Turkey: Demonstrators Opposing Istanbul Mayor's Arrest Encounter Arrests and Abuse
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Synopsis
Protests erupt in Turkey against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, with reports of physical and sexual abuse faced by demonstrators. Over 1800 arrests have occurred, including journalists, drawing attention to the treatment of detainees in custody.
Key Takeaways
- Protests against the detention of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu led to over 1800 arrests.
- Reports of severe physical and sexual abuse of detainees have emerged.
- Legal representatives have documented alarming allegations of mistreatment.
- The Women's Assembly condemned the violence as reflective of state policies.
- Imamoglu's detention has sparked widespread unrest in Turkey.
Ankara, March 29 (NationPress) The Turkish Police have apprehended numerous demonstrators engaged in the extensive protests against the incarceration of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Reports from local media indicate that these individuals faced widespread physical abuse, sexual harassment, and degrading treatment.
So far, Turkish security forces have detained more than 1800 people, including several journalists, amidst the ongoing protests that erupted following Imamoglu's arrest. He is known as the main opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and is viewed as a potential contender in the upcoming presidential election.
The lawyers for the detainees have disclosed the alarming abuse taking place within the prisons.
A collection of detailed testimonies and legal documents has highlighted the most severe allegations made by a young woman detained in Istanbul's Sarachane neighborhood.
In her official statement, she recounted being pulled by her hair, dragged along the ground, and groped by a male officer, leading her to urinate in fear.
Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker Sezgin Tanrikulu verified that these details were documented in interrogation records and presented to the Penal Court of Peace.
"I have the police statement and the interrogation record in hand. A young female student has clearly described how she was harassed and mistreated. The judiciary has remained silent," Tanrikulu stated on social media.
Additional reports collected by the Istanbul Bar Association reveal a troubling pattern. Attorney Halil Enes Kavak provided insights into the brutality exhibited by Turkish police.
"In Sarachane, every youth detained bore signs of physical violence. Many were dragged, kicked, punched, and struck with helmets. Some were completely uninvolved in the protests -- they were neither fleeing nor resisting. These were arbitrary detentions," Kavak explained to the Turkish newspaper Sozcu.
He further noted that holding cells were "overcrowded and airless," with some detainees confined on the 7th underground floor while still drenched in pepper spray from the protests.
"They endured four days in oppressive conditions without adequate ventilation. This became a form of punishment. Whether released, jailed, or still in custody, all of them still reek of pepper spray," Kavak added.
Condemning the sexual and physical violence against female detainees, the Women's Assembly of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) labeled it as "a manifestation of the male-dominated, sexist, and authoritarian policies of the state," as reported by Turkish local media.
Meanwhile, Mehmet Pehlivan, the attorney representing jailed Mayor Imamoglu, who was taken into custody late Thursday, has since been released under judicial supervision.
Earlier, in response to the detention of his lawyer on X, Imamoglu demanded his immediate release.
"My lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was detained on fabricated grounds. As if the coup against democracy was not sufficient, they cannot tolerate the victims defending themselves. Release my lawyer immediately," Imamoglu declared in a social media post released by his legal team.
Pehlivan denied the allegations against him and asserted that he was being targeted for representing the imprisoned mayor in a statement to the prosecutors.
He accused prosecutors of conducting investigations based on erroneous and false reports, as well as witness statements based on hearsay.
As numerous journalists were detained by Turkish authorities, the Turkish Journalists' Union on Saturday urged for media to be allowed to operate freely in light of the detention of journalists and penalties imposed on various media outlets covering mass protests linked to opposition politician Imamoglu.
Imamoglu's detention has ignited widespread protests across Turkey. The popular 53-year-old is widely regarded as the only politician capable of defeating Turkey's longstanding leader Erdogan at the ballot box.
