09.02.2012 Daily Human Rights Report
(02/056) Operations and clashes in South-east…
Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKKKurdish Workers' Party ) armed wing People’s Defence Forces (HPGPeople's Defence Forces (armed wing of the PKK) ) militants attacked on Çukurca District of Hakkâri Province on 9 February 2012. A soldier and four militants were killed and six soldiers were wounded in the clash (cnnturk.com, 9 February).
(02/057) Senior officers tried in the case on the mine explosion...
On 8 February 2012 the Turkish General Staff’s Martial Court went on hearing the case against pre-trial detainee, Brigadier General Zeki Es and Brigadier General Gürbüz Kaya, Fatih Taylan Çeker, Hakan Alaçam, Nurettin Altay and Rıza Atilla Erdoğan in connection with the mine explosion as a military vehicle was passing by in which six soldiers were killed and 8 soldiers were wounded in Çukurca District of Hakkâri Province on 27 May 2009.
The authorities had claimed that the mine was placed by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) armed wing People’s Defence Forces (HPG) but later a voice record was revealed that the mine was placed with the order of Hakkâri Brigade Commander Brigadier General Zeki Es, and Brigadier General Gürbüz Kaya replied to the confession that it has no importance.
The court stated that the document on the deployment orders of the 2nd Army Command for the region for spring and summer 2009 was received. After hearing the families of the deceased soldiers the court adjourned the hearing for missing documents (Zaman, 9 February).
(02/058) Ongoing death in detention case…
Orhan Leflef (54) who had been detained on charges of “sexual harassment” in Beykoz District of İstanbul Province on 6 September 2009 claimed to committed suicide in Beykoz District Security Directorate by jumping from the third floor.
Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office finalised the indictment on the incident reported on 8 February 2011. According to the indictment eleven police officers will be tried on charges of “misconduct in office” in Beykoz Penal Court of Peace (Vatan, 8 February).
(02/059) Tried persons…
On 7 February 2012 İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 10 went on hearing the case against 24 defendants in connection with the protest against “Return to Life” Operation in Sarıgazi District of İstanbul Province on 19 December 2006 on charges of “committing offence on behalf of an organisation although he is not a member” under Article 220/6 of TPCTurkish Penal Code . The court adjudicated to declare the verdict on grounds that one of the lawyers was not present in the hearing to 22 March 2012 (Özgür Gündem, 8 February).
(02/060) Ongoing KCKUnion of Communities in Kurdistan Case in İstanbul Province…
On 8 February 2012 İstanbul Heavy Penal Court No. 16 began to hear the case against 30 defendants -19 of them pre-trial detainees- who had been detained and eventually arrested in the home raids against the members of the Democratic Patriotic Youth (DYG) in May 2011 in İstanbul Province on charges of “being a member of an illegal organisation” under Article 314 of TPC.
The court declined the demand of the defendants to make their legal argument in Kurdish and released three students and adjourned the hearing to 24 May 2012 (atilim.org, 8 February).
(02/061) Tried juveniles…
Chief Public Prosecution Office finalised the indictment against three juveniles -F.A. (17), Ö.İ. (16) and H.D. (17)- who had been arrested on charges of shouting slogans in illegal demonstrations in Mersin Province on 8 February 2011 and asked for the imprisonment of the juveniles up to 30 years on charges of “resisting public officers”, “harming public goods”, “making propaganda of an illegal organisation”, “constituting an organisation to offend” and “opposing to the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations” reported on 8 February 2012. Mersin Court for Juveniles No. 2 will hear the case (ANF, 8 February).
(02/062) Devam Eden KCK Operasyonları…
Nine people including Şerif Alp -the Deputy Mayor- in Kızıltepe District of Mardin Province, nine others in Hilvan District of Şanlıurfa Province and two people in Yüksekova District of Hakkâri Province were detained in the operations of the Security Directorate’s Fighting with Terrorism Department in connection with the KCK investigation on 8 February 2012.
Four detainees including Şerif Alp were arrested on charges of “being a member of an illegal organisation” the same day (ANF; Zaman, 8 February).
(02/063) Fighting with Terrorism Law in practise…
Azadiya Welat Newspaper’s workers Mahmut Tutal and Abdulbesir Yapıcı and KURDÎ-DER executive İbrahim Halil Donan who had been detained in the operation of Security Directorate’s Fighting with Terrorism Department on charges of “making propaganda of an illegal organisation” in Şanlıurfa Province on 7 February 2012 were arrested on 8 February 2012 (ANF, 8 February).
(02/064) Home raids in Hakkâri Province…
Soldiers had raided on Talê (Oğlu), Dilekli and Çanaklı Villages of Hakkâri Province on 6 February 2012 and detained 12 villagers without showing any reason. Three of the villagers were arrested on charges of “helping and harbouring an illegal organisation” on 8 February 2012 (DİHA, 8 February).
