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Amnesty International on Wednesday spurred Turkish authorities to investigate widespread allegations of police violence during largely peaceful protests held across the country and sounded alarm of potential acts of torture under international law.
According to Amnesty, law enforcement used tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, and kinetic impact projectiles against peaceful protesters, often at close range, targeting the head or upper body. Restrained or dispersing protesters were reportedly beaten, kicked, or dragged.
Witness testimony detailed disturbing patterns of violence. Protesters described being kicked in the head, struck with batons, and verbally abused, including threats of sexual violence and death. One student recounted being dragged while on her knees, saying, “I thought I would die.” Another protester said officers told him, “We’ll put you in through the back door of the riot police bus, and your corpse will come out the front door.”
The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and 91 others affiliated with the opposition Peoples’ Republican Party (CHP) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, sparked the protests, which occurred March 19-26. İmamoğlu, who had just been named his party’s presidential candidate, was held in pretrial detention on March 23 alongside 53 others. In response, tens of thousands of people participated in nationwide rallies organized by the CHP, despite public assembly and travel bans imposed throughout several regions of the country.
By the end of March, authorities had detained at least 1,879 people, placing over 300 in pretrial detention. Journalists and lawyers were among those charged under Türkiye’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, which criminalizes unauthorized gatherings. Dozens of prosecutions began in April, with further hearings ongoing.
Amnesty emphasized that the force used against protesters violated both Turkish law and international human rights standards. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture, Türkiye is legally obligated to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as well as prevent torture and other forms of cruel or degrading treatment. Amnesty noted that many police dispersal orders gave little or no opportunity for protesters to leave voluntarily and that blanket bans on assemblies are presumed disproportionate under international law.
The organization called on the Turkish government to ensure independent investigations into all alleged abuses, hold those responsible accountable through fair trials, and provide redress for victims.
The post Amnesty International calls for investigation into alleged police torture during March protests in Türkiye appeared first on JURIST - News.
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According to Amnesty, law enforcement used tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, and kinetic impact projectiles against peaceful protesters, often at close range, targeting the head or upper body. Restrained or dispersing protesters were reportedly beaten, kicked, or dragged.
Witness testimony detailed disturbing patterns of violence. Protesters described being kicked in the head, struck with batons, and verbally abused, including threats of sexual violence and death. One student recounted being dragged while on her knees, saying, “I thought I would die.” Another protester said officers told him, “We’ll put you in through the back door of the riot police bus, and your corpse will come out the front door.”
The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and 91 others affiliated with the opposition Peoples’ Republican Party (CHP) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, sparked the protests, which occurred March 19-26. İmamoğlu, who had just been named his party’s presidential candidate, was held in pretrial detention on March 23 alongside 53 others. In response, tens of thousands of people participated in nationwide rallies organized by the CHP, despite public assembly and travel bans imposed throughout several regions of the country.
By the end of March, authorities had detained at least 1,879 people, placing over 300 in pretrial detention. Journalists and lawyers were among those charged under Türkiye’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, which criminalizes unauthorized gatherings. Dozens of prosecutions began in April, with further hearings ongoing.
Amnesty emphasized that the force used against protesters violated both Turkish law and international human rights standards. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture, Türkiye is legally obligated to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as well as prevent torture and other forms of cruel or degrading treatment. Amnesty noted that many police dispersal orders gave little or no opportunity for protesters to leave voluntarily and that blanket bans on assemblies are presumed disproportionate under international law.
The organization called on the Turkish government to ensure independent investigations into all alleged abuses, hold those responsible accountable through fair trials, and provide redress for victims.
The post Amnesty International calls for investigation into alleged police torture during March protests in Türkiye appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.