Criminal Complaint Against Police Battering Woman Lawyer

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Criminal complaint has been filed against the police breaking two vertebral bones of lawyer Zeycan Balcı from Progressive Legists Association (ÇHD).

The petition bearing signature of attorney Gökmen Yeşil includes criminal complaints also against İstanbul Chief Prosecution instructing the police to batter the lawyers making press statement, Riot Squad Superior and Undercover Cop Superior giving order of attack against the lawyers, and İstanbul Courthouse Security Superiors giving order to attack on the lawyers.

"Verbal and physical assault"

The petition issued by the ÇHD explained what happened on that day briefly as follows:

“Balcı and other attorneys were exposed to verbal and physical assault by law enforcers while they wanted to share their impressions with the public and press members in front of the courthouse.

“Police officers upon their superiors’ instruction tortured the 25 lawyers by directly attacking on and battering them. They also defamed and threatened them.

“Balcı has become immotile as a result of her two vertebral bones getting broken by the battering. Police noticing that Balcı couldn’t move stopped his assault for that moment.

“Even though there is ambulance inside the courthouse, no ambulance came, we had to call ambulance from outside.

“Balcı and other lawyers were exposed to oppression and assault for doing their job”.

Examination of footage demanded

Following demands listed in the petition:

Suspension of officers and superiors who are responsible for the incident.

Record of radio talks on the day of the incident

Testimony of police superiors

Footage of city surveillance cameras, camera of security personnel and İstanbul Courthouse’s security camera. (AS/TK)