The Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), the Human Rights Association (İHD) and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Human Rights Branch made a joint written statement to mark the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, annually held on June 26.

The statement pointed out that the whole country has almost become a place of torture as a result of government rule based on oppression and control. It noted that the official discourse that introduced "zero tolerance for torture" remained rhetorical.

The statement said: “State officials at every level should abandon the discourse that praises and encourages torture and the torturers, and torture should be publicly condemned in line with the recommendations of international organizations.”

Deaths in prisons, torture under detention

The statement shared the data on torture cases as follows:

“* According to the TİHV Documentation Centre, 1 person died suspiciously under detention in 2022, and at least 6 people in the first 5 months of 2023.

* In the first five months of 2023, 270 people turned to the TİHV to denounce torture and ill-treatment.

* In 2022, a record high number of people (1201) appealed to the TİHV because of torture they or their relatives were subjected to.

* According to the İHD Documentation Unit, at least 1,347 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in official places of detention in 2022.

* 50.7 percent of the applicants to the TİHV stated that they had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment in the police headquarters, 5.7 percent in police stations, and 6.4 percent in gendarmerie units.

* 30.7 percent of the applicants to the TİHV revealed that they had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment under detention and in transportation vehicles.

* In 2022, 546 applicants to the TİHV declared that they had been exposed to torture and ill-treatment in public spaces and during demonstrations, and 177 in places such as houses and workplaces.

* As a result of intervention by the law enforcement forces in peaceful demonstrations and events, at least 5,434 people, including 144 children, were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in 2022, and at least 1 thousand 557 people, 49 of whom were children in the first five months of 2023. At least 50 people were injured during these police interventions.

* At least 230 people in 2022 and at least 76 people in the first five months of 2023 were subjected to torture and ill-treatment in public spaces. At least 33 people were subjected to torture and ill-treatment during police raids in 2022 and 2023.

* According to the İHD Documentation Unit, a total of 2,928 people, 42 of whom were children, claimed that they had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment in unofficial places of detention and in other places in 2023.

* There is still no news from Yusuf Bilge Tunç who was kidnapped in Ankara on August 6, 2019.

* At least 4 people were kidnapped or barely escaped kidnapping in 2022. In the first five months of 2023, 1 person was kidnapped or faced kidnapping attempts.

* According to the applications submitted to the İHD and other available data, it is reported that 198 people were exposed to forced spying, kidnapping and threats in 2022.

* According to ´the İHD Documentation Unit, the number of prisoners who claimed to have been tortured and ill-treated was 247 in 2022.

* According to the TİHV Documentation Centre, at least 65 prisoners in 2022 and 10 in the first five months of 2023 died of illness, suicide, violence, neglect, etc. According to the İHD Documentation Unit, at least 83 prisoners died suspiciously in 2022.

* In the first 6 months of 2023, 54 prisoners submitted applications to the TTB denouncing problems with access to healthcare in different prisons, imposition of handcuffed examinations, insistence of the law enforcement to be present during examinations and violation of privacy, etc.”

Suggestions

The statement highlighted the following suggestions:

“* The Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TİHEK) should be replaced by a new fully independent national prevention mechanism in accordance with the UN Optional Protocol to Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) and UN Paris Principles.

* The Law Enforcement Supervisory Commission should be made impartial and independent.

* Documentation and reporting of torture should be done in accordance with the principles of the UN 'Istanbul Protocol'.

* Allegations of torture should be investigated quickly, effectively and impartially, investigated by independent committees, and international ethical and legal rules should be respected at every stage of judicial proceedings.

* Prisons should be opened to the independent supervision of human rights and legal organizations.

* All CPT reports should be revealed to the public, and all their recommendations should be followed.”