Hayri Demir
The Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission has received 44,925 complaints over the past 13 years, with only 27 of these leading to criminal complaints. Violations in prisons and the right to a fair trial are the most frequent complaints.
The commission, established in 1990 within the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) to address human rights violations and develop protective policies, revealed alarming figures indicating widespread rights abuses. Since June 2011, complaints have surged, particularly concerning prison conditions and fair trial rights.
Prison violations top the list
From June 2011 to June 2023, there were 16,317 complaints related to prisons, highlighting severe issues within the correctional system. This data excludes the period after June 2023, indicating the ongoing nature of the problem.
Violations of the right to a fair trial followed with 6,406 complaints. There were 1,554 complaints related to the prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, and 92 complaints regarding press and expression freedom.
Surge in complaints post-2015
A significant rise in complaints occurred after 2015. Between 2011 and 2015, 8,524 complaints were filed, but from November 2015 to May 2018, this number jumped to 16,230. From July 2018 to June 2023, there were 15,383 complaints, and since June 2023, 4,036 complaints have been recorded.
Criticism of the Commission's effectiveness
Despite the large volume of complaints, the commission's effectiveness has been questioned. Out of more than 44,000 complaints, only 27 have resulted in criminal complaints, raising concerns about the commission's performance.
The commission has the authority to conduct on-site investigations, particularly concerning prisons. However, only 178 out of 987 requests for on-site inspections were carried out in the last 13 years, with 137 inspections focusing on prisons by a sub-committee.
No research on commission's effectiveness
Responding to a parliamentary question from Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, a member of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Bekir Bozdağ admitted that no research has been conducted on the commission's effectiveness across any legislative term. He stated, “The commission performs its duties by writing reports on Turkey’s human rights practices and suggesting improvements. These reports are sent to relevant institutions and made public.”
Gergerlioğlu criticizes the commission
Gergerlioğlu, speaking to MLSA, lamented the commission's transformation into an entity that covers up human rights violations rather than addressing them. Highlighting the growing number of complaints, he expressed disappointment: “It is saddening that the commission has not conducted a single investigation to verify the allegations out of thousands of complaints. Despite thousands of complaints, no findings have been confirmed, and the commission's authority to file criminal complaints has not been used in recent terms.”
He added, “The commission was established to monitor and protect human rights, but it has failed to act on thousands of complaints, with no findings of human rights violations among tens of thousands of allegations. This indicates a deliberate neglect of duty.”
Lack of prison inspections
Gergerlioğlu also pointed out the insufficient number of prison inspections despite the high volume of complaints. He noted, “The commission’s inadequate response to prison-related complaints, given the large number of submissions, is particularly concerning.”
In summary, Gergerlioğlu asserted, “The Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission has turned into a body that obscures human rights issues. The commission, dominated by AK Party and MHP members, has proven ineffective in addressing human rights violations. This is a troubling situation not only for complainants but for all citizens of the country, given the commission’s resources and mandate.”
This criticism underscores a systemic issue within the commission, highlighting its failure to adequately address and investigate human rights violations in Turkey.
