HDP claims expelled parliamentarian beaten by Turkish security forces
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) claimed on Saturday that a lawmaker, who has recently been stripped of his parliamentary membership, was beaten by Turkish security forces late Friday while being arrested. A medical report released to the public has noted bodily harm on the politician in detention.
“Our friend was beaten, forced into a vehicle and taken to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital. He got a report of assault there. There is a bruise on his arms, a rash on his neck. He is experiencing heart rhythm disruption and shortness of breath due to this stress. Despite the doctor's request to be transferred to a fully-fledged hospital, he was taken to Sincan Prison,” said a group of HDP lawmakers in a statement published by the party on Saturday.
They added that they have not received any news from their colleague, Omer Gergerlioglu, since last night when he was detained for the second time in recent weeks by security forces.
The outspoken politician was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail in 2018 on charges of making propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in connection with a tweet about how to peacefully end the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state. A court in February upheld the sentence and Gergerlioglu was stripped of his parliamentary immunity last month. He was detained briefly for the case on March 21.
According to a medical report issued by the hospital, published by his lawyer and party, the thumb on his left hand suffered from an abrasion, and both elbows and the back of his neck had turned red.
Salih, the son of the outspoken politician, said in a tweet Saturday afternoon that his father was being “kidnapped” from the hospital, referencing the lawmaker’s transfer to prison.
HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar said in a statement on Saturday that Gergerlioglu was detained last night with a “vengeful manner despite the doctor's report that he should be under [hospital] control.” They called this a “violation” of his rights.
There have been no statements from security forces on the alleged torture.
“Our friend was beaten, forced into a vehicle and taken to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Hospital. He got a report of assault there. There is a bruise on his arms, a rash on his neck. He is experiencing heart rhythm disruption and shortness of breath due to this stress. Despite the doctor's request to be transferred to a fully-fledged hospital, he was taken to Sincan Prison,” said a group of HDP lawmakers in a statement published by the party on Saturday.
They added that they have not received any news from their colleague, Omer Gergerlioglu, since last night when he was detained for the second time in recent weeks by security forces.
The outspoken politician was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail in 2018 on charges of making propaganda for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in connection with a tweet about how to peacefully end the decades-long conflict between the PKK and the Turkish state. A court in February upheld the sentence and Gergerlioglu was stripped of his parliamentary immunity last month. He was detained briefly for the case on March 21.
According to a medical report issued by the hospital, published by his lawyer and party, the thumb on his left hand suffered from an abrasion, and both elbows and the back of his neck had turned red.
Salih, the son of the outspoken politician, said in a tweet Saturday afternoon that his father was being “kidnapped” from the hospital, referencing the lawmaker’s transfer to prison.
HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar said in a statement on Saturday that Gergerlioglu was detained last night with a “vengeful manner despite the doctor's report that he should be under [hospital] control.” They called this a “violation” of his rights.
There have been no statements from security forces on the alleged torture.