Turkish Bar Association calls on int’l institutions to take action over police treatment in Turkey

ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News- 17.6.2013 – The Turkish Bar Association’s administrative body has called on the Council of Europe head to request an explanation from the Turkish government on the role of the security forces during the ongoing protests around the country, as a result of an emergency meeting June 16.

The association called on the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to take action about “statements made by the Turkish government that raise tensions and escalate violence and the bad treatment of people by the authorities and the security forces.”

The demand was based on Article 52 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which permits the Secretary General of the Council of Europe the right to request Turkey to “furnish an explanation of the manner in which its internal law ensures the effective implementation of any of the provisions of the Convention.”

The Bar Association also said it would be applying to a number of other international institutions. The Bar Association has also decided to launch judicial and administrative investigations into officials who had opened a preliminary inquiry into the health care teams helping injured protesters during the clashes. Meanwhile, administrative and judicial applications will be made by the association regarding public emergency medical teams who “neglected their duty” by not building emergency medical centers in the areas during the events, according to the statement. The Bar Association also vowed to continue an active dialogue with the bar heads and to take further steps, if deemed necessary.

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