Human Rights Association (IHD) and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) made a common declaration in all their branches for June 26, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Speaking at the declaration at IHD Istanbul, TIHV Istanbul Representative Ümit Efe, TIHV Executive Board member Ümit Biçer, IHD Istanbul Chairwoman Gülseren Yoleri and TIHV President Şebnem Korur-Fincancı pointed out to the significance of revealing and denouncing torture in the fight against torture. The speakers demanded the revocation of the State of Emergency, the prevention of torture and legal regulations to put of those responsible for torture applications on trial.
Yoleri read the common declaration prepared on behalf of both organizations; stating that there was a distinct increase in torture and mistreatment during the State of Emergency period. “Kurdish provinces have become open areas of mass torture with prolonged curfews in the region,” Yoleri said.
The declaration indicated that the Statutory Decrees declared within the State of Emergency regulated lack of responsibility for government officers and lef to impunity with lawsuits filed against the victims due to “resisting the police” and this entire situation poses a significant obstacle against the fight against torture. The human rights advocates further drew attentions to the high number of people being exposed to torture and mistreatment as well as the importance of concrete data to be obtained by denouncing torture in the revelation of those responsible of torture as well as the fight against torture.
27.06.2018
bianet.org