January 2022

Turkey Weekly 24 – 30 January 2022

Turkey Today – 31.01.2022

Former HDP MP Aysel Tuğluk diagnosed with dementia will be kept under observation at the Forensic Medicine Institude for 3 weeks, her lawyer Ali Bozan said. 

The 9th hearing of the Kobané Case in which 108 politicians are on trial including former HDP Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ are on trial continues at Sincan Prison Campus. 

HDP Şırnak Deputy Nuran Imir, who brought the pressure on Kurdish media organizations to the agenda of the Parliament, demanded the establishment of an investigation commission.

President Erdoğan has given the microphone to a 10-year-old child at his Trabzon rally for him to refer to main opposition CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as a “traitor.” 
Police stormed Farplas automotive factory, where workers were protesting for their union rights and dismissed friends. Union has announced that nearly 200 workers, including union representatives, have been detained. 
Turkish police have prevented a group of street musicians from singing in Kurdish on the famous İstiklal Street in Istanbul. Four of the musicians have been detained and exposed to physical and verbal violence.
Journalist Canan Kaya has been asked to provide her statement in an investigation launched against her per complaint by the Demirören News Agency. The complaint’s been filed for a news report she’d penned. Kaya will provide her statement during the week.
Covid-19: 93,261 new infections and 182 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 30.01.2022

Five months before his scheduled release, Mehmet Hanifi Bilgin, a Kurd who has been imprisoned for 30 years, has died in prison. According to the prison administration, the cause of death was a heart attack.
President Erdoğan has appointed Bekir Bozdağ as the new Justice Minister in place of Abdulhamit Gül. Erdoğan also removed Sait Erdal Dinçer as chairman of the Turkish Statistical Institute TÜİK and appointed Erhan Çetinkaya in his place.
Turkish President Erdoğan threatened Turkey’s media against disseminating content that damaged the “country’s core values,” in a notice published in the Official Gazette. 
Xwebun newsletter’s Editor-in-Chief on the access block imposed on the newsletter “They target the Kurdish language.”. 
Şenyaşar Family’s search for justice continues on day 321. The family lost three members as a result of the attacks of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his relatives. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 88,145 new infections and 189 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 29.01.2022

Mehmet Sait Dayan, uncle of Abdulgaffur Dayan, who died as a result of being hit by a Ranger type armored vehicle in Cizre, said that the District Police Chief, who visited them at the hospital, said, “You are twisting the subject into something else because the vehicle belongs to the security directorate.”
Democratic Regions Party Diyarbakır Provincial Co-Chair Seval Gülmez was detained by the police early this morning. 
Police forces raided several houses in Van, Mersin, Siirt, Hakkari and Urfa provinces this morning as part of an investigation launched by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and detained four members of HDP Youth Council. 
Turkey’s Supreme Court of Appeal has upheld a one-year prison sentence against former HDP Co-Chair Yüksekdağ for alleged terrorist propaganda.
Saturday Mothers came together in week 879 to ask those responsible for the death of Ayşenur Şimşek who disappeared on 24 January 1995 in Ankara. 
Covid-19: 94,783 new infections and 174 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 28.01.2022

Forensic Medicine Institute will examine the situation of the ill political prisoner Aysel Tuğluk. 
Lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan applied to Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to meet their clients.
24-year old Abdulgaffar Dayan was hit and killed by an armored police vehicle on his way to class in the Cizre district of the southeastern province of Şırnak. Police are now saying the murder “does not concern the public.” 

The 19th hearing of the trial where nine people including journalist Kenan Kırkaya face “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in Ankara. Four people, including Kırkaya are acquitted of all charges. The court’s sentenced other defendants to prison for the “membership in a terrorist organization” charge.

Journalist Mehmet Güleş was sentenced to 9 years, 4 months in prison over his news and social media posts. Turkey’s Constitutional Court has concluded that his freedom of expression was not violated. 
Journalist Sedef Kabaş, who was arrested last week for “insulting the president” because of her remarks during a live broadcast, has filed a criminal complaint against Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 93,586 new infections and 210 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 27 January 2022

Having severe heart disease, Fatma Tokmak is kept in prison despite a report saying that she can’t stay in prison. After refusing to be handcuffed to bed she was not treated. 
President Erdogan said journalist Sedef Kabaş’s crime will not go unpunished. 

The 1st hearing of the trial where since-shuttered Azadiya Welat’s reporter Velat Öztekin faces “insulting the president” charge was held in Diyarbakır. The court’s decided that Velat Öztekin, who lives abroad be brought to the next hearing by force so that his statement can be taken and adjourned the trial until May. 
The 4th hearing of the retrial where since-shuttered Özgür Gündem’s Editor-in-Chief Eren Keskin Managing Editor Reyhan Çapan face “defying the Press Law no. 5187” charge was held in İstanbul. The court’s decided to issue an invitation to call Keskin and Çapan to be present at the next hearing and adjourned the trial until May. 
The 2nd hearing of the retrial where since shuttered Azadiya Welat newspaper reporter Çetin Kurşun faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in Mardin. Kurşun and his lawyer excused themselves from the hearing. The court’s accepted the excuses submitted by Kurşun and his lawyer. Trial adjourned until May.
Covid-19: 82,180 new infections and 174 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 26 January 2022

12 summaries of proceedings against 9 HDP MPs and one DBP MP have been delivered to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office. Since the beginning of this year, 62 summaries have been submitted against 36 MPs.

Police raided the Democratic Regions Party provincial building in Diyarbakır. 
A Court has dismissed the appeal against the arrest of journalist Sedef Kabaş by indicating that her arrest is “not without due process of law or against the law.”
The 2nd hearing of the trial where journalist Derya Okatan faces “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” charge was held in Ankara. Giving time for the defense to prepare their statements, the court adjourned the trial until April. 
The 7th hearing of the trial where Yeni Yaşam newspaper reporter Hatice Şahin faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in Diyarbakır. The court decided to continue the international travel ban. Trial adjourned until April.
The National Survival Movement, a group close to the government, has filed a criminal complaint against İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu for going to restaurant amid snowfalls. The same group threatened singer Sezen Aksu last week. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 77,437 new infections and 188 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 25 January 2022

Former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has been sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison on charges of “insulting” former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.
The ECtHR found that Yücel’s “right to freedom and liberty” and “freedom of expression” were violated through an unlawful detention and ordered Turkey to pay 12.300 Euros for non-pecuniary damage.
5 prisoners held in Tekirdağ No 2 Type F Prison in which Vedat Erkmen lost his life under suspicious circumstances, announced that they went on a hunger strike because their lives are in danger.
President Erdoğan has filed a criminal complaint against CHP MPs Aykut Erdoğdu and Engin Özkoç on charge of “insulting the President”. 
A lawsuit has been filed against lawyer Efkan Bolaç for “insulting the President” over two Carlos Latuff cartoons that he shared on Instagram. When the posts were shared, Erdoğan was not the President. 
Covid-19: 76,341 new infections and 174 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 24 January 2022

In the trial over the killing of Deniz Poyraz in HDP İzmir office, arrested defendant Onur Genc said, “I don’t regret the bloody raid that I carried out. If I had been there five minutes earlier, I would have launched an attack with lots of corpses.”. Trial adjourned until April. 

While the final hearing of the case against 16 people who are on trial for commmorating the 34 people killed in Roboski by Turkish war planes was postponed, the prosecutor requested prison sentence for the relatives of the dead.

HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun submitted an application to the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission requesting that the violations of rights in the Tekirdağ Prison be investigated.
Twenty bar associations have released a joint statement about former HDP MP Aysel Tuğluk, who is kept behind bars despite her deteriorating health, demanding her release.
AKP branches file criminal complaints against journalist Sedef Kabaş in 81 provinces. 
Media watchdog RTÜK has issued a monetary fine on TV channel Tele 1 and suspended one of its programs for five episodes as a result of journalist Sedef Kabaş’s comments critical of President Erdoğan. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 67,023 new infections and 156 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Weekly 17 – 23 January 2022

Turkey Today – 23 January 2022

Journalist Alican Uludag has been threatened with “a car accident or falling off a building like in Russia” for his news report uncovering that the judge who ordered the detention of journalist Sedef Kabaş is the same judge who ordered the detention of Osman Kavala in 2020. 
Şenyaşar Family’s search for justice continues on day 321. The family lost three members as a result of the attacks of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his relatives. 
Police raided a music event of New Democratic Youth in Hatay detaining 30 people.
Two Syrians were attacked with guns in the Osmangazi district of Bursa. One of the Syrians died.
Covid-19: 65,503 new infections and 185 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 22 January 2022

Turkish prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against Human Rights Association (İHD) chair Öztürk Türkdoğan charging him with “membership in a terrorist organization.”
Journalist Sedef Kabas has been arrested over her remarks on tele1comtr. It is reported that she was taken from her home at 2 am for “insulting the president.” 
Hayati Kaytan, being held in prison for the last 19 years, has a dysfunctional right hand, toes of his left foot are cut and he has brain tumour. His release is blocked by Forensic Medicine Institute. 

President Erdoğan has targeted Sezen Aksu over her song, saying that it is his “duty to cut those tongues who defame Adam and Eve.” 
Following reports that there have been thousands of “suspicious deaths” of soldiers in the last two decades, opposition MPs asked Defense Minister Hulusi Akar to release the official number of soldier suicides. The Minister refused to do so.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 72,856 new infections and 184 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 21 January 2022

In her legal opinion as to Turkey’s withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention by a Presidential decision, Council of State prosecutor Mucukgil has written that the decision is contrary to law and should be annulled. 
Another request for the withdrawal of parliamentary immunity has been filed against HDP MP Remziye Tosun. 
The sixth hearing of the trial where journalist Rustem Batum faces “insulting the president” and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” charges was held in Istanbul. The court decided to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant issued for journalist Batum and adjourned the trial until March.
The 38th hearing of the trial where since-shuttered Taraf’s former administrators Ahmet Altan, Yasemin Çongar and Yıldıray Oğur, reporters Mehmet Baransu, and Tuncay Opçin face multiple charges was held in İstanbul. Trial adjourned until March. 
Giving time for his lawyers to watch the footage sent by the police, the court’s adjourned the trial where journalist Vedat Örüç faces “defying the Law n. 2911” and “insulting a public officer” charges until July. 
Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK’s Vice President İbrahim Uslu personally called music channels to not to play Sezen Aksu’s song titled “Şahane Bir Şey Yaşamak (Living is a Wonderful Thing).” Uslu claimed to have only “warned them about grave sanctions.” Last week, a criminal complaint was also filed against the musician. 
Covid-19: 72,555 new infections and 181 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 20 January 2022

In the trial over the Sivas massacre, which claimed the lives of 35 people in Madımak Hotel, the court has rejected the requests for hearing three the then state officials “because it will not affect the verdict”. 
The 17th hearing of the trial where nine people including journalist Kenan Kırkaya face “membership of a terrorist organization” charges was held in Ankara. At the hearing, which started two and half an hour late, the court’s decided to adjourn the trial until January 28.
The 4th hearing of the trial where journalist A. Rahman Gök faces “membership in an armed terrorist organization” charges was held in Diyarbakır. A new case file has been merged with the current file. Gök photographed the moment when Kemal Kurkut was shot to death by police during the Diyarbakır Newroz in 2017  The court’s adjourned the trial until March. 
Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) probes Fox TV for “violating the principle of impartiality” by criticizing the economic policies of the government during the main news bulletin. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 71,843 new infections and 166 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 19 January 2022

HDP has requested a parliamentary inquiry into the killing of journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in İstanbul 15 years ago today. The proposal was voted down by the majority of votes. 
Lawyer Hakan Bakırcıoğlu pointed out that the Hrant Dink murder is not clarified in its entirety and added that the social sensitivity that emerged after his murder should continue to give support to the case that is intended to be closed.
The Adıyaman Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has reportedly sent the recently revealed pictures of HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel to be added to the file of the HDP closure case as ‘additional evidence’. 
31 citizens, including journalists, writers and artists, have expressed their support for HDP Kocaeli MP Dr. Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu in the face of an investigation due to his social media messages about Kurdish politician and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk.
Covid-19: 72,615 new infections and 176 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 18 January 2022

Wounded during the police intervention against the Gezi resistance in 2013, Beycan Taşkıran made an individual application to the Constitutional Court. The Court concluded that the prohibition of ill treatment as per the Article 17 of the Constitution was not violated. 
As per the latest decision by the Van Judgeship of Execution, imprisoned journalist Nedim Türfent’s meetings with his lawyers will be limited, monitored and surveilled by an official for 3 months because of an academic project interested in translating Türfent’s works.
Police detained nine women in Ankara for attempting to deliver a statement in front of parliament as part of a protest calling for menstrual products to be made free of charge across the country.
A law suit was filed against Sami Tay, who was detained in Van for listening to the Kurdish song “Erdale Pirsûsî” on his phone, on charges of “propagandizing a terrorist organization”, demanding up to 5 years in prison.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 69,658 new infections and 157 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 17 January 2022

HDP Van provincial manager and Law Commission Spokesperson, Lawyer Sedat Düşünmez, was detained during a house raid. 
Charged with “propagandizing for a terrorist organization” and “being a member of a terrorist organization” in Turkey, journalist and translator Meşale Tolu, also a citizen of Germany, has been acquitted. 
Describing the violations of rights in Antalya Type S Prison, prisoner Harun Ölmez said that they were given one bread and 4 spoons of food a day. 
HDP Diyarbakır MP Taşçıer has submitted a Parliamentary question about Seyit Narin, a former Co-Mayor of Sur district who got sick in prison and whose request for being transferred from Rize to Diyarbakır, where his family lives, has been rejected.
Ahead of general elections Supreme Election Council (YSK) has announced that 24 political parties have been found eligible to enter the elections. 
Trans woman Günay Özyıldız has been murdered in front of her apartment building in İzmir by an unknown perpetrator.
Covid-19: The current figures have not yet been published. 

Turkey Today – 16.01.2022

The body of two refugees was found at the Turkish-Iranian border. Despite massive snowfalls, mainly refugees from Afghanistan try to cross the border.

With the aim of building an democratic alliance HDP is going to meet with representatives of several left parties on January 18. 

Murat E., who was arrested by security officers in Van province on January 11 for alleged “theft”, died suspiciously and his body was found dead on the morning of January 13. The prison management, which did not inform the family or the lawyers for a long while, claimed that he had “committed suicide because of drug effects”.Şenyaşar family’s search for justice continues on day 314. The family lost three members as a result of the attacks of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız’s bodyguards and relatives. 
Covid-19: 54,100 new infections and 136 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 15.01.2022

Former HDP MP Leyla Güven, who has been jailed in a women’s prison in Elazığ on terrorism charges since December 2020, has received threats from a prison guard, her daughter Sabiha Temizkan said.

In Şakran women’s prison, prison guards accompanied by dogs searched the prisoners’ cells. 
Saturday Mothers came together in week 877 to ask those responsible for the death of Abdullah Canan who disappeared after detention on January 17, 1996 in Van. His torture-ridden body was found on 21 February 1996. 
A house owner in Istanbul wanted to increase the rent more than double for his house where a Syrian refugee family resides. The owner broke the tenants’ door and raided the house after the refugee family refused the exorbitant price hike. Despite his actions, the owner was released from detention by a court order.

Turkey lifted the requirement for unvaccinated individuals to take a PCR test for COVID-19 before using transportation, including planes and buses, in addition to ahead of attending events, including concerts and movies.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 63,967 new infections and 177 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 14.01.2022

The trial of the racist attack on Dedeoğulları family in Konya was held in Konya. Police attacked relatives in the courtroom who shouted ‘Don’t lie’. Three members of the family have been detained after a protest at the Konya Palace of Justice and taken away for police questioning. 
CHP Adana Chair Mehmet Çelebi has made a call for Kurdish politician and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk’s release. 
President Erdoğan who met the EU countries’ ambassadors in Ankara: “Despite all the injustices we were subjected to, the EU remains to be our strategic priority. Indeed, we continue to endeavor to this end,”. 
Raising concerns about worsening working conditions in #Turkey, TTB Chair Korur-Fincancı says that “the number of physicians who get a document of good conduct to work abroad has increased from 59 to 1,405”.
Covid-19: 67,857 new infections and 167 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 13.01.2022

Lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan applied to Bursa Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to meet with their clients. 
The local journalist who reported on Enes Kara’s death in Turkey’s eastern province of Elazığ has been removed from office as the managing editor and the related news report has been removed from the website. Kara committed suicide after posting a video about the pressure he faced at the dorm of a religious community. 
The fifth hearing of the trial where journalist Rojda Oğuz faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charges was held in Van. Journalist Oğuz who lives abroad and her lawyer who submitted an excuse to the court did not attend the hearing. Trial adjourned until April 2022.
According to Health Ministry Koca Omicron is now the dominant variant in Turkey as well. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 75,564 new infections and 153 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 12.01.2022

The 4th hearing of the trial which commenced almost 5 years after lawyer and human rights defender Tahir Elçi was murdered was held in Diyarbakır. The court’s decided to reject the request to hear former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu as a witness, the request to arrest the suspects ans the request to hear the police officers named in the witness letter. Trial adjourned until June. 
The appeal court overturned the decision to pay compensation to the family, claiming that Kemal Kurkut was an “aggressor protester” and that the conditions for using weapons were met in his murder. Kurkut was killed by the police during the Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır in 2017. 
A prison in Turkey’s northwestern province of Bolu evaluated the novel ”Efsun,” written by jailed former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, as “obscene” and ruled not to deliver Demirtaş’s book to the prisoner Mustafa Taştan. 
The eighth hearing of the trial where journalist Ruken Demir faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in İzmir. In his opinion, the prosecutor requested that journalist Demir be sentenced for the membership charge claiming that she is a member of KCK Press. Giving time to Demir and her lawyer to prepare their defense, the court’s adjourned the trial until February 2022.
Naif Elnaif’s room mate M.A. said one of the attackers was wearing police vest. A group of racists had entered his flat in Bayrampaşa and murdered the young man. 
Covid-19: 77,722 new infections and 145 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 11.01.2022

Two Kurdish politicians were detained in the raids on houses in the Gürpınar district of Van in the morning.

After the death of Garibe Gezer, who died under suspicious circumstances in prison, many in Kocaeli prison chanted her name. Now, fifteen prisoners, among whom are HDP politicians, have been placed on disciplinary probation.

The first hearing of the trial where journalist İskender Kahraman faces “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” charge was held in Hakkari. Hakkari 2nd High Criminal Court declared lack of jurisdiction, arguing that Ankara 22nd High Criminal Court has the jurisdiction for the case file. The case file has been referred to the Court of Jurisdictional Disputes.

The third hearing of the retrial of since shuttered Zaman newspaper columnists Şahin Alpay, Ali Bulaç, Mümtazer Türköne and editor Mehmet Özdemir was held in İstanbul. Trial adjourned until April 2022. 

The 12th hearing of the trial where 15 people including journalists Eylem Sonbahar and Sema Karakurt face “defying the Law no. 2911” charge was held in Antalya. The prosecutor requested that the defendants be acquitted. Trial adjourned until February. 

The Istanbul office of the Human Rights Association reported the racist murder of a Syrian refugee named Naif al-Naif. Accordingly, a group of racists entered his flat in Bayrampaşa and murdered the young man. MHP Chair Bahçeli has once again said the HDP and the Turkish Medical Association should be closed. He has accused the doctors’ group of lying about Turkey’s domestic coronavirus vaccine. 

Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 74,266 new infections and 137 deaths. 

Turkey Today – 10.01.2022

The attacker Muhammed Eren Sütçü, who was involved in an armed attack on HDP in İstanbul’s Bahçelievler District was arrested upon the objection of the prosecutor’s office. 

A right-wing extremist mob of around 30 people attacked three Kurdish students with knives and machetes at the law faculty of Ankara University. Two of the attackers were released with the instruction of the prosecutor’s office. 
HDP MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu’s motion for torture was returned on grounds of the words used to describe sexual assault with a baton.

The third hearing of the trial where 97 Boğaziçi University students who attended protests face “defying the Law no. 2911 on Assemblies and Demonstrations” charge was held in İstanbul. The court’s decided to exempt those who have provided their statements from future hearings and to decline the acquittal demands of the lawyers at this stage, and adjourned the trial until June 2022.
Former deputy chief of staff to President Erdoğan Yusuf Yerkel, known for kicking a protester after the Soma mine disaster in 2014, has now been appointed as commercial attaché at the Turkish consulate in Frankfurt.

Covid-19: 65,236 new infections and 141 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Weekly 3 – 9 January 2022

Turkey Today – 09.01.2022

Member of the Peace Mothers Council Nebahat Işçi and MEBYA-DER (Association for Assistance, Solidarity with the Families Who Lost Their Relatives) member Hüseyin Inedi were taken into custody during a police raid in Cizre. 
Şenyaşar family’s search for justice continues on day 307. The family lost three members as a result of the attacks of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız’s bodyguards and relatives. 
Sevtap Ayman, who worked for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, resigned from her job saying she feared for her safety. Ayman had been targeted by pro-government newspapers for allegedly being a terrorist. 
According to Turkish Medical Association Chairwoman Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı Turkey’s domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, the TURKOVAC, does not have completed phase 3 studies. 
Covid-19: 61,727 new infections and 173 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.

Turkey Today – 08.01.2022


Turkish forces bombed Kobane. 11 civilians were injured, including a four year old boy who lost his leg, one died. 
4 areas in Kars have been declared “temporary special security zones” for a while. 
Saturday Mothers came together in week 876 to ask those responsible for the death of Ahmet Kaya who was detained on 15 January 1996 in Şırnak and shot dead. 
Groups in Turkey act like femicides don’t happen anywhere else, president of Turkey’s Court of Cassation Mehmet Akarca said in an assessment meeting for 2021.

Turkish Medical Association Secretary General Vedat Bulut has said that the domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine Turkovac cannot qualify as a vaccine. 
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 66,237 new infections and 141 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 07.01.2022


Yesterday, former HDP MP Abdullah Zeydan has been released after more than five years in jail. Zeydan was former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş’s fellow inmate in the Edirne Prison.
An investigation has been launched against HDP MP Gergerlioğlu over his social media post about Kurdish politician and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk, whom he was not permitted by the Justice Ministry to visit in prison. 
The tombstones of those who lost their lives during the curfew declared in 2015 and 2016 were vandalised in the Asri Cemetery in Cizre.
An Istanbul court on Jan. 7 released two students who were arrested in October in connection with their participation in a protest against appointed rector in front of the Boğaziçi University rectorate building.
12 people have been acquitted in the trial over the lynch attempt against fashion designer Barbaros Şansal at İstanbul Atatürk Airport.  

The Constitutional Court of Turkey announced its pilot judgment on the application filed by leading independent news outlets and journalists against the court decisions which blocked access to 129 news reports. The Court’s ruled that the blocking of the news reports for indefinite period of time without any investigation or prosecution was disproportionate and violated freedoms of expression and press. 
Covid-19: 63,213 new infections and 157 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 06.01.2022


The Justice Ministry has not permitted HDP MP and medical doctor Gergerlioğlu to visit Kurdish politician and ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk. 
Journalists Adnan Bilen, Cemil Uğur, Zeynep Durgut, Nazan Sala & Şehriban Abi who reported on the torture of two villagers by soldiers are acquitted of “membership in a terrorist organization” charge in the trial known as ‘the Helicopter Torture’ case. 
The fourth hearing of the trial where journalist Caner Taşpınar faces “insult” charges per complaints by İsmail Kahraman and AKP founding members İhsan Arslan and Ali İhsan Arslan was held in İstanbul. Trial adjourned until end of January. 
The 13th hearing of the trial where former Gelî Kurdistan TV cameraman Rojhat Doğru faces “disrupting the unity and integrity of the state”, “attempted murder” and terrorism charges was held in Diyarbakır. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The court’s deferred the announcement of the verdict for the propaganda charge. The court’s also ruled to issue an arrest warrant for Doğru’s immediate arrest.
Abiding by the Constitutional Court verdict, an administrative court in Ankara has concluded that the state was negligent in the October 10 Ankara massacre in 2015 and accepted the request for damages. 
On the day when Turkey reported the highest number of daily coronavirus cases, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced that the quarantine period for positive cases has been reduced from 14 days to 7 days.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 68,413 new infections and 156 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 05.01.2022


18 areas in Tunceli and Şırnak provinces have been declared “temporary special security zones” for a year. 

Journalist Ferhat Çelik, Editor in Chief of Mesopotamia Agency who was sent to court to give his statement was detained again in scope of another investigation right after he was released.
Lawyers from around the world have announced support for the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), whose members have been on trial for seven years. 
Several non-governmental organizations and political parties came together in Diyarbakır and called for the release of the sick prisoners and other prisoners who are supposed to be released.
Covid-19: 66,467 new infections and 143 deaths registered in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 04.01.2022

The Office of the Parliamentary Speaker has published 40 summaries of proceedings seeking to lift the legislative immunity of 28 opposition deputies, including 24 from HDP.

Lawyers of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan applied to CPT demanding a visit on Imrali prison Island and an end of torture. 
Prosecutors have dismissed the investigation into the allegations of prisoner Garibe Gezer who died suspiciously on December 9, shortly after claiming that she had been tortured and sexually assaulted by correction officers.
Families of prisoners from various cities, who went to Ankara to demand justice, were attacked by the police while marching towards the Ministry of Justice.
İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu should be dismissed if “terror ties” of municipal personnel proven, says MHP chair Bahçeli.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 54,724 and 137 deaths in the last 24 hours. 

Turkey Today – 03.01.2022

Muhammed Eren Sütçü, who attacked the Bahçelievler District Organization of HDP with a knife and a gun on December 28, has been released from detention. 

İstanbul police forcefully intervened in a press statement held by HDP regarding last week’s attack on party branch and detained several people. 
Reşit Ilhan, who was held in Gümüşhane E Type Closed Prison, told his family, in his weekly phone call, that the guards tried to strangle him. 
Turkish prosecutors are asking up to two years in prison for actor Ilyas Salman over a social media post they said insulting “the Turkish nation”. 
Covid-19: 44,869 new infections and 160 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.