The
Observatory has been informed by the Human Rights Association (İnsan
Hakları Derneği – İHD), a member organisation of FIDH and OMCT,
about the arbitrary detention of Ms Şüheda
Ronahi Çiftçi,
a human rights lawyer and board member of the Antalya branch of İHD,
where she has served in the legal and prison commissions. She is also
a member of the Association of Progressive Lawyers (ÇHD).
On
February 20, 2024, Şüheda Ronahi Çiftçi was detained in the
Manavgat district of Antalya, in an operation conducted in the
framework of an investigation by the Antalya Chief Public
Prosecutor's Office, on allegations of “being a member of an
illegal armed organisation” (Article 314/2 of the Turkish Criminal
Code). She was placed in custody and her home and office were
searched. She was formally arrested on February 23, 2024, by the
authorised Criminal Peace Court upon the request of Antalya Chief
Public Prosecutor's Office, and sent to Antalya High Security Prison.
On
March 20, 2024, Ms Çiftçi was transferred to the Izmir Şakran High
Security Prison, where she was still arbitrarily held in pretrial
detention at
the time of publication of this Urgent Appeal. This transfer about
500 kilometers away from her place of residence, her family and her
lawyer appears as a punitive measure and could result in the
violation of her right to a fair trial.
Upon
her transfer to Antalya High Security Prison on February 23, 2024,
police forces attempted to subject Şüheda Ronahi Çiftçi to a
strip search. Ms Çiftçi refused to be subjected to such a search,
which was not executed.
The
charge against Şüheda Ronahi Çiftçi stems from her visit to
Antalya High Security Prison on November 8, 2023, in her capacity as
human rights lawyer for İHD Antalya. This visit was carried out
following the request of the Antalya High Security Prison’s
detainees, with the intention of documenting the human rights
violations to which they were subjected. A note allegedly containing
organisational content, such as instructions for prisoners and
information about hunger strike protests currently being carried out
in many prisons in Turkey, was reportedly found in the pocket of one
prisoner and in the room of another prisoner during the search
carried out in the prison after this visit. The prosecution claims
that Ms Çiftçi brought this note to the prison.
Due
to a confidentiality order placed on the investigation file,
reviewing the case file remains impossible. An alleged "camera
footage" cited as grounds for the arrest decision has not been
presented to Ms Çiftçi’s attorneys. However, since March 11,
2024, information about the investigation file, has been leaked on
X (ex-Twitter)
and by pro-government
media outlets,
in violation of Article 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on the
confidentiality of investigations. Pro-government media also targeted
the co-Chair of IHD, Hüseyin
Küçükbalaban,
due to his tweet
in which he states that IHD will pursue legal action in relation to
the attempted strip search.
The
Observatory recalls
that this arrest is part of a long-standing pattern of repression of
İHD and ÇHD members, and more generally of repression of human
rights defenders in Turkey.
The
Observatory strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Şüheda
Ronahi Çiftçi, which seems to be only aimed at punishing her for
her legitimate work as a human rights lawyer, and urges the
authorities in Turkey to immediately release her and put an end to
all acts of harassment against her.
The
Observatory further condemns the lack of access to the evidence in
Şüheda Ronahi Çiftçi’s case and urges the authorities in Turkey
to grant her lawyers full access, as soon as possible, to all the
case documents.
|