CHP Report: 203 People's Right to Life Violated, 100 Tortured in May

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In May, at least 203 people's right to life was violated, including 156 occupational homicides, according to the main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) rights violations report.

Sezgin Tanrıkulu, an İstanbul MP and the deputy chair of the Human Rights Inquiry Committee of the parliament, has announced the findings of the report.

Accordingly, one person was killed in extrajudicial executions, opening fire after stop warning or random shooting, 20 people were killed in armed clashes, one was killed in suspicious soldier deaths, one was killed in armed clashes between civilians, three were killed in prisons, 21 were killed in feminicides, and 156 were killed in occupational homicides.

Covid-19 in prisons

In Silivri No. 7 Type-L Prison in İstanbul, 15 wards are in quarantine and 107 prisoners tested positive for coronavirus, Tanrıkulu said, citing a statement by the Human Rights Association (İHD), Contemporary Lawyers' Association (ÇHD), MED TUHAF-FED, and the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD).

Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated on May 22 that one person died of Covid-19 in Silivri Prison.

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Also, 44 correction officers at Silivri Prison and six prisoners at Mardin Type-E Prison tested positive for coronavirus while 82 prisoners are being treated in Silivri prison, according to the report.

Suspicious soldier deaths

Ahmet Türeli (21) died on May 19 during military service in Van province. He was reportedly found seriously wounded in a sentry post on May 17 and hospitalized in Van. He was then sent to Gülhane Military Training Hospital in Ankara and died there. The official statement said he committed suicide whereas his relatives said he was injured in the chest with three G-3 rifle bullets.

Clashes between civilians

In Kargı district of Çorum province, Sonay Ergül, a municipal council member from the CHP was targeted in an armed attack in his car. On May 24, İbrahim Eken, a municipal council member from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and İbrahim Akgül were shortly detained. Ergül stated that he was assaulted because having objected to some irregularities at the municipality.

On May 31, Barış Çakan (20) was assaulted by three people in Etimesgut, Ankara. He died after being stabbed in the chest.

Torture and law enforcement violence

At least 100 people, including two children, were tortured by law enforcement officers in detention centers or outside detention centers, filed a criminal complaint or applied to human rights organizations after being tortured. At least 109 people, (Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, HDP Ankara Co-Chair Vezir Coşkun Parlak), were subjected to violence by the police or the gendarmerie.

Three ill prisoners died

Sabri Kaya: A seriously ill prisoner who was released and died on May 22 after a medical report by Osmaniye State Hospital dated May 20. He lost his life at Çukurova University Department of Medicine Balcalı Hospital.

Vefa Kartal: A prisoner in İHD Prisons Committee's list of seriously ill prisoners, died on May 31 at Edirne Type-F Prison.

A prisoner at Silivri Prison was hospitalized on May 7 after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 and died on May 21, when he was at the intensive care unit.

One journalist was remanded in custody

Rojhat Doğru was remanded in custody and four other journalists (Yusuf Kayışoğlu, Sena Şat Karaköy, a reporter for Önsöz TV, Ferhat Akgün and Hakan Gülseven) were detained.

At least 11 people were detained and five were remanded in custody due to their social media posts. Ayşe Sarısu Pehlivan was dismissed as a judge.

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The Ministry of Interior stated on May 5 that 7,127 social media accounts were examined because of posts related to the Covid-19 outbreak. As many as 496 people were detained and 10 were remanded in custody, it said.

An investigation was opened after photographs of the house of Fahrettin Altun, the Presidency Communications Director, was taken and published in newspapers. CHP İstanbul Chair Canan Kaftancıoğlu gave a statement at İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and journalists Hazal Ocak, Vedat Arık, Olcay Büyüktaş and İpek Özbey gave statements at İstanbul Security Directorate.

Altun also filed criminal complaints for "defamation" and "insult" against Engin Özkoç, the CHP's parliamentary group deputy chair and Sakarya MP.

Prosecution against local administrators and party officials

A prison sentence against former HDP MP Selma Irmak was upheld. At least 24 people, including HDP Batman Provincial Co-Chairs Fatma Ablay and Ömer Kutlu, were detained and 18 were remanded in custody. Five people were sentenced to prison.

Siirt: Co-mayors Berivan Helen (house arrest) and Peyman Dara Turhan, municipal employees Gülçin Köneş, Eşref Tekin and Beşir Aksu, HDP Party Assembly members Serdar Batur and Resul Kaçar, who was not mandated despite winning the local election in March 2019.

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Siirt Kurtalan: Co-mayors Baran Akgül (house arrest) and Esmer Baran Turhan

Siirt Baykan: Co-mayors Ramazan Sarsılmaz (house arrest), Özden Gülmez Turhan (house arrest).

Iğdır: Co-mayors Yaşar Akkuş (remanded in custody), Eylem Çelik

Muş Korkut, Altınova town: Co-mayor Casim Budak (remanded in custody)

In May, five co-mayors and one mukhtar were dismissed by the Ministry of Interior.

Trustees were appointed to a total of 45 municipalities since the local elections in March 2019. (RT/VK)