Even the much heralded reduction of periods for the detention of those accused of certain crimes has failed to deter the use of torture. The fact is that this change on paper is commonly circumvented by the authorities. As one U.S. official in Turkey observed in discussion with Commission staff, a person will be held in incommunicado detention for days, then the prisoner's name will be postdated for purposes of official police logs giving the appearance that the person has been held within the period provided for under the revised law. Turkish authorities also continue to persecute those who attempt to assist the victims of torture, as in the case of Dr. Tufan K se. Despite revisions in the Anti-Terror Law, its provisions continue to be broadly used against writers, journalists, publishers, politicians, musicians, and students.
Government agents continue to harass human rights monitors.
Many human rights abuses have been committed against Kurds who assert their Kurdish identity. The Kurdish Cultural and Research Foundation offices in Istanbul were closed by police in June to prevent the teaching of Kurdish language classes. The Government of Turkey has similarly pursued an aggressive campaign of harassment of non-governmental organizations, including the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and the Human Rights Association. An Association forum on capital punishment was banned in early May as was a peace conference sponsored by international and Turkish NGOs. Human Rights Association branch offices in Diyarbakir, Malatya, Izmir, Konya, and Urfa have been raided and closed.