The Human Rights Association (İHD) has published an interim report on the violations of referendum restrictions

The İHD stated in its report that restrictions were violated by pro-Justice and Development Party (AKP) citizens and that voting in some Kurdish provinces was conducted at gunpoint.

The İHD report, “Interim report on allegations of violations related to the Constitutional Referendum on April 16, 2017” is as follows:

İSTANBUL

In Fatih District, members of the polling committee from the AKP prepared an objection petition as if the boxes had been opened even though voting was still continuing.

At Avcılar Vocational High School, there were instances of votes being cast by impersonating another voter. An official report of this issue was filed.

At the İnönü Primary School in Avcılar, a policeman cast a vote without the required documentation.

It has been confirmed that 48 votes were cast without the requisite seal at Ümraniye Anatolian İmam Hatip High School.

The İHD Election Observation Committee was not permitted to enter a polling stations at the Darülaceze to observe the election.

İZMİR

Five voters’ ballots were found to be signed even though they had not cast their votes at ballot box No. 2282 at the Halil Atilla Primary School.

ANKARA

A member of the İHD was thrown out by the head of the polling committee by force at the Mamak Abidinpaşa Vocational High School.

ŞANLIURFA

Two police officers with loaded guns were present in every class at Şanlıurfa Mehmet Saçlı Primary School.

DİYARBAKIR

Abdülrezzak (Avdo) Yıldız and his son Şeyhmuz Yıldız were killed, while İdris Siverek was taken to a state hospital following an armed battle over an argument about voting in the Yabanardı Village of the Çermik district. Mehmet and Tahir Yıldız were taken into custody.

School administrators and polling officers from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were reportedly removed from the İBB Kiptaş Vocational High School in Bağlar.

S.K., an HDP official at the Fatih Secondary School, was taken into custody.

VAN

The HDP’s polling committee members were threatened by soldiers and were not allowed to approach ballot boxes at the Güzelsu Primary School in Gürpınar district.

The observation activities of the İHD Election Observation Committee were prevented.

GAZİANTEP

Gaziantep Deputy Şamil Tayyar of the AKP violated the vote by taking a picture of his ballot and sharing it on his Twitter page.

ÇANAKKALE

The İHD Election Observation Board attempted to go to a prison and nursing home where voting was occurring but were prevented from doing so. A record was filed.

MERSİN

The İHD Election Observation Committee at the April 23rd Elementary School were removed from the school garden by police officers.

ERZURUM

According to the information provided to the İHD Erzurum branch and to the election observation committee, some were forced to cast their votes openly in the Horasan district and in some villages.

In Karayazı District’s Değirmankaya village, voters were searched and observers were not permitted into classrooms.

YOZGAT

The votes to be used in the referendum in the district of Sorgun were sealed in a vehicle.

KOCAELİ

A person who was not registered at the polling station at the Halk Eğitim Merkezi in the district of Darıca was able to cast a vote.

MUŞ

In the village of Çatbaşı, the pro-AKP headman, M.K., broadcasted images on social media showing him entering the voting booth with and each voter and checking his or her vote.

Additionally,

It has been observed that

1) Campaign materials were still present in electoral districts near polling stations;

2) In particular electoral districts which are predominantly Kurdish, there were large numbers of police, soldiers, gendarmes and village guards who did not comply with regulations to remain at least 15 meters away from ballot boxes.

3) Unlike previous elections, İHD observers were not permitted to make independent observations.

4) There were challenges and obstacles to voting for voters with disabilities.

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