Lawyer Tanay: Torture at Istanbul Police Station

Demonstrators Emrah Kaş, Hüsnü Kaplan and Cihan Gürbey were arrested by an Istanbul Criminal Court on Duty on Wednesday (1 June). They belonged to a group of twelve people, eight of whom were under age, who were taken into police custody on Sunday (29 May) under allegations of having thrown stones to a convoy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) after clashes had occurred between residents of the Nurtepe district in Istanbul and MHP members.

Lawyer Taylan Tanay announced that the three individuals were severely beaten in police custody. Tanay told bianet that they lodged a criminal complaint and expected an investigation launched about the people responsible for the ill-treatment.

Kaş, Kaplan and Gürbey were taken before the Istanbul 14^th High Criminal Court on Wednesday (1 June). They were arrested on charges of alleged "membership in the DHKP-C organization", the "Party and Revolutionary Front for the Liberation of the Turkish People" left-wing terrorist organization.

Lawyer Tanay stated that "photographs taken before the court session document severe torture applied in custody and on the way to the police station".

Kaş, Kaplan and Gürbey were reportedly dragged along the ground when they were taken into custody and beaten in the vehicle on the way to the police station and also at the Zeki Kaya police centre. It was announced that there was no evidence against either of them related to the incidents on 31 May.

"110 people arrested in four months"

Tanay explained that the only reason for his clients' arrest given by the court was their attendance of a press release regarding Engin Çeber and Güler Zere made in front of a courthouse.

"We were expecting them to be arrested because persons who have been visibly beaten when in police custody are usually being arrested. That way, it is not possible anymore determine torture which is easier to do outside of a prison. A total of 110 people were arrested in the scope of raids carried out in poor neighbourhoods of Istanbul within the past four months", Tanay indicated.

Tanay declared that they filed a criminal complaint to the Eyüp Public Chief Prosecution on Thursday (2 June) by reasons of beating and ill-treatment in police custody. They expect an investigation to be launched about the people who were responsible. The lawyer added that his clients were examined at the Forensic Medicine Institute but that a final report had not been issued yet. (AS/VK)