Confidentiality Order for File of Detained İHD Deputy Chair Bilici

Click to read the article in Turkish

The Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch has issued a statement about İHD Deputy Chair and Diyarbakır Branch President Raci Bilici being detained, and called for Bilici’s release.

The statement expressed that Bilici was detained during a police raid launched into his home at 6 a.m. this morning (March 15) and was taken to Diyarbakır Security Directorate Anti-Terror Bureau.

The charges pressed are unknown

Attorneys from the İHD Diyarbakır Branch held a meeting with Bilici at the Security Directorate and found out that a confidentiality order was issued for Bilici’s file.

The attorneys also stated neither Bilici nor his attorneys were informed of what charges were pressed against him.

“Bilici was threatened, targeted, detained”

The statement issued by the İHD Diyarbakır Branch is briefly as follows:

“Fundamental rights and freedoms have been systematically violated via State of Emergency (OHAL) practices, which have been ongoing for eight months, and the freedoms have been taken under pressure. Politicians, journalists, academics, intellectuals, authors, teacher, students, union members from all circles of the society get their share of the unlawful detentions and arrests.

“Human rights defenders have been facing practices including threats, crackdowns, discharges, detentions and arrests during this period in which the NGOs, which try to raise their voice against the unlawfulness, are tried to be hindered.

“İHD Deputy Chair and Diyarbakır Branch President Raci Bilici as well was targeted by pro-government media, threatened by unidentified people and circles, targeted and finally detained.

“We urge the international society to be sensitive about the protection of the human rights defenders”. (AS/TK)