Sezgin Tanrıkulu, MP for the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said that rights violations in Turkey increased significantly in May, and that the recent increase signalled even worse times to come.
According to the report prepared by Tanrıkulu, one person died in custody and four died in prison under suspicious circumstances within a single month.
Twenty-nine people, among them two children, told the press, lodged official complaints, or applied to human rights groups to report that they had been tortured, either whilst they were in custody or as they were being transferred to a detention centre.
Two hundred and eighty-seven were subjected to physical violence by the police during demonstrations for May Day or the anniversary of the Gezi Park Protests, or in Pride Marches.
There are a further 169 allegations of torture and ill-treatment, 53 of these in the prisons.
Six hundred and ninety-seven people were detained during rallies and other mass gatherings. The police intervened to disrupt or prevent 64 public press statements.
Twenty-three mayors and local council members were arrested and/or remanded in custody in violation of the freedom of association.
At least 32 women and six children were killed in May.
There were reports of at least 22 cases of child molestation, at least 11 of women being sexually harassed, and 65 of women being forced into sex work by men.
One hundred and sixty-seven workers were killed in the workplace during the month.
Tanrıkulu said:
“The latest data show the gravity of the situation in May in terms of human rights violations, and are an indication that the situation will get even worse under the continued administration of the Justice and Development Party [AKP]. We once again express our determination to fight these violations and to continue reporting on them.”
