Police Explains Torture: Victim Fell

The Istanbul Police Department is denying lawyer Muammer Öz's claim that he was tortured by the police in Kadikoy, a quarter of Istanbul. The police claim that Öz "fell" and describe the police's use of force as the "gradual use of force in order to overpower resisting persons".

"Refusal to show ID"

According to an article in the "Radikal" newspaper, the Police Department claims that Öz insulted the police, swore, and fell while running away.

"The person said 'The police do not have such an authority,' and refused to show their ID. Our officers used gradual force in order to overpower the person. During the struggle, two officers on duty received several injuries," said the police.

Öz went to the Istanbul University Hospital in order to prove the violence he had been subjected to. He has filed a criminal complaint against police officers Bülent Okumus and Ugur Yildirim.

Istanbul Bar Association Denounces Police Powers

The Istanbul Bar Association has announced that it will monitor the investigation and prosecution of the responsible police officers.

It also stated that the police have to provide security on the basis of law and human rights and that it was unacceptable for the police to exploit legal loopholes to use excessive force.

The Association pointed to the Law on Police Powers and Duties which has increased the powers of the police force and has called for changes in the law.

Sitting in the park...

The event in question began when Öz was sitting in a park in Kadikoy with his older brother, the brother's wife and some cousins on 29 July. Two uniformed police came up to the brother and one of them said to him, "You look familiar," and asked for his ID.

The "Radikal" newspaper has published Öz's account of what followed next:

"At that point my telephone rang. The officer shouted, "How dare you talk on the phone next to me!" I said I was a lawyer and showed my ID. They started attacking me. My relatives were trying to save me. One of the officers took a yellow club out of the car and flung it at me. They sprayed pepper spray in my face three times. My whole face was burning. They hit me countless times.

Then the squads from around came. They held my brother and my other relatives. They took me to the police car. They took my relatives to another police car.

They handcuffed me and hit me continuously. 'We have been police officers for 15 years. Nothing will happen to us. We have f***ed many lawyers like you and we will f*** you, too,' they said. We went to the police station at the Kadikoy pier. They continued to beat me at the entrance.

The prosecutor came and I told him everything. When I was taken to the hospital for a health check, the police came into the doctor's room with me. Although my nose was broken, the report says that it is not. I was released on the order of the prosecutor." (TK/AG)