PUBLIC
AI Index: EUR 44/044/2001
20 July 2001

Further information on UA 173/01 (EUR 44/043/2001, 17 July 2001)

Risk of torture/ unlawful detention/ fear for safety

TURKEY

Tekin Ülsen (m), aged 24

On 19 July Tekin Ülsen was brought before a judge, who ordered that he be remanded to prison to await trial. However, it appears that the police have not complied with the judicial order, but have rearrested him and returned him to police detention, where he is thought to be at risk of further torture or ill-treatment.

Tekin Ülsen is alleged to have been in illegal detention at the Anti-Terror Branch of Police Headquarters in Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey since he "disappeared" on the evening of 23 June. The local police and prosecutors repeatedly denied that he was in detention until 13 July, when his sister was allowed to see him. She had difficulty recognizing him and reported that he was unable to stand. She believed this to be the result of torture and ill-treatment.

Tekin Ülsen's family saw him at the entrance to the court. Judging from his physical appearance, they believe that he had been tortured and beaten. They reported that his eyebrows had been torn out, and that it seemed as though he was not really conscious.

By law, the Turkish police can detain people without bringing them before a judge for a maximum of 10 days. However, Tekin Ülsen was not brought before a judge until 19 July - 29 days after his alleged arrest.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English or German or in your own language:
- expressing concern that Tekin Ülsen has allegedly been tortured or ill-treated, and that he continues to be held in custody at the Anti-Terror Branch of the Police Headquarters in Diyarbakir, despite a judicial order to remand him to prison;
- urging the authorities to guarantee his safety, and to ensure that he is not further tortured or ill-treated;
- calling for him to be transferred to prison immediately;
- calling for a full and impartial investigation into allegations that he has illegally detained, tortured and ill-treated, with the results made public and those responsible brought to justice;
- urging the authorities to ensure that people are not illegally detained in Diyarbakir, and that anyone detained for more than 10 days is transferred to prison or released;
- calling for measures to be taken to prevent the torture of detainees held at Diyarbakir Police Headquarters, pointing out that Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Turkey is a state party, states that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

APPEALS TO:

Minister of Justice
Prof Hikmet Sami Türk
Ministry of Justice
Adalet Bakanligi
06659 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Justice Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Faxes: + 90 312 417 3954 / 418 5667
Salutation: Dear Minister

Minister of the Interior
Mr Rüstü Kazim Yücelen
Ministry of Interior
Içisleri Bakanligi
06644 Ankara, Turkey
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Ankara, Turkey
Fax: + 90 312 418 17 95
Salutation: Dear Minister

Diyarbakir Police Headquarters
Mr Atilla Çinar
Diyarbakir Emniyet Müdürü
Diyarbakir Emniyet Müdürlügü
Diyarbakir, Turkey
Telegrams: Emniyet Müdürü, Diyarbakir, Turkey
Salutation: Dear Chief of Police

COPIES TO:

State Minister with responsibility for Human Rights
E. Safter Gaydali,
Office of the Prime Minister,
Basbakanlik,
06573 Ankara, Turkey
Fax: + 90 312 417 04 76
Salutation: Dear Minister

and to diplomatic representatives of Turkey accredited to your country.

TURKIETS AMBASSAD
BOX 24105
104 51 STOCKHOLM
FAX 08- 663 55 14
E-post:turkbe@turkemb.se

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 31 August 2001.

Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat,
1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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