World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), located in Switzerland, Geneva have sent a letter to Turkey regarding the torture and the ill- treatment cases in Halfeti and ANkara on June 6. OMCT demanded the cases to be investigated addressing the letter to AKP President and President Tayyip Erdoğan, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality candidate and AKP MP Binali Yıldırım, President of the Constitutional Commission President Bekir Bozdağ and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu.

 

 

'TORTURE IS BANNED IN TURKEY'S LAWS AS WELL'

 

The letter signed by the Executive Committee of OMCT is as follows: 

 

 

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 accross your country.

 

 

Between 18 and 21 may 2019, at least 51 persons, including the children, were detained in Halfeti, urfa , following the 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 at the Anti-Terrorism Unit Urfa Branch of the  Security Directorate where the detainees were  taken for interrogation. Some of them told their attorneys that the police threatened and 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 counciling in the 24 hours after their arrest. 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 the detainees presented visible injuries, cuts, 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 the writing 33 people had been released. The remaining 13 are currently being held at the Şanlıurfa Hilvan Type T prison. 12 have been accused of being a 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 investgation 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 interrogation during which they were subjected to psychological pressure and forced to sign confessions.

 

Five of the 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 5 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 any 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 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 thoughout investigations into all credible allegations of torture to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.

 

Yours sincerely,

OMCT Europe's Executive Council