Constitutional Court Convicts Police Torture, Sexual Harassment

Constitutional Court has announced its verdict on complaint by Ş.G. with the allegations of torture, sexual harassment, and rape threat.

The court had ruled the "torture prohibition" was violated and ruled 19,000 euros (55,000 liras) to be paid to Ş.G. as solatium.

Ş.G. had been detained 14 years ago and claimed she was tortured, harassed and threatened with sexual assaults for days.

Charge of "organization membership" against the doctor documenting the torture

The tried police officers in their defense had said, "Ş.G. was already on hunger strike and she did the harms stated in the doctor report to herself".

One of the officers in his testimony had said they had "documents and sources, therefore there was no need to make her talk, and they didn't torture".

Besides, the officer asserting "there is no procedure such as eye binding", and torture claims are made to "dampen police's spirit of duty". He also added that the doctor reporting torture and wounds wrote that report because he was a "member of DHKPC".

Remained in custody for six days

Ş.G. was detained with the allegation of being member of MLKP on June 6, 2001 in Ankara and remained there until June 12 when she was arrested.

She was released on August 7 and acquitted on January 16 2003 by Ankara 11th Heavy Penal Court.

Torture with pressured water and harassment

She wrote as follows in her complaint issued to Vacation State Security Court which had disregarded the complaint:

"Until the day I was brought court I was kept under isolation and pressure conditions, I was pressured to testify, my testimony hasn't been added to the file, I was forced to approve allegations which have nothing to do with me by means of physical and psychological pressure, my eyes were shut with black tape, I was exposed to swearing during the interrogation.

"I was beaten up, harassed by having my dress removed, threatened with rape, subjected to torture by pressurized water".

11-year-long case dropped due to "photocopy"

Following the release, this time she filed a complaint to Ankara Chief Public Prosecutors Office about Anti-Terror Branch Directorate police officers presenting the report of torture too.

Eight police were indicted with the charges of "torturing to extract information".

While four officers acquitted, four police were sentenced to one month and 10 days of prison. However, Supreme Court reversed the judgement several times. The imprisonment sentenced was lastly revered in 2012 due to "report being unapproved photocopy". 10-month sentence imposed on the officers were reversed with the judgement in 2013.

Ş.G. went to Constitutional Court upon this on April 5, 2013. The court's verdict was published in the Official Gazette on September 9, 2015. The verdict states torture prohibition was violated in both materially and hereditary and ruled for Ş.G. to be paid 19,000 euros. (AS/TK)

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