Activists Warn: Increase in Police Torture

Sobering statistics

According to TIHV data, three people died in detention in June in Canakkale, Izmir and Istanbul.

Bakkalci said that there were 266 claims of torture brought to the foundation in the first six months of 2007, which represents a 40 percent increase from 2006. Of the applications, 172 were concerned with events which happened in 2007.

The IHD says that 708 people were tortured in 2006.

MP Birdal is determined to work towards a reduction in police powers in parliament: "There is a direct link between this law and torture. As soon as the law was passed, there were more news of torture and deaths in detention. The law is incongruous with international law, and we will call for changes."

Most recent case in Beyoglu, Istanbul

The most recent case to draw attention was that of journalist Sinan Tekpetek from the "Özgür Hayat" newspaper and the "yüzde 52 Öfke" magazine. He has informed the press that he was tortured by the police. According to the information he gave bianet, Tekpetek was stopped and asked for ID. After his ID had been checked through a central computer system, he was forced into a police car. Pepper spray was used and he was beaten up. He was brought to a deserted place and beaten up again; then he was thrown from the car.

Legitimization of police force

Tekpetek's case starts with one of the new powers of the police. They are allowed to stop anyone and ask for their ID.

* In the name of crime prevention, the police are allowed to detain people at random. This randomness encourages torture. Primarily, it allows for psychological violence.

* An environment of physical force has been created. This ranges from the frequent use of handcuffs to the firing of shots without hesitation.

The foremost problem is that these police powers legitimise the use of physical force by the police. In other words, it makes people forget that everyone has the right not to be tortured.

MPs may be unaware of ramifications

The AKP government passed the amendments to the Police Law and it was ratified by President Sezer.

Birdal concedes that there may be MPs who voted for this law without exact knowledge of what it entailed. "If necessary, we will photocopy this law and make sure they read it. We will draw attention to it from the speaker's podium."

Beyoglu police particularly violent

The case of Sinan Tekpetek has drawn attention to the police force attached to the Beyoglu Police Department.

The Istanbul branch of the IHD said on 29 June that the random practices and the use of violence by police had increased in recent months. The association had received more than sixty complaints in the two preceding months.

Police in Beyoglu have been criticized in recent years for targeting journalists, for using force against and arresting the "muhtar" (quarter official) Cigdem Nalbantoglu, who had criticized the police, after an ID control, and for using violence against transsexual Esmeray.

Journalists targeted

On 23 August 2005, a trainee reporter for the "Cumhuriyet" newspaper, Servet Alcinkaya, was detained and beaten in the police car and at the police station. His "crime"? When asked for his ID, he had asked for the ID of the policemen to make sure they were what they claimed.

When he said, "Don't beat me, I am a journalist", the reply was, "Is there a rule that journalists don't get beaten?" When in detention, he was not allowed to inform his family of his whereabouts.

During the 1 May march of workers near Taksim Square (which had been banned), more than ten journalists were kicked, hit with truncheons and/or attacked with pepper spray. The journalists are preparing to sue.

Victim of police violence on trial herself

Muhtar Cigdem Nalbantoglu of the Gümüssuyu quarter near Taksim had criticised the police for their open discrimination against transvestites and prostitutes. In 2006, she was taken into custody for an ID control. She was hit and handcuffed.

Nalbantoglu's complaints have not had any results. On the contrary, she is on trial for "resisting the police" at the Beyoglu 1st Penal Court. The court will hear her statement on 2 October.

Different sexual orientations targeted

Transsexual Esmeray has claimed that she was beaten in front of the Beyoglu Police Station on 5 June.

On 16 June, a group of homosexuals were subjected to police violence at the Tekyön bar in Beyoglu. According to an eye witness, people were beaten with truncheons and pepper spray was used. (TK/EÖ/AG)