35 Children still Detained in Istanbul, Courts Slow Down Procedures

Many children prosecuted under the Anti-Terror Law (TMK) have still not been released from prison despite amendments of the controversal Act. Lawyer Sinan Zincir said that 35 children detained in Istanbul have not been released yet because of the attitude of the courts.

Zincir corresponds with the Pursuit of Justice for Children Group (ÇİAT). He represents F.Ç. who is currently detained in the Tekirdağ F Type Prison (west of Istanbul) and N.A. kept in the Maltepe (Istanbul) Children Prison. Both requests for their release pending trial were rejected. The demands for the release of D.T. in the Maltepe Children Prison and R.E. detained in the Bakırköy (Istanbul) Women and Children Prison are being reviewed, Zincir said. According to his information, there are 27 children detained in the Maltepe Prison and another five girls in the Bakırköy Women and Children Prison.

Proceedings advance slowly

Lawyer Zincir explained, "It is the courts' attitude do decide for lack of jurisdiction and leave the review of the detention to the children courts. At the same time, the courts in Istanbul do not take any action and the procedures related to our requests advance slowly. The general attitude of the Special Authority Courts in Istanbul pave the way to serious harm of the children and their families". (SP/VK)