The police intervened harshly in the protests that started after a trustee was appointed to the Êlih (Batman) Municipality, which is under the administration of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party). Many people were dragged on the ground and beaten. The ill-treatment during the first two days of detention continued in the detention centers. Although the governor’s office announced that an administrative investigation had been launched against the relevant public officials after the increasing public reactions, no other statement was made.

 

 

Human Rights Association (İHD) Êlih Branch Co-chair Ahmet Şiray evaluated the events during the detention processes.

 

Şiray stated that the people of the city voiced their objections loudly after the appointment of a trustee, and said that the people were faced with police violence while trying to exercise their right to assembly and demonstration.

 

“Pressurized water, plastic bullets, pepper spray, tear gas bombs were used. Shopkeepers and people in front of their workplaces were targeted. People were taken out of the building under torture. There was an intervention that we can call torture. Those detained were handcuffed behind their backs, dragged on the ground, and subjected to violence. Those detained in front of the municipality building were forced to kneel, handcuffed behind their backs, and made to face the wall and subjected to torture.”

 

VIOLENCE AND INSULT

 

Those detained were also subjected to violence in the detention vehicle and in the hospital said Şiray and added: “The detainees were made to listen to racist songs. They were made to listen to the song ‘Ölürüm Türkiyem (Turkish nationalists’ song)’. They were subjected to unspeakable insults. They were brought to the courthouse entrance with their heads bowed, handcuffed behind their backs.”

 

Stating that intense violence was also used in house raids in the city Şiray said: “A mother who did not have a detention order was subjected to violence. We were informed that her right eye was damaged and her face was swollen. Another disabled citizen was attacked with a dog and had 11 stitches. In almost all of the house raids that were carried out, practices that amounted to torture were carried out. According to the data we collected from the field, 300 detentions were made. 40 arrests were made. 15 of the arrests were children. We will share the detailed information with the public when we prepare our report.”

 

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT WILL BE FILED

 

Şiray noted that they will file a criminal complaint against those responsible for the practices that amounted to torture, stated that the practices were against the international agreements to which Turkey is a party. Şiray continued his words as follows: “As the Human Rights Association, we will apply to the Batman Republic Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office to initiate an administrative and judicial investigation against those who are responsible for what has happened since November 4.”