Police officer who battered a woman indicted for 'actual bodily harm'

"Believe the one who was subjected to violence!" (Photo: csgorselarsiv.org/Şehlem Kaçar)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Footage showing a police officer beating Gökçe Y. in Esenyurt, İstanbul was seen on social media on June 4.

While the woman is battered and dragged on the ground, three other officers watch without intervening, the video shows.

Gökçe Y. went to the Büyükçekmece Courthouse to tell what happened and filed a criminal complaint against the police officers.

The prosecutor's office indicted officer Ahmet C.Y. for "actual bodily harm" as per article 175 of the Turkish Penal Code. The Büyükçekmece 1st Penal Court of First Instance accepted the indictment.

"This is not actual bodily harm"

Attorney Eren Keskin applied to the court, alleging that the incident was not "actual bodily harm" but "torture" as per article 94 of the Turkish Penal Code.

She also recalled article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which says, "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment."

"First of all, I demand the trial be held with a hearing, [the defendant's] deposition should be taken and he should be reminded of the "change of the characteristics of crime" as per articles 225/2 and 226/1-2 of the Law on Criminal Procedures and the file be sent to the relevant court with the change in the characteristics of the crime," Keskin said in the petition.

Application to the TTB

Keskin also filed a complaint with the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) against the doctor who examined Gökçe Y. after the incident. She was sent to Esenyurt Necmi Kadıoğlu State Hospital and the doctor told police officers that "You beat her only a little" while laughing, according to Keskin.

Stating that the doctor violated the professional ethics rules and the İstanbul Protocol, Keskin requested an investigation against him. (EMK/VK)