Fifteen-year-old
Cuneyt Ertus was arrested by police after Newroz (New Year)
demonstrations on 22 March in the south-eastern (Northern Kurdistan) city of
Hakkari. He was apparently ill-treated during and after his arrest and
is currently being held on remand at
Bitlis Prison. He has been charged with offences including resisting
arrest and making propaganda for a terrorist organization.
Amnesty International is calling for Cuneyt Ertus to be given an urgent
independent medical examination and appropriate treatment.
This call follows official medical reports which
have apparently not found his arm to be seriously injured. Concerns for his
health are heightened by reports that after he was taken into police custody,
Cuneyt Ertus was allegedly punched, slapped and verbally abused by police
officers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Newroz is the
traditional festival of New Year in the Kurdish calendar which celebrates the
arrival of spring at the March 21.
Violent protests occurred in the south-eastern
cities of
Hakkari, Siirt, Van, and Yuksekova after local authorities refused to
permit traditional Newroz celebrations. There were widespread
allegations of the use of excessive force and ill-treatment by police officers
in demonstrations that left three people dead. A large number of people,
including some police officers were also reportedly injured during the
demonstrations. In other cities where permission was granted, demonstrations
took place without incident.
Under international law it is the duty of the
Turkish authorities to ensure that the policing of demonstrations is carried
out in a manner that complies with the absolute prohibition of torture and
other ill-treatment and international standards on the use of force. Article 3
of the
United Nations (UN) Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (UN
Code of Conduct) states that: "Law enforcement officials may use force only
when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of
their duty".
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive
as quickly as possible, in English or your own language:
- urging the Turkish authorities to ensure that
Cuneyt Ertus has access to an independent medical examination and can access
appropriate medical treatment;
- calling for a prompt, impartial and effective
investigation into claims that Cuneyt Ertus was ill-treated by police officers
during and after his arrest and for those responsible to be brought to
justice;
- acknowledging that governments have the right
and responsibility to prosecute those suspected of a recognizably criminal
offence but reminding the authorities of their obligation to uphold the
absolute prohibition of the use of torture and other ill-treatment under the
Convention against Torture and their obligations to under the Convention of
the Rights of the Child which apply to Cuneyt Ertus who is a minor under
national and international law;
- calling for demonstrations to be policed
within the confines of international law and as such for force only to be used
where strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of
their duty.
