141 Official Arrests and 2 Detentions after 2 Days of Clashes

After 2 days of protests on the occasion of the IMF and World Bank meeting in Istanbul on 6/7 October, the effects of the massive clashes between the demonstrators and the police are still continuing. Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) lawyer Şerife Ceren Uysal informed bianet that Mehmet Duru and Emre Genç, both of them arrested during the protests, have been taken to Metris Prison.

Uysal reported: "Many people were assaulted by the police while in detention. Arrested people were assaulted in the police buses, many of them sustained bruises and swellings".

Lawyer Selin Nakıpoğlu explained to bianet that construction worker Duru was on his way to work when he came to Taksim Square. He decided to go back home because of the demonstrations and waited at the Tarlabaşı bus stop close to Taksim Square. While he was waiting for the bus the police arrested him under allegations of having thrown a Molotov cocktail.

22 children arrested on first day of protests

On Tuesday the police went in hard against a meeting of more than 2000 people on Taksim Square, organized by DİSK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions), KESK (Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees), TTB (Turkey's Union of Bar Associations) and TMMOB (Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers). After a press release the police intervened against the crowd with tear gas, water cannons and by using their firearms. The groups disbanded to the neighboring districts of Tarlabaşı, Talimhane, Cihangir, Istiklal Avenue and Gümüşsuyu.

Clashes occurred between the police and the demonstrators in these regions, the police made use of their firearms in some places. The demonstrators broke windows of some banks and stores belonging to international companies.

Uysal announced that on 6 October 103 people were arrested, 22 of them under age. The next morning at about 10.00 am 77 people were released and 26 people were taken to the prosecutor's office.

Of these 26 people 14 were brought to court after their statements had been taken, Duru and Genç were detained and brought to Metris Prison.

Nakıpoğlu stated that regarding the situation of Duru and Genç, they will appeal to the High Criminal Court within 7 days.

Uysal explained: "Three people were arrested in the district of Tophane when they tried to escape from the police and were beaten by citizens in a café which also serves as an office of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). One of them was directly released by the prosecutor, the other 2 were released by the court".

People arrested on the second day still in detention after more than 24 hours

The protests on the second day concentrated on the area of Pangaltı, again close to Taksim. The police once more used tear gas, water cannons and firearms in their intervention against a group of demonstrators that had gathered in front of the Armenian Agos newspaper. Further clashes occurred between the police and demonstrators walking into the direction of Mecidiyeköy and Feriköy.

After the protests 27 people were arrested and taken to the Şişli District Police, a further 8 people are in detention in the Feriköy Police Station.

According to Uysal, the 8 people in Feriköy were released from custody yesterday (8 October) at around 12.45 pm. "The people kept in Şişli have not been released although the arrest period of 24 hours has elapsed".

Uysal also said that one person arrested on the first day, whose identity is not clear yet to ÇAD, was taken to an orthopedic and brain surgery. A person called Ali Yılmaz, who was not able to stand up anymore, was taken to the Turkey Human Rights Foundation after his statement had been taken but before completing the remaining procedures. 2 people arrested in Feriköy had a tomography taken and each of them obtained a 3-day report due to brain trauma.

ÇHD lawyers are following up the situation of the people in detention. (BÇ/VK)

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