The Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) issued a statement regarding the arrest of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Kocaeli Deputy Ömer Faruk Gergeriloğlu. OHD criticised the nature of Gergeriloğlu’s experiences in custody and his arrest and stated: “He has been treated as if he is an enemy”.
“We stand by Gergeriloğlu”, Mesopotamia News Agency reported the ÖHD as stating.
The ÖHD pointed out that Gergerlioğlu represented the voice of the minorities, the oppressed and all peoples who were dismissed within the public sphere. “Parliament does not function in Turkey as it should do, but Gergerlioğlu was bringing out these important topics to the parliamentary agenda”, the ÖHD stated.
“We remind the political power that announced the Human Rights Action Plan recently: According to the ECHR, ‘the state must ensure that detainments should respect human dignity. According to the Basic Principles in the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules), Recommendation No. 2 (2006) of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on Medical Ethical Principles and the European Prison Rules, all prisoners should be treated as equal and should have equal access to medical care”, it stated.
‘He has been treated as if he is the enemy’
Pointing out that the final punishment of Gergerlioğlu was a violation of the right to freedom of expression and a fair trial, ÖHD concluded that: “Gergerlioğlu’s being stripped of his parliamentary seat is a violation of the right to vote and to be elected. Gergerlioğlu’s detention in the corridors of the parliament and in his home with such degrading treatment is a violation of the right not to be tortured. Taking him to prison despite the doctor’s report is both a violation of the right to access health. He has been treated as if he is the enemy”.
A call to a unified struggle
ÖHD reiterated its support for Gergerlioğlu because he represented the voice of all the oppressed in Turkey: “We stand by Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu as we always did in our struggle for human rights. We call on the government to act in accordance with international conventions and the constitution. We call on everyone who fights for human rights, peace, and democracy to stand by Gergerlioğlu”.
