9-11 August 2016 Daily Human Rights Report

(08/034) Detentions and Arrests…

The police conducted operations on 10 August 2016 against Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP). 40 persons including Hakan Ergün, worker with the Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat, were detained during the operations.

The police conducted operations on 9 August 2016 in Van and its districts. 13 persons including Vice-Mayor of Çatak district Turgut Babur and MEYA-DER (solidarity association for people who lost their relatives in Mesopotamia) Chair for Çatak brach Neriman Urar were detained.

DBP party assembly member Senar Abi was detained during road control on 8 August 2016 in Yüksekova district of Hakkari.

Senar Abi was arrested on 10 August 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

The police conducted operations on 8 August 2016 in Ardahan and detained 12 persons including HDP and DBP Co-Chair for the province on the grounds of supporting the campaigns of Rojava Association. 5 detainees were arrested on 10 August 2015.

14 persons including 2 children were detained under beating on August 2016 on the allegations of singing Kurdish songs in a public park in Esenyurt district of İstanbul.

11 persons who were detained during house raids conducted on 2 August 2016 in Muş were arrested on 9 August 2016 on the allegations of “being member of an illegal organisation”.

The police conducted house raids on 9 August 2016 in Diyarbakır and detaned 11 persons including editor of the Democratic Modernity (Demokratik Modernite) jurnal Haydar Ergül, DBP party assembly members Salih Keleş and Ebubekir Budak

U.K. who was detained during the operations in Bursa was arrested on 9 August 2016 on the allegations of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” through social media.

The journalist Hasan Akbaş, Fırat Topal, Serpil Berk and Sertaç Kayar who were following the bomb attack on 10 August 2016 in Sur district of Diyarbakır were detained.

The police conducted raids on 11 August 2016 against the HDP premises in İstanbul and houses. At least 17 persons were reportedly detained during the operations.

DBP party assembly member Mahir Doğu Tekin was detained on 10 August 2016 in Mardin.

(08/035) Operations and Attacks in the Southeast…

2 soldiers were killed and 2 soldiers were wounded when a military troop was attacked on 10 August 2016 nearby Demirli village of Kulp district in Diyarbakır.

7 soldiers were wounded when a bomb exploded on 10 August 2016 during the passage of a military vehicle on the road between Şemdinli and Yüksekova districts of Hakkari.

Governorate of Diyarbakır imposed curfew on 8 August 2016 in 13 villages of Kulp, Silvan and Hazro districts on the grounds of military operations to be conducted in the region.

The curfew was lifted after one day. But the Governorate imposed curfew on 9 August 2016 in other 13 villages of Kulp, Silvan and Hazro districts for the same region.

The driver of a tractor carrying materials to a military station nearby Andıç village of Uludere district in Şırnak was killed on 8 August when a bomb exploded on the road.

1 police officer was wounded during an armed attack on 9 August 2016 in Gürpınar district of Van. The police officer died in the hospital.

At least 4 militants were reportedly killed during an armed clash that broke out on 7 August 2016 nearby Akmeşe village of Eruh district in Siirt.

4 soldiers were killed and 9 soldiers were wounded when a bomb exploded on 10 August 2016 during the passage of a military vehicle in Beytüşşebap district of Şırnak.

1 police officer and 2 civilians were killed, 5 police officers and 15 civilians were wounded when a bomb exploded on 10 August 2016 during the passage of a police bus in Kızıltepe district of Mardin.

5 civilians were killed, 5 police officers and 7 civilians were wounded when a bomb exploded on 10 August 2016 during the passage of a police bus in Sur district of Dİyarbakır.

(08/036) Extra-judicial Killing in Adıyaman…

Temporary village guard Yusuf Sönmez (46) was shot to death by unidentified persons on 8 August 2016 in Kömür town of Adıyaman. Yusuf Sönmez (46) was reportedly forced to leave his house and killed in front of his house.

(08/037) Child on Trial on the allegations of Insulting the State President…

According to the news appeared in the press on 9 August 2016, a court case was launched against A.Ş. (14) on charges of “insulting the State President” with the comments on social media.

The indictment wants A.Ş. (14) to be sentenced according to the Article 299 TPC. İstanbul Juvenile Court No 2 will start to hear the case.

(08/038) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared in the press on 8 August 2016, 29 more prisoners incarcerated in Erzurum H-type Prison were transferred to other prisons on the grounds of “unavailable space”.

(08/039) Suspicious Private Death in Tokat…

Mevlam Öztekin who was serving for the compulsory military service in Tokat allegedly committed suicide during night watch on 7 August 2016. He was registered to Derik district of Mardin.

(08/040) Hrant Dink Investgation…

Former non-commissioned offier Emre Cingöz, gendarmerie intelligence officers Volkan Şahin, Şeref Ateş, Okan Şimşek, Hüseyin Yılmaz and Gazi Günay who were among 9 persons detained in connection with investigation concerning the killing of Hrant Dink were arrested on 9 August 2016.

(08/041) Pressures in Prisons…

According to the news appeared in the press on 9 August 2016, 35 prisoners incarcerated in Bakırköy (İstanbul) Women Prison who set the cells to fire to protest in the restrictions in visits following the State of Emergency were transferred to Silivri L-type Prison No 9. The prisoners were reportedly subjected to torture during the transfer.

(08/042) Person Convicted in Aydın…

Didim (Aydın) Penal Court of First Instance No 3 concluded on 9 August 2016 to hear the case against Pınar Aydınlar launched in connection with a speech she gave in 2015 in Didim district of Aydın.

The court sentenced Pınar Aydınlar to 1 year and 2 months’ imprisonment under Article 215 TPC for “insulting a public officer”.

(08/043) Extra-judicial Killing in Erzurum…

Serkan K. who was on the run for raiding a shop was shot to death by the police on 10 August 2016 in Erzurum when he did not obey the stop warning and opened fire against police officers following him. 5 police officers were reportedly wounded when Serkan K. opened fire.

(08/044) Correspondent on Trial in Hakkari…

Hakkari Heavy Penal Court No 2 started on 10 August 2016 to hear the case against DİHA correspondent Şermin Soydan, Red Crescent Hakkâri Branch Chair Fadıl Alçiçek and Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair for Hakkari province Metin Besi. Şermin Soydan and Fadıl Alçiçek were arrested in connection with the news “Proof of Covert Operation in Gever (İşte Gever’e ‘gizli’ operasyon belgesi)” on the allegations of “acquiring and disclosing confidential information for political or military espionage”.

After the identification and first testimonies at the hearing, the court decided to release Fadıl Alçiçek to be tried without remand and adjourned the hearing to 30 September 2016.

(08/045) Torture and Ill-treatment in Custody…

Peace Mothers Nezahat Teke and Havva Kıran who went from Diyarbakır to Siirt on 8 August 2016 to visit the Peace Mothers in Siirt were reportedly subjected to sexual assault by police officers on their way back to Diyarbakır.

Nezahat Teke and Havva Kıran organised a press conference and announced that their vehicle was stopped nearby Eruh district of Siirt. They were forcibly taken into an prefabricated building and forced to strip naked. The mothers were kept naked for 10 minutes in front of all police officers and forced for military warm up exercises.

(08/046) Extra-judicial Killing in Tunceli…

Şükrü Abay (46) was killed when a vehicle of communication company Türk Telekom was organised an armed attack on 10 August 2016 on Tunceli-Ovacık road. The attackers were unidentified.

(08/047) Extra-judicial Killing in Şırnak…

Mehmet Zeki Macartay, former headman of Kale quarter of Cizre district in Şırnak, was attacked by unidentified persons on 10 August 2016. Mehmet Zeki Macartay was shot and heavily wounded during the attack.

(08/048) Pressures in Prison…

40 prisoners incarcerated in Kırıklar (İzmir) F-type Prison No 2 were transferred on 2 August 2016 to Ödemiş T-type Prison without their demands. The prisoners were reportedly beaten on the way to Ödemiş T-type Prison.

(08/049) Association Co-Chair Detained…

Muzaffer Şakar who was Co-Chair of Democratic Jurisdiction Association (Demokrat Yargı Derneği) and Judge in Diyarbakır, was detained when his room in Diyarbakır Court House was raided on 11 August 2016.