URGENT ACTION

DETAINEES NO LONGER IN POLICE CUSTODY
All detainees held at the police’s anti-terrorism branch in Urfa province, south eastern Turkey, following clashes between security forces and the armed PKK on 18 May, have been either released or sent to prison custody. The 13 people that were remanded in prison are no longer considered to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. 

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

A group of at least 47 people including men, women and three children, were detained during police raids following clashes between security forces and the armed PKK in the early hours of 18 May in Urfa province, south eastern Turkey. As of 24 May, 22 individuals, including the three children, had been released, with bail conditions applied on the adults. According to their lawyers’ testimony and photographs seen by Amnesty International, some of the adult detainees had been subjected to torture or other ill-treatment by police officers at the Bozova Yaylak Gendarmerie command post, Urfa province. Some had been prevented from being seen by doctors without the presence of police officers. 

As of 29 May, no one remains in police custody, with 13 of the detainees remanded in prison custody and others released with bail conditions. Those remanded in prison custody are not believed to be at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

The Urfa Bar Association submitted a criminal complaint to the Urfa prosecutor for torture and other ill-treatment based on detailed interviews with some of these individuals. 

Amnesty will continue to call for prompt, independent and impartial investigations into these allegations. 

THIS IS THE FIRST AND FINAL UPDATE FOR UA 74/19

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/EUR44/0440/2019/en/