The new Turkey
HRFT Documentation Center Human Rights Report
1 - 31 January 2021 about torture and ill-treatment in Turkey.

31-Aug-2020

(01/281) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 27, 2021 that, journalist Mehmet Aslan who was arrested in Antalya on January 5, 2021, was forced to strip search at the entrance of Antalya L Type Prison.

(01/264) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 27, 2021 that, Nazan Bozkurt, Alev Şahin, Mehmet Dersulu and Acun Karadağ, who were brought to Ankara Sincan L Type Prison No 3 for a trial, were forced to strip search at the entrance of the prison. These 4 people were arrested through the case against “I Want My Job Back” protestors.

(01/248) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 26, 20201 that, İlhan Kaya, a prisoner in Bolu F Type Prison was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers on January 13, 2021.

(01/231) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 25, 2021 that in the D-9 ward of Aksaray T Type Prison the heating either turned on at a very low level or do not work at all.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 25, 2021 that, a prisoner named Gariba Gezer is kept in a solitary cell in Bünyan Women’s Prison.

(01/215) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 22, 2021 that, Mehmet Sıraç, a prisoner kept in Aksaray T Type Prison was not released from prison although he completed his sentence; because of disciplinary penalties given to him. It is also stated in the news reports that, Mehmet Sıraç was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers and he was injured at his face and body. Mehmet Sıraç stated the following in the phone conversation with his family: “They keep penalising me with solitary cell confinement.

They did not allow me to use phone call right last week. And they did not allow me to visit the prison infirmary either. I cut my hand with razor, as a reaction to that. Then they took me to the infirmary and the chief correction officer beat me there, right in front of the doctor. My nose is broken, there is a swelling in my right eye and I still have the marks of physical violence on my body. I got psychologically unwell. They are not taking me to a hospital to get a medical report evidencing the violence. And this was not the first time they beat me.”

It is learned from the news coverage of January 24, 2021 that, the letter of Şiyar Yıldırım, a prisoner in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 5, addressing Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP and member of Human Rights Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly to give information about the right violations in prison, was seized by prison administration on the grounds that it would “give incorrect information about prison to the persons related to illegal organisation”. It is also learned that a disciplinary proceeding was initiated against Şiyar Yıldırım for this letter. It is also stated in the news reports that the Kurdish letter from Şiyar Yıldırım’s wife was not given to him, and he was said “We do not have a translator. If you pay the translation fee, we will give it to you after translating and checking its content”.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 24, 2021 that, in Istanbul Silivri L Type Prison No 5, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted on the grounds of Covid-19 pandemic.

(01/193) The Case Against People for Participating in a Protest in Izmir
The first trial of the case against 12 people who were detained in the police intervention to a protest in Alsancak, Izmir on July 21, 2020 is held at Izmir Penal Court of First Instance No 47 on January 20, 2021. These 12 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment while they were being detained by the police intervening to the protest organized after death of Pınar Gültekin; a woman who was killed by a man named Cemal Metin Avcı, in Muğla.

The indictment demands sentence for 12 people on the charges of ‘resisting a public officer to prevent his duty’ and ‘damage to public property’. Arzu Sert, one of the defendants, stated the following in her defence statement: “We were tortured, subjected to insults, we were dragged on the ground. The violence kept going in the detention car.” After defence hearings the court adjourned the trial to April 28, 2021.

(01/188) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 20, 2021 that, in Kocaeli Kandıra T Type Prison, 28 people are kept in a ward for 16 people.

(01/179) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 19, 2021 that, Ömer Levent, a prisoner who was transferred from Antep H Type Prison to Adana Kürkçüler F Type Prison under coercion on January 4, 2021, was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers because he rejected to strip search at the entrance of prison.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 19, 2021 that, 2 prisoners (Yücel Yavuz and Devrim Taylan Eryılmaz) are kept alone in wards for 3 people in Ankara Sincan F Type Prison No 1. It is also stated in the news reports that 2 prisoners were imposed a penalty of 11 days of solitary cell confinement as a result of disciplinary proceedings against them.

(01/158) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 17, 2021 that, 3 prisoners (Deniz Şah, Mehmet Dersulu and İlhan Kaya) in Bolu F Type Prison were subjected to physical violence of the correction officers. It is learned that Mehmet Dersulu and İlhan Kaya were injured due to violence. It is also reported that Deniz Şah was taken to another ward by correction officers using physical violence on January 14, 2021. It is also stated in the news reports that these prisoners were not taken to prison infirmary although they demanded so in order to get a medical report evidencing the violence.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 16, 2021 that, in Afyon T Type Prison No 1, there are 23 prisoners kept in a ward for 10 people

(01/138) Child Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Şırnak
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2021 that, a 15-year-old child (D. E.) who was detained in Cizre district of Şırnak on January 9, 2021, was forced to sing the National Anthem all day under custody and was threatened by the police saying “We will give you an assignment every week and you will do it, otherwise you will bear the consequence”.

(01/142) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 14, 2021 that, 4 prisoners kept in ward number C-4 in Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 1, who went on a hunger strike to demand an end to isolation of Abdullah Öcalan were subjected to physical violence of the correction officers. It is reported that 1 prisoner’s metal implants in a hand and a foot were broken and 1 prisoner’s arm was dislocated.

(01/118) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 13, 2021 that, Ahmet Sürme, a prisoner in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2 was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers because he rejected strip search. Ahmet Sürme stated the following through his declarations to his father: “After I met my lawyer, the correction officers said ‘take off your clothes’. I asked why, and told them that I would not take my clothes off. The correction officers said that the x-ray scanner has beeped while my lawyer was passing through it at the entrance of prison, and thus I should take my clothes off. I said, ‘If the x-ray scanner beeped for my lawyer then go search over him, why are you searching my body?’. I resisted to take my clothes off, and the correction officers started to beat me.

They pushed me to the ground, stepped on my back and forcibly removed my clothes. They left only my underwear. They were continuously kicking my body and my head when they forced me to lie down, they made bruises everywhere. The correction officers, after committing violence and forcibly removing my clothes, wanted me to wear my clothes back on. But I told them that I would not, I would go to my ward like this. Then they started beating me again, forced my lie down and put my clothes on. I wanted to go to a hospital for a medical report evidencing the violence, but they did not take me to a hospital.”

It is learned from the news coverage of January 13, 2021 that, Bünyamin Sürme, a prisoner in Izmir Kırıklar F Type Prison No 1 was being kept in a solitary cell for 4 months

(01/101) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 12, 2021 that 3 prisoners (Hamza Arzuman, Reşit İlhan and Halil with unknown surname) were subjected to physical and psychological violence of the correction officers in Gümüşhane E Type Prison. Hamza Arzuman made a statement through his family and noted following: “We are subjected to ill-treatment of correction officers every day, because we are political prisoners. We are threatened by them every day. We cannot sleep at nights. They bang the doors early in the morning to make noise, they are operating a psychological war against us. We cannot get a wink of sleep. We are worried about life safety”.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 12, 2021 that, the heating system in Afyon T Type Prison No 1 cannot be used on the ground that it is out of order.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 12, 2021 that, Fırat Dari, a prisoner in Tokat Çamlıbel T Type Prison, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings on the grounds that he spoke Kurdish with his mother on the phone; and that he is being prevented from his phone right for 1 month as a disciplinary penalty.

(01/076) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 8, 2021 that, 76 prisoners are kept in the quarantine ward of Antalya E Type Prison.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 8, 2021 that, in Antalya L Type Prison, 30 litres of hot and 150 litres of cold water is provided to each ward and the food given to prisoners is inadequate.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 9, 2021 that in Van High Security Prison, Evrensel, Yeni Yaşam and Kurdish Xwebun newspapers were not given to prisoners.

(01/078) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Hakkari
It is learned that 2 people (Ekber Hudai and İbrahim Fırat) were subjected to torture and ill-treatment of security forces during house raids in Güldalı village of Yüksekova district of Hakkari on January 9, 2021. It is learned that some houses in the village were raided by the security forces during an operation on the grounds of cigarette smuggling.

Lawyer Ramazan Kurt stated the following about the torture and ill-treatment: “The house was searched and my clients were detained although they had no search and detention warrant. (…) My clients were heavily subjected to torture and they were forced to confess despite there were no evidence in the house. My clients rejected to this. Although they were not even suspects, the police detained them and took to the security directorate, to cover the torture and insults that they committed. (…) Security forces contacted family members of my clients to pressure them so that they would not file criminal complaints against them. (…) And my clients were said not to tell their families what happened. But family members do not accept, they will file criminal complaints”.

(01/090) Non-Prosecution on Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 9, 2021 that, Osmaniye Public Prosecutor’s Office decided on non-prosecution of torture and ill-treatment of the correction officers that Ferhat Demirbaş, a prisoner in Osmaniye T Type Prison No 1 was subjected on September 18, 2018.

Osmaniye Public Prosecutor’s Office has made the same decision on the issue earlier, but it was revoked by Osmaniye Penal Court of Peace on the grounds of “deficit in investigation”.

(01/062) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 7, 2021 that, Harun Kaya, a prisoner in Kürkçüler F Type Prison was subjected to disciplinary proceedings for his notes on a book, and that he was penalised to 15 days of solitary cell confinement as a result of disciplinary proceedings.

Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul
It is learned that lawyer Eren Keskin, co-chair of Human Rights Association (IHD) who went to Security Directorate of Istanbul on January 6, 2021 to visit 36 people under custody, were not allowed to see detainees. 36 people were detained in house raids in Istanbul, following the protests at Boğaziçi University on January 4, 2021; and they were subjected to torture and ill-treatment including strip search under custody.

It is reported that detention period for 36 people was extended to 48 hours.

(01/035) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2021 that, 22 people who were detained in house raids in Istanbul following the protest at Boğaziçi University on January 4, 2021; were forced to lie down on the ground with handcuffs behind their backs; and they were subjected to physical violence of the police while they were put in detention car. It is also reported that those who reject to strip search were subjected to physical violence of the police.

It is reported that one person fell sick during a house raid. It is learned that the house of Sultan Aksu, local authority of Yeldeğirmeni neighbourhood in Kadıköy district of Istanbul through this investigation; and the people in the house were forced to lie down. It is learned that the police “apologized” and left the house after finding out that it was the house of local authority. It is reported that the police, raiding a house where nobody is in, demolished the wall nearby the door.

(01/036) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2020 that, in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2, prisoners were given daily 10-15 litres of water, which should be 200 litres.

It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2021 that, journalist Adnan Bilen who is kept in Van High Security Prison was not given Kurdish newspaper Xwebun.

(01/023) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Istanbul
It is learned from the news coverage of January 5, 2021 that, 2 people (Roni Dıtın Gören and Ferhat Can) who were detained in the police intervention to the protest at Boğaziçi University on January 4, 2021; were forced to strip search under custody and their clothes were forcibly taken off by the police using physical violence.

It is learned that LGBTIQ+ activists Yıldız İdil Şen and Havin Coşkun, who were among 17 people detained in house raids in Istanbul, for participating in protests at Boğaziçi University; were forced to strip search under custody, and were subjected to physical and psychological violence and rape threats.

(01/005) Person Subjected to Torture and Ill-Treatment in Military
It is learned from the news coverage of January 2, 2021 that, Hasan Düdük, who was on compulsory military service at Armoured Brigade Command No 3 in Çerkezköy district of Tekirdağ, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment.

Hasan Düdük was subjected to physical violence of specialised sergeant R. K. for he did not participate in cleaning activity on November 10, 2020, and he stated the following: “I went to the infirmary to be referred to a hospital that could give me a medical report evidencing the violence; the specialised sergeant who was accompanying me there, tried to persuade the doctor for not giving me a document for referral to the hospital (…) Although I got a referral document, the commander did not allow me to go to the hospital (…) I went to Çerkezköy Public Hospital in some way, and got a report evidencing the violence (…)

I deserted from the military post because I could not stand all of these, but I went back there after 8 hours. (…) When I was taken to military prosecutor to make official statement, I wrote down a statement which covers everything, but my superiors tore up it because I mentioned that I was beaten. I make my statement verbally and I told everything to the prosecutor. I was them beaten by another master sergeant for I did not change my statement, and my toenail was broken due to this.”

It is stated in the news reports that Hasan Düdük filed criminal complaints against the officers in charge.

(01/006) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison…
It is learned from the news coverage of December 31, 2020 that, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners in Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison were restricted, and Yeni Yaşam and Evrensel newspapers were not given to them although there is no ban imposed on these newspapers.

Source: https://en.tihv.org.tr/

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