Human rights violations in Turkey in 2017

After the lifting of martial law in 1987 for the first time Turkey witnessed the State of Emergency (OHAL) for the whole year.

The Human Rights Association (IHD) has released its new 2017 report on human rights violations in Turkey. The report was presented at a press conference at the headquarters of the IHD, where Co-Chair Öztürk Türkdoğan together with IHD directors Sevim Salihoğlu and Necla Demir gave details and explain the findings.

President Türkdoğan drew attention to the fact that after the lifting of martial law in 1987 for the first time the country witnessed the State of Emergency (OHAL) for the whole year.

Turkey's most important issue remains the unresolved Kurdish question, something that should have its natural place for solution "in the Parliament", said the IHD President whereas, precisely the Parliament is a hostile place for parties like the HDP which is trying to make democratic politics, but is instead subjected to constant surveillance and arrest operation.

The IHD President, underlined that 10 MPs including 9 HDP MPs and 1 CHP MP are still in prison.

These are some of the main findings of the Report for 2017:

* Decree No. 667, which came into effect on July 23, 2016, the duration of the custody was extended to 30 days. Lawyers were allowed to see their clients 5 days after detention.

Subsequently Decree No. 682, which entered into force on January 23, 2017, reduced the length of custody from 30 days to 14 days and the lawyers can now see their clients 1 day after detention.

During the time of the OHAL, 10 MPs, including the former co-chairs of the HDP, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, are still detained in the prisons.

* During OHAL, 99 councils were intervened by the State. 68 council co-presidents were arrested. A total of 780 HDP officials have experienced detention.

* During the OHAL, a total 116,512 public officials had been removed from the public service. Work permits of 22,474 persons who worked in closed private institutions and teachers were canceled.

* During the OHAL, 4,308 judges and prosecutors have been removed following the decision of HSK.

* 48 private health institutions were closed, 2 of them reopened.

* During the OHAL, the greatest harm was made to freedom of expression and therefore press freedom. 201 press and broadcasting organization, mainly written and visual media, was closed down and only 25 of them were allowed to open.

* A number of journalists were arrested during the OHAL. Currently, 213 journalists are in prison.

* During the OHAL, 1,607 associations were closed and 183 were allowed to reopen. 168 foundations were closed and 23 were allowed to reopen. It has been alleged that a majority of these associations and foundations are linked to Fethullah Gülen's organization and the rest are stated to be linked to other illegal organizations without any concrete evidence. Kurdish cultural institutions and women's organizations, rights and legal organizations are among the closed associations.

* Under OHAL conditions

According to the official statistics of the Ministry of Justice, in 2016, 4187 people were sued for insulting the President, that is Article 299 of TCK.

Death at the hand of the State Forces

* 33 people lost their lives and 62 people were wounded in extrajudicial execution

* In 2017, 3 people lost their lives and 1 person was injured in detention places.

Due to the armed conflicts, 656 people, including 161 soldiers, police, village guards, 483 militants and 12 civilians, have lost their lives.

During this period, a total of 349 people were wounded, including 309 soldiers, police and village guards, 26 armed militants and 14 civilians.

* A total of 23 people, of whom 8 were children, lost their lives because of the impact of armored vehicles belonging to security forces.

* According to a reply by Ministry of Justice to CHP Istanbul deputy Barış Yarkadaş the number of prisoners committed in prisons in 2016 was 66.

40 prisoners committed suicide since the coup d'etat on July 15, 2016.

* The violation of the right to life for women is on the rise.

51 suicides, 357 women died in public sphere, 408 women lost their lives and 610 women survived. 1,074 women were forced into prostitution.

* Worker Health and Work Safety

According to the parliament's data, at least 2,006 workers lost their lives in 2017 due to worker accidents / killings.

3000 people were tortured

* According to IHD figures a total of 2,682 people were tortured and subjected to rough treatment, including 1855 in meetings and demonstrations outside the places of detention and in the presence of security forces.

* A total of 94 provincial and municipal municipalities located in the province have been managed by the municipal councils under the conditions of OHAL. Currently, 68 municipal co-chairpersons are detained.

* 213 journalists are in prison.

* 143 cases have been filed against IHD Co-Chair Eren Keskin in 2014 and 2015 because of her role as editor in chief of the journal Özgür Gündem.

* As of 1 November 2017 there were 230,735 prisoners / convicts / convicted persons in prisons.

This number was 178.089 in 2015 and 154.179 in 2014.

When the AKP came into power, this number was 59.429.