Turkey to Pay Fine of 12 Thousand Euro Over ‘Torture’

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Mehmet Uğraş Vatandaş’s application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) concerning his complaint that he was tortured and ill-treated in custody has been concluded.

ECtHR found Vatandaş’s application justified and announced its decision today, sentencing Turkey to pay material and immaterial compensation of 12 thousand euros in total.

The case dropped due to “prescription”

Vatandaş had joined a demonstration in İstanbul on April 6, 2002.

Mehmet Uğraş Vatandaş, who would be the Evrensel newspaper Managing Editor in future, was 23 years old at the time.

Police intervened in the demonstration. Vatandaş was detained and taken to Beyoğlu Police Station.

Relased on the same night, Vatandaş applied to the prosecutor’s office with the complaint that he was tortured and ill-treated in custody. He stated that his elbow was broken while he was being taken into custody.

Lawsuit was brought against the police officers in the station.

The court ruled acquittal of the police on April 22, 2004 on the ground that “the police who intervened in the demonstration couldn’t be identified” and “no evidence could be found to prove that they committed this crime”.

Supreme Court of Appeal dropped the case due to prescription on June 14, 2011.

Upon the court’s decision, Vatandaş applied to the ECtHR and the ECtHR ordered Turkey to pay material and immaterial compensation of 12 thousand euros. (AS/TK)