Turkey: Police brutality against peaceful demonstrators
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by the disproportionate use of force by police officers against individuals
who had gathered peacefully in Istanbul on 6 March to celebrate Women's Day early. Police used truncheons and pepper gas
to disperse some 500 people who had gathered in the Sarachane and Beyazit quarters of Istanbul, which resulted in 63
individuals being detained and at least three people being reportedly hospitalized.
The police had reportedly intervened on the basis that the demonstration had not been authorized. While images of the
ill-treatment received wide press coverage internationally because of the European Union Ministerial Troika that began
in Ankara today, such scenes are regularly broadcast in Turkey in which police appear to particularly target
demonstrators from opposition groups for brutal treatment.
The government has made numerous changes to the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations in an attempt to address concerns
regarding the policing of demonstrations. However, allegations of ill-treatment during demonstrations have very rarely
resulted in prosecution of law enforcement officials, and sanctions have often been limited. On the other hand, those
complaining of ill-treatment are themselves frequently prosecuted for resistance to public officials or for violating
Law No. 2911 on Meetings and Demonstrations.
Amnesty International welcomes news that the government has opened an investigation into the incident but calls on the
authorities to publish the full findings of the investigation, to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations
are brought to justice and to take further urgent steps to ensure that police officers conform to international
standards on the right to freedom of assembly and on the use of force.
View all documents on Turkey at http://amnesty-news.c.topica.com/maadgm9abeSKVbb0hPub/