But most were acquitted or given light sentences. The government drew up detailed detention regulations last year and began special training in interrogation for law enforcement personnel. Torture, however, is not the only human rights violation widely cited by international and Turkish human rights groups. They say freedom of speech also is limited. In Turkey, it is illegal for the country's approximately 12 million Kurds to broadcast or teach in Kurdish.
Many groups also question the independence of Turkey's courts.
Most violators of the country's draconian anti-terrorism law are tried in State Security Courts. The three-judge tribunals must contain one military officer. The European Court of Human Rights said the courts were not independent, given the presence of the military judge. Turkey insists its courts are unbiased. Ocalan, who faces the death penalty, is to be tried before a security court on charges of treason.