Woman files criminal complaint regarding alleged rape threats in police station

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A woman has filed a criminal complaint, alleging that she was tortured and threatened with "death, arrest and rape" at the Taksim Police Headquarters and the Çağlayan Police Station in İstanbul.

A request was made for the investigation of the relevant police officers and the examination of the police station cameras in the petition of complaint submitted by lawyer Seda Şaraldı.

"I'll never let go of you"

Nergis Doğru was detained on October 18, 2021, when she wanted to make a statement for the express in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse and was taken to the Çağlayan Police Station.

In the petition of complaint, Doğru stated that a person there had told him that "You are very important to me, Nergis. How long will you fight? Until you are arrested? Or until you are dead? It's not worth it for this people. Give up on this."

Also, a police officer had told her, "Isn't freedom a beautiful thing?" she said.

The same person had threatened Doğru when she was detained again, according to the petition.

"On November 15, 2021, Nergis Doğru was detained when she wanted to make a statement for the press on Taksim Square and she was taken to the Taksim Police Headquarters Security Bureau. At the Taksim Police Headquarters, a group of 3-4 people tried to talk to the client. The same person was in this group. Saying that, 'Dear Nergis, sit here, I have warmed up this chair,' the person threatened Doğru with rape and continued his threats by shouting, 'I will never let go of you' while he was leaving the room."

The same officer talked to Doğru after she was detained when she wanted to make a statement for the press on Taksim Square on December 24, 2021, and told her, "I'm coming for you, der Nergis. You will not talk anyway; we will talk and you will listen."

The officer, with others, "openly committed the crimes of threatening with death, arrest and rape and torture with their harassment [of Doğru]," according to the petition.

According to a report by the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV/HRFT) Doğru was detained on December 8 as well and was released on the same day.

In a report in December, the Human Rights Association (İHD) stated at least 144 people had been kidnapped, forced to become informants and threatened in the first 11 months of 2021. (AS/VK)