Members of the Contemporary Lawyers' Association (ÇHD) gathered in front of the Galatasaray High School in central Istanbul today (16 June) to protest against police violence.

Around 40 lawyers gathered, and Hülya Develi read a press statement in which events in Esenyurt, a district on the outskirts of Istanbul, were explained.

Workers attacked

Last week, members of the Esenyurt Workers' Platform wanted to hand out flyers in front of the Sabra Textile Factory. They were beaten by a group of people that included people from the factory management, and then they were shot at.

"After the clashes, where two people were wounded, only one of the people shooting was taken into custody, and later released by the court."

When people gathered in front of the factory again on the same day to protest, the police, without any warning, attacked the group wanting to make a press statement with truncheons and tear gas and also shot at them. Develi said that four people were taken into custody and later arrested for resisting a civil servant on duty.

Lawyers harrassed

"When lawyers Nusret Öztürk, Meryem Asıl and Şerife Ceren Uysal from the Istanbul Bar Association went to the Esenyurt central police station to work in the defence of the four individuals, they were insulted and verbally and physically abused by the police."

"The four people in custody, three of them women, were beaten and, despite there being no reason, were forced to undergo a detailed body search."

"The next day the four people taken to the Büyükçekmece court were handcuffed in a manner which bruised their wrists and were not allowed to drink water or go to the toilet until their defence lawyers handed in a written complaint. They were then arrested because of allegedly strong suspicions that they resisted the police."

Develi said, "The confidence the police feels is obvious." She added other examples of police violence:

"Last week a lawyer attached to the Manisa Bar Association was killed by a police bullet. Another lawyer was beaten by police in a Kadıköy police station in Istanbul. If this trend is not stopped, then police murders, torture and maltreatment will increase." (EZÖ/AG)