The Prison Monitoring Commission of the Amed Bar Association’s Human Rights Center submitted a complaint in relation to incidents that took place on 22 April at Erzincan Prison.

In these applications, the Bar emphasized that the systematic implementation and normalization of strip searches of prisoners transferred from other prisons to Erzincan High-Security Closed Prison violates the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment.

The Commission also applied to the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsman Institution, the General Directorate of Prisons and Detention Houses, the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission, and the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TIHEK) for a thorough investigation.

According to reports received from prisoners and their families, strip searches have become widespread. The complaints indicated that prisoners who refused to undergo the strip search were physically assaulted by prison guards. The Amed Bar Association conducted prison visits following these complaints, during which prisoners reported being held in the prison transport vehicle (ring vehicle) for long periods without access to basic needs, followed by extended detention in holding cells under similarly inhumane conditions.

Torture of prisoners who refused strip search

The complaints also detailed that strip searches were forced upon prisoners upon entry, and those who resisted were beaten. The Amed Bar stated that "strip searches are not only a physical violation, but also constitute systematic institutional harassment, psychological torture, and a serious breach of rights. Such behavior by public officials not only creates personal accountability but also signifies an abuse of public authority."

Violation of the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment

The applications highlighted that these practices constitute a violation of Article 17 of the Turkish Constitution, which guarantees the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment. They also breach Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which prohibits degrading and inhuman treatment, as well as the UN’s Mandela Rules and the standards set by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The Bar Association demanded an immediate end to strip search practices and called for a prompt and effective investigation into the matter, including the initiation of legal proceedings against the responsible prison staff.