What is happening in Izmir?

SOURCE: HRFTHuman Rights Foundation of Turkey

Human rights organisations including HRFT mentioned their worries about the developments, legal amendments and administrative changes related to the accession process to EU for the last few years. And unfortunately the positive attitude of EU member states towards the condition in Turkey lasted for a long period of time.

At the moment the relation between Turkey and EU entered upon a recession period. On the one hand EU opposition rose in the society and on the other hand the government withdrew the efforts for the accession. All the changes made in the last few years seem to be done just like "homework" but necessary measures for the implementation were not taken.

Detentions and Arrests:

Before the Newroz celebrations to be held in Izmir 14 persons including DTP executives for Izmir and it's districts, one correspondent with a paper were detained during raids conducted against DTP premises in Izmir and several districts on varying dates. 8 persons including DTP Chair for Izmir and 2 executives for districts were arrested.

10 persons were detained on 20 March and 5 of them were arrested afterwards.

According to figures provided by Human Rights Association Izmir branch and Contemporary Lawyers Association Izmir branch 58 persons were detained on 21 March during Newroz celebrations in several quarters. 13 of them were arrested.

Torture and Ill-treatment:

17 persons applied to HRFT Izmir Representation between 1 March and 7 April on the allegations that they were tortured in custody. 10 of them were detained for political activities and 7 of them were detained for ordinary crimes. 12 of the applicants applied to HRFT right after the detention within few days.

8 of those applicants were detained during the Newroz celebrations. Those persons were subjected to ill-treatment and excessive use of force during the detention. The examinations of the applicants at HRFT Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Izmir exposed following findings:

Shoulder of one applicant was dislocated;

Nose and teeth of one applicant were broken, teeth enamels were damaged;

Stitch scars on the heads of three applicant related to trauma, laceration, abrasion;

Four ribs of one applicant were injured, and fracture of two vertebras;

One applicant's one rib, foot, bones on the back side of the ribs were injured;

For all applicants ecchimosis, edema and soft tissue injury were determined;

4 applicants were detained in connection with ordinary crimes. One of the applicants went to the police station for a complaint, but he was heavily beaten there. The relatives of the victim were also detained when they came to the station to ask the condition of their relative. They were also subjected to similar treatment. Following findings were registered during the examination of the applicants:

Intracapsular bleeding of spleen of one applicant;

Cervical vertebrae of one applicant was injured due to trauma, fracure of face bones were determined, lungs were bleedings and pleural effusion was determined;

For all applicants edema and soft tissue injury were determined;

For all applicants psychological symptoms were determined related to trauma.

In a short period of time at least 17 persons were subjected to ill-treatment, violence, and torture. Traces of torture, traumas were determined. Though there had been a positive attitude towards the condition in Turkey with regard to the relation between Turkey and EU in accordance with the democratisation process, recent incidents and developments creates the environment that we would face human rights violations, violence and torture as we did in the past. We also worry that there may be violations of the right to assembly during the democratic, peaceful Labour Day demonstrations.