News Center- The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Law and Human Rights Commission has released a written statement to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, annually observed on June 26. Underlining that Turkey is a party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (The Torture Convention), the statement said, “States parties to the Convention have obligations for effectively combating all forms of torture, ill-treatment, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

 ‘Turkey does not fulfill its obligations’

Pointing out that Turkey does not fulfill its obligations to prevent torture and ensure the right to a fair trial, the statement said, “Torture is a crime against humanity. According to the 2022 report of the Ministry of Justice, the number of the court decisions of non-prosecution and of acquittal for investigation launched into torture and ill-treatment were much more than the court decisions of conviction. These figures show that the judiciary refrains from defining the inhuman treatments as torture. Protecting the public officers, who commit crimes in the name of the state encourages and strengthens them to commit such crimes again. Especially in trials in which victims are Kurds, the judicial system protect the perpetrators to normalize the torture. In addition, those who are subjected to torture and ill-treatment, face unfair investigations. Journalists, who reveal and report torture, face detention and arrest.”

 ‘Isolation is aggravating day after day’

Mentioning the isolation imposed on political prisoners, the statement said, “For 28 months, no news has been received from Abdullah Öcalan, who has been held in Imrali prison under an aggravated isolation. Between September 20-25, 2022, a delegation from the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) visited Imrali; however, no statement has been released about their visit yet. The isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan is aggravating day after day. Now, people are subjected to torture and ill-treatment on the streets.”