POLICE VIOLENCE

Efkan Bolaç, lawyer of the severely beaten student Güney Tuna, stated that 8 police officers were involved in the assault on her client: "Tuna was not beaten in the police station. The attack was committed by the 'dolphin' task force".

The police seriously injured 21-year-old university student Güney Tuna on 3 October after he drank alcohol in a park in Avcılar (Istanbul) and allegedly refused to leave the park despite the police's order.

"I was told that Güney is recovering. His leg is casted. His broken leg was treated. The police told the adolescents on the day of the incident to leave the park. They say that later on they asked them why there were still there. After Güney stepped aside the police took him into their middle and beat and kicked him".

A judicial and administrative interrogation was launched on the police officers involved in the incident. Arrested police officer Muhammed Bağcı was taken to the Küçükçekmece Law Court after the interrogation. The police officer was put in detention by the court.

Tuna's friend Sevda Özdemir, who was present during the incident, also came to the court together with her lawyer and made her statement as a witness:

"We said at 2 different tables. The police said we should leave within 10 minutes. Bottles of alcoholic beverages were on the other table. After the police had left, we threw the bottles away and sat down again. 10 minutes later the same policemen came and asked us why we had not left in the meantime. We said we did not drink alcohol. Güney said 'You have no right to send us away'. Then the police pushed Güney and he fell".

"When Güney stood up again he asked the police why they behaved like that. This time the police pushed Güney on the ground and started beating him. When Güney shouted 'Don't beat me' they started kicking him. When by-passers reacted to the police, they took Güney's arms and brought him to a security cabin further down the road". (EZÖ/VK)