News Center- Kurdish PEN member Meral Şimşek announced that she was subjected to torture and strip search by Greek police officers in custody. She was taken into custody by Greek police while going to Greece from Turkey on June 29. Meral Şimşek stated that she was battered for hours even if she told the police officers that she is accused of “making propaganda” and “being a member of a (terrorist) organization” in Turkey and that she is a member of PEN. Meral Şimşek also reported that Greek police officers harassed her and a Syrian woman named Dicle with whom she was detained.

Police officers threw them into Maritsa River

Police officers confiscated two women’s computers, mobile phones, and money. After being held in custody for 24 hours, the two women were thrown into Maritsa River by police officers. Meral Şimşek managed to swim until İpsala district of Edirne Province in northwestern Turkey but she was arrested by Turkish police for “violating travel abroad ban” on her. Meral Şimşek was released after being held in prison for eight days.