Our contribution to an UN Report: Psychosocial dynamics conducive to torture and ill-treatment

Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in his capacity made a call to stakeholders to contribute to his Report: Psychosocial dynamics conducive to torture and ill-treatment. The report aims to explore some of the predominant psychosocial dynamics which, in practice, tend to undermine, circumvent or even paralyse institutional checks and balances, thereby creating environments of unchecked power conducive not only to corruption but also to torture and ill-treatment. The larger purpose of the report is to show that the widespread practice of torture and ill-treatment, as well as societal acquiescence or support for such abuse, are deeply rooted in collective psychosocial behavioural patterns, which either remain largely unconscious to the human mind, or are based on fundamentally flawed rationalizations and severely distorted perceptions of reality. Relevant phenomena include patterns such as ‘system justification’, ‘wilful ignorance’, ‘bystander apathy’, ‘diffusion of responsibility’, ‘obedience’, ‘utilitarian moral disengagement’ and ‘group based moral disengagement’.

We are glad to announce that our contribution, written by Mr. Sammas Salur, PhD, has been accepted and published on the website of OHCHR. You can download our contribution https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Torture/SRTorture/Pages/CallGA75.aspx under NGOs and CSO – Human Rights Defenders.

REPORT: Suspicious Deaths, Ill-Treatment and Dreadful Conditions in Turkish Prisons

HRD, Victim Laborers Platform and the Victim Educators Platform submitted a joint stakeholder report on Turkey’s Universal Periodic Review, going to be held on the 35th Session in January 2020 with the title “Suspicious Deaths, Ill-Treatment And Conditions In Turkish Prisons”

This report, based on the data embedded in various reports on human right violations and victims’ statements in media reports and documentations, describe a general view of such violations and conditions in Turkish prisons and provide a background analysis of the problem. It also underlines the discrimination of inmates in the correctional system.

We explained and gave an overview of methods of torture and ill-treatment and no-complain policy in the Turkish prisons, as well as of the scheme of insult, humiliation, threats, and threats with relatives; coercive actions; sexual harassments. Furthermore, we took a closer look to the suspicious deaths in prisons and the circumstances of the reasons for these deaths.

It is difficult to determine the actual extent of human right violations with all their variations and frequencies as there is no transparency in governance. The result of investigations of individual ill-treatment cases are not shared publicly by authorities. Questions, even those asked in Turkish parliament by its members, remain unanswered. Prisons hardly open their doors for impartial and independent visits for a full range inspection.

Various forms of ill-treatment have been conducted systematically, covering all issues around inmates and their visitors within the parameters of almost all prisons where terrorism related convicts or pre-trail detainees are being held. There is no national mechanism to effectively prevent and investigate these violations.

Turkey should be strongly urged to establish adequate prison conditions as well as prevention and control mechanisms of ill-treatment according to international standards.  Country visits by international organizations and bilateral diplomatic engagements are necessary to ensure that the government comply with its responsibilities emanating from international treaties and regulations.

For the report please follow this link.

Suspicious Deaths Ill-Treatmentİndir

Bedford Row Report: Opinion on the Legality of the Actions of the Turkish State

A summary of an opinion on the legality of the actions of the Turkish State in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt in 2016 and the reliance on use of the Bylock messaging application as evidence of membership of a terrorist organisation by William Clegg QC who was assisted by Simon Baker. The opinion also contains a digital forensic report by Thomas K Moore, whose main findings have also been summarised below.

Continue reading

Communiqué de presse à l’occasion de la journée internationale pour le soutien aux victimes de la torture

Nous célébrons aujourd’hui la « Journée internationale pour le soutien aux victimes de la torture ». En solidarité avec toutes les victimes de la torture, nous souhaitons attirer votre attention sur les points suivants :

La torture est un acte inexplicable et horrible qui ignore les valeurs humanitaires fondamentales et dévalorise l’individu jusqu’à le considérer comme un objet. La torture est une invention honteuse de l’humanité et une caractéristique indispensable des systèmes « légaux » qui permettent de recueillir des preuves émanant de suspects ou d’inculpés et est utilisée comme tactique de punition inhumaine et d’intimidation par des États dans une grande partie du monde. La torture, un crime au regard du droit international, est interdite définitivement et ne peut être justifiée en aucune circonstance. La pratique systématique ou généralisée de la torture constitue un crime contre l’humanité.

En gardant cela à l’esprit, nous, HRD, avons lancé une campagne juridique sous la compétence universelle en Allemagne, dans le contexte de cas de torture et de mauvais traitements en Turquie. Nous avons présenté aujourd’hui, notamment, 5 plaintes individuelles, qui ont été soumises à la torture et à de mauvais traitements en Turquie et qui vivent maintenant en Allemagne. Outre notre déclaration, une liste des auteurs présumés d’actes de torture ou de mauvais traitements est également soumise au Procureur fédéral en annexe.

À la suite des investigations du 17 et 25 décembre 2013 qui ont révélé la corruption régnant au sein du gouvernement ; le Premier ministre turc à l’époque, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a lancé un plan sinistre pour prendre le contrôle au niveau de toutes les couches de la société turque. La tentative de coup d’Etat monté du 15 juillet 2016 a donné au Régime d’Erdogan « la carte blanche » dont il avait besoin. Le régime, avec tous les appareils de l’Etat, y compris l’appareil judiciaire sous sa main et une machine de propagande bien fonctionnée alimentée par des fonds publics appropriés, a transformé le mouvement Gülen en un bouc émissaire et a déchaîné sa colère contre des innocents en Turquie et dans le monde.

La torture systématique, délibérée et généralisée en tant que politique gouvernementale, qui s’est manifestée dernièrement par la torture de diplomates au siège du commissariat de la police d’Ankara, ainsi que dans le cas de Deniz Yücel, est rendue possible notamment par les pratiques de détention provisoire prolongée, interdiction des réunions entre les avocats et clients et/ou violation de leur confidentialité, dissolution de tous les conseils de surveillance pénitentiaire et interdiction d’obtenir des rapports d’examen médical équitables. Le Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme (HCDH) et Human Rights Watch (HRW) ont bien documenté la pratique de la torture pour obtenir des aveux. Ces pratiques comprennent les violences physiques, le viol, les agressions sexuelles et leurs menaces, les électrochocs et le simulacre de noyade. Les actes de torture ont lieu en particulier au moment de l’arrestation et pendant la détention provisoire.

Non seulement la Turquie ne dispose pas d’organes judiciaires compétents et bienveillants à enquêter sur des allégations bien fondées de torture, mais elle souffre également de dissimulation des preuves de torture. Par exemple, dans un document confidentiel divulgué, la Direction Générale de la Sécurité (Police nationale) demande aux 81 départements de la police provinciale de dissimuler les traces de torture dans les centres de détention et de ne pas utiliser les centres de détention officiels [pour la torture] avant la visite d’enquête du Comité pour la prévention de la torture (CPT) du Conseil de l’Europe (CdE). Le HCDH et HRW soulignent tous deux le climat de peur envahissant qui règne et la difficulté de se documenter et d’enquêter sur des actes de torture et sur d’autres formes de mauvais traitements.

En outre, il y a 26 cas de disparitions forcées en Turquie. Tous suivent un schéma similaire, ce qui prouve qu’il s’agit d’un fait systématique. Les victimes passent des mois dans des lieux inconnus et dans des conditions non connues, sont soumises à la torture et à d’autres formes de mauvais traitements. Les disparitions forcées ne se limitent pas aux frontières de la Turquie, le gouvernement enlève également des personnes à l’étranger. Le ministre turc des Affaires étrangères s’est vanté de l’enlèvement de 100 personnes par l’Agence nationale de renseignement (MIT) dans 18 pays. Ces victimes ont également signalé avoir été soumises à de graves actes de torture.

La détention provisoire prolongée à l’isolement est une peine dégradante en soi, mais elle favorise surtout d’autres actes de torture et de mauvais traitements. À ce titre, il y a 54 cas documentés de suicides obscurs dans les pénitenciers. Ces morts suspectes sont en fait dues à la torture et au manque de soins médicaux adéquats.

Le régime d’Erdogan a également systématiquement ciblé des groupes vulnérables tels que les femmes enceintes ou les nouvelles mères, les personnes âgées, les personnes malades et/ou handicapées. Le HCDH a signalé 50 cas de femmes arrêtées juste avant ou après l’accouchement et estime à 600 le nombre de mères détenues avec leurs enfants en bas âge. Dans presque tous les cas, ces femmes ont été inculpées d’infractions présumées de leur mari, au mépris total du principe de personnalité des peines.

Les informations acquises constituent une base raisonnable pour croire que de multiples crimes commis après la tentative de coup d’État dans le contexte d’une attaque généralisée et systématique contre les disciples du Mouvement Gülen en Turquie, en application d’une politique de l’État ou de l’organisation, au sens des articles 6 (3) et 7 – 1, 5,6,7,8, 9,10 du Code pénal à l’encontre du droit international (Völkerstrafgesetzbuch –VStGB). Après une tentative de coup d’Etat monté en juillet 2016, les actes suivants ont été commis :

Génocide défini au paragraphe 6 (3) de VStGB comme suit : “Dans l’intention de détruire, en tout ou en partie, un groupe national, ethnique, racial ou religieux, en infligeant au groupe à des conditions d’existence devant entraîner sa destruction physique totale ou partielle. ”

Crimes contre l’humanité au titre de l’article 7 de la VStGB:

A. L’homicide volontaire constitue un crime contre l’humanité au sens de l’article 7 (1) du Statut;

B. infliger, dans l’intention de détruire une population, en tout ou en partie, des conditions d’existence de cette population ou des parties de celle-ci, à des conditions propres à provoquer sa destruction physique totale ou partielle, constitue un crime contre l’humanité au sens de l’article 7 (2) du Statut ;

C. La torture en tant que crime contre l’humanité, conformément à l’article 7 (5) du Statut ;

D. Viol et autres formes de violence sexuelle constitue un crime contre l’humanité au sens de l’article 7 (6) du Statut;

E. Disparitions forcées de personnes sous l’article 7 (7) du Statut

F. L’atteinte grave à l’intégrité physique ou mentale constitue un crime contre l’humanité au sens de l’article 7(8) du Statut;

G. Privation illégale de liberté physique ou violation des règles fondamentales du droit international énoncées à l’article 7 (9) du Statut;

H. Persécution “constituant un crime contre l’humanité” au sens de l’article 7 (10) du Statut;

Nous saisissons cette occasion pour appeler le Bureau du Procureur fédéral à ouvrir des enquêtes et à rester vigilants pour prévenir les pratiques de torture systématiques et généralisées et d’autres formes de mauvais traitements infligés par le régime d’Erdogan et traduire en justice les auteurs de tels actes. Nous nous engageons à rester vigilants dans nos efforts en ce sens.

Human Rights Defenders e.V.
info@humanrights-ev.com

“İşkence mağdurlarıyla uşuslararası dayanışma günü” basın açıklaması (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – ENG – (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – DEU  – (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – FR  – (PDF)Download

Presseerklärung: Folterfälle in der Türkei

Der 26. Juni ist als „Internationalen Tag zur Unterstützung der Folteropfer“ anerkannt und wir als HRD, in Solidarität mit allen Folteropfer, möchten zum heutigen Anlass auf das folgende Aufmerksam machen: 

Heute haben wir als HRD, gegen Folter- und Misshandlungsfälle, die in der Türkei systematisch vom Staat ausgeübt werden, eine Strafanzeige, im Rahmen des Weltrechtsprinizip gestellt. In unserem Gesuch haben wir unter anderem 5 Einzelbeschwerden eingereicht, von Menschen die in der Türkei gefoltert und misshandelt wurden aber nun sicher in Deutschland leben. Zusätzlich zu unserer Petition wird dem Generalbundeanwalt auch eine Liste der mutmaßlichen Täter als Anhang vorgelegt.

Folter ist eine entsetzliche, verabscheuende Handlung, die grundlegende humanitäre Werte ignoriert und eine Person auf das Niveau eines Objekts herabsetzt. Folter ist ein Instrument das von sogenannte „Rechtssystemen“ eingesetzt wird, um Zugeständnisse von Verdächtigen / Angeklagten zu bekommen, sowohl auch als Taktik benutzt, um eine bestimmte Gruppe von Menschen einzuschüchtern und diese zum Schweigen zu bringen. Folter, ein Verbrechen nach internationalem Recht, ist absolut verboten und unter keinen Umständen zu gerechtfertigten. Folter, was meistens systematisch von Schurken Staaten ausgeübt wird ist ein Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit.

Nach den Ermittlungsverfahren vom 17. und 25. Dezember 2013, welche die Korruption innerhalb der türkischen Regierung und im inneren Kreis der Erdogan-Familie aufdeckte, hat der damalige türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan ein dunkles Programm eingeleitet, um die Kontrolle über alle Schichten der türkischen Gesellschaft zu erlangen. Der obskure Putschversuch vom 15. Juli 2016 gewährte dem Erdogan-Regime die nötige Freikarte.

Der Präsident-Erdogan und seine Handlanger, benutzen alle Ihnen zu Verfügung stehende Ressourcen, um an der Macht zu bleiben. Alle die Kritisch gegenüber Erdogan und seiner Partei sind, müssen auf fundamentale Rechte wie Meinungsfreiheit und Versammlungsfreiheit verzichten. Zudem wird die Opposition und jeder freier Gedanke durch die Propagandamaschine, welches mit der NS-Zeit sehr viele Parallelen nachweist, im Keim erstickt. Erdogan hat sein Ziel, mit dem Vorwand den Staat zu beschützen erreicht, in dem er durch langjährige Gesetzgebungen und mit den Dekreten während des Ausnahmezustandes seinen Machtergriff vervollständigte. Die Gülen-Bewegung, deren Anhänger beschuldigt sind diese Korruptionsskandale aufgedeckt zu haben sind seit Ende 2013 ein offenes Ziel Erdogans Zorn. Erdogan scheut nicht dies öffentlich zu sagen und auch die Mitglieder der Gülen Bewegung Welt weit zu verfolgen.

Systematische, organisierte weit verbreitete Folter wird in der heutigen Türkei als Regierungsinstrument benutzt. Dies wurde zuletzt in dem Folterskandal von ehemaligen türkischen Diplomaten in Ankara, so wohl auch im Fall Deniz Yücel gesehen. Durch längere Zeit in der U-Haft, Verweigerung mit dem eigenen Anwalt zu sprechen, oder nicht die Benötigte medizinische Untersuchungen zu gewährleisten versucht das Erdogan-Regime die Folterspuren verschwinden zu lassen. Zudem werden die Instrumente, wie Kameraüberwachung und regelmäßige Ärztebesuche welches die Folterer hemmen würden, nicht wirkungsvoll eingesetzt.  Berichte der relevanten UN Institutionen oder NGO`s wie Human Rights Watch, dokumentieren diese Vorgehensweise leider immer öfter. Elektroschock, Waterboarding, sexuelle Belästigung und Vergewaltigungen kommen in türkischen Gefängnissen immer mehr vor. Es herrschen Zustände die wir von zwischen den 70`er und Ende der 90`er Jahre letztes Jahrhunderts in der Türkei sahen.

Es fehlt nicht nur der Türkei an kompetenten und willigen Justizbehörden, um begründete Foltervorwürfe zu untersuchen, sondern diese leidet auch unter der Verdunkelung von Folternachweisen. Beispielsweise weist die Generaldirektion Sicherheit (Nationale Polizei) in einem durchgesickerten vertraulichen Dokument darauf alle 81 Polizeidienststellen der Provinzen darauf an, Folterspuren in Haftanstalten zu vertuschen und keine offiziellen Haftanstalten [für Folter] zu benutzen. Der Anlass dieses Befehls war der Besuch einer Fact-Finding Untersuchung von dem Ausschuss zur Verhütung von Folter (CPT) des Europarates (CoE). Wie auch oben erwähnt relevante UN Institute sowohl auch HRW unterstreichen das allgegenwärtige Klima der Angst und der Schwierigkeit, Folterhandlungen und andere Formen der Misshandlung zu dokumentieren und zu untersuchen.

Darüber hinaus gibt es in der Türkei 26 Fälle von Verschwindenlassen. Alle folgen einem ähnlichen Muster, was die Tatsache belegt, dass es sich um eine systematische Anstrengung handelt. Die Opfer verbringen Monate, ohne zu wissen wo sie aufgehalten werden. Diese Menschen werden gefoltert. Das Verschwindenlassen ist nicht mit den Fällen innerhalb der Türkei beschränkt.  Das Erdogan-Regime entführt auch Menschen im Ausland. Der türkische Außenminister prahlte dreist mit der Entführung von 100 Personen durch den Nationalen Geheimdienst (MIT) aus 18 Ländern. Diese Opfer sind Berichten zufolge schwerer Folter ausgesetzt.

Eine längere Inhaftierung in Einzelhaft ist an sich schon eine erniedrigende Strafe, aber was noch wichtiger ist, sie führt in der heutigen Türkei zu Folter- und Misshandlungshandlungen. Als solche gibt es 54 dokumentierte, fragwürdige Todesfälle von Häftlingen in in Strafanstalten. Diese verdächtigen Todesfälle sind in der Tat auf Folter und mangelnde medizinische Versorgung zurückzuführen.

Das Erdogan-Regime hat auch systematisch besonders schutzbedürftige Gruppen wie werdende oder junge Mütter, ältere, kranke und behinderte Menschen sich als Ziel gesetzt. Das OHCHR meldete 50 Fälle, in denen Frauen kurz vor oder nach der Entbindung festgenommen wurden, und schätzt, dass 600 Mütter mit ihren kleinen Kindern in Haft gehalten werden. In fast allen Fällen wurden diese Frauen wegen mutmaßlicher Straftaten ihres Mannes angeklagt, wobei der Grundsatz der Individualität der strafrechtlichen Verantwortlichkeit völlig missachtet wurde. Sippenhaft ist allgegenwärtig in der heutigen Türkei.

Die verfügbaren Informationen weisen darauf hin, dass mehrere Gülen Anhänger nach dem obskuren Putschversuch Opfer von Straftaten, welche in Wort und Geist des Völkerstrafgesetzbuches (VStGB) § 6 Abs. 3 und § 7 Abs. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 zu finden sind.

Völkermord, nach Völkerstrafgesetzbuch § 6 Abs. ist definiert als: Wer in der Absicht, eine nationale, rassische, religiöse oder ethnische Gruppe als solche ganz oder teilweise zu zerstören, ein Mitglied der Gruppe tötet, einem Mitglied der Gruppe schwere körperliche oder seelische Schäden zufügt oder die Gruppe unter Lebensbedingungen stellt, die geeignet sind, ihre körperliche Zerstörung ganz oder teilweise herbeizuführen,

Zudem stellen die Handlungen des Erdogan-Regime nach §7 des VStGB ein klares Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit dar, welches unter anderem besagt:

Wer im Rahmen eines ausgedehnten oder systematischen Angriffs gegen eine Zivilbevölkerung

  • einen Menschen tötet,
  • in der Absicht, eine Bevölkerung ganz oder teilweise zu zerstören, diese oder Teile hiervon unter Lebensbedingungen stellt, die geeignet sind, deren Zerstörung ganz oder teilweise herbeizuführen,
  • einen Menschen, der sich in seinem Gewahrsam oder in sonstiger Weise unter seiner Kontrolle befindet, foltert, indem er ihm erhebliche körperliche oder seelische Schäden oder Leiden zufügt, die nicht lediglich Folge völkerrechtlich zulässiger Sanktionen sind,
  • einen anderen Menschen sexuell nötigt oder vergewaltigt,
  • einen Menschen dadurch zwangsweise verschwinden lässt, dass er in der Absicht, ihn für längere Zeit dem Schutz des Gesetzes zu entziehen,
  • ihn im Auftrag oder mit Billigung eines Staates oder einer politischen Organisation entführt oder sonst in schwerwiegender Weise der körperlichen Freiheit beraubt, ohne dass im Weiteren auf Nachfrage unverzüglich wahrheitsgemäß Auskunft über sein Schicksal und seinen Verbleib erteilt wird, oder
  • eine identifizierbare Gruppe oder Gemeinschaft verfolgt, indem er ihr aus politischen, rassischen, nationalen, ethnischen, kulturellen oder religiösen Gründen, aus Gründen des Geschlechts oder aus anderen nach den allgemeinen Regeln des Völkerrechts als unzulässig anerkannten Gründen grundlegende Menschenrechte entzieht oder diese wesentlich einschränkt,

Wir nutzen diese Gelegenheit, um die Generalbundesanwalt aufzufordern, Ermittlungen einzuleiten und systematische und weit verbreitete Folter und andere Formen der Misshandlungen in der Türkei weiter zu Verfolgen. Wir rufen die relevanten Behörden dazu auf Völkerrechtliche Verbrechen des Erdogan-Regime zu verhindern und die Täter solcher Handlungen vor Gericht zu stellen.

Wir werden auch in der Zukunft, unsere diesbezüglichen Bemühungen aktiv fortsetzen.

Rückfragen:
Human Rights Defenders e.V.
info@humanrights-ev.com

“İşkence mağdurlarıyla uşuslararası dayanışma günü” basın açıklaması (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – ENG – (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – DEU  – (PDF)Download
PR – Extented Version – FR  – (PDF)Download

Press release on the occasion of the international day in support of the victims of torture

Today we mark the “International Day in Support of the Victims of Torture”. As we do stand in solidarity with all the victims of torture, we would like to bring to your attention the following:

Torture is an inexplicable and horrendous act that ignores basic humanitarian values, downgrades an individual to the level of an object. Torture has been a shameful invention of humankind and an indispensable feature of “legal” systems that reach to evidence from suspect/defendant and used as a tactic of inhuman punishment and intimidation by states in many parts of the world. Torture, a crime under international law, is prohibited in the absolute sense and cannot be justified under any circumstances. The systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity.

Bearing this in mind, we as HRD, did initiate a litigation campaign under Universal Jurisdiction in Germany, in context with torture and ill-treatment cases in Turkey. Today we have submitted, inter alia, 5 individual complaints, who were subject to torture and ill-treatment in Turkey, and now living in Germany. In addition to our submission a list of alleged perpetrators of torture or ill-treatment is also submitted to the Federal Prosecutor as an Annex.

Following the graft probes of December 17 and 25, 2013 that exposed the prevalent corruption within the government, the then Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has initiated a gruesome scheme to seize control of all aspects of the Turkish society. The bogus coup attempt of July 15, 2016 granted the Erdogan Regime the carte blanche it needed. The Regime, with all the state apparatuses including the judiciary under its tight grip and a well-oiled propaganda machine fed by appropriated public funds, turned the Gülen movement into a scapegoat and unleashed its wrath onto innocent people in Turkey and around the world.

Systematic, deliberate and wide-spread torture as a government policy, which manifested itself lastly with the torturing of diplomats in Ankara Police Headquarters,  as well as in the case of Deniz Yücel, is made possible by, inter alia, practices of prolonged detention, prohibition of lawyer-client meetings and/or violation of their confidentiality, dissolution of all prison monitoring boards and prevention of obtaining fair medical examination reports. The practice of torture to extract confessions is well documented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Human Rights Watch (HRW). These practices include battery, rape, sexual assault and threats thereof, electroshocks and waterboarding. The acts of torture take place particularly at the time of arrest and during the preliminary detention.

Under the Emergency Regime, three Decree Laws Nos.667-668-696 offered impunities for the public servants and civilian for all type crimes committed in the pretext of protecting the Government. These decrees, then were approve by the Parliament and have become permanent laws (Law Nos. 6749, 6755, 7079). Under these laws, Istanbul and Trabzon Prosecutorial Offices rendered non-prosecution decision with regard to complaints of victims of torture.

Not only Turkey lacks competent and willing judicial bodies to investigate well-grounded allegations of torture, it also suffers from obscuring of evidences of torture. For instance, in a leaked confidential document, the Directorate General of Security (National Police) instructs all 81 provincial police departments to cover up traces of torture in detention centers and not to use official detention centers [for torture] ahead of a fact-finding visit by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe (CoE). The OHCHR and HRW both underline pervasive climate of fear and difficulty to document and investigate acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Further to that, the Turkish Governments prevents the COE’s CPT to publish its 2016-2017-2018 reports.

Furthermore, there 26 cases of enforced disappearances in Turkey. All of them follow a similar pattern, which proves the fact that it is a systematic effort. The victims spend months with their conditions or whereabouts unknown, are subjected to torture and other forms of ill-treatment. Enforced disappearances are not confined within the borders of Turkey, the government abducts people abroad as well. Turkish Foreign Minister brazenly boasted about kidnapping of 100 individuals by the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) from 18 countries. These victims have also reported being subjected to severe torture.

Prolonged detention in solitary confinement is a degrading punishment in itself, but more importantly, it is conducive to other acts of torture and ill-treatment. As such, there are 54 documented, murky cases of suicide in penitentiaries. These suspicious deaths are in fact due to torture and lack of adequate medical care.

The Erdogan Regime has also systematically targeted vulnerable groups such as expectant or new mothers, elderly, sick and disabled persons. The OHCHR reported 50 cases of women being arrested just before or after giving birth and estimates that there are 600 mothers held in detention with their young children. In almost all cases, these women were charged with alleged offences of their husbands, in a total disregard for the principle of individuality of criminal responsibility.

The available information provides a reasonable basis to believe that multiple crimes committed after coup attempt in the context of a widespread and systematic attack against Gulen Movement Followers (GMF) in Turkey pursuant to or in furtherance of a State or organizational policy, within the meaning of section 6-(3)  and  section 7 – 1, 5,6,7,8, 9,10 of Code of Crimes against International Law (Völkerstrafgesetzbuch –VStGB). After July 2016 bogus coup attempt the following conducts have been committed:

Genocide defined in Section 6(3) of VStGB as; “with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part”

Crimes against humanity under Section 7 VStGB:

  1. Willful killing constituting a crime against humanity under article 7(1) of the Statute;
  2. inflicting, with the intent of destroying a population in whole or in part, conditions of life on that population or on parts thereof, being conditions calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part, constituting a crime against humanity under article 7(2) of the Statute;
  3. Torture as a crime against humanity, pursuant to article 7(5) of the Statute;
  4. Rape and other forms of sexual violence constituting a crime against humanity under article     7(6) of the Statute;
  5. Enforced disappearance of persons under article 7(7) of the Statute
  6. Causing serious physical or mental harm constituting a crime against humanity under article 7(8) of the Statute;
  7. Unlawful deprivation of physical liberty or in violation of fundamental rules of international law under article 7(9) of the Statute;
  8. Persecution” constituting a crime against humanity under article 7(10) of the Statute;

We do take the opportunity to call on the Office of the Federal Prosecutor to initiate investigations and to stay vigilant in prevention of practices of systematic and widespread torture and other forms of ill-treatment by the Erdogan Regime and bringing perpetrators of such acts to justice. We pledge ourselves to remain active in our endeavors to this end.

For further information:
Human Rights Defenders e.V.
info@humanrights-ev.com


“İşkence mağdurlarıyla uşuslararası dayanışma günü” açıklaması açıklaması (DOCX)Download
PR – Extented Version – ENG – (DOCX)Download
PR – Genişletilmiş Sürüm – DEU  – (DOCX)Download
PR – Genişletilmiş Sürüm – FR  – (DOCX)Download

Lawyers confirm severe torture in Halfeti district

The Human Rights Center of the Gaziantep Bar Association has confirmed torture allegations reported last week from Sanliurfa’s Halfeti district, announcing the ill-treatment by police was worse than thought, online news portal Gazete Duvar reported on Monday.

According to the report released by the association which investigated the incident at the scene and talked to alleged torture victims, the detainees including women were heavily beaten, insulted, given an electric shock and forced to sign false testimonies.

The detentions in Bozova and Halfeti districts in the south-eastern province of Sanliurfa took place after a police officer was killed in a counter-terrorism operation targeting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in Halfeti on May 18.

In the wake of the operation police from the Counter Terrorism Unit blamed some nearby residents for supporting the PKK militants and detained at least 54 people.

The PKK which is deemed as a terrorist organization by Ankara has waged a decades-long insurgency in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern part of Turkey for self-rule.

Shortly after, maltreatment reports started to come from the Sanliurfa Bar Association. In solidarity with Sanliurfa’s bar, the Gaziantep’s bar charged an eight-lawyer group to investigate the torture allegations.

According to the association’s report, the detainees were tortured during the detentions as well as interrogations and were handcuffed from behind, and laid down on the ground and kept waiting for hours in that position

The report also found there were indications of serious torture on the detainees’ bodies such as physical injury marks, bruises, and cuts on their faces, legs and bodies and some detainees were given electric shocks on their genitals

  • Some of the damning finds in the report are that detainees were tortured by squeezing their testicles;
  • a woman detainee could not recount the torture she was subjected to
  • an old man of around 60 years was having difficulty walking and moving due to heavy torture
  • the detainees’ complaints of torture were not taken into consideration by prosecutors
  • police officers threatened the detainees they would harm their family members unless they signed false testimonies
  • were prohibited from seeing a doctor.
  • The report stated that unlawful restrictions were imposed on lawyers who wanted to provide the detainees with legal advice, despite the end of the 24- hour period of restricted access to lawyers, many of them was not allowed to meet with their clients. Those who could visit the detainees were allowed for only five minutes under police surveillance; and
  • lawyers’ requests for transferring the detainees from the police station where they were tortured to another place were rejected.

The association completed the report by calling on the authorities to take a series of actions regarding the torture incident.

Source: https://ipa.news/2019/05/28/lawyers-confirm-severe-torture-in-halfeti-district/

Bar Association Report: Former diplomats sexually abused with batons and tortured

Former Turkish diplomats arrested over terrorism charges claim they have been tortured as well as sexually abused with police batons, Ankara Bar Association reported.

Former Turkish diplomats arrested over terrorism charges claim they have been tortured as well as sexually abused with police batons, Ankara Bar Association reported.

According to the report, the ex-diplomats were endured torture such as sexual harassment with batons, threats of rape, reverse handcuffing, harsh beatings, being knocked unconscious, and being forced to completely undress.

Arrest warrants were issued last week for 249 former employees for Foreign Ministry. It has been claimed that some of the detainees were exposed to systematic torture in Ankara Police Headquarters so that “they would sign the petition for making use of effective remorse law and become informants.” Ankara Police, on the other hand, denied the allegations in a press statement and stated that 130 attorneys saw the suspects 545 times.

The exact number of detainees is not known under the file with a confidentiality order on it. It is believed that the number exceeds 100 including those who have been arrested or surrendered since May 20.

According to the information the BBC Turkish has garnered, the detention order of detainees, who have been detained for a week, has been extended until Friday through a court order. Statements started to be taken from the detainees today.

All of the female detainees except one have been released. The claims about torture in detention surfaced on Saturday when the women were released.

HDP lawmaker Gergerlioğlu submitted a written question

HDP Kocaeli lawmaker Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu announced the claims of torture in Ankara Police Headquarters the other day from his Twitter account. Then Mr. Gergerlioğlu submitted a written question regarding the issue to be answered by Vice President Fuat Oktay.

Speaking to the BBC Turkish, Gergerlioğlu said most of the detainees had been dismissed through emergency decrees and there were claims that 20 suspects were exposed to brutal torture.

In his press statement, he urged the Interior Ministry and Ministry of Justice to take action about the claims.

“I’m told that they said they’d rape him with a truncheon unless he talked”

Moreover, the attorneys contacted by the BBC Turkish requested that “the names of their clients, who will be detained until Friday,” should not be mentioned in the news story “for their safety.”

An attorney told about the torture inflicted on his client as follows:

“They bring him in for questioning on Saturday night, take him downstairs, and then blindfold him. They strip him naked and handcuff him in the back. They keep him on his knees with his head on the ground. They oil his anus, brush a truncheon around it, and tell him they’ll insert it unless he talks. “

“They tell him that the procedure will continue unless he talks until Friday when detention will be over and they demand they want a statement for effective remorse. When my client gets worse there, they stop torturing. When he gets up at night to go to the toilet, he collapses. He passes out once again in the morning during breakfast. Whereupon they take him to the hospital.”

The attorney says that his client was examined at the hospital but was too afraid to tell the doctor about the torture because he was accompanied by officers.

“When my client said he’d been tortured, I didn’t think about anything like it and asked “Roll up your t-shirt so I’ll see it.” I thought it was beating and I could take a photograph. But when he told these, I got speechless. There isn’t any physical sign or mark because the torture had been performed by a professional team.”

According to the statements from 3 different attorneys who spoke to the BBC Turkish, at least 6 persons were exposed to “the activity or threat of rape with truncheon” and at least 20 persons to torture in a room other than the prison cell.

“They are demanded to be informants through torture.”

Another attorney says that the torture started with the release of female detainees and some of the suspects who were taken to court for an extension of detention “limped” because of the torture inflicted on them.

“I’m told that some were raped with a truncheon, and others were threatened again as the top of a truncheon was oiled and moved around the anal area. After these instances of torture, one said he’d take advantage of effective remorse and sign whatever they wanted. To those he did not take advantage of effective remorse, they said, ‘You have time until Friday. If you don’t talk, we’ll do all kinds of torture on you.’”

FULL REPORT

ANKARA BAR ASSOCIATION

CENTER FOR ATTORNEY RIGHTS, PENAL INSTITUTION BOARD AND CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

REPORT REGARDING CLAIMS OF TORTURE IN ANKARA PROVINCIAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL CRIMES

Subject: The report regarding the meetings and inspections performed by Ankara Bar Association Center for Attorney Rights, Penal Institutions Board and Center for Human Rights into claims about torture in the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes which appeared on the press and exposed to public on 26 May 2019.

REPORT

Initially, a message was shared on Kocaeli Lawmaker Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu’s account on Twitter, the micro-blogging site, on 26 May 2019 that “there are claims of torture in Ankara Police Headquarters.” In later hours and days, claims of “beating to unconsciousness, harassment and forcing to watch those who were being tortured, the fact that acts of torture that were incompatible with human dignity were inflicted in at least four cases, the acts were performed by persons coming to Ankara Police Headquarters from outside who identified themselves as MIT; a diplomat who was beaten to unconscious was hospitalized; doctors did not write any report regarding the incident; the torture continued and it was openly stated that it would get worse; attempts were made to get statements through torture ” appeared on the media, thus revealed to the public about some 100 people identified to be Foreign Ministry Staff dismissed through emergency decrees who were kept in custody in Investigation Department of Financial Crimes.”

The attorneys who provided legal assistance for the persons in custody submitted complaints to the center and boards of our bar association regarding the claims of ill-treatment and torture.

Besides complaints about torture, complaints have been submitted regarding the fact that the colleagues who went to see their clients under their duty of defense were forced to sign an affidavit in accordance with orders from the prosecutor’s office, but in violation of the provisions of the CMK, that said, “I declare and undertake that I will take the power of attorney regarding my representing the person I will see for the investigation file … and present it to Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office so that it is included in the investigation file (Attachment-1 Order letter from the prosecutor’s office and the record demanded to be signed).

Our Bar Association’s Center for Attorney Rights, Penal Institutions Board and Center for Human Rights made appointments for the on-site inspection of the claims of ill-treatment and torture and well as the claims that the attorneys were demanded to hand in an affidavit for presenting the power of attorney, which is a violation of CMK provisions, and the appointed colleagues went over to the Ankara Provincial Police Headquarters Investigation Department of Financial Crimes on 27 May 2019 to hold interviews and carry out inspections.

The Trip to Investigation Department of Financial Crimes and the Happenings

  • Coercion into taking an affidavit for presenting the power of attorney

The officials from Center for Attorney Rights of our bar association went over to the department first. As a result of the meetings regarding the order from the prosecutor’s office about taking an affidavit from attorneys for presenting the power of attorney, which violates the provisions of the CMK, the practice of taking an affidavit was discontinued by the chiefs in the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes.

  • Interviews with the persons whose names were reported for suffering ill-treatment and torture

After the discontinuation of the practice of taking an affidavit as a result of the meetings held by the Center of Attorney Rights of our bar association, a second panel comprising members of Penal Institutions Board, Center for Human Rights, and Center for Attorney Rights who visit the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes held a meeting in a closed room with the six persons whose names had been reported regarding the claims of ill-treatment and torture, and statements were officially recorded and signed in the company of the persons who suffered ill-treatment and torture. (The names of the persons interviewed are kept confidential in this report.)

Established by the written statements and as a result of the interviews, the findings regarding the claims of ill-treatment and torture are as follows:

  • All the 6 persons who were interviewed stated that they had been taken to meetings under the pretext of “interviews,” where they were forced to become informants and suffered threats and insults. All the 6 persons who were interviewed stated that they were taken out for an interview more than once, they were put under psychological stress during the interview, and they could identify the persons who carried out the interviews if they saw them.
  • 5 of the 6 persons who were interviewed stated that they suffered ill-treatment and torture outside the interviews. 1 person with whom an interview was held stated that he did not personally suffer ill-treatment and torture but heard about the claims of ill-treatment and torture from the persons with whom he shared a cell and from other persons when they were taken together to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace during the time extension procedures. No discrepancy was found between the names of persons whom this person heard to have suffered ill-treatment and torture and the names of the persons who declared that they suffered ill-treatment and torture
  • According to the common statements of the 5 persons who stated that they had suffered ill-treatment and torture; these persons were taken out of their cells where they were held in custody (one on Saturday night, another the night between Saturday and Sunday, and the other three Sunday night), they were taken to the section on the ground floor of Ankara Provincial Police Headquarters Investigation Department of Financial Crimes (one person said he was taken without handcuffs, while four said they were handcuffed in the back), they were put in through a door with the sign “No Entrance” on it on the narrow hallway at the entrance of the department, the persons who put them in the dark room left, the persons whose faces they could not identify because of the dark first forced them against the wall, blindfolded them (The uncuffed person stated that he was the first to be handcuffed in this room), then forced them to kneel, made them crawl for a while, hit them on the head with truncheons, threatened that they would be raped unless they talked, and the persons in the dark room brushed truncheons on their bodies.

After these events, 3 said they were stripped completely naked, one said he was stripped waist down, one said his trousers were stripped half down; and then 4 persons, the completely and waist-down naked ones, were handcuffed in the back, put in fetus position, had truncheons brush their anal areas; they were subjected to threats and insults all the while; they were given one to two minutes after which they were told “We now move into the next stage” and a substance which they thought to be oil or lubricant was poured on their anal areas and truncheons were brushed around their anal areas. In addition, 1 person stated that they tried to take his trousers off, which they managed to lower halfway, he forced them back up, and he was tortured by having the truncheon brushed over his body and clothes.

  • The 5 persons who said they had been subjected to ill-treatment and torture were asked whether the persons who performed the ill-treatment and torture were one of the persons whose face they saw and voice they heard in the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes and they replied that these were different persons. When asked if they used any expression that might reveal their identity, four of the persons said no such expression was used but one stated that he heard them say, “We came from outside; we’re a professional team.”
  • The 5 persons who said they had been subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that they were accompanied by a police officer during the daily examination of the doctor and they could not tell the doctor about what they experienced because they feared for and were worried about their safety of life.
  • 1 person who said he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that before the ill-treatment and torture defined as the second stage one person asked him whether he was married and when he said he was he was told “Look, you won’t be able to sleep with your wife and you’ll wake up at night and cry.”
  • 1 person who said he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that he got bruises on his knees due to the crawling (the bruises were seen and photographed by the visiting commission) and declared to the doctor on his first examination the day after the torture, but when the doctor verbally declared that he had written in the report as bruises the female officer who was present during the examination panicked, got hold of her mobile phone, and wrote something to someone, and he was then taken out of the room and he was not shown the completed version of the report and they were later transferred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace for procedures of extending detention time, and the same doctor wrote in the report that there was no mark of battery or coercion in the examination they were taken after the extension decision, and he had no idea about the fate of the other report.
  • 1 person who said he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that he was told before they started ill-treatment and torture that “We rape with truncheons here; you must’ve heard about it. It’s all true,” and then he was subjected to the ill-treatment and torture explained above.
  • 1 person who said he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that he did not say anything to his friends when he returned to the cell after the experience; all he could say was that there was torture, and then he went to sleep; when he wanted to go to the toilet when he woke up he passed out; 112 medical team came in, checked his blood pressure and then left; he also passed out in the morning after the events; and he had not slept for 48 hours.
  • 1 person who said he was subjected to ill-treatment and torture stated that when they were taken before the Criminal Judgeship of Peace he said to the Criminal Judge of Peace that he had been subjected to ill-treatment; the judge answered, “Is it just you? Why doesn’t anyone else have it;” whereupon another person who stated that he had been subjected to ill-treatment and torture said, “I’ve subjected to torture too.” 2 persons in the same trial stated that the judge said, “I’m not a doctor; this isn’t my job; Go tell it to the doctor.”

EVALUATIONS

When our colleagues who were appointed by the central office and boards of our bar association informed the officials at the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes about the names of the persons with whom they wanted to interview, they were told that statements were taken from 3 of these persons since they wanted to take advantage of the provisions of effective remorse and they were then released. The files of these persons had been reviewed and no finding about ill-treatment or torture had been reported in their files. Similarly, the reports of the persons with whom interviews were conducted and about whom the findings above are confirmed had been reviewed and it was reported that there was no sign of battery or coercion. The persons with whom the interviews that revealed the findings were made named the 3 persons who took advantage of the effective remorse and were released and stated that they heard from others who went to the interviews and from still others whom they met at the Criminal Judgeship of Peace when they were transferred to the courthouse for the time extension order for detention that they were subjected to ill-treatment and torture like they were. As stated in the ECHR as well as other international conventions, the presence of the doctor’s report per se is not a sign that no ill-treatment or torture was experienced. When the accounts that reveal the findings above are evaluated as a whole, (it can be seen that) the persons were illegally taken to doctor’s examination in company of a police officer. The accounts of the persons who were heard do not contradict one another. When the accounts are evaluated as a whole, they confirm the fact that these persons were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in a way that would not leave any mark of battery or coercion.

Article 17/3 of the Constitution, which stipulates a ban on torture, reads as follows:

“No one shall be subjected to torture or mal-treatment; no one shall be subjected to penalties or treatment incompatible with human dignity.”

In addition, Article 3 of the ECHR is as follows:

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Moreover, Article 1 of Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment states that

“For the purposes of this Convention, the term “torture” means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.”

These provisions ban torture and ill-treatment in international and national norms.

Furthermore, Article 4 of Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is as follows:

“Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.

Each State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature.”

International norms stipulate that torture should be defined as crime and penal sanctions should be enforced. Turkey is one of the state parties in the abovementioned convention.

Article 94 of the Turkish Penal Code, titled Torture, is as follows:

“(1) A public officer who performs any act towards a person that is incompatible with human dignity, and which causes that person to suffer physically or mentally, or affects the person’s capacity to perceive or his ability to act of his own will or insults them shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a term of three to twelve years.

(2) If the offence is committed against:

  1. a) a child, a person who is physically or mentally incapable of defending himself or a pregnant women; or
  2. b) a public officer or an advocate on account of the performance of his duty, a penalty of imprisonment for a term of eight to fifteen years shall be imposed.

(3) If the act is conducted in the manner of sexual harassment, the offender shall be sentenced to a penalty of imprisonment for a term of ten to fifteen years,

(4) Any other person who participates in the commission of this offence shall be sentenced in a manner equivalent to the public officer.

(5) If the offence is committed by way of omission there shall be no reduction in the sentence.”

In our Turkish Penal code, the crime of torture entails penal sanctions. In this respect, considering the findings above, an investigation must be launched against the concerned parties and not also the persons who ignore the crime of torture and commit the crime of torture but also anybody else who attacked the physical and mental entity of others must be identified and punished.

Therefore, the law stipulates that

  • Considering the fact that the law enforcement officers who carried out the investigation into the detainees could be the suspects of a probable investigation of torture or ill-treatment, they should be suspended from the investigation so that torture and ill-treatment against the detainees can be prevented and the investigation can be carried out effectively;
  • Although daily doctor’s examinations must be conducted in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol, to which Turkey is a party, necessary instructions must be submitted for examination procedures to be conducted in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol because law enforcement was kept present during examination in violation of the protocol;
  • All the suspects kept in custody in Ankara Provincial Police Headquarters Investigation Department of Financial Crimes must be brought before the prosecutor’s office immediately without getting their statements completed at the police headquarters;
  • An investigation must be launched ex-officio for the identification of the persons who committed the crime of torture; an effective investigation must be conducted so that material facts can be revealed and any spoliation of evidence can be forestalled; units and members of Provincial Gendarmerie must be used as per Articles 160/2 and 164 of the CMK no. 5271, and units and members of the police must not be appointed directly in this investigation;
  • All the raw camera footages from 20 May 2019 when the detention procedures were started to 28 May 2018 must be collected immediately starting with those of the different places of detention where the suspects were kept at Ankara Provincial Police Headquarters, the camera footages that show the entrances and exits of the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes as well as all the camera footages inside the Investigation Department of Financial Crimes, and the moments when the detained suspects were being taken away for interviews and torture so that the suspect law enforcement officers can be identified; because it is known that camera recordings were previously erased after their preservation for 30 days in similar applications due to claims of law enforcement officers’ battery and torture against both attorneys and suspects, legal obligations must be fulfilled for all pieces of evidence to be collected and protected;
  • Considering the fact that the law enforcement officers who carried out the investigation could well be the suspects of a probable investigation of torture or ill-treatment, the staff who were assigned to the said operations must be suspended until the investigation into claims of torture and ill-treatment is completed;
  • Considering the fact that a judge who learns about a claim of torture and ill-treatment is obliged to take action and that the Criminal Judge of Peace did not take any action although the persons declared to him that they were subjected to torture, the Criminal Judge of Peace who issued an extension on detention period must be identified and necessary legal action must be taken against him.

In this respect, we bring to the public attention the fact that we are ready to present Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office with the records and documents drawn up by the members of our bar association in the boards and central office in case or when they are demanded and we as Ankara Bar Association will continue the legal struggle to the very end so that torture and ill-treatment can be eliminated.

International women’s day 2019: More than 17.000 innocent women in Turkish prisons

Turkey has developed into an “open-air prison”: more than 17,000 women were illegally arrested after the alleged coup attempt of 15 July 2016 and are exposed to inhuman prison conditions.

Some of these women are pregnant, about to give birth, or are placed in overcrowded prisons with their babies and children.

Torture, sexual abuse, poor access to health care, ignoring visitor rights, no educational opportunities for children and much more are becoming more common.

International women’s day 2019: More than 17.000 innocent women in Turkish prisons (PDF)Download

“The International Women’s Day is the most important rally for women’s suffrage, which can record the history of the movement for the emancipation of the women to this day.” Clara Zetkin, 1911

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN`S DAY 2019: MORE THAN 17.000 INNOCENT WOMEN IN TURKISH PRISONS

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. The main demands of the founders of Women’s Day are now fulfilled, at least in Europe. Nevertheless, much remains to be done in matters of women’s rights. Equal opportunities in working life, equal pay for equal work, improving the situation of migrant women, combating violence against women and against forced prostitution or trafficking of women are some of the issues that we need to address vigorously.

In countries in which the rule of law is endangered and democratic values ​​are not anchored in the respective society, there is a great need for action. One of these countries is Turkey, where women are wronged. Fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law and democracy have largely been suspended in Turkey since the declaration of the state of emergency in July 2016. The termination of the state of emergency has not changed anything since the regulations of this state continues to apply.

Turkey has developed into an “open-air prison”: more than 17,000 women were illegally arrested after the alleged coup attempt of 15 July 2016 and are exposed to inhuman prison conditions. Some of these women are pregnant, about to give birth, or are placed in overcrowded prisons with their babies and children. Torture, sexual abuse, poor access to health care, ignoring visitor rights, no educational opportunities for children and much more are becoming more common. This approach is both a violation of universally recognized ethical principles, as well as a violation of international conventions, to which Turkey is legally obliged to comply.

We call on all women’s rights activists, NGOs and the European Parliament to take action against this practice by the Turkish government to stop the witch hunt against innocent women. In addition, international organizations should have the opportunity to identify, investigate, and help to stop the massive human rights abuses in Turkey and bring to account those who violate the applicable law.

Köln, 8th March 2019


Inquiries:
Human Rights Defenders e.V.
info@humanrights-ev.com

Weltfrauentag 2019: Mehr als 17.000 frauen unschuldig in Türkischen gefängnissen

Die Türkei hat sich zu einem „Open-Air-Gefängnis“ entwickelt: Mehr als 17.000 Frauen wurden nach dem grausamen Putschversuch vom 15. Juli 2016 unrechtmäßig verhaftet und sind unmenschlichen Haftbedingungen ausgesetzt.

Manche dieser Frauen sind schwanger, kurz vor ihrer Entbindung oder werden mit ihren Babys und Kindern in überfüllte Gefängnisse gesteckt.

Folter, sexueller Missbrauch, Schlechter Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung, Ignorieren von Besucherrechten, keine Bildungsmöglichkeiten für Kinder und vieles Mehr kommen immer häufiger vor und sind teilweise sogar gängige Praxis.

Weltfrauentag 2019: Mehr als 17.000 frauen unschuldig in Türkischen gefängnissen (PDF)Download

“Der Internationale Frauentag ist die wichtigste Kundgebung für das Frauenwahlrecht, welche die Geschichte der Bewegung für die Emanzipation des weiblichen Geschlechts bis heute verzeichnen kann.” Clara Zetkin, Frauenrechtlerin, 1911

WELTFRAUENTAG 2019: MEHR ALS 17.000 FRAUEN UNSCHULDIG IN TÜRKISCHEN GEFÄNGNISSEN

Heute feiern wir den Internationalen Frauentag. Die Hauptforderungen der Begründerinnen des Frauentages sind inzwischen zumindest in Europa und in Deutschland erfüllt. Dennoch bleibt in Sachen Frauenrechte viel zu tun. Chancengleichheit im Erwerbsleben, gleicher Lohn für gleiche Arbeit, Verbesserung der Situation von Migrantinnen, Kampf gegen Gewalt an Frauen und gegen Zwangsprostitution oder Frauenhandel sind einige der Probleme, die wir kräftig adressieren müssen.

In Ländern, in denen der Rechtsstaat gefährdet ist und demokratische Werte in der jeweiligen Gesellschaft nicht verankert sind, besteht großer Handlungsbedarf. Zu diesen Ländern gehört auch die Türkei, in denen Frauen Unrecht erleben. Grundrechte und Grundfreiheiten, Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Demokratie sind in der Türkei seit der Ausrufung des Ausnahmezustands im Juli 2016 zu großen Teilen außer Kraft gesetzt. Die Beendigung des Ausnahmezustandes hat daran nichts geändert, da die Regelungen dieses Zustandes weiter gelten.

Die Türkei hat sich zu einem „Open-Air-Gefängnis“ entwickelt: Mehr als 17.000 Frauen wurden nach dem grausamen Putschversuch vom 15. Juli 2016 unrechtmäßig verhaftet und sind unmenschlichen Haftbedingungen ausgesetzt. Manche dieser Frauen sind schwanger, kurz vor ihrer Entbindung oder werden mit ihren Babys und Kindern in überfüllte Gefängnisse gesteckt. Folter, sexueller Missbrauch, Schlechter Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung, Ignorieren von Besucherrechten, keine Bildungsmöglichkeiten für Kinder und vieles Mehr kommen immer häufiger vor und sind teilweise sogar gängige Praxis. Dieses Vorgehen ist sowohl ein Verstoß gegen universell anerkannte ethische Grundsätze, als auch ein Verstoß gegen internationale Konventionen, zu deren Einhaltung sich die Türkei rechtlich verpflichtet hat.

Wir rufen alle Frauenrechtlerinnen und Frauenrechtler, NGO`s, die Deutsche Regierung und das Europa Parlament dazu auf, Maßnahmen gegen diese Praxis der türkischen Regierung vorzunehmen, um die Hexenjagd gegen unschuldige Frauen zu beenden. Außerdem sollten Internationale Organisationen die Möglichkeit bekommen, die massiven Menschenrechtsverletzungen in der Türkei zu identifizieren, zu untersuchen und dabei zu helfen, diejenigen zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen, die gegen geltendes Recht verstoßen.

Köln, 8. März 2019


Rückfragen:
Human Rights Defenders e.V.
info@humanrights-ev.com