Reports of torture, ill-treatment rise in 2022, says rights group
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The number of individuals who reached out to the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV-HRFT) due to experiencing torture and ill-treatment in 2022 has witnessed a notable 22% increase compared to the previous year.
According to TİHV's 2022 Treatment Centers Report, a total of 1,201 people sought assistance from the foundation last year, either for themselves or on behalf of a close relative who had suffered from torture and ill-treatment.
Since 1990, TİHV has been engaged in rehabilitation efforts for those who have undergone torture and their families. In the history of the foundation, 2022 marked the second-highest number of applications after the peak in 2001.
In his article within the report, TİHV Chair Metin Bakkalcı emphasized that the fact that more than double their expected number sought help due to experiencing torture in 2022 is an indicator of the deteriorating human rights situation.
The report revealed that out of the 1,201 applicants, 1,117 had experienced torture and ill-treatment themselves, while 84 reached out on behalf of their close relatives, contacting TİHV representatives.
Of these applicants, 1,079 endured torture and ill-treatment within Turkey, while 38 reported similar incidents outside the country.
A total of 756 applicants faced recent incidents in 2022, while others sought assistance for incidents that occurred in previous years.
The age range of those who sought help due to torture and ill-treatment varies, spanning from a 3-year-old child to a 76-year-old individual.
The applicants' demographics revealed that 56.9% were male, 39.1% were female, and 4% identified as LGBTI+.
Types of abuses
Regarding the types of abuses, 70.2% of applicants experienced physical assault, 83.4% were subjected to threats and insults, and 45.2% faced positional torture. Shockingly, 497 individuals were subjected to hanging in a "reverse handcuff" position.
The report also highlighted that 43.5% of applicants suffered from sexual torture, with 3 individuals reporting cases of rape, while 80 individuals experienced physical sexual harassment.
Restrictions on demonstrations
The rising pressure and restrictions on peaceful gatherings and demonstrations were also reflected in the TİHV Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers report for the year.
Disturbingly, over half (50.6%) of those who experienced torture during their detention were subjected to such treatment in public spaces or open areas.
Out of those who reported experiencing torture during detention, 50.7% indicated they were subjected to abuse and mistreatment in police headquarters.
Among the applicants, 131 reported facing torture and ill-treatment at İstanbul Police Headquarters, while 103 reported similar incidents at Van Police Headquarters.
Furthermore, the report revealed that torture and ill-treatment persisted not only within police stations and gendarmerie outposts but also in detention vehicles. Approximately 30.7% of those subjected to abuse experienced it inside these vehicles.
Pride month
The report also drew attention to the intensification of applications to treatment centers in İstanbul, Ankara, and İzmir during June, attributed to increased hindrances and interventions during Pride Month activities.
Additionally, the report underlined the escalating number of applications to TİHV centers in Diyarbakır, Van, and Cizre each year, suggesting a need to address this trend in conjunction with limitations on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the region.
Furthermore, the report detailed that 68.8% of those who reached out to TİHV due to torture and ill-treatment were individuals born in the Southeastern and Eastern Anatolia regions.
The TİHV report also illuminated human rights violations occurring during medical examinations in detention. Many of those who contacted TİHV highlighted that during admissible examination processes, law enforcement personnel were present, and their complaints were not heard. (AS/VK)