Torture Continues - Impunity Prevails

On the Day of Solidarity for Torture Vicitms on 26 June, rights organizations carried out protest actions and issued press releases in different cities around Turkey. The organizations emphasized that the government actually took a step backwards since 2005 and that complaints related to torture considerably increased.

The Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV) was founded 20 years ago to prevent torture and support torture victims. TİHV President Prof. Dr Şebnem Korur Fincancı said in a symposium organized by the foundation, "On one hand it is said 'zero tolerance for torture'. On the other hand, impunity is continuing during detention processes".

The symposium was held at the Istanbul Medical Chamber. Prof. Dr Veli Lök emphasized that official forensic medicine reports remained insufficient for the documentation of torture.

According to the report on rights violations 2009 prepared by the TİHV and the Human Rights Association (İHD), 305 torture cases were registered in detention, 358 incidents of torture happened outside of official venues. 34 torture incidents were carried out by village guards. Torture cases in prison amounted to 397. 10 incidents of torture were registered related to private security forces.

Diyarbakır

In Diyarbakır in south-eastern Turkey, a joint statement was issued by the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed Peoples (MAZLUMDER), İHD, TİHV and the Diyarbakır Bar Association.

İHD Branch Manager lawyer Pınar Dalkuş argued, "Despite the statement of the Turkish government regarding 'zero tolerance for torture', torture and maltreatment is continuing in Turkey and in our region in particular".

"Cases of torture and maltreatment were on the decline after the year 2000 in the course of aligning the laws with EU standards. A negative increase could be observed after the enforcement of the new Turkish Criminal Law in 2005, amendments of the Anti-Terror Law and the Police Duty and Authority Law. Disproportionate force was used by the police in interventions against almost every activity and meeting"

The rights advocators had also organized the opening of a photo exhibition in the Diyarbakır Sümerpark.

Ankara

The TİHV and İHD in Ankara issued a joint press release in front of the Human Rights monument.

İHD Branch Secretary Hüseyin Yaman pointed out that public officials systematically continue torture although international agreements were signed in recent years and despite regulations in domestic law.

26 June

The United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into force on 26 June 1987.

In honour of the Convention, 26 June is recognised as the International Day in Support of Torture Victims since 1997. (EÜ/VK)