601 Women Subjected to Sexual Harassment, Rape in Detention in Last 21 Years

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

The Legal Aid Bureau Against Sexual Harassment and Rape in Detention has released a report regarding the incidents of rape and sexual harassment faced by women while they were in custody between 1997 and 2018.

The report has shown that while 101 women were subjected to rape in detention over the last 21 years, 498 women were sexually harassed.

Here are some of the highlights from the report:

* Between 1997 and 2018, 601 applications were submitted to the bureau regarding incidents of rape and sexual harassment in custody. While 599 of these applications were from Turkey, three of them were from Germany.

* Four women committed suicide after being raped in detention. One woman was killed by being tortured. A 14-year-old girl, who was raped while in custody, was murdered by her relatives in an "honor killing."

* One woman lost her life in December 1999 as a result of the long-lasting effects of torture. One woman was subjected to rape at her workplace and her family gave a decision of death for her.

11 women had miscarriage due to torture

* Four women were forced to sex work.

* 24 women were sexually harassed or raped in unregistered custody.

* 11 women had miscarriage after being tortured in detention.

* 18 women were subjected to torture along with their children.

* Seven women got pregnant after being raped.

* Five women were forced to undergo a virginity test.

* Of the 601 women, who were subjected to sexual harassment or rape in detention, 69 of them were between the ages of 10 and 18 while the remaining 532 women were between the ages of 18 and 67.

381 perpetrators were police officers

* 381 of the perpetrators were police officers; 119 of them were gendarmerie officers or soldiers; 31 of them were from Special Team; 22 of them were village guards; 62 of them were wardens; four of them were confessors; one of them was a journalist; 24 of them were arrested; one of them was a mayor; one of them a watchperson; and 35 others were state officials. 104 ISIS members were also among the perpetrators.

192 lawsuits have been filed

The report has stated that 192 lawsuits have been filed in relation with the incidents of rape and sexual harassment in detention.

While the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has given a judgement regarding 46 cases, three lawsuits have still been continuing at the ECtHR.

The number of cases still continuing at the heavy penal courts in Turkey is 37 and that of lawsuits heard by the Supreme Court of Appeals is 12.

155 women subjected to heavy pressure

The report has also shown that 260 women did not request any legal aid because they were afraid and 14 women withdrew their criminal complaints while their lawsuits were still continuing. 155 women were also subjected to heavy pressure due to their criminal complaints. (EMK/SD)