Inmates claim torture in Turkish prison


Date posted: August 21, 2019

Allegations of torture have been voiced by tens of thousands of mistreated inmates held in the newly opened Maras Turkoglu Type L Prison, Gazete Duvar reported on Friday.

Ilhan Ongor, Adana Branch chairman of the Turkish Human Rights Association (IHD), announced the torture claims after he interviewed inmates whose relatives asked for the Association’s help.

More than 30 jailors reportedly raided the ward and attacked the inmates who rejected to be counted by the prison administration.

“The prison manager insisted that the inmates be counted on foot, including those who were extremely sick. They were beaten and dragged by the prison officers. They have serious injuries,” said Ongor, revealing details of the torture.

Later, the tortured inmates were allegedly separated from each other by being transferred to different wards. They could not have a meal or bath as they were not allowed to take their belongings with them.

The administration also directed 19 inmates to the discipline committee, accusing them of beating the wardens.

“We will be following the case to ensure that the perpetrators of the unlawful act are found out and that the investigation into the incident be performed effectively,” said Ongor.

The Association called on the ministry of justice to be sensitive to the matter.

A parliamentary question was directed at Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul when Meral Danis Bestas, a lawmaker from the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), asked whether an investigation had been launched into the torture allegations raised by the inmates’ relatives as well as the officers who were allegedly involved in the acts of torture.

Six prisoners who were transferred to the Turkoglu Prison late in July, called for help through their families, saying their lives were in danger. The prisoners claimed that they were subjected to insults, psychological stress, and physical torture during their transfer and at the new prison.

Torture in Turkey – the norm rather than the exception

In Turkey, cases of torture and ill-treatment increased significantly after the coup attempt in 2016, according to Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher at Amnesty International, a London-based non-governmental organization focusing on human rights.

There have been deaths in prisons that are suspected to have been caused by acts of torture and maltreatment.

However, hundreds of inquiries to the Turkish parliament, submitted by lawmakers, including Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu from HDP and Sezgin Tanrikulu from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), have remained unanswered.

John Dalhuisen, Europe Director for Amnesty International, said that reports of abuse, including beatings and rape while in detention, in Turkey, are extremely alarming.

A report titled Mass Torture and Ill-Treatment in Turkey, which was published in June 2017 by the Sweden-based Stockholm Center for Freedom (SCF), declared that the torture, abuse, and ill-treatment of detainees and prisoners in Turkey has become the norm rather than the exception.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW), an independent human rights organization that investigates and reports on the abuse happening all around the world, said people are at risk of torture in police custody, especially if they have been accused of terrorism or of being linked to the 2016 attempted coup.

Founded in 1986, the IHD is an independent association to promote human rights and freedom in Turkey.

Source: ipanews , August 10, 2019


Related News

Turkey’s post-coup brain drain

Bekir Cinar was working as an assistant professor at the political sciences department of Suleyman Sah University when it fell victim to the crackdown. He says that many academics with different views were working at the university. Cinar is currently continuing his scientific work at a British university. He considers this a major loss for Turkey, not least because it takes 20 to 30 years to become an academic.

Parents seeking urgent Release of School Principle Fatih Keskin

“As parents, as we are concerned about the way the principal of this school is treated, and we expect information on the further development of the situation regarding the treatment of the principal,” parents stated, adding that they request to be informed on the reasons for the arrest as soon as possible.

This is too much! [About the Lies and Slanders directed to Gulen movement]

Prime minister said during the fourth ordinary general meeting of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) in March of 2012:
“You are not backed by dark forces. You are not backed by the mafia, gangs, junta regimes. You are not backed by the bankers in Galata. You did not take advantage of the sources of the Treasury or public banks. You did not act according to an ideology. You did not surrender to the pressures and roadblocks. You only trusted in the people. Because you only relied on people, you are great and make this country great.”

Education minister calls on African ambassadors to have Gülen-inspired schools closed

Turkish Education Minister İsmet Yılmaz has called on ambassadors of African countries to have their governments close schools affiliated with the faith-based Gülen movement.

Egypt Today’s interview with Fethullah Gülen, home sickness and fabricated coup

It seems that there is no one left to say “enough” to Erdogan, most of the people who tried to stop him before are now in jail, and if the opposition can’t find a way to defend the civilian and constitutional rights then it’s completely useless. Some of them used to ignore the regime’s injustice just because they weren’t targeted by its actions, but they didn’t know that it will get to them one day as well.

Malaysia: Turkish wives say husbands not terrorists, want them released

Speaking to reporters, Ayse said it was “completely unacceptable” that the Malaysian government would accuse her husband of having links to the IS. “Even if they accuse him for other things it would still be acceptable but they’ve accused him of an unreasonable and terrible thing like being involved with murderers,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Latest News

Fethullah Gulen – man of education, peace and dialogue – passes away

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

In Case You Missed It

Ankara-supplied clerics spy on Turkish-Australian communities

Tortured detainee would choose 50 years in prison over return to custody in Turkey

Fethullah Gulen is hopeful about future

Gov’t’s hate campaign against Kimse Yok Mu draws condemnations

KCK suspect Ersanlı says doesn’t believe Hizmet behind coup, terror trials

Fethullah Gulen Criticizes the Da Vinci Code

Pak-Turk delegation visit Balochistan Chief Minister

Copyright 2025 Hizmet News