By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East
ISTANBUL, Turkey – On December 5, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled, “Closing Ranks Against Accountability,” documenting 28 cases of police violence since early 2007. The 80 page report cites two main sources of this increase in police brutality. First, changes in Turkish laws, which gave police excessively broad discretion to use lethal force and encourage arbitrary stops and searches by police. The second cause is a “culture of impunity,” characterized by the failure of the government to investigate and punish abuses.
The cases documented in the report involve fatal and non-fatal shootings by the police; ill-treatment and excessive use of force by police against demonstrators; and ill-treatment during or following identity checks. For example, Feyzullah Ete, 26, a factory worker with two children, died after being kicked in the chest by a plain-clothed officer who had demanded to see his ID in a children’s play area. Additionally, a video clip of police officers beating a 15 year old M.K during Kurdish New Year’s celebrations in Van in March 2008 is posted on the HRW’s website.
In the report, HRW stated that the number of complaints filed against the police for excessive force increased over the past year. In 2006, there were a total of 2,854 complaints, while in 2007, 3,339 complaints were fled. In addition to the increase of complaint filed, there is a decrease in the number of convictions. In 2006, 48 police officers were convicted after investigations, while in 2007, only 21 were.
When launching the report in Istanbul, HRW’s executive director, Kenneth Roth, stated that the increase in violent incidences are partly attributable to three changes in Turkish law. First, a law which permits the police to use lethal force before it becomes necessary to prevent a threat to life. Second, allowing officers to conduct identity checks without reasonable grounds for suspicion. And lastly, anti-terrorism legislation which permits denying suspects access to a lawyer for 24 hours.
In addition to the legal sources, Roth stated, “”A culture of impunity prevails and we fear that culture lies behind this increase in police violence.” The report stated that investigations following complaints were often tainted by the police, who attempt to conceal, contaminate, and plant evidence. In addition, prosecutions are slow, lasting months or years, often with no result. Even when the prosecution ends in conviction, they rarely lead to prison sentences.
While changes in anti-terrorism laws have increased protection to suspects in police stations, there has been an increase in the number of incidents of police abuse or excessive force occurring outside the formal places of detention. Also, the report found that police are ready to use firearms against unarmed civilian demonstrators; sometimes killing them.
In order to combat the increasing occurrence of police violence, Roth states that the government must replace its “culture of impunity,” with a culture of accountability. The report concluded by suggesting several recommendations to Turkish authorities. They include: establishing an independent commission to investigate complaints of police violence; requiring the police to report when they use stop-and-search authority and requiring that those stopped are given a form with the police officers’ names and reason for the stop; clarification on when lethal force may be used; and action to ensure that officers to commit abuses are punished.
For more information, please see:
Guardian – Police Violence Soaring, Says Report on Turkey – 6 December 2008
Human Rights Watch – Turkey: Rising Police Violence Goes Unpunished – 5 December 2008
Human Rights Watch – Closing Ranks Against Accountability – 5 December 2008
Hurriyet – Cop Violence Up Due to the Culture of Impunity – 5 December 2008
Voice of America – Report Alleges Human Rights Violations by Police in Turkey – 5 December 2006
