Amnesty International has called upon Turkish authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of police violence during nationwide protests in March, raising concerns about potential acts of torture, according to reports. Amnesty’s appeal comes amidst accusations of excessive force used by law enforcement, including tear gas, pepper spray, water cannons, and kinetic projectiles targeted at peaceful demonstrators.
Witnesses have reported significant patterns of violence, with protestors describing severe physical abuse. Allegations include being struck with batons, kicked, and subjected to verbal abuse, including threats of sexual violence and death. One student protestor recalled being dragged while on her knees, fearing for her life. Another demonstrator reported police threatening him, stating his corpse would be retrieved from a riot police bus.
The protests, which occurred from March 19 to 26, were sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and 91 others linked to the opposition Peoples’ Republican Party (CHP) and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. İmamoğlu’s arrest followed his designation as the CHP’s presidential candidate, and his detention, alongside 53 others, prompted nationwide rallies despite public assembly and travel restrictions.
By the end of March, Turkish authorities had detained at least 1,879 people, with over 300 placed in pretrial detention. Legal actions against journalists and lawyers have commenced under Türkiye’s Law on Meetings and Demonstrations, which prohibits unauthorized gatherings.
Amnesty emphasized that the police actions contravened both national and international human rights standards. Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture, Türkiye is obliged to ensure the right to free expression and peaceful assembly, and to prevent torture and other forms of cruel or degrading treatment. Amnesty has criticized the police for failing to provide adequate opportunities for protesters to disperse voluntarily and for imposing blanket bans on assemblies, which are deemed disproportionate under international law.
In response to these developments, Amnesty International has urged the Turkish government to facilitate independent investigations into all alleged abuses, ensure accountability through fair trials, and provide redress for the victims of the police’s actions. More details can be found in Amnesty’s official statement.