Human Rights Foundation Fined After Aiding Gezi Protestors

Social Security Institution (SGK) held a tax inspection and  imposed an administrative fine of more than 130,000 liras on Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) right after the foundation’s efforts to medically help wounded Gezi protestors in 2013. 

TİHV held press conferences in 3 three provinces - Istanbul, Ankara and Diyarbakır - in order to announce that they consider the fine as non-binding. 

A statement has been read in Istanbul by Şebnem Korur Fincancı, a forensics doctor and chairwoman of the foundation. 

Fincancı explained that SGK’s tax inspectors held visits to their headquarters between June 18 and 21 - days after massive Gezi Resistance broke out in 2013. 

“Agents inspected why one of our part-time doctors doctor under the foundation was not working full-time even if we presented SGK documents that he had other contracts elsewhere as office-doctor,” she said. 

“SGK issued an administrative fine, saying that the payrolls were not arrange accordingly and not registered according to legal documents. They also made a premium deduction on monthly full-time salary for that doctor.” 

The foundation’s efforts to take legal action on the suspension of fines are still pending albeit challenges with pending trials and investigations.   

“Considering that only in 2014 our foundation allocated health-related expenses of 618,000 liras for the treatment and rehabilitation of 997 torture victims, the aforementioned fine will mean that hundreds of people will have limited access to these services and such case is absolutely not acceptable!” TIHV statement said. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.