The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council has once more revealed that the security forces in Turkey are a threatening factor for human life. According to UN Turkey investigation, in 2008 alone 116 people were killed by Turkish security forces during demonstrations, in jails and while their were under custody.

The Turkey report, which was compiled by the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPR) of UN Human Rights Council, has once more showed the fact that Turkey is still in arrears about human rights.

LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS INCREASE DEATH RATES

The report presented by the 8. work group, pointed out that 37 people lost their lives as a result of been shot by state’s security forces and 45 people died due to the tortures and ill-treatments while under custody and in jails.

The report also underlined that the number of deaths since 2000 has reached 829. Addressing the Police Duty and Authorization Law (nm.5681) approved by the AKP government in 2007, the report emphasized the increase in the death rate to coincide with the legal arrangement in the new law which gives police the authorization to use guns.

Translator: Berna Ozgencil