“Police Systematically Used Tear Gas as a Weapon”

PHR conducted a one-week investigation in Istanbul and Ankara from June 25 to July 2, 2013. During this investigation, PHR interviewed more than 50 victims and witnesses of attacks on protesters and medical personnel, as well as violations of medical neutrality. 

Some of the highlights from “the Contempt for Freedom: State Use of Tear Gas as a Weapon and Attacks on Medical Personnel in Turkey” included: 

130,000 tear gas bomb canisters

* The Turkish government used unnecessary and excessive force. The police systematically used tear gas as a weapon on hundreds of thousands of demonstrators.

* Independent medical personnel who courageously provided care to the injured in accordance with international medical ethical standards and Turkish law were attacked. 

* Nearly all (94 percent) of the 169 individuals were exposed to tear gas and experienced multiple symptoms, including respiratory problems; skin rashes; hyperemia (redness due to inflammation) of the pharynx, eyes, and tympanic membranes; hoarseness; hearing loss; high blood pressure regardless of age; asthma attacks; and allergic reactions.

* PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s autocratic governing style responded peaceful protestors with violence.

* The police systematically used tear gas as a weapon on hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, firing tear gas canisters and capsules directly at protesters at close range, in confined spaces, and in other areas with no outlet for escape. Some 130,000 canisters were reportedly used against protesters

* Police reportedly used water cannons spiked with chemical agents (likely tear gas).

* Police and other law enforcement officials attacked clearly identifiable, independent medical personnel and medical facilities with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. Police beat and detained dozens of physicians and other medical personnel for providing emergency medical care to those injured during the demonstrations.

“Stop tear gas usage”

PHR enlisted its policy recommendations to the Turkish PM and government as follows: 

* End policies of contempt and criminalization of basic rights and freedoms, including peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. 

* Immediately end all use of tear gas in Turkey – as it has been systematically used as a weapon on a massive scale with devastating health consequences until such time as the government has implemented full investigations of misuse, held perpetrators accountable, removed perpetrators from the security forces, and trained all security officers on the proper use of riot control materials. 

* Prohibit all forms of violence against peaceful protesters and respect United Nations standards for the use of force.

Who is PHR?

Founded in 1986, PHR researched on a variety of international health issues including the oppression towards health personal in Chile’s Pinochet dictatorship, as well as the documentation of Saddam’s chemical weapon usage in 1988. 

PHR has worked in more than 40 countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Burma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and the United States.

In 1996, PHR documented the widespread and systematic use of torture in Turkey and the complicity of physicians in this practice. (AS/BM)

* Click here to view the full report. 

* Click here to read the original article in Turkish.