Urfa Bar Association: Detainees in Halfeti Tortured

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During the conflict between the police and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on May 18 in Halfeti, Urfa, one police officer lost his life. As part of the investigation launched by the Şanlıurfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office after the incident, at least 54 people were detained. The detainees were referred to the Şanlıurfa Security Directorate for testimony after the health control.

Şanlıurfa Bar Association Human Rights Center has made a statement on its Twitter account. It has been stated that the detainees, including children, were tortured and there are concrete signs of it.

In the statement, a call was made to the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Interior to denounce this incident of torture.

It has been underlined in the statement that the limitations on the lawyers for legal advice with the detained are illegal. The Center has also shared a photo, showing the handcuffed detainees who were forced to lie face downwards on the ground in Bozova Gendarmerie Station.

Social media: 'What is happening in Halfeti?'

Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair Cihan Aydın has told the following on his social media account:

"- It is reminiscent of Auschwitz,
- It also seems like Abu Ghraib and Gazza,
- Can it be Guantanamo?

No, be calm, this is a garden of a gendarmerie station in Bozova, Urfa...!

- Those who were handcuffed behind are the Kurdish people who wait for the fast-breaking time."

-Auschwitz’i de andırıyor biraz,
-Ebu Gureyb’e ve Gazze’ye de benziyor sanki,
-Guantanamo olabilir mi?

Yok yok sakin olun, burası Urfa Bozova’da bir karakol bahçesi..!

-Elleri arkadan kelepçelenenler de, iftar saatini bekleyen Kürtler. https://t.co/p72fm9aTaj

— Cihan Aydın (@CihnAydin) 20 Mayıs 2019

On the other hand, social media users called out #HalfetideNelerOluyor (What is happening in Halfeti?) regarding the torture claims.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Siirt MP Meral Danış-Beştaş has stated, "They no longer need to hide the torture. No matter where such scenes occur, no Minister of Interior could remain in office even for a minute."

Artık işkenceyi gizleme gereği bile duymuyorlar. Bu görüntü nerede olsa İçişleri Bakanı bir dakika görevde kalmaz. #HalfetideNelerOluyor pic.twitter.com/nPujkNvSKt

— Meral Danış Beştaş (@meraldanis) 20 Mayıs 2019

HDP İzmir MP Serpil Kemalbay has also tweeted,

"Torture is a crime against humanity. Nobody should remain silence against torture, we all should raise our voice."

HDP Diyarbakır MP Remziye Tosun has said, "The lawyers inform that heads, arms and legs of more than 60 people detained in Halfeti and Bozova were broken, and their faces are unrecognizable. Whoever is happy with torture will be ruined in the end."

(EMK/TY/SD)