From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.rights.human
Subject: AI EX107/92 TURKEY Fear of torture
Date: 20 Dec 92 02:33:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1476700893:000:3509
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Dec 19 18:33:00 1992


/* Written  6:28 pm  Dec 18, 1992 by gn:rmitchellai in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI EX107/92 TURKEY Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 44/133/92
                                    Distr: UA/SC        
 
EXTRA 107/92     Fear of Torture    18 December 1992
 
TURKEY:          Hulya Ozcan (female)                
                 and three other girls whose names are not known to
                 Amnesty International
 
 Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Hulya Ozcan and
her three friends. The four girls were detained on 17 December 1992
after police raided their communal home in Adana. They are held in
incommunicado detention, presumably at the Anti-Terror Branch of
Adana Police Headquarters. They are suspected of links with an illegal
organization. It is feared that they are being interrogated under
torture.
 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
Turkey ratified the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture
on 25 February 1988 and the UN Convention Against Torture on 2
August 1988. However, all information available to Amnesty
International indicates that torture is still widespread and systematic in
Turkey. Most allegations relate to ill-treatment of detainees in police
custody during their initial interrogation when they are usually denied
access to relatives or a lawyer. In August 1990, the government
derogated from Articles 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 13 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, all of which contain important
safeguards for human rights. New legislation to shorten the maximum
detention period came into force on 1 December 1992. Now the
normal maximum period of 24 hours, for which a non-political
detainee may be held before being formally charged or released, may
be extended to eight days in cases of ordinary crimes involving three
or more suspects. Detainees held on suspicion of political offences to
be tried in State Security Courts may be held without charge for 15
days. This period may be extended to 30 days in provinces under
emergency legislation or martial law. Emergency legislation is currently
in force in 10 provinces in the southeast. 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION:  Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters either in English or
your own language:
 
-  expressing concern about the incommunicado detention of Hulya
Ozcan and three other girls detained in Adana on 17 December; 
 
-  urging that their families be informed promptly of their place of
detention and be granted access to them; 
 
- seeking assurances that they are not subjected to any form of torture
or ill-treatment while being held. 
 
-  requesting to be informed of any charges brought against them.
 
APPEALS TO
 
Adana Public Prosecutor: 
 
Mr Ethem Ekim                 [Salutation: Dear Sir]
Adana Savciligi
Adana, Turkey
Telegrams: Adana Savcisi Ethem Ekim, Adana, Turkey
 
Minister of the Interior:               
 
Mr Ismet Sezgin               [Salutation: Dear Minister]
Icisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams:  Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes:      46369 ICSL TR
Faxes:        +90 4 418 1795
 
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
 
President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission:
 
Insan Haklari Arastirma Komisyonu Baskani, Mr Sabri Yavuz
TBMM
Ankara, Turkey
 
and to the diplomatic representative in your country - please see the
responses to this topic for details.
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.  Please do not send
appeals after 31 December 1992.