‘Torture Accompanied by Anthem’ in Riot Squad Bus

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24 people trying to distribute 500th issue of Yürüyüş Dergi’si (Marching Magazine) were battered and detained in front of Cevahir Mall in Şişli district of İstanbul on December 20. While 17 of them have been released, seven have been arrested.

The detainees explained how they were beaten to lawyers with Legal Bureau of the People.

The lawyers explained what happened as follows:

“Police said ‘We would have shoot you all in the head if possible’”

Ercan Güneş: “They punched us on the bus, insulted and swore. They were constantly playing anthem. ‘We would have shoot you all in the head if possible’, said they”.

İleri Kızılaltun: “Police did ID check during our magazine distribution. They pressed my head on the ground and stepped on it. Then they lifted my head and kicked in my face, they were hitting every time I raised my head. I got wounded in my jaw”.

“After the detention, four of us were put into a riot squad bus. We were tortured for six hours on the bus. They hit our heads around, kicked and punched into my chest, stomach. The torture was so intense that we all started to vomit after a point”.

“They tried to leave me out of breath”

Elif Ersoy: “They got us on the ground and stepped on our head, bent our arms. They kicked in my jaw at Şişli Police Station. They tried to leave me out of breath by strangling me and pressuring different parts of my neck”.

“Swear, insults, harassment against women”

Eylem Yücel: “Four of us were seperatley put into a riot squad bus and stayed there for six hours. They left us without breath by shutting our mouth with kerchief and hood. They especially attacked on women by swearing, insulting and harassing them”.

Necmiye Birkoç: “The sprayed pepper gas into our mouth as they were detaining us. We were beaten at the police station. They also beat us on the bus on the way back from hospital. They constantly battered us by kicks and punches”.

Kadir Durukan Adıyan: “We were exposed to torture at all stages since the detention began. They got us on the ground and kicked in front of Cevahir. My nose bled. They strangled and left me out of breath”.

“They hit my head by baton, I lost consciousness”

Dilan Poyraz: “We’d just started the distribution of the magazine. The detention began as soon as it started. I felt bad and couldn’t walk after the battering. They stood me up by force and hit my head by baton when I didn’t. They took me to Şişli Etfal Hospital as I was knocked down. Even though I said I felt nauseous, they said ‘you are going to be fine’ and got me out of the hospital”.

The battering and beating the detainees faced reflected in doctor reports as well. Furthermore, their lawyers took photos of battering marks. A criminal complaint will be filed against the police officers. (AS/TK)