Prosecutors dismiss investigation into strip search of women journalists

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Prosecutors in Ankara have dismissed an investigation into imprisoned women journalists' complaint that they had been strip-searched at the Sincan Women's Prison, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported.

Five women journalists, who are among the nine arrested on October 29 in a "terror" investigation into Kurdish media outlets, had filed a complaint, alleging that the incident had happened during their admission to the prison.

Responding to the complaint on December 14, the Ankara Western Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, said the practice was in accordance with the regulations.

Part of the regulation quoted by the prosecutor's office says "body holes can be searched" if there is reasonable suspicion that the prisoner possesses an illegal substance or object and there is no other way to find it.

There were four CDs among the journalists' belongings, and they were strip-searched to find out whether they had recording equipment, said the prosecutors, based on the statement of the prison administration.

The search was performed "without touching the person with bare hands" and "did not violate the sense of shame in any way," they further noted.

The journalists filed an appeal with the Ankara Western Penal Judgeship of Peace. (HA/VK)