Source: http://echr.ketse.com/doc/52390.99-en-20050201/view/
Timestamp: 2017-12-13 11:21:41
Document Index: 2400699

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application no. 52390', '§ 40', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 1', '§ 3']

Application no. 52390/99
by Mehmet Mehdi ŞEKER
The applicant, Mr Mehmet Mehdi Şeker, is a Turkish national who was born in 1957 and lives in Bismil. He was represented originally before the Court by Mr P. Leach, succeeded by Ms A. Stock, Mr M. Muller, Mr T. Otty and Mr K. Yıldız, lawyers attached to the Kurdish Human Rights Project (“KHRP”) in London and by Mr N. Yıldırım and Mr Ş. Ülek, lawyers practising in Diyarbakır and Şanlıurfa respectively.
The application concerns the disappearance of the applicant's son, Mehmet Şah Şeker, who was 23 years old at the time of the events giving rise to the application. The facts of the case, as submitted by the parties, may be summarised as follows.
1. The facts submitted by the applicant
On 9 October 1999 at around 6 p.m. the applicant's son, Mehmet Şah Şeker, left his workplace in Bismil to return home. The journey on foot usually took about ten minutes. However, he never arrived home. The route taken by Mehmet Şah Şeker went through a central part of town. It would take him past the police headquarters, the Council building, the Governor's residence and other Government buildings.
On 11 October 1999 the applicant filed a petition with the public prosecutor's office in Bismil. He requested that the authorities carry out an investigation into the whereabouts of his son.
On 12 October 1999 the applicant was informed by two people that they had seen four persons forcibly taking someone to a white car on or about 9 October 1999. He believed that the latter was his son.
On 20 October 1999 the applicant lodged further petitions with the public prosecutor's office at the Diyarbakır State Security Court and the public prosecutor's office in Diyarbakır. He requested to be informed of his son's whereabouts. He further requested the Diyarbakır public prosecutor to refer his petition to the regional gendarme command.
On the same day, the applicant filed petitions with the governor's office of the state of emergency region and the regional gendarme command. In his petitions he stated that his son had been missing for twelve days and requested information.
On 24 and 27 October 1999 the applicant filed petitions about his son's disappearance with the Human Rights Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. In his petitions the applicant stated that his son had been involved in a fight with a plain-clothed policeman one month prior to his disappearance and that he had since been followed and threatened by the police. He further maintained that he had applied to various authorities but received no response to his petitions. The applicant requested the Human Rights Commission to conduct an investigation into the circumstances of his son's disappearance.
On 2 November 1999 the head of the Organisation for Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (Mazlum-Der), Mr Yılmaz Ensaroğlu, petitioned the Ministry of the Interior informing the latter about the disappearance of Mehmet Şah Şeker and requesting that an investigation be conducted.
On 5 November 1999 the applicant lodged a further petition with the Ministry of the Interior and requested to be provided with information.
On 21 December 1999 the chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Ms Sema Pişkinsüt, sent a letter to Mr Ensaroğlu stating that the Diyarbakır Security Directorate had prepared a form for disappeared persons as regards Mehmet Şah Şeker and sent copies of it to the Bismil District Security Directorate.
In 2000 public prosecutor at the Diyarbakır State Security Court contacted the applicant and requested him to give a blood sample in order to compare his DNA with that of corpses found in houses of Hizbullah members. The applicant did so on 21 February 2000.
On 14 October 2004 the applicant filed a petition with the public prosecutor's office in Diyarbakır and requested information as regards the outcome of the DNA analysis.
On the same day, the Diyarbakır public prosecutor notified him that it could not be established whether or not one of the corpses was his son as there was insufficient DNA in the bones of the corpses and the existing DNA had deteriorated.
2. The facts submitted by the Government
On 11 October 1999, after having received the applicant's petition, the Bismil public prosecutor requested the Bismil Security Directorate to examine the allegations. On the same day, two police officers took statements from the applicant, the employer and two colleagues of Mehmet Şah Şeker and his cousin. In his statement, the applicant maintained that he did not suspect anyone regarding his son's disappearance. Mehmet Şah Şeker's employer, colleagues and cousin had no information concerning his whereabouts.
On 15 October 1999 the Bismil Security Directorate reported to the Bismil public prosecutor that the investigation into the circumstances of Mehmet Şah Şeker's disappearance was continuing, but that he could not be found.
On 20 October 1999 the Diyarbakır public prosecutor initiated an investigation following the receipt of the applicant's petition. The public prosecutor took statements from the applicant concerning the disappearance of his son. In his statement, the applicant maintained that he was told by some persons that his son had been taken into custody by police officers and later transferred to the Diyarbakır Security Directorate. He further stated that his son might have been abducted by persons who had presented themselves as police officers. He finally requested that the custody records of the security directorate be examined. On the same day, the Diyarbakır public prosecutor sent a letter to the security directorate in Diyarbakır requesting an investigation.
On 10 November 1999 the Diyarbakır Security Directorate reported to the Diyarbakır public prosecutor that the applicant's son had not been taken into custody.
On 17 November 1999 the Bismil public prosecutor requested the Bismil Security Directorate to inform all security directorates in the country of Mehmet Şah Şeker's disappearance.
On 22 November 1999 the Bismil Security Director sent a letter to the Bismil public prosecutor stating that the Diyarbakır Security Directorate had been informed of Mehmet Şah Şeker's disappearance and that a form concerning disappeared persons had been prepared. He further stated that the search for the applicant's son was continuing.
On 24 December 1999 the Bismil public prosecutor took statements from the applicant, who maintained that his son was still missing and that he did not know his whereabouts.
On 7 July 2000 the Diyarbakır public prosecutor declined jurisdiction ratione loci, holding that the events in question occurred in Bismil. He therefore sent the case-file to the Bismil public prosecutor's office.
Until 2002 no serious attempts were made by the security forces to obtain evidence in respect of the alleged abduction. In particular, the authorities took no steps on their own initiative to identify possible witnesses. Nor did they obtain statements from the persons who were in police custody at the time of the disappearance of the applicant's son.
On 15 February 2002 the International Law and Foreign Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Justice sent a letter to the public prosecutor's office in Bismil, requesting the latter to conduct an effective investigation into the disappearance of Mehmet Şah Şeker. The Ministry particularly requested the public prosecutor to obtain statements from the persons who were in police custody at the time of the disappearance of the applicant's son and the persons who had allegedly witnessed his abduction. The Ministry further stated that the Hizbullah, an illegal organisation, was responsible for several abductions and disappearances in the region and requested that the investigation be carried out with particular regard to Hizbullah activities. It finally requested that the security forces be invited to give information concerning any developments in the investigation.
On 27 February 2002 the Diyarbakır public prosecutor requested the Anti-Terror Branch of the Diyarbakır Security Directorate to provide the custody records of 9, 10 and 11 October 1999. On the same day, he took statements from the applicant who maintained his previous declarations. The applicant said that he did not want to give the names of the persons who had informed him about his son's abduction.
On 8 March 2002 the deputy director of the Anti-Terror Branch of the Diyarbakır Security Directorate sent the copy of the above-mentioned custody records to the Diyarbakır public prosecutor, and informed the latter that a search warrant had been issued for Mehmet Şah Şeker as he was suspected of involvement in Hizbullah activities.
Between March and November 2003 the Diyarbakır public prosecutor took statements from fifteen persons who had been in custody in the Diyarbakır Security Directorate between 9 and 11 October 1999 and who all confirmed that Mehmet Şah Şeker had not been in custody in the Diyarbakır Security Directorate on the days in question.
30 October 2003 the Bismil public prosecutor took further statements from the applicant who maintained his previous declarations and requested that his son be found.
Between 1999 and 2004 there were communications between the International Law and Foreign Relations Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, the Bismil and Diyarbakır public prosecutors and the security forces. The Ministry of Justice requested information from the public prosecutors as to the outcome of the investigation. The public prosecutors in turn requested the security directorates and gendarmerie commands to provide information as to the outcome of the search for Mehmet Şah Şeker. In reply to these requests, the police and gendarmerie notified the public prosecutors that the missing person could not be found and that the investigation was continuing. The Ministry of Justice was also informed by the public prosecutors of the responses given by the security forces.
A description of the relevant domestic law at the material time can be found in Tekdağ v. Turkey (no. 27699/95, § 40-51, 15 May 2004).
The applicant alleged that the circumstances surrounding his son's abduction and disappearance gave rise to a violation of Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. With reference to these provisions, he contended that the authorities failed to carry out an adequate and effective investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Mehmet Şah Şeker. He also alleged that the suffering that he has endured on account of his son's disappearance constituted a violation of Article 3 of the Convention.
The applicant alleged under Article 5 of the Convention that his son had been arbitrarily deprived of his liberty since his detention was not recorded and there was no prompt or effective investigation into the applicant's allegations.
The applicant maintained under Article 6 of the Convention that his son was denied access to a lawyer in police custody.
He contended that the denial of the right of access of Mehmet Şah Şeker to members of his family in police custody violated his right to respect for family life under Article 8 of the Convention.
The applicant alleged that he was denied an effective domestic remedy in respect of his complaints under Articles 2 and 3, in violation of Article 13 of the Convention.
The applicant finally complained under Article 14 of the Convention, in conjunction with the above-mentioned Articles, that his son had been discriminated against on account of his ethnic origin.
CONTENTIOUS PROCEDURE BEFORE THE COURT
In September 2002 the applicant's former representative P. Leach withdrew from the case.
On 4 September 2002, 1 April and 20 September 2004 the Court requested the Kurdish Human Rights Project to submit a new power of attorney. The Court's letter of 20 September 2004 was also sent to the applicant for information and the deadline for the submission of the new power of attorney was set for 1 October 2004.
On 14 October 2004 the applicant wrote to the Court directly, claiming that he had only received the Court's letter on 8 October 2004 and stating that he wished to pursue his application.
On 28 October 2004 the KHRP submitted a new power of attorney.
By a letter dated 23 December 2004, the Government requested that the application be struck out of the list of cases in accordance with Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention since the applicant's failure to comply with the deadline set by the Court's letter of 20 September 2004 demonstrated that he did not wish to pursue his application.
The Government requested that the application be struck out of the list of cases in accordance with Article 37 § 1 (a) of the Convention, arguing that the applicant's failure to comply with the deadline set by the Court's letter of 20 September 2004 demonstrated that he did not wish to pursue his application.
The Court observes that the applicant had signed a power of attorney and appointed three lawyers, namely Mr P. Leach, Mr N. Yıldırım and Mr Ş. Ülek, at the time of lodging of his application with the Court. Although the Court's correspondence was merely sent to the applicant for information, the applicant made direct contact with the Court shortly after receiving the Court's letter of 20 September 2004. In his response, he stated that he wished to pursue his application and that he would continue to be represented by the lawyers attached to the KHRP. In such circumstances, the Court finds that, thereby, the applicant clearly showed his intention to pursue the application. Accordingly, it dismisses the Government's request to strike the application out of the Court's list of cases.
The Government further argued that the applicant failed to exhaust the domestic remedies available to him within the meaning of Article 35 § 1 of the Convention. They maintained that the applicant had failed to provide to the investigating authorities the names of the persons who had allegedly witnessed his son's abduction. The Government further contended that the applicant did not inform the public prosecutors of the alleged threats that his son had been receiving. They argue that the applicant made these allegations solely before the Court and that he had abused the right of petition. The Government pointed out that the investigation into the disappearance of the applicant's son was continuing.
The applicant contended in reply that he had filed numerous petitions with the authorities and requested that the circumstances surrounding the abduction of his son be investigated, but he had received no response from the authorities. He was unable to provide the names of the persons who witnessed his son's abduction as these persons had requested him not to divulge their identity since they feared for their safety. He submitted that he had not abused his right of petition as he could not be expected to await the outcome of the investigation in circumstances where his son was ostensibly abducted by the police. The applicant contended that, in any event, he was under no obligation to exhaust domestic remedies since, in the circumstances of the case, any such remedies were illusory, ineffective and inadequate.
In so far as the Government argue that the applicant did not exhaust the domestic remedies available to him, the Court considers that the issue concerning exhaustion of domestic remedies requires a determination to be made of the effectiveness of the investigation. As such, it is inextricably linked to the substance of the applicant's complaints. It follows that this issue should be joined to the merits of the case.
a) Article 2 of the Convention
The Government denied the factual basis of the applicant's allegation under Article 2 of the Convention. They submitted that Mehmet Şah Şeker was not taken into custody by the police as alleged. They maintained that it would be irrational to associate every disappearance with the security forces and that such allegations should be supported by cogent evidence.
The applicant maintained that the disappearance of his son in circumstances where he was told by eye-witnesses that his son had been taken away by plain-clothed police officers gave rise to a breach of Article 2 of the Convention. He further submitted that the authorities failed to carry out an effective and adequate investigation into the abduction of Mehmet Şah Şeker.
b) Article 3 of the Convention
The Government did not respond to the allegations under Article 3 of the Convention. However, the applicant maintained his complaint. He submitted that the abduction and disappearance of his son by the security forces and the suffering that he has endured on account of his son's disappearance constituted a violation of Article 3 of the Convention. He further contended that the authorities failed to carry out an adequate and effective investigation into the abduction and disappearance of Mehmet Şah Şeker.
c) Article 5 of the Convention
The Government submitted that Mehmet Şah Şeker was not taken into custody by the police. They maintained that, following the examination of the custody records of the Diyarbakır and Bismil Security Directorates, it was clear that the applicant's son had not been arrested by the security forces. The Government noted that in the course of the investigation it was understood that the applicant's son had not committed any offence prior to his disappearance and therefore there was no reason to arrest him.
The applicant averred that his son was arbitrarily deprived of his liberty as his detention was not recorded. He further submitted that there was no prompt or effective investigation of his allegations.
d) Articles 6 and 8 of the Convention
The Government did not respond to the allegations under these provisions. However, the applicant contended that his son was denied the right to see a lawyer or his family during his time in police custody.
e) Article 13 of the Convention
The Government contended that the domestic authorities conducted an effective investigation into the disappearance of the applicant's son.
The applicant maintained that, although he took every reasonable step in order to ensure that his son's disappearance was properly and thoroughly investigated by the State, the investigation conducted by the authorities was insufficient to meet the requirements of Article 13 of the Convention.
f) Article 14 of the Convention
The Government did not address the applicant's allegations under Article 14 of the Convention. However, the applicant maintained that the treatment which his son suffered at the hands of the authorities was motivated by his ethnic origin.
The Court considers, in the light of the parties' submissions, that the applicant's complaints raise serious issues of fact and law under the Convention, the determination of which requires an examination of the merits. The Court concludes therefore that the application is not manifestly ill-founded within the meaning of Article 35 § 3 of the Convention. No other ground for declaring it inadmissible has been established.
Dismisses the Government's request to strike the application out of its list of cases;
Decides to join to the merits the Government's objection concerning exhaustion of domestic remedies;
ŞEKER v. TURKEY DECISION