HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

 
 
2004
January-March
 
Human Rights Violations in Turkey Summary Table
January-March April-June  January-June

 

2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
 

I. RIGHT TO LIFE

I.1. Extrajudicial Executions 

Killed and injured by security forces In Stop Warnings, and violation of authority on arm use by officials, arbitrary firing 

6 deaths

10 individuals wounded

I.2. Deaths and Injuries In Prisons  

Suicides 

3 individuals

-

People who burned themselves

3 deaths

1 individual wounded

Deaths due to a lack of medical treatment 

1 individual

 -

Total

7 deaths

1 individual wounded

I.3. Deaths in Police Custody

1 individual 

I.5. Attacks by unidentified assailants

10 deaths

8 individuals wounded

I.6. Doubtful Deaths 

5 deaths 

I.7. Armed Conflicts

6 deaths

2 individuals wounded

I.8. Killed and injured by illegal organizations

4 deaths

7 individuals wounded

I.9. Official Negligence and Fault 

Suicides of police and gendarmerie 

2 individuals

-

Who attempted to suicides 

1 individual

-

I.10. People Attacked 

University Students 

-

7 individuals wounded

Journalists 

-

5 individuals wounded

Members and executives of political parties 

22 deaths

366 individuals wounded

Teachers 

2 deaths

3 individuals wounded

Members of Trade Unions 

-

4 individuals wounded

Local Executives 

-

2 individuals wounded

Others

-

7 individuals wounded

Total

24 deaths

394 individuals wounded

I.11. Deaths and injuries due to  Explosion of Landmines and Unidentified Ordinances

2 deaths

12 individuals wounded

Asylum seekers and migrants 

22 individuals

-

I.13. Torture and  Ill Inhuman or degrading treatments or punishments

 

I.13.1. Torture and ill treatment under police custody

98 individuals

I.13.2. Ill treatment and torture outside of the official detention premises 

139 individuals

I.13.3. Torture and ill treatments by village guards 

4 individuals

I.13.4. Torture and ill treatments in prisons 

11 individuals

I.13.5. Violence in Schools

6 individuals

I.13.6. Injured and beaten by security forces during social demonstrations 

51 individuals

I.13.7. Threatened and forced to be reporter  

27 individuals

Total

336 individuals

II. LIBERTY and PERSONAL SECURITY

II.2. Individuals taken under detention arbitrarily

1827 individuals

Asylum seekers and migrants taken under detention 

232 individuals

Total

2059 individuals

II.3. Individuals arrested

229 individuals

III. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 

III.1. Bans, restrictions, seizures  

Banned Publications and Activities

14 (5 celebrations regarding Newroz, 2 festivals, 1 art and poetry competition, 2 posters, 1 stand, 1 activity of a campaign  and 2 Kurdish Songs from broadcasting)

Banned and Confiscated Books 

1

Banned and Confiscated Journals 

1 (6 volumes in total)

Banned and Confiscated Newspapers

1 (1 issue in total)

Total

3 (1 book, 1 book and  1 newspaper; Confiscation on a book written by Muzaffer İlhan Erdost and 8 books written by   İsmail Beşikçi was ended; ban on 15 book written by Beşikçi is stil continuing )

Closed newspapers and journals 

1 (5 days in total)

III.2. Raided newspapers and publishing houses 

8 (4 associations, 3 newspaper offices and  1 center for cultural and artistic activities)

III.3. Decisions of High Council for Radio and Televisions (RTÜK)

 

III.3.1. Televisions and radio channels suspended from broadcasting

3 (2 TV channels and 1 radio channel were suspended from broadcasting for  90  days)

III.3.2. Televisions and radio channels suspended from program

14 (A total of 27 programs of  11 TV channels and  3 radio channels were suspending)

III.3.3. Warnings given for radio and television channels 

93 (40 TV channels and 53 radio channels were warned 124 times.)

III.3.4. Television and radio channels whose defenses were asked 

19 (18 TV channels and 1 radio channel)

III.4. Investigations Launched against people who expressed their thoughts

17 (Against 145 individuals)

III.5. Trials Launched against people as they expressed their thoughts

Trials Launched at the period between January and March

A total of 634 years 2 months imprisonment sentence were demanded in 21 trials launched against 167individuals.

Trials launched under article 312 of the Turkish Criminal Code 

6 (103 individuals)

Trials launched under article 169 of the Turkish Criminal Code 

1 (12 individuals)

Trials launched under article 159 of the Turkish Criminal Code 

3 (5 individuals)

   Trials launched under article  7 of the Anti Terror Law 

6 (30 individuals)

Others

5 (17 individuals)

Concluded Trials at the period between January and March

7 individual was acquitted in 20 concluded trials, 4 trial dropped, 29 individuals were sentenced to  18 year 5 month 15 day imprisonment and fine’s 22 billion 3 million 338 thousand Turkish Liras. A total of 2 year 9 month 15 day imprisonment was converted fine’s 7 billion 26 million 115 Turkish. 6 month imprisonment and 218 million fine sentences were postponed.

(Note: Two of the fine decisions were made as redress: Newspaper “Vakit”-614 billion and Newspaper “Türkiye’de Cuma” - 30 billion Turkish Liras)

IV. FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND DEMONSTRATION

IV.1. Raided or restricted by security forces Associations and demonstrations

25 (pres meeting, demonstration, marches, meetings and other activities)

IV.2. Activities Banned 

9 (press meeting , marches and other activities)

Investigations Launched 

Administrative investigation against 667 individuals were launched, Judicial Investigation was launched against 164 individuals.

Trials Launched at the period between January and March

1740 years imprisonment sentences were demanded in 11 trials launched against 392 individuals.  

Resulted Trials 

51 individual were acquitted in 7 resulted trials and investigations. 83 individuals were sentenced to a total of 95 years 11 months 2 days imprisonment and fine’s 1 billion 740 million Turkish Liras. A total of 21 years 2 months imprisonment sentences were postponed. 25 doctors were given “warning”, 10 doctors were given “disapproval”, 7 doctors’ salaries were reduced, 12 teachers were suspended from grade, and 23 teachers were dismissed from their duties for 3 months.  

V. FREEDOM TO ORGANIZE 

V.1. Raided Political Organizations 

2 (DEHAP’s  Sultanbeyli and Karayazı Branches)

V.2. Investigations Launched 

7 (against 20 individuals)

V.4. Organizations Closures (A judicial proceedings) 

9 (Muş Branch Office of the TUHAD-DER and an election Office were permanently closed; The Local of the Diyarbakır Consumers Rights Association (Tüketici Hakları Derneği Lokali) was closed for 7 days. Trials against Milli Gençlik Vakfı, TKP and DEHAP are still pending. Investigation against HAK-PAR was launched.   Trials against TİHV (HRFT) and Mersin THÖD were resulted and acquittal decision was given.   )

 January-March 2004 Human Rights Violation Balance Sheet was collected from personal applications and various newspapers, journals, televisions and Internet sources.