The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) launched the 2020 Turkey Human Rights Report. According to the report, at least 404 people faced torture and other mistreatment in 140 separate incidents in 2020 and at least 86 people were injured. 22 of the 139 identified incidents occurred during house raids, 86 during open air events and 31 at official detainment centers.
2014 people were detained through physical violence, at least 65 people were injured and 9 people, including one child, were arrested during protests and demonstrations. 100 people were released on the condition of judicial measures and 77 people with travel bans against them. 506 people were prosecuted due to participating in various meetings and demonstrations. 137 people were sentenced to a total of 253 years of imprisonment. At least 335 people were sentenced to at least 790,490 Turkish Liras of penalty fine in total due to “violating the measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic.”
At least 72 press workers and one writer were detained in 2020. At least 25 journalists were arrested and 17 journalists were released on the condition of judicial measures in 2020. At least 239 journalists and press workers were prosecuted in 129 lawsuits filed against them. In concluded prosecutions, 41 journalists were sentenced to a total of 173 years, 11 months and 7 days of imprisonment as well as 34,160 Turkish Liras of judicial fine in total.
At least 616 people were detained, 11 people were arrested and 16 people were released on the condition of judicial measures and one with a travel ban against him due to social media posts. Investigations were started against at least 147 people due to their social media posts. In 12 lawsuits filed due to social media posts, 5 people were sentenced to a total of 20 years and 4 days of imprisonment; three people were acquitted.
At least 24 people were detained in 2020 due to “insulting the President” and two people were arrested.
Access bans were issued against at least 1079 news articles, 97 websites, 635 URLs, 10 social media accounts (including the account of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo) and 301 online content. Furthermore, a book that was yet to be published and a newspaper issue were withdrawn from shelves with court decrees.
At least 3,291 people died as a result of violations of their right to life during the year. In 23 separate incidents, 15 people (including 3 children) were identified to have died and 13 people (including 3 children) were identified to have been injured due to extrajudicial execution, stop warnings, random fire openings, police raids and causing suicide through sexual assault. It was indicated that the most significant causes of such violations were “the lack of effective investigation and prosecution” and “the majority of the lawsuits resulting in impunity”.
Please click here for the full report.
24.06.2021
tihv.org.tr