HRFT Documentation Center Human Rights Report October 2020
about torture and ill-treatment in Turkey.

06-Nov-2020

(11/007) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody…

People’s Law Office made a declaration on October 30, 2020 and announced that, lawyer Seda Şaraldı who was detained on October 29, 2020 in Denizli, through an Istanbul based investigation, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment while she was being detained and under custody. It is stated in the news reports that Seda Şaraldı was handcuffed behind her back and was kept in this condition for 8 hours while being taken from Denizli to Istanbul; and she was kept in a vehicle with other detainees one of whom were tested positive for Covid-19. It is also stated that Seda Şaraldı was subjected to physical violence of the police during fingerprint procedure.

(10/361) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 28, 2020 that, journalist Aslıhan Gençay who was transferred from Kayseri Prison to Sivas Prison for her probation period on October 22, 2020, was subjected to ill-treatment of the wardens and was forced to strip search. It is also reported that Aslıhan Gençay was prevented from writing a petition to the Ministry of Justice, by prison administration saying “We are the minister of justice, we are the state here”; and that she was penalised with 3 days of solitary cell confinement.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 28, 2020 that, prisoners in Elazığ Women Prison were handcuffed during transfers to hospitals.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 28, 2020 that, in Bayburt M Type Prison, the water given to prisoners were limited to a certain amount, prisoners were not given Yeni Yaşam newspaper, and goods were sold at high prices at prison commissary.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 29, 2020 that, in Antalya L Type Prison, numerous prisoners who are in risk groups for Covid-19 were being kept together in quarantine wards, and the amount of hot water given to prisoners was limited.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 29, 2020 that in Van T Type Women’s Closed Prison, books of prisoners were taken by prison administration, 16 people were kept in a ward for 10 prisoners, and prisoners were forced to stand up during roll-calls and those who reject to do so were subjected to physical violence.

(10/317) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Mardin
It is learned from the news coverage of October 24, 2020 that, A. T. E., the police chief of Derik district of Mardin committed physical violence to 3 detainees, in a room without surveillance cameras. It is stated in the news reports that the police chief has taken a statement against these 3 detainees on the grounds of ‘resisting a police officer’. It is reported that the statement has an expression reading “he started to kick his head to the floor with no reason”, about M. T., one of the detainees who were subjected to physical violence. It is learned that M. T. made a criminal complaint against the police chief.

(10/318) Person Subjected to Physical Violence of Soldiers in Diyarbakır
It is learned from the news coverage of October 25, 2020 that, a fire started following the target practice of soldiers in a rural neighbourhood of Kulp district of Diyarbakır and a quarrel took place between residents of the neighbourhood and the soldiers; and 1 person was subjected to physical violence of the soldiers and his cell phone was broken.

(10/319) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 24, 2020 that in Antep H Type Prison, 8 people were given food for 2 persons and the food given was not hygienic.

(10/278) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 21, 2020 that, Kerem Ayaz, a prisoner in Ordu E Type Prison was threatened to death by wardens.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 21, 2020 that, in Elazığ High Security Prison No 1, the books sent to prisoners were not given to them, hot water was not given on a regular basis, the food given was not adequate and nutrient; social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were prevented.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 21, 2020 that, 42 prisoners in Diyarbakır D Type Prison were transferred to Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No 1 and 2 under coercion. Transferred prisoners are: Ramazan Yılmaz, Hasan İskanoğlu, Necim Susin, Tahir Kurhan, Adnan Yiğittekin, Ramazan Alğan, Ferhat Turgay, Davut Avcı, Avni Uçaç, Faysal Okalin, Recep Karsu, Takyeddin Yüksekbağ, M. Şirin İvrendi, A. Rezzak Şimşek, İzzettin Tekmen, Mehmet Ali Aygönül, Hakim Yavaş, Zülfikar Bayram, Ahmet Özkan, Mehmet Koç, Mehmet Yalçın, Hacı Haykır, Abdulselam Susin, Halil Arslan, Diyadin Yakut, M. Enes Tunç, Orhan Yüzal, Fahrettin Özhan, Mahmut Bilginç, Edip Yalçınkaya, Doğan Erkol, Sıddık Batur, Servet Kaya, Ekrem Batmaz, Ferhat Gültek, Nihat Demirtaş, Mustafa Ürek, Mehmet Belim, Mahir Savun, Aydın Altığ, Serdar Güzel and Lokman Akbaba.

(10/260) Allegation of Torture and Ill-Treatment in Diyarbakır
It is claimed in the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, Faris Türk and Hanım Türk, 2 people whose house in Kayapınar district of Diyarbakır was raided by the police, were attacked by police dogs and subjected to physical violence of the police. It is learned that Faris Türk was detained by the police and was taken to Anti-Terror Department of Diyarbakır Security Directorate.

(10/261) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, in Ağrı Patnos Prison, the food and water given to prisoners were dirty, and prisoners were not regularly given face masks, cleaning supplies and disinfectants to be protected from Covid-19.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 20, 2020 that, 70 prisoners in Diyarbakır D Type Prison were decided to be transferred to Diyarbakır High Security Prisons No 1 and 2 under coercion, and transfer procedures has started on October 18, 2020.

(10/250) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 19, 2020 that, Mazlum Güzel who was transferred from Şırnak Prison to Antep Islahiye Prison under coercion on September 25, 2020 was subjected to physical violence of the wardens during transfer. It is also reported that Mazlum Güzel was put in a solitary quarantine cell, and he was subjected to verbal violence of the wardens for he rejects to stand up during roll-calls, he was not given cleaning supplies to be protected form Covid-19 pandemic, his needs from prison commissary was not met and he was kept in the quarantine cell although it has been over 14 days. It is learned that his lawyers made a criminal complaint against the wardens on duty. Mazlum Güzel stated the following through his lawyers: “I have been beaten for minutes by 3 wardens in Şırnak Prison. The wardens were saying ‘You will see the power of the state. We will teach you what the state is. You are terrorists’, threatening and insulting me while they were beating.”

(10/228) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, 2 prisoners (Nesim Kaplan and Mehmet Şakir Erol) who were transferred from Şırnak Prison to Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison No 2 under coercion on September 25, 2020, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens, and they were not allowed to take personal belongings. It is claimed in the news reports that 2 prisoners who have been in “the unaffiliated” ward in Şırnak Prison, were transferred to Tarsus T Type Prison No 2 for they demanded to change their wards.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, petitions of prisoners in Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 1 was not put into process, packages sent to prisoners were not delivered, the meals given to prisoners were not hygienic, and prisoners were not given blankets.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020 that, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 54 prisoners were kept in a ward for 16 people in Konya E Type Prison and that the meals given to prisoners were not hygienic.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 16, 2020, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 20 prisoners were kept in a ward in Izmir Şakran Women’s Prison.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, in Maraş Türkoğlu L Type Prison No 1, a ward was contaminated with sewage leak and some prisoners got sick due to this.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, despite of Covid-19 pandemic, 17 prisoners were kept in a ward for 12 people, and water given per person was limited to 70 litres.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 17, 2020 that, in Balıkesir Bandırma T Type Prison No 2, the food given to prisoners was inadequate, wards were not disinfected against Covid-19, prisoners were not given the newspapers they request and their radios were seized.

(10/214) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2020 that, prisoners who were transferred from Diyarbakır D Type Prison to Diyarbakır High Security Prison No 2 under coercion, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during transfer and were put in solitary cells. It is also stated in the news reports that prisoners went on a hunger strike to protest right violations and they were intervened by wardens using physical violence which caused fracture in a prisoner’s foot.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2020 that Bekir Kudak, a prisoner in Adana Kürkçüler Prison was subjected to physical and verbal violence of the wardens. It is also stated in the news reports that Bekir Kudak was being kept in a solitary cell although the quarantine period for him was over. It is reported that Bekir Kudak’s lawyer made a criminal report against wardens who are responsible for physical and verbal violence.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2020 that 4 prisoners were transferred on September 15, 2020 from Kırşehir Prison to Kayseri T Type Prison No 1 under coercion, for they went on a hunger strike to protest right violations; and they were penalised with solitary cell confinement for they rejected strip search at the entrance of the prison. It is also stated in the news reports that prisoners were subjected to physical violence of the wardens for they reject to stand during roll-calls, they were forced to give oral reports in military style during phone calls and the calls were cut in case they reject to do so; and that the meals given to prisoners were of poor quality.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2020 that, in Kayseri T Type Prison No 2, letters of prisoners were not sent, and the newspapers they request were not given to prisoners.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 15, 2020 that in Kayseri Women’s Prison, social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were prevented, the number of books that could be kept per prison is limited to 10, letters about right violations written by prisoners addressing human rights organisations and Grand National Assembly were not sent by prison administration for having ‘controversial expressions’, and the goods were sold at high prices at prison commissary.

(10/093) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 7, 2020 that, the appeal to the verdict of Bursa Office of Judge of Execution No 2 on September 23, 3030 which restricts lawyer meetings for 6 months for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, and Ömer Hayri Konar, Veysi Aktaş and Hamili Yıldırım who are kept in Imralı F Type Prison was rejected by Bursa Heavy Penal Court No 1.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 7, 2020 that, Yekta Savaş Deli, a prisoner in Mersin Tarsus T Type Prison, was subjected to torture and ill-treatment by wardens while he was moving into a new ward. It is reported that Yekta Savaş Deli has rib fracture and he was taken to prison infirmary but not to a hospital.

(10/072) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 6, 2020 that 4 prisoners (Cumali Yıldırım, Feyyaz Gülsoy, Ali Saday and Emrah Kına) who were transferred from Kırşehir E Type Prison to Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison No 1 on September 16, 2020, were subjected to physical violence of the wardens for they reject to strip search at the entrance of prison and that they were threatened by wardens saying “You know how we would kill you if we take off our uniforms”.

It is learned from the news coverage of October 6, 2020 that, Kervan Bayhan, a prisoner in Diyarbakır High Security Prison No 2 were subjected to physical violence of the wardens and his foot was broken due to violence.

(10/063) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of October 5, 2020 that 4 prisoners (Elif Deniz, Melek Evren, Ronahi Sırdaş, Filiz Işık) in Mardin E Type Closed Prison were transferred under coercion to Diyarbakır Women’s Closed Prison on October 2, 2020.

(10/067) Investigation Against People Who Were Subjected to Police Violence in Istanbul
On August 19,2020, 2 people (Rana Batı and Zeynep K.) were subjected to verbal and physical violence of the police in Kadıköy district of Istanbul on August 19, 2020; on the grounds of not wearing face masks. It is learned from the news coverage of October 5, 2020 that Istanbul Anadolu Public Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against 2 people, and demanded jail sentence from 2 years and 15 days to 9 years and 4 months for Rana Batı, on the charges of ‘subsequently resisting to prevent public duty’, ‘subsequently insulting a public officer’, and jail sentence from 1 year and 5 months to 4 years and 1 month for Zeynep K. on the charge of ‘subsequently insulting a public officer’.

It is reported that the investigation against 2 police officers on the charges of ‘misuse of public duty’, ‘excessive use of force’, ‘sexual assault’ and sexual harassment’ was closed on the grounds of non-prosecution decision.

Istanbul Governorate’s Office has declared that 2 police officers were suspended however they were given back to duty on August 21, 2020.

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