the hearing.

(02/220) Investigation into the death of Şahin Öner…

It had been alleged that Şahin Öner (19) died when a scorpion style armoured police car drove over him in Diyarbakır on 10 Şubat 2013 during a protest demonstration on the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan’s handover to Turkey. Although there were eye witnesses stating that Şahin Öner had been underneath the tanks the governor of Diyarbakır had stated that he died when a sound bomb exploded in his hands.

On 27 February 2014 it was learned that the Forensic Institute had prepared a final report on his death. The report stated that Şahin Öner had died because he was hit by an armoured vehicle and torn over the ground, but the prosecutor in Diyarbakır authorized under Article 10 of the ATL ruled not to be responsible and sent the case to the republic prosecutor in Diyarbakır.

(02/221) Investigation into the death of Çayan Birben…

During a quarrel that occurred in the Abdullah Baştürk Park in Yalova on 27 May 2012 the police used pepper gas that the Interior Minister had called harmless in order to separate the parties. Subsequently Çayan Birben (31), suffering from asthma fell ill, had a panic attack and because of high tension a bubble in his brain exploded leading to his death in Yalova State Hospital on 30 May 2012.

The Forensic Institute had issued a report on 13 February 2013 as part of the subsequent investigation stating that pepper gas might have caused the death of Çayan Birben and four police officers had been indicted at Yalova Penal Court 3. On 26 July 2013 it had been learned that the court had returned the indictment. On 27 February 2014 it was learned that after Yalova Heavy Penal Court had ruled on not being responsible the 5th Penal Chamber at the Court of Cassation had ruled that a heavy penal court had to hear the case.

(02/222) Persons on trial in connection with the action for Gezi Park…

On 27 February 2014 the case against 24 people who had participated in protest meetings in Sakarya in support of the actions for Gezi Park in Istanbul continued. Sakarya Penal Court 4 heard the testimony of the defendants and adjourned the hearing to complete the missing parts of the file.

(02/223) Intervention in protest demonstration against malpractice and bribery…

After recordings of a conversation between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his son Bilal Erdoğan had shown up a protest demonstrations was held in Izmir on 26 February 2014. Police teams intervened and dateined 22 people.

(02/224) Violations in connection with the local elections of 30 March 2014…

In Izmir-Konak district police teams detained 13 people on 26 February 2014. They had come to the election office of the AKP and had sprayed slogans on the walls.

In Izmir-Urla district there had been a lynch attempt against followers of the HDP on 23 February 2014. On 27 February 2014 a HDP group that wanted to talk to the electors in Urla was attacked again. The group demonstrated the whole day against the entry of the HDP delegation to enter the town and caused material damage to the vehicles of the CHP and DSP and the office of the Workers’ Party. The HDP group protested the attack with a sit-in. Police teams intervened with gas bombs and water cannons and detained seven people.

On 27 February 2014 unknown people tore down the flags and streamers that the BDP had hung up in various parts of Van.

On 26 February 2014 a group of people sprayed three vehicles of the KP in Bursa-İznik district and made them unusable.

(02/225) People on Trial…

On 13 November 2012 police teams had conducted house raids against members of the Democratic Rights’ Federation in Tunceli, Ankara, İzmir, Sivas, İstanbul, Uşak, Mersin, Adana, Antalya, Zonguldak, Çanakkale and Isparta and had detained 61 people. On 17 November 2012 31 of them had been arrested while the investigation file had been termed confidential.

On 26 February 2014 the trial in Izmir against 13 people in pre-trial detention and another nine people charged with being members of the illegal Maoist Communist Party (MKP) continued. Izmir Heavy Penal Court 12 substituted the evidence of the defendants, ordered the release of all defendants and adjourned the hearing.

(02/226) House raids in Hakkâri…

On 26 February 2014 teams for special operations conducted house raids in Hakkâri-Yüksekova and detained three supporters of the BDP. No reason was given for the house raids.

(02/227) Soldier’s death in Şırnak…

It was alleged that Sezer Çelik, registered in Burdur and doing his compulsory military service in Şırnak-Uludere district near Bujeh (Gülyazı) village died on 22 February 2014 when a door fell on him.

(02/228) Industrial accident in Istanbul…

At Gemak Shipyard in the shipyards’ region in Istanbul-Tuzla district a ship with dry load capsized on 26 February 2014 resulting in injuries of six workers.

(02/229) Industrial accident in Istanbul…

On 27 February 2014 fire broke out in a factory in İstanbul-Bahçelievler district, Yenibosna region where shoe polish is being produced and one worker was injured.

(02/230) Workers who lost their lives/were injured in a traffic accident…

As the result of an accident of a minibus carrying workers 10 workers were injured in Sakarya-Erenler district on 27 February 2014.

(02/231) Search warrant in Istanbul…

On 26 February 2014 Istanbul Peace Court 33 lifted the decision of Istanbul Peace Court 35 that on demand of Beyoğlu Police HQ had authorized the police to search people and their belongings over 15 days between 20 February and 6 March 2014 in Beyoğlu.