From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: AI Turkey: Fear of torture
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 08:10:52 GMT

/** mideast.action: 39.0 **/
** Topic: AI EX002/93 TURKEY Fear of torture **
** Written  8:31 pm  Jan  6, 1993 by pnmideast in cdp:mideast.action **
From: <pnmideast>
Subject: AI EX002/93 TURKEY Fear of torture

/* Written  7:26 pm  Jan  6, 1993 by rmitchellai@gn.apc.org in igc:ai.uan */
/* ---------- "AI EX002/93 TURKEY Fear of torture" ---------- */
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: EUR 44/03/93
                                    Distr: UA/SC       

EXTRA 02/93   Fear of Torture       6 January 1993

TURKEY:       Kemal Yazar

Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Kemal Yazar, who
was detained in Izmir on 1 January 1993.

  Reportedly, Kemal Yazar was taken into police custody at Izmir
airport when he was found travelling with a false passport in the name
of Seyh Coban. It is thought that he may have been transferred
meanwhile to the Anti-Terror Branch of Istanbul Police Headquarters.

  Kemal Yazar was previously detained in Istanbul in October 1990
(see UA 442/90, EUR 44/160/90, 1 November 1990 and follow-up
EUR 44/187/90, 12 December 1990). At the time, he and
fellow-detainees were tortured in police custody and medical reports
certified injuries consistent with their allegations of torture. Kemal
Yazar was charged with "membership of an armed gang" and stood
trial in Istanbul State Security Court. The outcome of that trial is not
known to Amnesty International. 

  Following three visits to Turkey to investigate allegations of torture
the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (ECPT) of the
Council of Europe published in December 1992 for the first time its
findings. The ECPT concluded "that the practice of torture and other
forms of severe ill- treatment of persons in police custody remains
widespread in Turkey and that such methods are applied to both
ordinary criminal suspects and persons held under anti-terrorism
provisions". 

  It is feared that Kemal Yazar is being subjected again to torture
while under interrogation.

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. 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 of Turkey.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and
airmail letters:

- expressing concern for the safety of Kemal Yazar who was detained
in Izmir on 1 January 1993;

- seeking assurances that he is not subjected to torture or any other
form of ill-treatment;

- expressing concern that he was previously tortured in 1990;

- noting the findings of the ECPT regarding the practice of torture in
Turkey as published in its recent report;   - requesting to be informed
of Kemal Yazar's current place of detention and of any charges
brought against him. 

APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior:

Mr Ismet Sezgin            [Salutation: Dear Minister]
Icisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Faxes:     + 90 4 418 1795

Prime Minister:

Mr Suleyman Demirel     [Salutation: Dear Prime Minister]
Office of the Prime Minister 
Basbakanlik                         
06573 Ankara, Turkey                     
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Telexes:   44061/44062/44063 bbmt tr
           42099 basb tr, 42875 bbk tr
Faxes:     + 90 4 417 04 76
           + 90 4 230 88 96

Istanbul Chief of Police:

Mr Necdet Menzir         [Salutation: Dear Sir]
Istanbul Emniyet Muduru
Istanbul, Turkey
Telegrams: Emniyet Muduru, Istanbul, Turkey
Telexes:   30811 IEHM TR, 30812 EMMH TR 
           26177 IEMT TR

PLEASE SEND COPIES TO one or more of the following: 

President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission:

Insan Haklari Arastirma Komisyonu Baskani
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 20 January 1993.

** End of text from cdp:mideast.action **