On 12 March 2020, an arrest warrant targeting thirteen lawyers was issued and several lawyers have been taken into custody in Turkey’s southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Urfa as part of an Urfa-based investigation. Most of the targeted lawyers are those who documented torture and ill-treatment incident took place in May of 2019 in Halfeti district of Sanliurfa province.
Prominent forensic expert, physician Sebmen Korur Fincanci warned about inadequate medical examination and documentation carried out on torture and ill-treatment complaints. She added that ‘inadequate medical documentation disrupts efforts to prevent torture and leaves us facing new torture allegations every day’.
On 1 February 2020, the Arrested Lawyers Initiative published an advanced update of its report titled ‘Extradition to Turkey: One-way Ticket to Torture and Unfair Trial’ which was published in February of 2018.
Human Rights NGOs: Torture and Ill-treatment in custody have become systematic practice of Ankara Police. Report of Ankara Bar Association confirm the complaints of torture and ill-treatment.
The police officer, Murat A, who, on 30 March 2016, broke two vertebral bones of lawyer Zeycan Balci by repeatedly kicking her spine will be on trial on Monday, 9th December. Victim lawyer made a call and asked for the solidarity of all lawyers and human rights groups to hold those responsible for this brutal act accountable. “I want to face him. I haven’t had my kids in my arms for three years (due to my disability). If I am abandoned the defendant can acquit.” she said.
After a three-year legal struggle, police officer Murat A has been charged with exceeding the limit on the authority to use force, willful and malicious injury and will be on trial tomorrow in the Istanbul-Caglayan Courthouse.
