ELCI AND OTHERS v. TURKEY JUDGMENT
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Diyarbakır provincial gendarmerie command. In general he was made aware
by his interrogators that the PKK confessor, Abdülhakim Güven, had
alleged that he was in league with PKK prisoners, had acted as a courier for
them, and had smuggled unlawful materials into prisons, e.g. a flick knife.
The applicant denied the allegations.
65. The applicant's brother had been detained in the same prison as
Mr Güven. Mr Güven also attended all interviews with clients. The
applicant was confronted, whilst blindfolded, with Mr Güven. He signed
certain statements, the contents of which he did not know, because of the
psychological pressure brought to bear on him. He was released on
10 December 1993. (For further details see the summary of his oral
evidence, §§ 235-239 below.)
12. The case of Arif Altinkalem
66. On 16 November 1993 the applicant was taken into custody by
gendarmes after leaving the Diyarbakır State Security Court around
4.30 p.m., together with Meral Daniş Beştaş, Mesut Beştaş and Baki
Demirhan. He was transported to the Diyarbakır provincial gendarmerie
command. When he was interrogated, he was questioned about the cases he
had defended before the State Security Court. He was accused of assisting
PKK detainees by acting as a courier and not charging fees for his work. He
was told that the PKK confessor, Abdülhakim Güven, had made certain
allegations about him and other local lawyers. The applicant denied these
allegations. He signed various statements, the contents of which he did not
know, under physical and psychological duress. He was released on
10 December 1993. (For further details see the summary of his oral
evidence, §§ 240-248 below.)
13. The case of Gazanfer Abbasioğlu
67. On 30 November 1993 the applicant was arrested at another lawyer's
office. After the official search report noted that nothing incriminating had
been found, he was taken into custody by gendarmes. He was transported to
the Diyarbakır provincial gendarmerie command. He was accused of being
a member of and assisting the PKK, and of constantly defending PKK
cases. He denied the allegations. The applicant signed certain documents
under duress in order to avoid being tortured. He did not know their
contents at that point as he had been blindfolded. He was released on 10
December 1993. (For further details see the summary of his oral evidence,
§§ 249-255 below.)
14. The case of Fuat Hayri Demır
68. On 3 December 1993 the applicant was arrested by gendarmes from
the Diyarbakır provincial gendarmerie command as he was leaving the State