
OPEN LETTER
TURKEY: Allegations of torture in Halfeti and
Ankara
To:
Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
President of the Republic of Turkey
Mr. Binali Yıldırım
Prime Minister of Turkey
Mr. Bekir Bozdağ
Minister of Justice
Mr. Süleyman Soylu
Minister of Interior
Geneva,
June 6, 2019
Your Excellencies,
It is with a sense of urgency that
we convey our deep concern regarding recent allegations of torture and other
ill-treatment happening across the country.
Between 18 and 21 May 2019, at least
51 persons, including three children, were detained in Halfeti, Urfa during
police raids following armed clashes between security forces and the PKK during
which a police officer as well as two alleged PKK members were killed. Two
other police officers were injured.
Images circulated on the internet and
eyewitnesses’ testimonies show that during the arrest the detainees were pushed
to the floor, handcuffed behind their backs and kept on the ground in stress
position for hours. Police officers allegedly also kicked, punched, and hit
them with the butt of their weapons. Reportedly, the beating continued in the
anti-terrorism branch of Urfa security directorate, where the detainees were
taken for interrogation. Some of them told their lawyers that the police threatened,
blindfolded them and applied electricity to their bodies and genitals.
It was also reported that detainees were
not allowed to be examined by a doctor without the presence of police officers
and were denied access to legal counseling in the 24h after their arrests. When
finally permitted to see a lawyer, the meeting was monitored by video
surveillance. Lawyers acting on behalf of some of the detainees reported that
many of them presented visible injuries, cuts and bruises to their bodies, legs
and faces, but were terrified to speak out for fear of being exposed to even
heavier torture.
At the time of writing, 38 people had
been released. The remaining 13 are currently being held at the Şanlıurfa
Hilvan T-type prison. 12 have been accused of being part of a terrorist
organisation under Art. 7 of the anti-terrorism law, while one has been charged
with insulting the President under Art. 299 of the Penal Code.
Moreover, on 27 May 2019, the Ankara
Bar Association published information about a separate case of torture of dozens
of dismissed diplomats held in custody at the Financial Crimes Investigation
Bureau of the Ankara General Directorate of Security.
According to the report, which gathers
the testimonies of six of the arrested individuals, the detainees were taken to
interrogations during which they were subjected to psychological pressure and
forced to sign confessions.
Five of these six people reported
that they were also subjected to torture and ill-treatment. They told their
lawyers that they were taken into a dark room, forced against a wall,
handcuffed and forced to crawl on the ground, beaten, hit on their heads with a
baton, stripped and threatened with sexual torture. They could not see the
faces of their torturers in the dark, however one of the detainees said the men
identified themselves as “a professional team from outside”. All five interviewees
stated that they were examined by a doctor in the presence of police officers
and that none of the medical reports mentioned any bruises or other signs of
harm.
We would like to remind you that torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is prohibited
under international and the domestic law of Turkey under any circumstances.
We therefore urge you to immediately
take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and physical integrity of
those still detained and to provide them with immediate independent medical
care. We further call for prompt, independent and throughout investigations into
all credible allegations of torture to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.
Your sincerely,
OMCT
Europe’s Executive Council
OMCT Europe is an affiliate organisation of
the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), supporting its goals and
objectives in Europe and Central Asia. Created in 1985, the OMCT is the main
coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGO) fighting against torture,
summary executions, enforced disappearances and all other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment. With more than 200 affiliated organisations in its
SOS-Torture Network, OMCT aims at accompanying, reinforcing and protecting
anti-torture organisations in particular in erosive environments and provides a
comprehensive system of support and protection for human rights defenders
around the world.

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