RIGHTS - Bianet

RIGHTS

Page 164

All Defendants Released in KCK Main Case

All Defendants Released in KCK Main Case

Two defendants were released in KCK Diyarbakır main case. After Hasan Hüseyin Ebem and Abdullah Eflatun were released, any defendant is now on trial within KCK main case.

Real Aim Behind “Operation Back to Life”

Real Aim Behind “Operation Back to Life”

Prepared before the hunger strikes have begun, the report about operations to prisons wrote “ Psychological operation activities should be taken into account by attempting with the presence of NGOs and media to mold public opinion.”

10 July 2014 Ayça Söylemez

Sick Inmate Released After Losing Conscious

Sick Inmate Released After Losing Conscious

Şehmus Yetek (65), a sick inmate in Midyat Prison, was diagnosed with cancer with 3 years of health complications. Upon losing his conscious yesterday, Yetek was released with a forensics report saying that “he can’t remain in the prison alone”.

Turkey Convicted For Death Under Detention

Turkey Convicted For Death Under Detention

The European Court of Human Rights found Turkey guilty of violating right to life and investigation in the case Yurtsever, an individual who died after police detention in 1998.

9 July 2014 Ayça Söylemez

1,914 Children Officially in Prison in Turkey

1,914 Children Officially in Prison in Turkey

Responding to a parliamentarian inquiry of Pervin Buldan from HDP, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ said 1,914 children are in prison in Turkey. Besides, 353 children stay with their prisoner or convict mothers. Children’s average period of detention is 110 days.

RTÜK Member Criticizes Bikini Decision

RTÜK Member Criticizes Bikini Decision

“According to RTÜK's justification, all celebrity shows must have a penalty,” RTÜK Yıldırım member said, criticizing the penalty on Calvin Harris’ music video.

8 July 2014 Elif Akgül

Seeking Freedom For Translator Tonguç Ok

Seeking Freedom For Translator Tonguç Ok

Being imprisoned for 17 years, translator Ok was sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment. A petition started for the court to release Ok. The signatories demand to abrogate TMK [Anti-Terror Act] article no.17 and change the criminal execution system.

8 July 2014 Elif Akgül

Nolle Prosequi For Torturers in Diyarbakır Prison

Nolle Prosequi For Torturers in Diyarbakır Prison

Diyarbakır Prosecutor’s Office issued a “nolle prosequi” ruling on the complaints of 1500 applicants related to torture allegations in Diyarbakır Prison No. 5 during Turkey’s 1980 military coup. Chairman of 78’ers Association in Diyarbakır said they would object the ruling.

7 July 2014 Ayça Söylemez

122 Cancer Patients Across Turkey's Prisons

122 Cancer Patients Across Turkey's Prisons

The Ministry of Justice explained 122 cancer patients are in prison. The ministry also mentioned they had taken 13,980 complaint applications from the prisoners, their relatives and various authorities since 2002.

70 Prisons House “Sponged Rooms” in Turkey

70 Prisons House “Sponged Rooms” in Turkey

Turkey's Justice Minister admitted that there were sponged rooms in 70 prisons. These rooms are notorious in press for its torture videos. Sponged rooms are being watched for 24 hours and the rooms’ toilets are not surrounded.

3 July 2014 Ayça Söylemez

Supreme Court of Appeals Ratifies Kuray’s Life Sentence

Supreme Court of Appeals Ratifies Kuray’s Life Sentence

Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeals announced its verdict on Sarp Kuray, a convict who has been sentenced to life despite ECHR ruling that his trial wasn’t held fairly. Kuray was sentenced to life again.

Sivas Massacre Victims Remembered

Sivas Massacre Victims Remembered

A group of activists marched to Madımak Hotel in the eastern province of Sivas to commemorate the killing of 35 intellectuals in 1993.

30 Released, 2 Declined in KCK Diyarbakır Case

30 Released, 2 Declined in KCK Diyarbakır Case

Diyarbakır 2nd High Criminal Court released 30 defendants yesterday while declining the release of two as “PKK still resumed its activities”.

Long Term Inmates Apply For Suspension After Sledgehammer Ruling

Long Term Inmates Apply For Suspension After Sledgehammer Ruling

Hasan Polat and Sami Özbil, two inmates who have been jailed for 23 and 16 years respectively despite ECHR verdict on “lack of fair trial”, have applied for their suspension of arrest term, saying that the recent Sledgehammer ruling on retrial must set example.

No Therapy But Torture in Turkey's Sanatoriums

No Therapy But Torture in Turkey's Sanatoriums

Having visited sanatoriums in Turkey for two years, RUHISAK reported the violation of rights. The only solution for fixing these places is to change the mentality which does not see the patients as individuals.

27 June 2014 Çiçek Tahaoğlu

ECHR: Kumkapı Removal Centre Is “Inhumane”

ECHR: Kumkapı Removal Centre Is “Inhumane”

ECHR found Turkey guilty of violating the “ban of torture and ill-treatment” in the case of Zalim Yarashonen, a Russian citizen who had been kept in Kumkapı Removal Centre in Istanbul for six months.

27 June 2014 Ayça Söylemez

TİHV, İHD: 5,848 Subjected to Police Violence

TİHV, İHD: 5,848 Subjected to Police Violence

Human Rights Association (IHD) and Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) issued a joint press release at IHD Istanbul Headquarters on 26 June - the International Day in support of Victims of Torture.

27 June 2014 Pınar Ağabeyoğlu

Human Rights Activists Arrive in Ankara For Sick Inmates

Human Rights Activists Arrive in Ankara For Sick Inmates

Members of Human Rights Association will march to Turkey’s Parliament and meet authorities today to demand the liberation of sick prisoners.

4 Released in KCK Case Including Journalist

4 Released in KCK Case Including Journalist

Siirt 1st High Criminal Court released 4 defendants within KCK case including Abdullah Çetin, a report from DIHA.

Constitutional Court: Öcalan's Right Was Violated

Constitutional Court: Öcalan's Right Was Violated

Constitutional Court ruled that Öcalan's right was violated when his book was seized and burnt in the process of publishing.

“Yıldırım Verdict Must Pave the Way For KCK Defendants”

“Yıldırım Verdict Must Pave the Way For KCK Defendants”

bianet interviewed HDP Assembly member Meral Danış Beştaş on the retrial order of Aziz Yıldırım due to the closure of Turkey’s Special-Duty Courts. She said the same should apply for KCK defendants.

25 June 2014 Ekin Karaca

Activists to Walk to Ankara For Sick Inmates

Activists to Walk to Ankara For Sick Inmates

Members of Human Rights Association Istanbul Branch Prison Commission will start a march to Ankara in order to raise awareness on sick inmates and urge for their immediate release.

“Punishing Two Generals Doesn’t Confront Us with Military Coup”

“Punishing Two Generals Doesn’t Confront Us with Military Coup”

Of his 60-year long life, Tahir Canan spent 32 years in prison and witnessed the most serious aspects of September 12, Turkey’s 3rd military coup in 1980. bianet interviewed Canan on the life sentence rulings on two generals Evren and Şahinkaya.

20 June 2014 Ekin Karaca

Constitutional Court Finds “Right Violation” For Hanefi Avcı

Constitutional Court Finds “Right Violation” For Hanefi Avcı

Turkey’s Constitutional Court responded to the individual complaint of Hanefi Avcı, a former police commissioner currently jailed within Devrimci Karargah case, ruling that his long arrest and trial periods committed a violation.

Former Generals Sentenced to Life For 1980 Military Coup

Former Generals Sentenced to Life For 1980 Military Coup

Ankara 10th High Criminal Court convicted former general Kenan Evren and Tahsin Şahinkaya to life for their involvement in the 1980 Military Coup. The verdict was issued after the opinion of the prosecutor.

Commemoration for Berkin Elvan in Okmeydanı

Commemoration for Berkin Elvan in Okmeydanı

A commemoration was held in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı neighborhood for the first injury anniversary of Berkin Elvan, a 15 year old boy who was died after a comatose of 269 days due to a police gas bomb canister.

İbrahim Aras, a 15 y.o. Protestor, Dies in Adana

İbrahim Aras, a 15 y.o. Protestor, Dies in Adana

According to eyewitnesses, İbrahim Aras, 15, died last night after hitting his head due to an object fired by a police tank during a protest in the southern district of Seyhan.

One Suspect Arrested For Taking Down Flag

One Suspect Arrested For Taking Down Flag

A court arrested an alleged collaborator in the investigation into the demonstrator that took down Turkey’s flag in Diyarbakır 2nd Air Force Command.

A Guerrilla Speaks Up: Mountains and Childhood

A Guerrilla Speaks Up: Mountains and Childhood

What deceives children is the course of this society, in my opinion. It is the state itself, which provides neither a future, nor the space for freedom or democracy, that deceives.

11 June 2014 Ruken Şahan

Cemevi Shooting in Antep

Cemevi Shooting in Antep

A motorcycled assailant opened fire on the crowd attending a funeral service in a cemevi in Antep province. Three were injured in the event.

Flag Take-Down Demonstrations, Attacks

Flag Take-Down Demonstrations, Attacks

While the taking down of the flag in Diyarbakır led to demonstrations in the name of respecting the flag in certain provinces, the reaction to the flag in certain places turned into an attack against Kurds.

Two Dismissed After Flag Take Down

Two Dismissed After Flag Take Down

Ministry of Internal Affairs, Turkish Air Force Command and Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office have launched an investigation regarding the incident of taking down of Turkish flag within the military bsse of Diyarbakır 2nd Air Force Command. Two security officers were dismissed.