'We were subjected to police violence in detention'

* Photo: Mücadele Birliği

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Taken into custody in Gazi Neighborhood in İstanbul on March 31 and held in detention for two days, Sezer Çakmak and Süleyman Çakmak made a statement at the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Office.

A banner of "Human Dignity will Beat Torture" was opened at the meeting, which was attended by Özlem Oral, an editor of Mücadele Birliği (Struggle Union) newspaper, and the detained brothers.

Oral said that "Sezer and Süleyman Çakmak, the readers of their newspaper living in Gazi Neighborhood Sekizevler, were detained on the road on March 31 and tortured for two days in Gazi police station."

Medical report documenting battery

Reading out the statement, Özlem Oral said that "the reason for the detention of Sezer and Süleyman Çakmak brothers was cited as a banner hung by a group of young people in the vicinity in commemoration of Kızıldere, the young people who reportedly hung the banner were taken into custody as well, Sezer and Süleyman Çakmak were not released even though the others repeatedly said that they were not with them; on the contrary, they were systematically tortured for 2 days."

Oral briefly added the following: "During their period of detention, their attorneys were not informed even though they wanted to meet them. Sezer and Süleyman could get in touch with their attorneys and families only when they were released two days later. They talked about how they were battered and forced to get in the police vehicle, they were sprayed with pepper gas and tortured for hours at the police station.

"It was only when they were released two days later that we could learn that they were smacked and kicked in their back, they were threatened with death, they were not given food, they were not even allowed to go to toilet, they were asked questions unrelated to them, they were offered cooperation, the police were present in the medical examination at the hospital where they were taken and the marks of injury-battery were not recorded.

"After they were released, they could get a report of battery by going to the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey with their own efforts."

According to Oral, reports have found bruises on Süleyman Çakmak's eye and other body parts as a result of battery and a broken bone in Sezer Çakmak's arm, in addition to battery and bruises. Oral also noted that "while it is determined by various reports that the brothers need special education, they are faced with the violence and torture of the state."

'No ID or questions asked'

Having his arm broken, Sezer Çakmak said: "We were walking towards home with my elder brother. Five police cars stopped around us. They attacked me in an instance and tried to take me in the car. When I tried to resist, they dragged me to the car by gripping my neck. Some people in the vicinity protested as I screamed, but the police kept them off by attacking."

Sezer Çakmak also said that they were directly attacked without being asked for their IDs or any questions. He stated that they were tortured in the police vehicle and at the police station, adding that he had his arm broken and bruises on his body as a result of this battery.

He indicated that they were prevented from informing their attorneys and family; they could inform them only after being released. (AS/SD)