Turkey's top court finds ‘no violation of rights’ in injury during Gezi resistance

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Wounded during the police intervention against the Gezi resistance in 2013, Beycan Taşkıran made an individual application to the Constitutional Court. The detailed ruling handed down by the top court was published in the Official Gazette today (January 18).

The Constitutional Court has concluded that the prohibition of ill treatment as per the Article 17 of the Constitution was not violated.

The detailed ruling has indicated that the pressurized water sprayed by the anti-riot water cannon vehicle (TOMA) was "considered to be necessary and proportionate" by the chief public prosecutor's office.

Broken rib mistaken for 'tuberculosis'

Beycan Taşkıran was subjected to police intervention on his way to the statement in the office of the İstanbul Bar Association in Beyoğlu on June 13, 2013. Taşkıran was wounded by the pressurized water and applied to the Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital on June 16.

Examined at the hospital, Taşkıran was first diagnısed with tuberculosis. Then it was understood that he had a broken rib.

Noting that his bone got broken during the police intervention, Taşkıran pressed charges against the police officers.

'Limits on right to use force not overstepped'

In its decision dated January 9, 2017, the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office concluded that "there was no ground for prosecution against the police officers for overstepping the limits on the right to use force."

Taşkıran appealed against the decision; however, it was rejected by the İstanbul 13th Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

In response to this, Beycan Taşkıran made an individual application to the Constitutional Court, which has now agreed with the prosecutor's office and concluded that there was no violation of rights. (AS/SD)