Turkey Today – 28.02.2022
Six opposition parties have signed a memorandum of understanding which covers a wide range of issues from introducing a Reinforced Parliamentary System to reducing the electoral threshold to 3 percent.
A parliamentary question addressed by HDP MP Feleknas Uca to Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ was rejected by the Speaker of Parliament. The question fell under the topics that are not allowed to be asked. Uca wanted to know why Erdogan always points to Imrali but Öcalan is under solitary confinement.
17 women political prisoners in Elazığ Closed Prison including HDP MP Leyla Güven were transferred to other prisons as the prison closes.
Alevi organizations gathered in several provinces of Turkey, demanding that compulsory religion classes be abolished and that cemevis be considered legitimate places of worship.
Covid-19: 64,275 new infections and 213 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
21 – 27 February 2022
Turkey Today – 27.02.2022
The number of political prisoners on hunger strike in Tekirdağ Prison increased to 13.
HDP organised a first meeting of 7 political parties in Ankara on January 18 to search for a third way through the alliance of the People and the Nation. The 7 political parties that responded to the call of the HDP, decided to establish a joint coordination.
Thousands of people attended the 6th ordinary congress of Democratic Regions Party. MP Saliha Aydeniz and Keskin Bayındır were again elected as co-chairs.
Şenyaşar Family’s search for justice continues on day 356. The family lost three members as a result of attacks of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız and his relatives.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 49,792 new infections and 206 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 26.02.2022
Hunger strike of political prisoners in Mardin E Type Closed Prison continues with the 2nd group. The hunger strike in Iğdır prison also continues. Two more prisoners joined the hunger strike.
Saturday Mothers came together in week 883 to ask those responsible for the death of Cüneyt Aydınlar who disappeared after being detained by the police on 20 February 1994 in İstanbul.
According to daily Cumhuriyet, due to decreasing support for his party, President Erdoğan will personally select candidates running for AKP parliamentary seats in 2023.
Columnist for pro-government newspaper Yeni Şafak Yusuf Kaplan has said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is actually meant to encircle and limit the power of Turkey.
Covid-19: 61,764 new infections and 221 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 25.02.2022
The Parliamentary Joint Commission on Constitution and Justice has submitted its report in favor of lifting the legislative immunity of HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel to the General Assembly of the Parliament.
Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK will apply to the court to block access to the Turkish language websites of Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, and Euronews after they did not apply for a broadcast license within the specified 72 hours.
With the arrest of five more people over the killing of journalist Güngör Arslan in Kocaeli, the number of arrested suspects has increased to seven.
The 5th hearing of the trial where 23 people who had attended a solidarity protest for Boğaziçi University was held in İstanbul. Rejecting the request of the defense lawyers for the removal of the judicial control measures imposed on their clients, the court’s decided to issue a writ so that the statements of three police officers can be taken. Trial adjourned until May.
The European Court of Human Rights has given the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, Turkey and Osman Kavala until April 19 to submit their written comments with regards to the Kavala case.
President Erdoğan said: NATO should have taken more “determined seps” against Russia’s military incursion into Ukraine.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 71,736 new infections and 266 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 24.02.2022
4 people, 3 of whom are women, were injured in a drone attack by Turkey on a vehicle on the Qamishlo-Amude road of Turkey in Syria.
A military operation was launched in the Bagok Mountain region in Nusaybin district.
Hamgin Karakaş, who is being held in Afyonkarahisar Bolvadin Type T Closed Prison, said in a phone call with his family that he was threatened by guards with decapitation.
Kurdish student Fevzi Aka, who was attacked by a racist mob in Akdeniz University campus, said that the late response of the police aimed to protect the attackers.
Police attacked the family of missing university student Gülistan Doku, who was sitting- in in front of the Ministry of Justice.
The HDP’s request for establishing a Parliamentary commission to investigate the fate and whereabouts of Gülistan Doku has been rejected by the ruling AKP and MHP MPs.
Covid-19: 79,708 new infections and 281 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 23.02.2022
A racist group has attacked Kurdish students at the campus of Akdeniz University in Antalya. Injured students Botan Artuç, Feyzi Akan and Hatice Tonğ were discharged from the hospital after their treatment.
DW and Voice of America announced that they will take legal action against the Turkish Media Watchdog RTÜK’s order to get a license.
The 22nd hearing of the trial where journalists Reyhan Çapan, Huseyin Aykol, Hasan Başak and Kemal Yakut face multiple charges was held in İstanbul. The defense lawyers who submitted their excuses to the court before the hearing did not attend today’s hearing. The trial is adjourned to a later date.
News circulated by pro-government newspapers Star, Akşam and Güneş that there was a plot to assassinate President Erdoğan’s daughter Sümeyye Erdoğan were fabricated, prosecutors have said, seven years after the incident.
CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu has reiterated his call for elections as “the government is unable to solve Turkey’s problems”.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 86,600 new infections and 268 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 22.02.2022
Lawyer and Human Rights Association Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan had his first hearing in the trial where he faces charges over his rights advocacy activities. The court has ruled that his international travel ban shall remain in effect.
Three defendants have been released in the case concerning DIYADER which is accused of being the “religious branch of the PKK”.
The 24th hearing of the KCK Press trial where 46 journalists face terror-related charges was held in İstanbul. Rejecting the requests by some defense lawyers for the separation of the case files, the court adjourned the trial until June.
The 20th hearing of the trial where journalist Yetkin Yıldız faces “slander” and “libel” charges upon complaint by the former Minister of the Interior Efkan Ala was held in İstanbul. The court decided to wait for the finalization of the case heard in the İstanbul 25th High Criminal Court in which Yıldız is tried together with six other journalists. The trial is adjourned until June.
MHP Chair Bahçeli accuses İstanbul Mayor İmamoğlu of “speaking ill of Turkey and making it look bad” at the Munich Security Conference.
Covid-19: 86,070 new infections and 271 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 21.02.2022
In the Gezi Trial, the court has ruled that Gezi and Çarşı cases shall be separated and Osman Kavala’s arrest shall continue.
An Istanbul appeals court has upheld a three years and six months jail sentence given to former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş for “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The 7th hearing of the trial where the former Chair of the Diyarbakır Bar Association and 10 former Executive Board members face Article 301 and “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” charges was held in Diyarbakır. The lawyers are acquitted of all the charges. The court reasoned that the actions associated with the charges are not defined as crimes in the criminal laws.
Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK’s decision which obligates VOATurkish, dw_turkce and euronews_tr to request broadcasting licenses for their websites has been uploaded to the RTÜK’s website and thereby triggering the 72 hour deadline.
The 9th hearing of the trial where journalist Durket Süren faces “aiding and abetting a terrorist organization” charges was held in Diyarbakır. Journalist Süren is acquitted of the “aiding the organization” charge but sentenced to 1 year 6 months 22 days in prison for the “propaganda” charge. The court deferred the announcement of the verdict.
The appeals court has upheld the two aggravated life sentences given to Ayten Öztürk, who was put on trial for “watching a lynching on the sidewalk” and attending a meeting based on the statements of an informant.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 85,026 new infections and 268 deaths in the last 24 hours.
14 – 20 February 2022
Turkey Today – 20.02.2022
82 year old seriously ill prisoner Yusuf Bekmezci died in Kırıklar prison after 47 days intensive care treatment.
Diyarbakır Bar Association condemned violence used by police against lawyers who made a press release for seriously ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk.
In the Metin Lokumcu case, the court has ruled that two police officers on trial shall be brought to court by force; the next hearing will be held on April 8.
79 months after the Suruç Maasaker, relatives continue to demand justice.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said after meeting the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that they agreed on issues concerning the PKK.
Covid-19: 70,355 new infections and 263 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 19.02.2022
Akdeniz District Police Chief H.A.T threatened lawyer Ali Bozan over a press release, held for seriously ill prisoner Aysel Tuğluk and said, “I know you well. We will settle accounts with you later.”
Female lawyers urge bar associations to speak up for jailed politician Aysel Tuğluk.
Saturday Mothers came together in week 882 to ask those responsible for the death of Murat Yıldız who disappeared after being detained by the police on 23 February 1995 in İzmir.
Fired after protesting for better wages, workers of Migros, one of the largest grocery chains in Turkey, were detained yesterday in front of the boss’s villa.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 80,454 new infections and 278 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 18.02.2022
The Constitutional Court has handed down a judgment paving the way for courts to arrest and convict people solely based on anonymous witness statements.
By a majority of votes, the Parliamentary Joint Commission on Constitution and Justice has concluded that HDP Diyarbakır MP Semra Güzel’s legislative immunity should be lifted.
The İstanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed against the acquittals of journalists who were tried in the so-called “RedHack case” in which they also faced terrorism charges for reporting on the leaked e-mails of Berat Albayrak.
Journalist and opposition politician Metin Gürcan faces life sentence on espionage charges.
President Erdoğan appointed 12 people to the Executive Board of the Press Advertisement Institution (BİK), including Ebubekir Şahin, who is the head of Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK.
Van Metropolitan Municipality trustee appointed by Interior Ministry and his secretaries receive 4 different salaries.
Covid-19: 87,411 new infections and 264 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 17.02.2022
An unidentified person or persons carried out an armed attack against the Adana Yüreğir District Organization building of HDP. An explosive substance was also thrown at the building.
The Diyarbakır Regional Court of Justice has upheld the prison sentence of HDP Antalya MP Kemal Bülbül, who was given 6 years, 3 months in prison on charge of membership of a terrorist organization.
Taken into custody in a house raid in Şırnak’s Cizre, journalist Zeynep Durgut has been released after four days in detention.
The Constitutional Court has rejected the the requests for release of journalist Sedef Kabaş.
Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK cancels five broadcasts of Ayşenur Arslan’s TV program.
Turkish government confiscated millions collected for Covid-19 victims by Istanbul Municipality.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 92,406 new infections and 258 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 16.02.2022
HDP Co-chair Pervin Buldan stood trial in the 12th hearing of the case against her. The court decided to request information from the Constitutional Court regarding Buldan’s request for the abatement of the proceeding.
The Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has suspended a program for five episodes over comments on assassination and issued five administrative fines on Halk TV.
MA reports that journalist Zeynep Durgut’s statement has been taken and she is expected to be referred to the prosecutor’s office tomorrow. It is reported that journalist Durgut was asked about her activities as a journalist.
With their prison sentences upheld and sent to prison yesterday, journalists Hülya Kılınç, Barış Pehlivan and Murat Ağırel have been released.
Covid-19: 94,176 new infections and 271 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 15.02.2022
Police carried out raids in Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Kars and Mardin. At least 21 people, including journalists and HDP politicians, were detained.
Chronically ill prisoner Aydın cannot be treated as he does not accept ‘mouth search’ while being referred to the hospital.
After the appeals court also upheld her conviction, journalist Hülya Kılınç was taken from her home today and has been sent to prison in Manisa.
Journalists Eylem Sonbahar and Sema Karakurt who were detained while covering the 2015 Antalya G-20 Summit are acquitted of all the charges after four years.
Court refuses to release journalist Sedef Kabaş, who has been arrested since January 22 for “insulting the president”.
A man who killed four women in Belgium and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the country has turned out to be released in Turkey years ago after he was extradited to serve the rest of his sentence there.
An Ankara district governor has ordered the neighborhood heads to hang the portraits of President Erdoğan in their offices.
Covid-19: Health Ministry 94,730 new infections and 309 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 14.02.2022
Police carried out raids on multiple houses in Adana. 14 people were detained.
Police raided the Siirt Association for Assistance with the Families of Prisoners and Convicts (TUAY-DER) building early this morning.
Mezopotamya Agency reporter Zeynep Durgut was detained following a raid on her home in Şırnak’s Cizre district.
The İstanbul 36th Criminal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment against journalist Sedef Kabaş.
“RTÜK always stands up for pluralism, press freedom and free news covering of media organizations,” says Turkey’s media watchdog in a statement about its order to 3 international news websites to apply for a license.
Six opposition leaders met in Turkey’s capital city of Ankara upon the invitation of CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. HDP was not invited to this meeting.
Seeking justice for her murdered sons and spouse, Emine Şenyaşar has been given a deferred judicial fine for “insulting” ruling AKP MP Yıldız with her remarks ahead of the hearing of her son, who is now arrested.
Covid-19: 76,632 new infections and 266 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
7 – 13 February 2022
Turkey Today – 13.02.2022
Attacks of Turkish Army against Northern Syria continues. Ehmed İbrahim from Baxdik village was killed in today’s attack.
Police carried out raids in Diyarbakır, Mardin and Van. Several people were detained, among them HDP Youth Assembly members Diyar Sincar, Nurullah Özgün, Şehmus Doku and Mazlum Kardaş.
Serkan Şahin who was detained in yesterday’s police raids in Mersin started a hunger strike against the repression I custody.
Seriously ill prisoner Nail Demir is denied treatment. He suffers from colon cancer.
Thousands of people attended the HDP congress in İzmir.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 73,787 new infections and 276 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 12.02.2022
The Turkish Army has launched a military operation in Diyarbakır’s Lice district.
Several people were detained during police raids in Mersin early this morning.
HDP MP Murat Sarısaç has said that the number of students taking elective Kurdish-language courses had decreased by 56,000 within the past five years. The MP requested a parliamentary inquiry regarding the teaching of minority languages including Kurdish, Laz and Circassian.
Hunger strike of political prisoners in Van enters day 3. The hunger strike started after the suspicious death of 70 year old prisoner Ramazan Turan.
After the 9th hearing, the Kobane trial against 108 HDP politicians was adjourned to February 28.
Saturday Mothers came together in week 881 to ask those responsible for the death of Maksut Tepeli who died after being detained by the police on 2 February 1984 in İstanbul.
Covid-19: 86,193 new infections and 272 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 11.02.2022
Police detained two people during house raids in Cizre.
In Diyarbakır and Istanbul, relatives of political prisoners have again taken to the streets to demand the release of seriously ill prisoners.
The US State Department, VOA and international journalism groups have criticized Turkey over the licensing obligation imposed on foreign news outlets.
Filing a criminal complaint against Ayşenur Arslan, the ruling AKP, MHP and BBP have requested that the journalist be penalized on charge of “degrading the nation and the State of the Republic of Turkey”.
The prosecutor demands imprisonment for journalist Sedef Kabaş on “insulting the president” and “insulting a public official” charges and up to 11 years and 8 months.
HDP Spokesperson Ebru Günay expressed support for the decision of Djemevis to not pay their electricity bills saying ““Djemevis are Alevis’ places of worship. But the government has not accepted this reality”.
Some 76 bar associations throughout Turkey have declared that price hikes on electricity since the start of the new year are unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.
HDP MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioglu files criminal complaint after VP Fuat Oktay calls dismissed public servants ‘terrorists’.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 95,065 new infections and 253 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 10.02.2022
Asrın Law Office appealed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture regarding the situation of their client, PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan, whom they had not heard from for 11 months, and called for “urgent action” to be taken.
The 12th hearing of the trial where Kurdish newspaper Xwebun columnist Mehmet Şahin faces “founding and managing a terrorist organization” charge was held in Diyarbakır. The court sentenced him to 6 years 3 months in prison. The court also decided to impose international travel ban upon Şahin.
The second hearing of the retrial where novelist and columnist of the since-shuttered Özgür Gündem daily Aslı Erdoğan faces “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” charge was held in İstanbul. The court’s acquitted Erdoğan of the charges on the grounds that the elements of the alleged crime did not occur.
The 13th hearing of the trial where nine people including Etkin News Agency reporter Ali Sönmez Kayar face “membership in an armed terrorist organization” charge was held in İstanbul. The court’s decided to continue the judicial control measures imposed upon the defendants. Trial adjourned until May 2022.
The 6th hearing of the trial where journalist Azad Zal faces “membership in a terrorist organisation” charge was held in Diyarbakır. Zal’s lawyer who tested positive for Covid-19 could not attend today’s hearing. Giving time to prepare their statements against the prosecutor’s opinion, the court adjourned the trial until March.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism and 37 press freedom organizations and journalists have released a joint statement, calling for the immediately release of journalist Sedef Kabaş.
CHP chair Kılıçdaroğlu refuses to pay electricity bill in protest of the recent price hikes.
Covid-19: 98,602 new infections and 264 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 09.02.2022
The second hearing of the trial in which former HDP MP Leyla Güven is being tried for “propaganda for a terrorist organization” was held in Diyarbakır. Trial adjourned until April.
The member of Turkey’s media watchdog RTÜK İlhan Taşcı reported that the Council has given dw_turkce, VOATurkish and euronews TR 72 hours to apply for a license for their websites. Those who fail to do so will have their websites blocked access.
The 9th hearing of the trial where journalist Ruken Demir faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in İzmir. The court’s acquitted journalist Demir on the grounds of lack of evidence.
Taken into custody with torture following the March 8 Women’s Day demonstration in İstanbul’s Kadıköy last year, five Kurdish trans women have been fined 3,500 lira as per the Public Health Law.
The 4th hearing of the trial where seven Boğaziçi University students face “inciting the public to hatred and hostility” charge was held in İstanbul. The court decided to wait for the Cyber Crimes Bureau’s open source intelligence report on the “Kaaba protest” which will include social media posts and news reports. Trial adjourned until March.
Addressing the AKP government, 11 metropolitan mayors from CHP have reiterated their demands, underlining that the economic “burden on municipalities is no longer bearable” in Turkey.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 108,563 new infections and 266 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 08.02.2022
At the second hearing of the trial over the massacre of a Kurdish family in Konya, the court has rejected the lawyers’ request for recusal.
The 7th hearing of the trial where PEN Germany’s President Deniz Yücel faces “insulting a public official” charge was held in İstanbul. The prosecutor’s reiterated his final opinion. Yücel is ordered to pay 7080 Turkish Liras as punitive fine. The announcement of the verdict is not deferred.
The 4th hearing of the trial where journalist Cengiz Candar face “praising an offence and an offender” charge was held in İstanbul. The court’s decided to wait for the return of the rogatory letters sent for Çandar’s statement to be taken and adjourned the trial until April 2022.
The first hearing of the retrial where journalist Selda Manduz faces “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” charge was held in Kars. The court’s sentenced journalist Manduz to 1 year 6 months in prison for the propaganda charge. Manduz did not accept the deferment of the announcement of the verdict. The court ruled to defer the announcement of the verdict and for the return of the confiscated materials to Manduz.
The 2nd hearing of the trial where journalists Olcay Büyüktaş, Hazal Ocak, Ozan Yurtoğlu and Serkan Ozan face “insult by means of an oral, written or visual medium message charge upon complaint by Bilal Erdoğan was held in İstanbul. Giving time for the defense lawyers to prepare their written statements against the prosecutor’s opinion, the court adjourned the trial until June 2022.
Standing trial for joining the 2021 İstanbul Pride March, eight activists from the LGBTIQ+ Assemblies have been acquitted.
Covid-19: 111,096 new infections and 241 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 07.02.2022
Birsen Kars who survived the operation called ‘Return to Life’ carried out in multiple prisons to stop the hunger strikes in 2020, lost her life in Germany where she was recieving cancer treatment.
Journalist Nurcan Yalçın, who was detained during a raid on her home in Diyarbakır on February 4, was referred to the courthouse after her procedures at the police station.
The Constitutional Court has ruled that the imprisonment of journalist Cemil Uğur who was held in pre-trial detention for “the Helicopter Torture case”, was unlawful. The court reasoned that Uğur’s right to liberty and security was violated.
Taking to the streets in Kurdish majority cities, citizens protested increases in electricity prices, calling on Erdoğan and the government to resign. In Mardin, police intervened with pepper gas, pressurized water and detentions.
A Turkish court has placed a citizen under house arrest over one of her social posts about President Erdoğan’s Omicron diagnosis. Four people were detained on charges of “insulting” Erdoğan as part of an investigation launched into social media posts about Erdoğan’s health.
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar tested positive for Covid-19.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 96,514 new infections and 236 deaths in the last 24 hours.
6 February 2022 – 1 February 2022
Turkey Today – 06.02.2022
Haşim Gezer, imprisoned in Elazig High Security Closed Prison, said that the prison authorities didn’t give him the letters sent to him.
Hamza Yıldız imprisoned in Diyarbakır F Type High Security Closed Prison should have been released on 28 January. His release was delayed on the grounds that he sang in Kurdish.
Human Rights Association Co-Chair Eren Keskin visited the justice search of Şenyaşar family on day 335.
Thousands of people attended the fourth regular congress of HDP Adıyaman branch. Hundreds of people joined the 4th congress of HDP in Dersim.
Covid-19: 87,934 new infections and 201 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 05.02.2022
After three days at Forensic Medicine Institute imprisoned former HDP Deputy Aysel Tuğluk who is diagnosed with dementia was sent back to Kandıra prison.
Five lawyers working at the Human Rights Centre of the Ankara Bar Association have resigned after the association’s administration prevented the publication of a report over the allegations of torture at the Ankara Police Department.
The deposed mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı, imprisoned in Kayseri, has been transferred to a prison in Edirne where he will share a cell with Selahattin Demirtaş.
At its first meeting following Erdoğan’s ‘media circular’, Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) has fined a series of broadcasters over daytime TV shows as well as two news channels.
A Turkish court released E.G., the wife of Ahmet Güneş, one of the fugitive suspects of the Ankara Massacre.
President Erdoğan announces that he and his wife tested positive of Covid.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 98,715 new infections and 221 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 04.02.2022
The number of prisoners who went on hunger strike for fear for their lives following the suspicious death of Vedat Erkmen in Tekirdağ No 2 Prison increased to 18.
In Istanbul, activists of a prisoner solidarity initiative were again attacked by the police and 17 people were violently detained yesterday. Journalists were also forced back with violence.
It is reported that journalist Nurcan Yalçın has been taken into police custody after her house was raided early in the morning by the counter-terrorism police. Though it is unclear why she was taken into custody, her access to a lawyer is restricted for 24 hours.
A criminal complaint was filed by the family of Ridwan Îd Numan El Ehmed who tried to cross over to Turkey from Haseke on November 27 and lost his life as a result of the torture he was subjected to by the Turkish soldiers at the border.
Istanbul Governor’s Office launches probe against municipality, cites ‘unauthorized fundraising’.
Covid-19: 111,157 new infections and 248 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 04.02.2022
Erdoğan on Council of Europe decision to launch infringement proceedings against Turkey: “We don’t care what the ECtHR said or what the Council of Europe said. We expect our courts to be respected,”
The building of the Diyarbakır Branch of Human Rights Association (İHD) was raided by the police.
The Constitutional Court rejected the application of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s lawyers who were not permitted to meet or hear from their clients in İmralı Prison for over nine months.
Released five months ago, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Diyarbakır Co-Chair Seval Gülmez has been arrested again.
The Governor’s Office of Hakkari has announced that events and demonstrations such as protest marches, press statements and sit-in protests have been banned in the province for a period of 15 days.
The 9th hearing of the trial where nine people including since shuttered DİHA’s reporter Selman Keleş face “terror propaganda” charges was held in Van. Keleş who lives abroad and his lawyer who excused himself did not attend the hearing. The court’s decided to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant issued against Keleş. Trial adjourned until May.
The 7th hearing of the trial where journalist Buse Soğütlü faces “disclosing or publishing the identity of a public official on anti-terrorist duty and identifying them as a target” charge was held in İstanbul. She is acquitted of “disclosing or publishing the identity of a public official on anti-terrorist duty and identifying them as a target.” The court’s decided to file a criminal complaint against the journalist for “insulting a public official.”
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 107,530 new infections and 233 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 02.02.2022
Onur Gencer, the assailant who stormed the HDP provincial office in İzmir and killed a party worker im June 2022, has demanded the city where the case is heard be changed for security reasons.
Turgay Deniz, 39, a prisoner with severe tuberculosis, has lost his life at an İstanbul hospital, where he was taken last month after he fell ill. Deniz had been using a respiratory assist device for 12 years.
The 8th hearing of the trial where the proprietor of the since-shuttered Azadiya Welat newspaper Ramazan Ölçen faces “membership in a terrorist organization” charge was held in Diyarbakır. The court’s decided to wait for the execution of the arrest warrant issued against journalist Ölçen and adjourned the trial until May.
The 2nd hearing of the trial where journalist Ahmet Kanbal faces “disclosing or publishing the identity of a public official on anti-terror duty” and “insulting a public official” charges was held in Aydın. The court rejected the recusation challenge arguing that it is undue, lacks basis and aimed to prolong the trial. Giving time for the defense to appeal their refusal of recusation, the court adjourned the trial until March 2, 2022.
10-year-old boy who insulted opposition leader at Erdogan rally says president promised him to release his father from prison.
Covid-19: 110,682 new infections and 217 deaths registered in the last 24 hours.
Turkey Today – 01.02.2022
The ECtHR ruled that the lifting of the parliamentary immunities of 40 HDP MPs and their prosecution is a violation of freedom of expression.
Uzan Tokay who were held in the same quarantine ward with Ramazan Turan who died in a cell where he was held for 22 days, told that Turan did not die on his own accord and said: “It was a murder. He was taken to the hospital 13 hours after he got worse.”
Appealing to the Council of State, the Union of Turkish Bar Associations has underlined that a recent circular on “press and broadcasting activities” issued by the President may lead to restrictions on basic rights and freedoms and self-censorship.
The 3rd hearing of the retrial where Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Erol Önderoğlu and Ahmet Nesin face “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” charges was held in İstanbul. The court’s decided to wait for the case file to be completed and adjourned the trial until June.
The 2nd hearing of the trial where journalist Eren Tutel faces “insulting a public official” charge for his news reports uncovering the corruption at Turkish Wushu Federation was held in Istanbul. Giving time for Tutel’s lawyer to provide her written statement, the court adjourned the trial until May.
MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli has called on İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu to resign.
Covid-19: Health Ministry reported 102,601 new infections and 198 deaths in the last 24 hours.
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.