Turkey Sentenced to Pay 5 Thousand Euro in Damages for Injury with Rubber Bullet

Click to read the article in Turkish

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has announced its judgement regarding Kadri Kılıcı, a unionist who was injured with a rubber bullet during a police intervention in 2009.

The ECtHR has ruled that Turkey has violated the "prohibition of torture and maltreatment" as per the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Turkey has been sentenced to pay 5 thousand Euro to Kadri Kılıcı in non-pecuniary damages.

They protested commercialization of water

Kadri Kılıcı, a member of the All Municipality and Local Administration Services Laborers' Union (TÜM BEL-SEN), attended a protest demonstration in İstanbul in March 2009 together with his union.

The demonstration was held to protest the 5th World Water Forum as well as the commercialization and privatization of water.

However, the group, who was walking from Beyoğlu to Haliç, where the Forum was organized, was intercepted by the police, who demanded that protestors make their statements for the press in Beyoğlu instead of Haliç.

According to Kılıcı, the demonstrators made their statement and, while they were dispersing, the police intervened. During the intervention, Kılıcı was injured by a rubber bullet.

The police reports on the incident stated that as the demonstrators were dispersing, certain individuals blocked the routes and headed towards the forum venue; some of them threw objects at members of the police.

The reports added that the members of intervention team initially reacted by protecting themselves with shields, and then used water cannons.

Verdict of non-prosecution by prosecutor and court

On the following day, Kılıcı filed a criminal complaint at the Beyoğlu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. He also had a medical examination at Beyoğlu Forensic Medicine Institute. Redness and bruising were found on his back.

In August 2010, the Prosecutor's Office decided to discontinue the proceedings. In November 2010, the Bakırköy Assize Court dismissed an appeal which was filed by Kadri Kılıcı.

Accordingly, announcing its judgement on Kadri Kılıcı, the ECtHR has ruled that Turkey has violated the "prohibition of torture and maltreatment" as per the Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and sentenced Turkey to pay 5 thousand Euro to Kadri Kılıcı in non-pecuniary damages. (AS/SD)