Kurdish writer Meral Şimşek strip searched and assaulted by Greek police

Kurdish writer Meral Şimşek testified that she was detained by Greek police on 29 June whilst crossing from Turkey into Greece, and was subjected to a strip search alongside another woman named Dicle, who is from Syria.

Immediately after the Greek police stopped them, Şimşek states that she explained to the police that she was a PEN Kurdish member writer and she was facing charges in Turkey. Despite her attempts to explain her situation, she was subjected to physical violence and was assaulted by the Greek police for hours, according to Jin News.

Greek police also seized all their belongings as well, including their computers, mobile phones and a large sum of money they had with them. After 24 hours of the police terror of the strip search and continuous assault, Şimşek and Dicle were thrown into the river Evros.

Şimşek states that she had to swim through the river to cross Ipsala, a border checkpoint between Greece and Turkey located in the northwestern city of Edirne. She was immediately sent to Edirne Prison and she was once again strip searched in the prison.

Şimşek was released from prison after eight days, but the acclaimed Kurdish author, who has been the recipient of several national and international literary awards still faces charges of “terrorism” and her trial is ongoing in Turkey.