Zonguldak is one of the leading torture centers in Turkey. Following tweets are just part of the victim’s story. Rest of the story wasn’t included for privacy purposes.
A special torture task force consists of 6 police officers from Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Unit was established in Zonguldak upon request of Zonguldak Director of Public Prosecutions Husnu Hakan YAGIZ. Former Zonguldak Chief of Police Osman AK formed and his successor A Metin Turanli supported the task force in question. Torture team was favored various legal and illegal privileges. They tortured detainees to sign pre-written statements.
The only expectation of Hakan YAGIZ was keeping detainees on their feet when they were on the court. Torture team was also allowed to threaten doctors who give the state of health for detainees.
R.U. who was one of the hundreds of victims was detained by being kicked in front of eyes of his family. He was kept alone in a small cold cell for days. He was just allowed eat one stale pastry in a day. As a result of this, he lost 8 kilograms (app. 17 pounds). He twisted in pain for days and left alone with cold, hunger and agonies. On the sixth day of detention, his statement was taken. According to R.U., he explained all his background and activities. But he was accused of not clarifying the case since he didn’t name any other individual. The police officer who uses ‘BATTAL’ code name, told him that there was no such a statement and he had to give names. Otherwise, he would be taken to the basement. And BATTAL did what he told.
R.U. was beaten harshly by three officers use code names BATTAL, EMIN and HASAN day by day. R.U. refused to sign a pre-prepared statement, after that his eyes were tied in the basement, he was beaten systematically and threatened with raping his wife in front of his eyes.
He was exposed to swear words and insults, left naked, beaten with brass knuckles and strangled with a police baton. His sexual organ was wrung by hand, hit by a police baton and shocked with electricity. Officers tried to shove police baton into his arse and shoved his head into a bucket filled with water. As a result, R.U. fainted. Then he was sobered and forced to sign a pre-prepared statement. He couldn’t stand maltreatment and signed it. Later, he was asked to write the statement by hand but he couldn’t.
Doctors didn’t look at him while writing a state of health. His cuts and bruises were ignored. R.U. reported that other detainees were treated in the same manner and he lodged a complaint.
According to witness and victim statements, police officers listed below committed torture crimes in Zonguldak.
Naci Kılıç – Police Officer- nicknamed Battal
Necdet Aycı – Police Officer- nicknamed Emin
Bekir Yılmaz – Police Officer- nicknamed Hasan
Officials in charge:
Hüsnü Hakan Yağız – Chief Prosecutor
Ahmet Metin Turanlı – Chief of Zonguldak Provincial Police Department
Osman Ak – Ex-Chief of Zonguldal Provincial Police Department
Doctors – at state hospital
