RIGHTS

Date published: 15 April 2021 12:26

~ Modified On: 15 April 2021 12:52

22 min Read

RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MARCH

'The act of advocacy has become impossible in Turkey’

In his general commentary attached to the report, Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Secretary General Coşkun Üsterci says, “Unfortunately, the new Human Rights Action Plan creates no hope or excitement in us."

İstanbul

'The act of advocacy has become impossible in Turkey’

* Photo: We will stop femicides platform

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), Human Rights Association (İHD) and Initiative for Freedom of Expression released their monthly report on violations of freedom of expression and right to assembly and association in Turkey in March 2021 yesterday (April 14).

The 12-page report of the rights organizations has underlined that, as was the case in the previous months, March also witnessed violations of freedom of expression and right to assembly and demonstration, trials, detentions over social media posts and access blocks to websites.

Grouped under three headings, namely "Administrative Bans, Police Interventions", "Investigations and Prosecutions" and "Other Violations", the reports' findings have also been shared in a video.

In the video, the rapporteurs from İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Diyarbakır have summarized the violations of rights across Turkey last month. While İHD's Osman İşçi has talked about the violations in Central Anatolia and its surrounding area, Derya Yıldırım has mentioned the violations in the Southern and Eastern Anatolia, Şanar Yurdatapan has elaborated on İstanbul and Ahmet Çiçek on İzmir, the Aegean and Western Mediterranean.

'Action plan creates no hope, excitement'

At the end of the report which lists the violations on a daily basis, TİHV Secretary General Çoşkun Üsterci has also shared a general commentary. Some highlights from his remarks are as follows:

"Human Rights Action Plan was announced by the President with a flamboyant presentation on March 2, 2021. The plan predicted certain targets and activities under the titles of freedom of expression, press freedom as well as freedom of meeting and demonstration, among others.

"However, there was no protective or progressive attitude in the plan to resolve any issue. Considering the detainment of human rights advocates shortly after the announcement of the Action Plan, the lawsuit of closure against a political party, as well as the withdrawal from one of the most extensive international conventions to prevent domestic violence and violence against women, the Istanbul Convention - unfortunately the new Human Rights Action Plan creates no hope or excitement in us.

'Hostile, hateful attitude against Gergerlioğlu'

"The second week of March started with violations and high tension, increasing as the week went by. Human rights advocate and People's Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu's Parliament membership was taken off. This decree is a violation of freedom of expression and thought. This decree is a violation of the right to fair trial. This decree is a violation of the right to election.

"Afterwards, an investigation was opened against him with a summary that was prepared from nothing; and Gergerlioğlu was detained with mistreatment as he was performing his justice watch at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT). This was imprinted on the memories as an example of a hostile and hateful attitude by the ruling power against an opposition Parliament member, more importantly, against a human rights advocate.

Closure case against the HDP

"Immediately afterwards, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court for the shutdown of the People's Democratic Party (HDP).

"A democratic society system predicts, before everything, that citizens are able to express their demands and opinions freely, that they can organise around joint demands and that they can actively participate in public negotiations as well as the shaping of the political sphere.

"In democratic regimes that are based on representation, the primary tool for the citizens' participation in politics is through political parties. Citizens are able to organise through political parties, express their political opinions and demands; intervene in issues that concern either the entire or a part of society, and participate in public negotiation and decision-making processes.

"The shutdown of the HDP means the exclusion of different parts of society, especially the Kurds, represented by this party; and all citizens having voted for the HDP being deprived of freely using their rights that are indispensable for a democratic society, such as the right to freedom of expression, freedom of meeting, organisation and the right to election.

Detention of İHD Co-Chair

"Another incident that occurred in the same week was the detainment of Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) Founders Council member Öztürk Türkdoğan with a police operation against his home early in the morning.

"This situation is a violation of many rights and freedoms, especially the right to organisation and freedom of expression; and it is important because it clearly reveals how impossible the act of advocacy has become and what levels of pressure human rights advocates are under.

Withdrawal from İstanbul Convention

"I can find no words to say on the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. This decision will lead to especially women and LGBTQ+s being completely open and unprotected against violence.

"On the other hand, it will weaken the legal basis of the social fight that has been ongoing to prevent violence; encouraging perpetrators of violence, who are mainly men. In the end, domestic violence will be invisible, violations will not be able to be fought against and impunity will be permanent.

'Demonstration ban in Van still in effect'

"As I do every month, I would like to end my evaluation by mentioning the Governorate bans on protests and demonstrations through the example of Van. Van Governorate's latest 15-day ban on protests and demonstrations was between March 20 and April 3, 2021 and it thus extends the continuous protest and demonstration ban in Van since November 21, 2016 - for 4 years, 4 months and 11 days in total - making up 1594 days."

Violations of rights shared in the March 2021 report

1. Administrative Bans, Police Interventions

01: Istanbul The press statement organised by the People's Democratic Party (HDP) Women's Assembly in Bakırköy within the "Justice for Women Campaign" was prevented by the police.

02: Erzurum The police raided and searched the Erzurum/Karaçoban Municipality under the People's Democratic Party (HDP) administration early in the morning.

02: Hakkâri The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

02: Mersin Eight people were detained and four of them were arrested in house raids conducted in Mersin and Diyarbakır within a Mersin-based investigation conducted on March 2, 2021.

02: Şırnak The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

03: Bursa A high school student was detained due to his social media posts.

05: Istanbul Idil Cultural Center was raided by the police, two people were detained.

05: Kocaeli The police intervened against the call made by Migros workers, who were fired from work, for March 8 in front of Migros Storage Unit; detaining 14 people with physical violence.

05: Samsun Y.B. was detained due to their social media posts.

05: Van The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

06: Istanbul LGBTQ activists participating in the rally organised in Kadıköy on March 6 within the March 8 events were taken off the taxis they took after the rally. Nine people were detained, including women reacting against the incident and journalists recording the incident.

07: Batman The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

08: Istanbul The press statement organised in Karaköy after the Feminist Night Walk on March 8, World Women's Day, was not permitted. The police intervened against the group marching to participate in the press statement and detained two people.

10: Istanbul 12 women were detained with house raids after participating in the March 8 Feminist Night Walk due to insulting the President through the slogans they chanted during the march.

10: Istanbul Ozan Publishing House's Sultangazi office was raided by the police and five people were detained.

10. Istanbul People's Democratic Party (HDP) member Mehmet Masyan was detained due to his social media posts.

15: Adana Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) Central Executive Board (MYK) member was sentenced to 13,237 TL administrative fine due to hanging a banner depicting the appointed rector at Boğaziçi University.

15: Istanbul The police intervened against the Newroz celebration organised in Beylikdüzü district and confiscated lanterns; taking 2 People's Democratic Party (HDP) executives to the station for them to testify.

17: Ankara The police intervened against the press statement organised to protest the Parliamentary membership og People's Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu being taken off; detaining nine people.

17: Aydın The Governorate did not give permission for Newroz celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

17: Hakkâri The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

17: Istanbul Journalist Enver Aysever was detained at the police station he went to within another investigation opened against him, based on a warrant issued against him within another investigation.

18: Urfa Emine Şenyaşar's husband Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and her sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar were killed on June 14, 2018 after the quarrel between Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP candidate İbrahim Halil Yıldız, his guards and the shop owners. The justice watch Emine Şenyaşar wanted to perform in front of the courthouse was prevented by the police due to "preventing the passage of vehicles and pedestrians."

19: Adana 15 people were detained during house raids due to making "illegal organisation propaganda"; four of them were arrested.

19: Ankara Human Rights Association (IHD) Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan as well as nine People's Democratic Party (HDP) members and executives were detained.

19: Iğdır The police prevented the press statement organised by the People's Democratic Party (HDP) on the Parliament membership of Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu being taken off as well as on the closure case against the HDP. HDP MP Habip Eksik and other citizens participating in the statement were exposed to physical violence by the police.

19: Izmir Five people were detained during house raids against People's Democratic Party (HDP) members in Gömeç and Edremit districts.

19: Istanbul Eight people were detained during house raids against People's Democratic Party (HDP) members and executives.

20: Ankara The press statement organised in order to protest Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention was prevented by the police.

20: Aydın Voice vehicle announcing a call to celebrate the Newroz was stopped in Ovaemir neighborhood of Efeler district in Aydın and was fined 339 TL.

20: Istanbul The police intervened against the press statement organised in Kadıköy, using physical violence.

21: Adana Seven people were detained during Newroz celebrations, including three children. One person was arrested.

21: Ankara People's Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was detained at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT) as he was continuing his justice watch after losing his seat in the Parliament.

21: Cizre The police intervened against the Newroz celebrations with tear gas.

21: Istanbul 11 people were detained in Newroz celebrations.

21: Konya 11 people celebrating the Newroz in Gölyazı village of Cihanbeyli were detained by the gendarmerie.

22: Istanbul The police intervened against the families, who wanted to hold a press statement in front of the courthouse for the release of ill prisoner Ali Osman Köse, and detained two people.

22: Osmaniye The security forces prevented the Newroz celebrations due to the Governorate ban against protests and demonstrations issued within the measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

23: Izmir Five people were detained after a Newroz celebration due to chanting slogans that praised the PKK/KCK as well as due to their social media posts.

24: Antalya Five people were detained in Kepez during house raids due to "making illegal organisation propaganda".

24: Istanbul Journalist Ruhi Karadağ was detained at Sabiha Gökçen Airport due to "making illegal organisation propaganda" in a book he wrote.

25: Istanbul Four students, who wanted to enter Boğaziçi University campus with LGBTQ flags in order to support a student facing a disciplinary investigation due to carrying an LGBTQ flag during a press statement organised to protest the appointed rector at the university, as well as right others who gathered to boycott the North Campus were detained with violence.

25: Malatya Labour Party Provincial Disciplinary Council member Hasan Bali was detained due to his social media posts and was released on the condition of judicial measures.

26: Gaziantep Labour Party member Nail Ulutaş was detained due to his social media posts and was released the next day with a travel ban.

26: Istanbul The police intervened against those wanting to hold a press statement in front of Çağlayan Courthouse to support detained students of Boğaziçi University, detaining 60 people using mistreatment and reverse handcuffs.

26: Istanbul The police intervened against the press statement organised in front of Çağlayan Courthouse with the demand of justice for Mehmet Özdemir, who was arrested on August 18, 2020; and detained three people, including one child, using physical violence.

26: Nevşehir One People's Democratic Party (HDP) member was detained through a house raid in Avanos due to "making illegal organisation propaganda through his social media posts".

27: Istanbul The police used physical violence to attempt to prevent the entrance to the press statement organised in Kadıköy to protest Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention with a Presidential decree, with LGBTQ flags.

28: Tunceli The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

28: Urfa The Governorate banned all protests and demonstrations for 15 days.

29: Istanbul The police intervened against the press statement organised by Kocaeli Migros workers, who were fired, in front of the mansion of Migros Executive Council Chairman Tuncay Özilhan in Beykoz; and detained 17 people using physical violence.

30: Mersin 6 Mersin Women's Platform members, who participated in the march organised to protest Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, were sentenced to 21,598 TL fine in total due to not abiding by the measures taken within the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Investigations and Prosecutions

01: Istanbul The lawsuit filed against Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen at the Anatolian 8th Criminal Court of First Instance due to insulting the President through their speech on Halk TV was concluded with acquittal.

02: Diyarbakır People's Democratic Party (HDP) Sur District Co-Chair Hatun Yıldız was sentenced to 6 years and three months of imprisonment due to "illegal organisation membership."

02: Istanbul The lawsuit filed against journalist Fatih Portakal at Istanbul 46th Criminal Court of First Instance due to insulting the President was concluded with acquittal.

03: Hakkâri Yüksekova Co-Mayor İrfan Sarı, who was replaced with a trustee, was sentenced to 1 year and three months of imprisonment due to "making illegal organisation propaganda" and was acquitted of "illegal organisation membership". The Regional Court approved the sentence against Sarı due to "making illegal organisation propaganda" and reversed the decree of acquittal issued due to "illegal organisation membership," issuing 6 years and three months of imprisonment against him.

03: Istanbul In the lawsuit filed against artist Ferhat Tunç at Büyükçekmece 4th Criminal Court of First Instance due to his social media posts, the claim for the statement of Tunç to be received through rogatory from Germany was denied by Darmstadt Prosecutor's Office due to "freedom of expression."

04: Batman An investigation was opened against the People's Democratic Party (HDP) Provincial Organisation with the allegation of "public incitement towards resentment and hostility" after sharing on social media the visuals of an armoured vehicle belonging to the Provincial Security Directorate entering an area with children in Bağlar Neighborhood on February 28, 2021 and the children running away to save their lives.

04: Gaziantep 6th Civil Court of First Instance denied the 20-thousand-TL compensation lawsuit filed against journalist Hazal Ocak by Şahinbey Municipality.

04: Istanbul The Özgür Gündem Daily Case was held at the 22nd Criminal Court of First Instance, including Hatip Dicle as a defendant. The court issued for the warrant against Dicle to remain.

04: Istanbul The prosecution of the lawsuit filed against journalist Can Dündar and Özgür Gündem's Managing Editor İnan Kızılkaya due to participating in the campaign to support Özgür Gündem Daily continued at the 22nd Assize Court. The execution of the warrant against Can Dündar will be awaited.

05: Diyarbakır In the lawsuit filed against TUAY-DER executive Müşeher Ülker due to "illegal organisation membership" and "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" through participating in the funeral of a prisoner, Zülküf Gezen, who committed suicide on March 17, 2019; Ülker was sentenced to 3 years, 1 month and 5 days of imprisonment due to "committing a crime on behalf of an illegal organisation without membership" as well as 5 months of imprisonment due to "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations."

08: Ankara In the lawsuit filed against OdaTV Ankara News Director Müyesser Yıldız, Erdal Baran and TELE1 Ankara Representative İsmail Dükel at the 26th Assize Court, Müyesser Yıldız was sentenced to 2 years and six months, Dükel was sentenced to 1 year and 15 days and Baran was sentenced to 7 years and six months of imprisonment. The sentence issued against Dükel was deferred.

08: Denizli One person was detained with a house raid due to making illegal organisation propaganda on social media.

09: Diyarbakır An investigation was started against 18 lawyers representing MEBYA-DER executives and members within the investigation against the association, without permission from the Ministry of Justice. A confidentiality order was issued for the investigation.

10: Cizre An investigation was started against Cizre Co-Mayor Berivan Kutlu, who posted on social media for Grup Yorum member Helin Bölek after she lost her life on the 288th day of her indefinite hunger strike and then was replaced with a trustee, due to "praising the crime and the criminal".

10: Erzurum The fifth hearing of the lawsuit filed against People's Democratic Party (HDP) Karayazı District Co-Chair Dinçer Polat was held at Erzurum 2nd Assize Court due to "aiding an illegal organisation." The court sentenced Polat to 3 years and 45 days of imprisonment due to "aiding an illegal organisation" and issued his release.

10: Istanbul Journalist Yılmaz Özdil testified at Istanbul Press Crimes Office within the investigation opened against him due to his column, "The Threat of the Bigot."

10: Muş People's Democratic Party (HDP) Varto Co-Mayor Ülkü Karaaslan, who was replaced with a trustee, was sentenced to 2 years and three months of imprisonment due to "successively making illegal organisation propaganda" in the lawsuit filed against her at the 2nd Assize Court due to "illegal organisation membership," "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations," and "making illegal organisation propaganda." Karaaslan was acquitted of the other charges imposed against her.

11: Edirne In the lawsuit filed against Mayor Recep Gürkan due to a speech he gave on July 15, 2015; the court sentenced Gürkan to 2 months and 15 days of imprisonment due to "praising the crime and the criminal" and deferred the announcement of the verdict.

14: Ankara An investigation was opened by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against People's Democratic Party (HDP) Ağrı MP and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Berdan Öztürk due to "making illegal organisation propaganda".

15: Diyarbakır 11th Assize Court sentenced People's Democratic Party (HDP) Provincial Chairman Murat Öndeş to 6 years and three months of imprisonment due to "illegal organisation membership" through his participation in protests and demonstrations organised by his party in December 2017 and May 2019.

16: Diyarbakır In the lawsuit filed against previously shut-down Özgür Gün TV2s former Managing Director Barış Barıştıran, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chairmanship Council member Hilmi Aydoğdu and the father of 16-year-old Rozerin Çukur, who was killed during the curfew in Sur, Mustafa Çukur; Barıştıran and Aydoğdu were acquitted. Çukur was sentenced to 1 year, 6 months and 22 days of imprisonment due to "making illegal organisation propaganda" and the announcement of the verdict was deferred.

16: Istanbul In the lawsuit filed against Cumhuriyet Daily reporter Seyhan Avşar and Sözcü Daily's former online Managing Editor Necdet Önemli at the 29th Assize Court, the journalists were acquitted.

17: Ankara People's Democratic Party (HDP) former Spokesperson Günay Kubilay was acquitted in the lawsuit filed against him at the 4th Assize Court.

17: Ankara The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation applied to the Constitutional Court for the shut-down of the People's Democratic Party (HDP).

17: Istanbul sendika.org editor Ali Ergin Demirhan was sentenced to 7,000 TL judicial fine by the 24th Assize Court due to insulting the President.

17: Muş 2nd Assize Court sentenced People's Democratic Party (HDP) member Bulanık Co-Mayor Adnan Topçu, who was replaced with a trustee, to 6 years, 10 months and 15 days of imprisonment due to "illegal organisation membership" and to 1 year and 3 months of imprisonment due to "making illegal organisation propaganda."

19: Balıkesir Three people were detained with house raids due to making illegal organisation propaganda on social media.

19: Balıkesir Seven people were detained with house raids in Bandırma district due to making PKK/KCK illegal organisation propaganda on social media.

19: Izmir Deriteks İzmir Chairman was detained at Adnan Menderes Airport following the complaint of SF Trade Textile company.

22: Denizli Two people were detained due to making PKK/KCK illegal organisation propaganda on social media.

22: Diyarbakır An investigation was started against People's Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Mithat Sancar due to the speech he gave during the Newroz celebrations on March 21, 2021.

22: Diyarbakır An investigation was started on the banners, flags opened as well as the slogans chanted during the Newroz celebration organised at Newroz Park in Bağlar district on March 21, 2021.

26: Elazığ 2nd Assize Court sentenced 30 people to imprisonment sentences varying between 7 years and six months as well as 8 years; in the lawsuit filed against Kurdish politicians in Silopi district of Şırnak in 2011 and was transferred to Elazığ due to security reasons. 12 people were sentenced to a total of 99 years of imprisonment and 18 people were acquitted. Cizre Co-Mayor Kutlu was sentenced to 7 years and three months of imprisonment.

26: Urfa 19 people were sentenced to five months of imprisonment each due to "violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations" in the lawsuit filed against them over participating in the event organised by the Labour and Democracy Platform on October 11, 2015 to commemorate those losing their lives in the bomb attack at Ankara Train Station Square. The announcement of the verdicts was deferred.

30: Istanbul Artist Nilüfer Aydan was sentenced to 11 months and 20 days of imprisonment due to insulting the President through her social media posts; the announcement of the verdict was deferred.

30: Mersin In the lawsuit filed against former Press, Media, Communication and Post Labourers Union (Haber-Sen) Chairman Musa Özdemir at the 7th Assize Court, Musa Özdemir was released. The next hearing was scheduled for July 1.

30: Urfa A lawsuit was filed against 29 politicians, who participated in the march organised by the People's Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa Provincial Organisation for September 1, World Peace Day, at the central province, due to "organising, managing and participating in the activities of illegal meetings and demonstrations."

3. Other Violations

02: Osmaniye 1st Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against Mesopotamia News Agency's website.

03: Ankara 10 more summaries prepared with the demand for the Parliamentary immunities of 8 more MPs to be taken off were sent to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT).

05: Istanbul Anatolian 8th Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against three posts made from the social media accounts of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on former Minister of Finance and Treasury Berat Albayrak as well as on the dollar reserves of the Central Bank.

08: Istanbul Journalist Levent Gültekin was attacked by 25 people in front of Halk TV headquarters in Bakırköy.

11: Istanbul Bakırköy 6th Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against the websites gazeteduvar and susma24.com due to the news reported on the appointment of the spouse of a Prosecutor to replace a prison doctor.

12: Bursa 2nd Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against a news article on Tarımdan Haber website due to violation of personal rights.

12: Rize Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against a content on ifade.org about the news on the academic facing an accusation of harassment at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University being promoted as the department head, due to violation of personal rights.

16: Istanbul Anatolian 4th Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against the news published on Haber124.com.tr regarding the Halkbank case.

16: Izmir Type-F Closed Prison No.1 convict Güven Usta was not allowed to make a phone call to his family.

17: Ankara Access Providers Union issued an access ban against certain news on the websites sol.org, OdaTV and Gerçek Gündem websites.

17: Ankara The Parliament membership of People's Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu was taken off with the finalised imprisonment sentence against him being read at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT).

17: Balıkesir Newspapers and magazines were not distributed in prisons; books and radios were confiscated.

17: Istanbul Anatolian 8th Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against the news on the website of Evrensel Daily regarding the work accidents and the prevention of union organisation at Iskefe Leather Factory.

20: Istanbul A French journalist arriving in Turkey for the Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır was detained at Sabiha Gökçen Airport and was deported the next day due to being "inappropriate".

20: Izmir Şakran Women's Closed Prison A6 Ward was raided and books were confiscated.

22: Tekirdağ A large portion of the letter written by lawyer Engin Gökoğlu, who is convicted at Tekirdağ Type-T Prison No. 2, was censored. The letter was addressed to his wife.

23: Ankara 7th Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against certain news articles on Hürriyet, Sabah and Yenişafak Daily websites due to violation of personal rights.

24: Antalya 1st Criminal Judicature of Peace issued an access ban against a news article on Sözcü Daily's website due to violation of personal rights.

31: Izmir A street musician in Konak district was beaten by the police.

(HA/SD)

Origin

BIA News Desk

TİHV IHD Human Rights Association report Initiative for Freedom of Expression ihd human rights foundation of turkey ÎHD TÎHV march 2021

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RIGHTS

Date published: 21 March 2025 23:42

~ Modified On: 21 March 2025 23:55

9 min Read

WITNESSES OF THE SAHEL MASSACRE

Zaynab from Latakia: We just want to live in security and peace

“When we went downstairs, our blood ran cold at the sight we saw. My father-in-law was lying on the floor, covered in blood. My husband and his brothers were executed where they were sitting.”

Vecih Cuzdan

TRTürkçesini Oku

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Zaynab from Latakia: We just want to live in security and peace — Security forces of the new administration on the road to Latakia. The sign at the bottom right reads “Sanubar 3 km.” (963media.com)

The provinces of Latakia and Tartous, known as the “Sahel” in western Syria, and the rural areas of Hama and Homs have been witnessing ethnic cleansing attacks against Alawites since Mar 6.

These attacks, spearheaded by the security forces of the new government and its armed factions, have killed and injured thousands, destroyed families, looted homes and businesses, and displaced tens of thousands of people. However, the true toll of the attacks and the full extent of what has happened are still unknown.

According to a Mar 17 report by the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a total of 1557 civilians were killed, including 795 in Latakia, 487 in Tartous, 262 in Hama and 13 in Homs. Local sources state that this number is much higher.

Sanubar, which means “pine tree” in Arabic, is an Alawite village located about 13 kilometers from Latakia city center. According to a 2021 report by Syria's official news agency SANA, Sanubar, with a population of 35,000, is described as a region “in the Latakia countryside, where the sea and the river meet in the shade of pine, eucalyptus and cypress forests”. Most of its inhabitants are engaged in agriculture.

But on March 7, the area was shadowed by gunfire; its people were killed, displaced and their homes looted. Zaynab*, a 32-year-old housewife, was hiding on the last floor of the building where she lived with her 5-year-old daughter and mother-in-law on the day of the massacre. Around the same time, gunmen stormed their home and executed her husband, father-in-law and two brothers-in-law.

Zaynab, who lost 11 members of her family in total, told bianet about what she witnessed in Sanubar and her struggle for survival in an online interview.

A road surrounded by pine trees leads to Sanubar village (SANA)

Massacre day in Sanubar: March 7

Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Zaynab. I am 32 years old. I am a housewife. I have a 5-year-old daughter. We live in Sanubar village. We were there during the massacre. My husband and his family are engaged in agriculture. Our village generally makes a living from agriculture.

What happened in your village?

On Friday morning, Mar 7, around 08.30, armed groups started to arrive in the village. They came in groups, one after the other. The first group was dressed in monochrome clothes close to the color of petrol. When we asked them who they were, they said, “We belong to the Ministry of Defense.”

When they entered our house, they were literally terrorizing us. They started shouting at us, shooting between the men's feet. “Give us the guns and the gold,” they shouted. “Take out everything you have,” they said. They ransacked the house and searched it. Then they asked us, “Are you Alevi or Sunni?”

Location of Sanubar village on the map. (Map: wikipedia, Collage: bianet)

'We will kill all Alawites'

“Tell the people who come after us that they are from the Ministry of Defense,” the first group said before they finished their search and left. Shortly after, the second group arrived and asked the same question: “Are you Alevi or Sunni?” My father-in-law said, “We are Muslims” and gave the martyrdom. But they said, “We have orders from the top, we will kill all Alevis. We have nothing to do with Sunnis.”

The first group returned later. Their aim was to get money. They came again to get the money they couldn't find in the first search. Me, my mother-in-law and my little daughter were sitting in a room. We had closed the door. Someone from the group came and started threatening us.

'They put a gun to my daughter's head'

“Give me all your money, gold and weapons,” he shouted. “We don't have anything, you are already searching the house, take whatever you find,” I said.

When he heard this answer, the man put a gun to my daughter's head and said, “Either you take out everything you have now or I will kill your daughter in front of you.” “This is my only child, please don't do anything,” I cried. Eventually they left the room and continued searching the house. They took all the IDs, cell phones and our car.

The second group wore patterned military camouflage. The bottoms were beige and the tops were classic military patterns. We also know that there were calls for jihad in mosques. Among them were civilians from Idlib, we could understand this from their dialect.

Security forces of the new administration on the road to Latakia, Mar 7. (AA)

'We are just farmers'

Until noon that day, new groups kept arriving in the village. Then a vehicle from the security forces arrived. They entered our house and asked what happened. My father-in-law said, “They attacked us, threatened us, turned our house upside down. We have nothing to do with weapons, we are just farmers,” he told them everything.

Later, we learned from our neighbors that on the same day, the security forces met the armed group that committed massacres in our village and greeted them. Then they left the village without doing anything.

There are those who say, “The security forces protected people,” but we saw the opposite. They knew that armed groups were committing massacres but did not intervene.

'Our blood ran cold at what we saw'

Was the process in which your husband, father-in-law and brothers-in-law were killed after that?

Yes. In the afternoon, around 2.15 pm, there was incredibly intense gunfire. The houses were being fired at random. We couldn't understand whether it was a bomb exploding or gunshots being fired.

My wife took us to the third floor of the building. This floor was under construction and he told us to hide here. A few minutes later we heard a unified voice shouting “Allahu Akbar”, followed by gunshots. We waited in silence and fear for 10-15 minutes.

When we went downstairs, our blood ran cold at the sight we saw. My father-in-law was lying on the floor, covered in blood. My husband and his siblings had been executed where they were sitting.

When my daughter saw this scene, she lost it and started hitting herself. I didn't know what to do. I was trying to calm him down and I was looking at my wife and her family in blood. We were in shock.

'Your men killed them, not us'

Did you meet the attackers in person? Did you have any contact with them?

We went outside. Just then a white car pulled up in front of the door. A few men got out of it. They entered the house, looked at the bodies and asked us, “Who killed them? Did you see them?”

There were so many groups that we didn't know exactly who the killers were, but I said, “Yes, I saw them,” because I had seen the previous groups. Then the man said to me, “Your men killed them, not us.” You know how they say “remnants of the regime”, he was referring to them. They were asking, “Do you have a camera inside the house?” But of course there wasn't. Even if there was, it wouldn't work because there was no electricity anyway.

But when I told him I saw the killers, he looked at me in horror. I was so scared that one of them was going to do something to me. Fortunately, they left without doing anything.

Security forces of the new administration in Latakia, Mar 8. (AA)

'The person who saved us was Sunni, he took a big risk'

What did you do afterwards?

A relative of ours asked a friend from Idlib to help him rescue us. He agreed and came quickly in his car.

He asked me, “Did you tell those men you saw who killed him?” I said, “Yes.” He said, “We need to get out of here quickly, these people are crazy. They will kill you too.”

We immediately covered our heads and hurried out of the house. The person who rescued us was Sunni and he took a big risk and saved us.

As we were leaving the village, we saw the roadside littered with dead bodies. Armed men were stepping on the bodies. There were snipers on the roofs of some houses. They were waiting to kill anyone who approached the bodies. That's why no one could get close to the bodies for three days.

'The bodies were buried in mass graves'

Did you find out what happened in the village after you left Sanubar?

After the fall of the regime, a group called “Fasil 400” (400th Union) settled in our village. They are an incredibly strict group. Most of them were Syrians, we could tell from their dialect which regions they were from. There were very few foreigners among them.

In the area of our house alone, 200 people I knew personally were killed. Some were shot, others were beheaded.

After we left the village, armed groups and their supporters buried the bodies of everyone who had been killed in mass graves.

They did not allow us to mourn or bury our bodies. They denied burying them in mass graves. But on the third day, we learned that they had collected all the bodies and buried them.

In its report dated March 12, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it found that civilians killed in the coastal region were buried in mass graves.

'We are saturated with blood, we don't want more blood'

Finally, do you have a message?

Eleven members of my husband's family were massacred. We don't feel safe. They even killed women. “They killed them so that Alevi men wouldn't give birth. When they went to my friend's house, they told him, “We left a lot of women widows behind.”

My sister's mother-in-law was an old woman who walked with a cane. They even killed her. They killed a 10-year-old boy in our village. What remnants of the regime are these?

The only thing we want is security. We especially want the group called “Fasil 400” to leave our village. We don't want any armed groups. We just want to live in security and peace. We are saturated with blood, we don't want any more blood. I want our children to stop dying, I want these massacres to end.

If they want the minorities to leave, let them open the doors and we will leave. If necessary, we will migrate, we will leave this land. But we don't want to be killed anymore. For 14 years, the Assad regime oppressed and frightened us; we could never speak out. “If we leave, they will kill you,” they said. And so it happened.

*The name of the witness has been changed for security reasons.

(VC/VK)

Origin

Istanbul

Syria alawites

Vecih Cuzdan

@VecihCuzdan

vecihcuzdan@bianet.org

all articles of the author

bianet yazı işleri müdürü (Nisan 2023). sendika.org ve T24’te tam zamanlı; taz.gazete, Stern ve Inside Turkey için serbest zamanlı çalıştı (2013-2023). İstanbul Üniversitesi Tarih Bölümü’nü bitirdi, yüksek lisansını Kocaeli Üniversitesi Tarih Anabilim Dalı'nda “1957 Türkiye-Suriye krizi ve Türk basınında şarkiyatçı söylem” başlıklı teziyle tamamladı.

related news

Rights group calls for release of activist jailed for supporting ill prisoners

Hatice Onaran, who is diagnosed with cancer, was jailed due to depositing money to ill prisoners.

BIA News Desk

TRTürkçesini Oku

BIA News Desk

TRTürkçesini Oku

Rights group calls for release of activist jailed for supporting ill prisoners

The İstanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) has condemned the imprisonment of Hatice Onaran, a member of its prison commission, after she was arrested for depositing money into a prison account to support ill prisoners. The association has called for her immediate release.

Onaran has spent years advocating for the rights of prisoners, particularly those in need of medical treatment. She was sentenced under Turkey’s anti-terror financing law for depositing a small amount of money on behalf of eight ill prisoners, including her former spouse, Menderes Leyla. She has been held at Gebze Women’s Closed Prison in Koceli since October.

The İHD criticized the ruling, calling it "contrary to reason, conscience, and the law." It stressed that sending money to prisoners is not a crime and that such transactions are regulated by prison administration guidelines.

"Inmates are not allowed to receive cash directly," the İHD stated. "Funds must be deposited into the prison administration’s account and are used according to specific regulations."

Severe health concerns

The 60-year-old activist has been diagnosed with colon cancer and is classified as 79% disabled. After years of fighting for prisoners’ right to medical care, she is now facing similar challenges herself.

The İHD announced that it will continue to protest Onaran’s detention and will deposit funds for her each month through the state postal service, as it does for other inmates. (VK)

Origin

Istanbul

ill prisoners prisoners Hatice Onaran

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