HRFT Documentation Center Human Rights Report
1 - 28 February 2021 about torture and ill-treatment in Turkey.

Reports about torture and ill-treatment in Turkey

Provided by HRFT Documentation Center Human Rights Report. September 2020 - October 2020 - November 2020 - December 2020 - January 2021

(02/328) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 24, 2021 that, lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, kept in Edirne F Type Prison, was subjected to disciplinary proceedings for he rejected to be searched by correction officers violating social distancing rules and without face masks and gloves; and that he was penalised with one day of solitary cell confinement.

It is also stated in the news reports that the number of books given to Aytaç Ünsal is limited to 20 books per year, and his letters addressing journalists and parliamentary members are not sent on the grounds of “being inconvenient”. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has went on a hunger strike in Edirne F Type Prison, and after 213 days of strike, Penal Department No 16 of Court of Cassation ruled to halt the sentence until he recovers and he was released on September 3, 2020. Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal was detained and arrested once again in Edirne on December 9, 2020.

(02/298) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage pf February 22, 2021 that, 13 prisoners in Mardin E Type Prison are transferred under coercion to prisons in Urfa and Diyarbakır. Transferred prisoners are: İlhan Dayan, Selman Acet, Sabri Kömürcü, Adem Irmak, Beşir Dal, Agit Öcal, Bayram Demirhan, Ersin Çiçek, Ebubekir Koç, Abdullah Erez, Ali Aslan, Mahzun Geçgin and Umut Deniz Ertem.

(02/278) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that, in Tekirdağ F Type Prison No 2, the wards were not being heated enough, the water given to prisoners was limited and the posts sent to prisoners were not delivered.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 19, 2021 that, Murat Aktaş, a prisoner who was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers in Edirne F Type Prison was subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 20, 2021 that in Urfa T Type Prison, books belonging to prisoners were seized after ward searches.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 21, 2021 that, in Afyon T Type Prison No 1, the wards were over-capacity and were not heated enough, and the vegetables sold to prisoners at commissary were rotten.

(02/265) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody in Aydın
It is learned from the news coverage of February 18, 2021 that, Sadegül Akalın, Söke district co-chair of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP); Caize Yörücü, provincial executive of HDP and 2 other members of HDP who were detained in Söke and Didim districts of Aydın on February 14, 2021 were subjected to strip search under custody.

Sadegül Akalın stated the following: “They took us to a room before the detention room and exercised strip search on us. There was a female police officer in the search room and she asked us to take off our clothes. I rejected, and said that strip search is illegal and inhuman. Our lawyers were not present there. We were 2 women, subjected to strip search at district police station”.

Caize Yörücü stated the following: “We were 2 women detained in this district. They took us into a room leaving the door half-open. There were 3 or 4 male police officers at the door. They stripped us and searched us there. And then we were taken into detention room”.

(02/250) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 17, 2021 that, İ. A., a prisoner in Antalya Elmalı T Type Prison, was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers because of rejecting to stand up during roll-calls. It is stated in the news reports that İ. A. was subjected to physical violence of other prisoners in the ward too. It is reported that İ. A. has fractures in his cheekbone, chin and ribs due to violence.

Human Rights Association (IHD) Antalya branch made a visit to İ. A. and prepared a report stating the following: “[İ. A.] states that, after 2-days of solitary cell confinement for he rejected to stand up during roll-calls; he was taken to the sub-manager’s room and was asked whether he persists in his rejection and was responded as ‘Then I am sending you to another ward. You can insist on your attitude there’. (…) Then he states that, he felt the hostile environment in this new ward immediately, and in a short while he was dragged to the restroom area of the ward by 2 prisoners, and was attacked there which resulted in fractures in cheekbone. He states that he banged the ward door for help and asked to be taken out, but nobody came for a long while and when the officers came and took him out, he was severely beaten in the aisle.

He was put in a solitary with broken ribs and chin, and he had bruises all over his body. He was taken to Elmalı Public Hospital the next day, and he was then referred to Antalya Research and Training Hospital where the doctors told him that he was almost dying. Then he states that, he had a surgery on January 20, and was kept for a night in Antalya L Type Prison after the operation where itself was felt as a torture; he was in post-operation condition with high-fever and was kept in a small cell without any bed, was not visited by any doctors of health personnel and was not given any painkillers and antifebrile.

He also states that he was not treated after being taken back to Elmalı.” The report also includes the declaration of prison administration which states the following: “It was declared that, the prisoner rejected the roll-call and his ward was altered because of this; he was beaten by other prisoners and while he was taken out of this ward towards a solitary cell, he threw himself on the floors, and injured himself by hitting his head to the walls; the officers used proportional force against him since he was resisting, and it is out of question that he was beaten by officers”.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 17, 2021 that, 2 prisoners (Ekrem Muhammed Hennan Hamudi and Yücel Balyacı) in Antalya Alanya L Type Prison, were subjected to disciplinary proceedings for they submitted to the prison administration that they were to participate in the hunger strike to demand an end to isolation of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. It is learned that 2 prisoners were penalised with 11 days of solitary cell confinement which was first cancelled by Alanya Court of Execution but was approved by Alanya Penal Court.

(02/229) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) made a declaration on February 17, 2021 and stated that, Dilek Hatipoğlu, Hakkari co-mayor, who was transferred from Ankara Sinan Prison to Van T Type Prison on February 12, 2021 rejected to strip search at the entrance of prison, and that she was subjected to strip search by the correction officers using physical violence against her.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, prisoners in Düzce T Type Prison were subjected to verbal violence of the correction officers during ward searches.

(02/231) Torture and Ill-Treatment Under Custody
It is learned from the news coverage of February 16, 2021 that, HDP Youth Assembly member Muhammed Ünal was subjected to physical and psychological torture and ill-treatment under custody at Istanbul Directorate of Security. Muhammed Ünal was arrested on February 7, 2021 for the protests against new rector appointed to Boğaziçi University, and he was released upon appeal on February 12, 2021.

Muhammed Ünal stated the following: “At the security directorate, they asked me questions, ‘Why did you come to Boğaziçi? Who sent you? Why are you here, what is your purpose? Who are you working for?’ and said ‘If you help us we will help you too’. (…) When I asked them whether these questions are within the official statement, they responded ‘No, we are having a casual conversation’. I told them it was a criminal act what they do, and I will not speak without my lawyer and use the right to remain silent. And then I was subjected to physical and psychological violence and torture.”

(02/169) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 11, 2021 that, 5 prisoners in Mersin Tarsus Prison Compound are transferred to other prisons under coercion. It is stated that 3 prisoners (Gökhan Çetin and 2 prisoners) were transferred to Kayseri Bünyan T Type Prison and 2 prisoners (Vedat Bektaş and Selahattin Ortaç) are transferred to Manisa Akhisar T Type Prison.

(02/136) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 10, 2021 that, Murat Aktaş, a prisoner who was subjected to physical violence of the correction officers in Edirne F Type Prison was subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

(02/073) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 4, 2021 that in Mardin E Type Prison, water cuts are too often and the food given to prisoners is non-hygienic.

(02/058) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 3, 2021 that, in Van T Type Prison, after the search in the ward where journalists Şehriban Abi and Nazan Şen are also kept in, blankets in the ward were seized without any reason by the officers.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 3, 2021 that, in Van High Security Prison, the letter of journalist Cemil Uğur addressing Evrensel daily newspaper was considered as improper because of expressions on journalist Metin Göktepe, who was killed by the police in 1996, and on torture and ill-treatment in prison; and that the letter was seized by prison administration.

(02/058) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 3, 2021 that, in Van T Type Prison, after the search in the ward where journalists Şehriban Abi and Nazan Şen are also kept in, blankets in the ward were seized without any reason by the officers.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 3, 2021 that, in Van High Security Prison, the letter of journalist Cemil Uğur addressing Evrensel daily newspaper was considered as improper because of expressions on journalist Metin Göktepe, who was killed by the police in 1996, and on torture and ill-treatment in prison; and that the letter was seized by prison administration.

(02/036) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 2, 2021 that, prisoners who reject strip search in Malatya Akçadağ T Type Prison were subjected to physical violence, and that prisoners were forced to stand up during roll-calls, hot and cold water given to prisoners was restricted and social, cultural and sports rights of prisoners were restricted too.

(02/038) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Police Interventions to Protests in Istanbul
It is learned that the people who were detained in police interventions against protests of police interventions against protests in Boğaziçi University in Istanbul on February 2, 2021, were subjected to physical and verbal violence of the police during interventions and under custody; and that at least 1 woman was subjected to sexual abuse. It is also learned that 1 journalist was injured at face by a rubber bullet fired by the police.

One of the detainees, K. Ç, stated the following on physical violence and sexual abuse: “There were 4 riot police officers behind me. Somebody squeezed my bottom while I was encircled. I turned back as I noticed, and I saw these 4 riot police officers behind me, and I reacted against them, telling to move away. (…) While they were putting me in the detention car, my right arm was twisted and I was dragged then I was pushed to the detention car, facing down on it. At that moment, the police officer who was holding my right arm, pushed his leg on my genitals and tried to handcuff me behind my back. A female friend by me reacted against him and told him to get his leg back. I was handcuffed behind my back and put in the detention car.”

Another detainee E. E., stated the following: “We were attacked on a busy street so many of us were in danger of being hit by the cars. While they were detaining us, at least 10 police officers were swooping down on per person. As a result, one of our friend has a fracture in foot, one has dislocated jaw and another one has head trauma because of being beaten.”

Şeyma Çopur stated the following: “We were waiting at the bus stop while we were faced with violence of the police. There were no warnings, the police chief ran to us, pushed one of our friend, saying ‘look down’. We were detained immediately. (…) They handcuffed all of us behind our backs. We were harassed both physically and verbally, they cursed at us a lot. They said, ‘We are the state, do you know what we can do here?’. They squeezed testicles of our male friends. We were still in handcuffs behind our backs under custody. One of our friend were suffering from serious bruises on the wrist but they did not loosen the handcuffs. The police officers dislocated one friend’s jaw. We were beaten in the detention car, I have crushes and bruises on my body.”

Batuhan Çotur stated the following: “The police verbally harassed and committed physical violence while they were detaining us. They punched us and dragged on the floor. They used handcuffs behind our backs and put us in the detention car. Verbal harassment and physical torture continued in the detention car as well.”

Rıdvan Gezer stated the following: “The police tried to handcuff us behind our backs while they were detaining us. Then they failed to handcuff us and tried to take off our face masks, pushed us and dragged to the detention car. Many of our friends were kicked and punched at these moments. I was put in the car without handcuffs so they dragged me out of the car, and tortured me to put handcuffs. Then I was taken to another car, a police officer came behind me and started to punch me. And he brought another friend of mine, and pushed him on my body, then he took a club from the car and started to hit both of us. I was in handcuffs behind my back so I could not cover my head, he hit my head at least twice with the club.”

Elif Üçerli stated the following: “We were detained around 16.30, and were kept in the detention car until 5 a.m. in the ne next morning. This was itself a form of torture. They continuously beat us; I still have pain in my shoulders. I suffered from high blood tension for a long time in there. They tried to seize our phones without any record.”

Tanya Kara stated the following: “They detained us with torture. We were walking on the street while they have detained us. They dragged our friends on the ground, they forced us to lay down on the ground and handcuffed us behind our backs. There were four or five police officers stepping onto us. Some of our friends are severely beaten at the head. They insulted us, and threatened us saying ‘Do not forget our faces’. They were especially rough on women. They pulled their hair, and kicked them on the ground while detaining. A friend of us who was detained in Bebek, was kicked at her vagina.”

Caner Delisu stated the following: “They brought a baton in the detention car and hit one of our friend with it, even at the head. They were threatening us, saying ‘We will finish you’. They kicked our head to the car when we rejected being handcuffed behind our backs. They did this in front of the hospital. When we reacted, they went in and started to insult us, they said ‘You are terrorists’. They kicked my leg just before I went into the doctor’s room”.

(02/039) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Police Interventions to Protests in Izmir
It is learned that the people who were detained in police interventions against press declarations to protest police interventions to protests in Boğaziçi University and to protests discrimination against LGBTIQs in Izmir on February 2, 2021, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment of the police during interventions and under custody.

One of the detainees, Berke Avcı, stated the following: “There were 7 or 8 police officers coming onto me and they started to pull me, one of them hit my head with the police wireless when they could not make me fall down, and the wireless broke into pieces. Then the number of police officers raised, and they forced me to lay down on the ground. I was resisting while they were pulling my hands towards my back to handcuff me. One of the police officers started to kick my stomach while the other was kicking my head. I was trying to lift my body and a police officer stepped on my head, and stayed on my head on one leg for a while. Then they pushed me back to the ground, a police officer stepped on my hand this time. Then I noticed that the police officers were pushing harder to handcuff me behind my back so that they were about to break my hand, I let them to take my hands towards my back. I was wearing a coat and a rucksack so they could not fasten the cable tie. This made them to force my hand further. (…) I saw that many of my friends in the detention car were in handcuffs behind their backs and they were being beaten by the police pulling their hair, sitting on them and kicking them.”

Zilan Tayboğa stated the following: “I was handcuffed behind my back while being detained. A male police officer pushed his knee on my back, another one pulled my hair and hit my head to the ground which split my lip open and bleed. (…) They continued to beat us in the detention car.”

(02/021) Torture and Ill-Treatment in Prison
It is learned from the news coverage of February 1, 2021 that, in Mersin Tarsus Women’s Prison, hot water is not provided to the wards on the grounds of building renovation process and thus prisoners have to use cold water in showers. It is also stated in the news reports that the heating does not work in wards.

It is learned from the news coverage of February 1, 2021 that, Doğu Demirtaş and Selahattin Can Uğuzeş, Boğaziçi University students who were arrested on January 30, 2021, were subjected to verbal violence of the correction officers in Metris Prison.