Rabia Çetin
In the case concerning the police intervention during the 700th-week gathering of the Saturday Mothers/People, the relatives of the disappeared described the torture they experienced at the hands of the police: "People were dragged on the ground, their heads were crushed, and they were detained."
The 700th-week event, which was intended to be held at Galatasaray Square, was met with police intervention, resulting in the detention of 46 individuals. They were charged with "opposing the Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations by participating in unlawful assemblies and marches without dispersing voluntarily despite warnings," and two others with "resisting to prevent the performance of duty." The 12th hearing of the case took place at the 27th High Criminal Court due to the small size of the courtroom of the 21st Criminal Court of First Instance.
Observers from the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), Human Rights Association (İHD), Amnesty International, Truth Justice Memory Center, Istanbul Bar Association, and the U.S. Consulate attended the hearing alongside the Saturday Mothers/People and their lawyers.
During the hearing, Sebla Arcan, a member of the Human Rights Association's Commission Against Disappearances in Custody, began her testimony:
“As a human rights defender, I have been supporting the families of the disappeared in their quest for truth and justice for 29 years on behalf of the Human Rights Association. I met the families of the disappeared through their applications to the Human Rights Association. I witnessed the indescribable pain and injustice they were subjected to. Knowing and seeing all this, I couldn't just carry on with my life as if nothing had happened. I made supporting the legitimate demands of the relatives of the disappeared an integral part of my identity as a human rights defender.”
"Police beat people, dragged them on the ground, and hit their heads against the floor"
Arcan described the events of the 700th week, saying, “When we realized that the police were going to intervene, we tried to move the elderly and those with chronic illnesses away from the area. But before we could, the police attacked, starting with Emine Ocak who can barely stand even with a cane. The police were brutal. They did not just detain people; they beat them, dragged them on the ground, and hit their heads against the floor. They broke people's glasses and hearing aids.”
"I spent two days in intensive care after the detention"
Arcan continued her statement: “The violence I experienced was documented by the Forensic Medicine Institute and the Turkish Human Rights Foundation. I had high blood pressure while in the police vehicle. Due to complications from high blood pressure, I spent two days in intensive care after my detention. My rights were violated, I was subjected to torture, and I was put in life-threatening danger during the detention. Those who ordered and executed the intervention and detention should be the ones on trial, not me.”
Ramazan Bayram, who also testified, said he was detained and subjected to torture and various forms of abuse, and demanded his acquittal.
Leman Yurtsever, a member of IHD, stated in her testimony, “I am a human rights defender. On that day, I went to the area early. Soon after, a large police force arrived and people were dragged on the ground and their heads were crushed. I was detained with my hands cuffed behind my back. I demand my acquittal.”
Ezgi Çevik also demanded her acquittal, stating, “I exercised my democratic right. I was detained with my finger broken. I demand my acquittal.”
“I am being tried here for asking where my father is”
Jiyan Tosun, a lawyer and one of the children of Fehmi Tosun, who was detained and disappeared, said, “I am here because I asked what happened to my father. It's hard for us to be the ones on trial here. Hanife lost her son, and Hanım lost her husband. Hasan says he is 'lucky' because he found the body of his brother, Rıdvan Karakoç. I am very angry, upset, and disappointed that we are the ones being tried. Those who tortured us, who made people disappear in custody, who banned our actions, are part of a deep structure. And you all are responsible for this as well. My mother and many others were detained on their way to the cemetery. The governorship did not issue a ban; it was the deep structure that caused the detention of those who lost hundreds of people. I do not accept being tried for opposing Law No. 2911. I will not answer any questions regarding this.”
Following the testimonies, the lawyers presented their statements. The court adjourned the case to September 13, 2024, at 10:00 AM to hear the statements of those who could not attend due to excuses.
