Senem Eriş, a member of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, was subjected to repeated strip searches and forcibly dragged to a judicial ward after her arrest in İstanbul, Turkey, her lawyers reported.
Eriş and 20 others were detained by police on 18 May during a memorial event in Kadıköy, İstanbul. Charged with resisting police, Eriş was later taken to Bakırköy Women’s Prison, while her associates were held at Maltepe L 2 Prison. Lawyers visiting the detainees highlighted that from the moment of arrest to their arrival at the prison, all were kept in handcuffs behind their backs.
Eriş’s legal representatives, who visited her at Bakırköy Women’s Prison, revealed that she was forced to undergo strip searches both upon entering the prison and again when being moved to her cell.
Despite her objections and willingness to stay in solitary confinement if needed, Eriş was dragged to the judicial ward by fifteen guards in the presence of the prison director, her lawyers stated.
They also noted that guards approached Eriş’s cell door to question her religious beliefs, specifically asking, “Are you a Muslim?”
