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piqer for: Global finds Globalization and politics Technology and society
Turkish journalist, blogger and media expert. Writes regular columns for The Arab Weekly and contributes to Süddeutsche Zeitung, El Pais and the Guardian. An European Press Prize Laureate for 'excellence in journalism' in 2014, Baydar was awarded the prestigious 'Journalistenpreis' in Germany by Südosteuropa Foundation in February 2018.
After The Waves Of Witch Hunt And Mass Arrests, Torture Is Back In Turkey
Gripped by the vortex of political crisis, there seems to be no safety for any individual, local or foreign, in Turkey. Law enforcement has been arbitrary ever since the abortive coup in July last year, because the state of emergency has ever since then extended all such powers to the police and the judiciary, now operating under the orders of the executive power, personalized by the President.
With more than 50,000 people kept in long detention, awaiting trial, a nightmare, once a trademark of Turkey, has come back. Reports on torture, verified by the international human rights organisations, point even out to a trend that it has once more become systematic.
On August 5th (this year) security forces responded to the killing of a policeman near Sapatan, a Kurdish village, by forcing dozens of residents out of their homes and beating them in the local square. Of the 36 people detained, many were assaulted with hoses and metal rods at the local police station, according to Kurdish politicians who visited the area days later.
One of the torture victims, elsewhere, is Ömer Çelik, a bold journalist, who was brutally beaten by masked, armed men in his house, witnessed by his family. His 'crime'? Reporting about hacked e-mails that expose power abuses of the energy minister, who is the son-in-law of the president.
Turkey’s government, led by President Erdogan, proclaimed a policy of “zero tolerance” for torture in the early 2000s. But amid the fallout from last year’s coup and a continuing crackdown against Kurdish militants, tolerance is back. Human-rights groups have cited instances of beatings and torture, including rape and threats of rape, in Turkish detention centres.
Despair is spreading. The international community feels helpless.
Eight human-rights activists, including Amnesty International’s Turkey director and two European nationals, have been behind bars since July on outlandish conspiracy charges. Journalists face similar pressure.
thanks for this piq! it's such a shame for humanity that we're apparrent unable to have done with torture. after millenia of "culture". i use the "we" with all necessary caution being aware that there is no one "culture" or civilization. but my blues includes all cultures i'm familiar with.