ISTANBUL - Detainees were subjected to violence and harassment during the “freedom” rally in Istanbul. “They cannot break our will” said Fince Akman, who suffered a bruise on her arm. 

 

The Istanbul Provincial Organization of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), which wanted to make a statement after they were not allowed to attend the “freedom” rally in Amed, was denied permission. 30 people who participated in the statement were beaten and detained. It is stated that some of the detainees were subjected to “harassment” and “ill-treatment”. The detainees, who were charged with “violating Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations”, “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” and “praising crime and criminals”, were released after statement procedures at Istanbul Security Directorate. 

 

'VIOLENCE, HARASSMENT, ILL-TREATMENT'

 

While most of the citizens participating in the protest were detained in handcuffs, some said they were subjected to “violence, harassment and ill-treatment” by the police. One of the prisoner relatives, 57-year-old Fince Akman, was beaten during the incident. Akman had visible bruises on her arm and under her eyes. Women who were also subjected to body searches during detention stated that they were subjected to “physical harassment” by the police. Most of them had bruises on their wrists due to the tight handcuffs.

 

QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE POLICE STATION

 

In the police statement minutes, citizens were asked questions such as “How did you learn about the protest, were you pressured to participate in the protest?” Citizens were also asked why they chanted slogans such as “Everywhere Amed, everywhere resistance”, “Isolation is a crime against humanity”, “Repression cannot intimidate us”, and why they participated in the protest despite it being forbidden, and why they did not disperse despite warnings. 

 

'I WAS HARASSED BY A WOMAN POLICE OFFICER'

 

The beatings, ill-treatment and harassment of detainees were also reflected in the police statement minutes. According to the statement minutes, women stated that they were subjected to “physical harassment” during detention. S. K. stated that the police detained them in handcuffs behind their backs and said: “I do not accept the accusations. I was harassed by a woman police officer before I was taken into the detention vehicle. Although I told her that I did not have a phone on me, she groped my whole body and searched for the phone. And then I was handcuffed behind my back, which caused wounds on my wrists.” 

 

Those who were beaten and ill-treated received a medical report and stated that they would file a criminal complaint after the report was uploaded to the system. 

 

SHE TOLD ABOUT THAT DAY

 

Fince Akman, one of the relatives of prisoners who were subjected to police violence, told Mezopotamya Agency (MA) what happened on the day of the incident. 

 

Fince Akman, who was subjected to ill-treatment, told about the day: “We were going there for isolation and freedom. But they did not allow us. So we went to Kadıköy for a press statement. Then they attacked us there. They said 'You cannot make a press statement here'. They beat us. They beat us both with kicks and by turning our arms. They beat us all the way to the detention vehicle. They tortured and insulted us inside the vehicle as well. They detained everyone in reverse handcuffs. They kept us in the vehicle for 7 hours and released us late at night.”

 

'THEY CANNOT BREAK OUR WILL'

 

Stating that the situation is an attempt to break the will, Akman continued her words as follows: “They are trying to break our will. They have not been able to break our will for 40 years, will they break it now? they cannot break our will. As long as we exist, we will stand behind our Leader, our prisoners and our cause.”

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu