As you might know, citizens who are enjoying their freedom of expression and right of assembly and demonstration have started peaceful and democratic demonstrations in Gezi Park in Istanbul. Last week, police forces have started using violence them to disperse peaceful protests. As a reaction to violence attacks against protestors in Gezi Park, many other protests occurred by participation of hundreds of thousand citizens all around Turkey, particularly Ankara and Izmir. Yet, since the first day, police forces have also used systematic violence against these protestors all around Turkey. This reached the level of torture and ill-treatment.
According to Human Rights Association, Progressive Lawyer Association, Turkish Medical Association, and relevant Bar Associations, more than one thousand people were taken under custody and subjected to torture and ill-treatment. Thousands of people were wounded. We are deeply concern that there are strong and just claim about brain death of a young person in Ankara because of violence attacks.
Moreover, as result of chemical gas attacks and physical violence attacks against mobile infirmaries established under the coordination of Turkish Medical Association and Medical Chamber, medical services were provided under very severe conditions and even interrupted. This also reveals another dimension of human rights violations.
These human rights abuses show that the political power in Turkey fearlessly has violated right to life and prohibition of torture. Act of political power is a crime in accordance with universal human rights norms and international law.
HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION OF TURKEY
Actions required:
Please write/call to the authorities in Turkey, urging them to:
Put an end to police violence and act of torture and ill-treatment against to protestors and to prevent further deaths and injuries;
Allow the right to peaceful protest of the demonstrators;
Issue an immediate, independent and impartial investigation into allegations of torture and ill- ill-treatment against to protestors and to prevent further deaths and injuries;
Release peaceful protestor who were taken under custody during protests all around Turkey;
Ensure access to health care for all those who need it
