A serious evidence of fraud happened after the closure of the polls in Dyarbakir: as bags of ballots were transferred to the local court for verification, unidentified individuals stole several of them. Witnesses that protested were told to disperse. However, while passing the police station, some of them got attacked by policemen using batons and chains. As a consequence, about 17 people got injured and some were arrested and not released until morning.
In the meantime, activists of the pro-Kurd Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) gathered around the court house to denounce the fraud. They got beaten with clubs and chains. Nine journalists covering the clash were also assaulted.
Eventually, the FIDH is also concerned about the arrest, on March 30, of Mr Süleyman Anik, the newly elected Mayor of Dargecit (district of Mardin). Mr. Anik, member of the DEHAP and of the SHP (Social Democrat Coalition) was arrested after an important search intervention into his house was carried out by about 200 gendarmes and 100 police officers. He has now been transferred to Midyat Prison, and will be presented before the State Security Court, on the charge of links with an illegal organisation.
The FIDH calls upon the Turkish authorities:
– To identify and prosecute the authors of the abuses against the pacific demonstrators of Diyarbakir;
– To ensure that the right of Mr. Anik to a fair trial is protected, pursuant to Turkey’s international obligations;
– To abolish the State Security Court in Turkey as they raise serious concerns with regards to the recognition of the freedom of expression in Turkey;
– To guarantee the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly enshrined in article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 as well as article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, signed by Turkey on 15 August 2000;
– To generally conform with the EU Copenhagen political criterias.