Maltreated at Home, Harassed and Threatened at the Police

A female individual with the initials T.A. from Çorlu/Tekidağ (west of Istanbul) was harassed by a police officer when she complained at the police station about violence imposed to her by her husband. She reported the incident to the Dicle News Agency (DİHA). Subsequently, DİHA, the Özgür Gündem newspaper and her lawyer Eren Keskin were called "supporters of terrorism" by the police.

The woman was harassed by Chief G.B. of the Çorlu Public Police Station in March this year after she had complained about violence imposed to her by her husband. The issue made the headlines after she had conveyed the incident to DİHA.

It turned out that the police officer had previously harassed 33 women in similar situations. Yet, since he was "a relative of a former minister", he was able to avoid complaints. An investigation was launched by the Police General Directorate after the topic had come up in the press. As a result, G.B.'s police ID and his weapon were seized and he was laid-off.

Complainant T.A. gave her statement at the Çorlu Police Directorate. She recalled, "When I went to the police, they asked be to testify again because 'an inspector from Ankara had come', they said. When they took my statement, they told me 'Why did you go to the press with this incident, there was no need to do that, we would have settled the issue internally'".

T.A. replied that she would seek her right against the injustice she experienced on every level. She said that Çorlu District Chief of Police E.Ö. raised his voice thereupon and threatened her.

"Police officer might return because you served supporters of terrorism"

According to T.A., the chief of police answered, "Well, you are seeking your good right but you are looking for it at the wrong people. The person called Eren Keskin who allegedly is working as your lawyer and the Dicle News Agency that published this incident and also the Özgür Gündem newspaper published by them are [people and] publications that support terrorism".

T.A. added, "The chief said 'They are enemies of the state, we know what they are. They are trying to confuse you and draw you into their dirty machinations'. About laid-off G.B. he said, 'He might be suspended for one or two months. But he might come back to duty because you served the purpose of supporters of terrorism in this matter'".

Two DİHA reporters taken in custody in Istanbul

At the same time, DİHA reporter Çağdaş Kaplan and trainee Bilal Gündem were stopped by plainclothes police officers for and "identity check". Kaplan and Gündem were covering the opening of an election office of Mustafa Avcı in Bağcılar (Istanbul). Avcı is a candidate for the pro-Kurdish "Labour, Freedom and Democracy Block".

Kaplan and Gündem were taken into custody to check "if there was anrrest warrant released for them".

The two journalists were taken to the Bağcılar Central Police Station and released later on. (EÇ/EÖ/VK)