Police violence

Lawyers for the Çeber family have accused the judges of leniency towards the accused police officers. The judges have withdrawn, and it is yet to be decided which court will take on the case.

The court considering the death of activist Çeber has been given a letter written by the deceased and smuggled out of prison by a cell mate. A lawyer for his family believes that this will prove the defendants in the case are lying.

After being shot by a police officer, Kirbaş’s treatment was obstructed for months. It has now become clear that his paralysis is permanent. The court case starts on 26 March.

Police officer Ali Mutlu stands accused of “deliberately causing death”; the prosecution is demanding 8-12 years for the death of Feyzullah Ete.

19-year-old Kırbaş has been paralysed by a police bullet. While a warrant for his arrest is still valid, the officer involved remains free. The court case continues.

In yesterday’s court hearing, the defendants claimed that they did not torture Çeber, but only “shouted at him.”

In its annual report, Human Rights Watch has conceded that there are doubts about the independence of the Turkish judiciary; nevertheless, the Ergenekon trial is considered an opportunity to fight against unwanted military and state interference in political life.

Father of Çağdaş Gemik, who was shot to death by a police officer, files a complaint against the Vice Governor for intervening in the investigation of the accused police officer by sending a “secret” circular to the authorities conducting the investigation, defending the officer.

Minister of Interior Atalay admits that the police officers are under obligation to identify themselves before they are asked. The admission came after another person was beaten by police officers, when he asked them to identify themselves.

The leftist activists in Turkey held press releases in front of the Greek embassies in Istanbul and Izmir. The protestors also pointed out to the similar deaths at the hand of the security forces in Turkey.

Although Justice Minister Şahin, Police Chief Cerrah and the police educators say that the police officers should show their identities when asked, the citizens still get beaten up for asking their identities and the authorities still make statements protecting these police officers and file suspicious lawsuits against the victims.

Police Officer Mustafa Atasoy will face the court for shooting 22 year old Cem İnci during an argument. He will be charged with voluntary manslaughter. The Police Department has tried to diminish the seriousness of the incident.

Cizre District Governorship did not give permission for the investigation of the death of 15 year old Yahya Menekşe under a police panzer during a demonstration in Cizre on February 15, 2008. His family’s lawyer Rojhat Dilsiz describes the decision as unlawful.

Administrators of the Human Rights Association’s Adana Branch get into an argument with police officers during a search. One of the activists is pushed down the stairs and his arm is broken. İHD wants those responsible be punished.

The police officers who beat up and insulted transsexual Esmeray in June 2007 for passing by the front of the station will be tried for the crime of “simple bashing and insulting.”

Amnesty International presents its yearly report. With the freedom of expression violations, the Dink murder, the Malatya massacre, the police violation and the like, the section of the report about Turkey paints a bleak picture.

Families of the high school children who were tortured in the police station turn to the Association of Human Rights. They report the crime and the Public Prosecutor starts an investigation.

The court accuses the family of Baran Tursun, who was shot by a police office for not stopping his car, for violating Article 301. The father had criticized the court procedure, claiming that the accused were favored.

DISK president Çelebi tells that they will take the May Day prohibitions and the police violence, what they call “state terror”, to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Unions ended the May Day activity in Şişli following the excessive violence by the police forces. DİSK president Çelebi said that “Our friends ended up in the hospitals. They used all kinds of violence. Whole Turkey became Taksim.”