ANKARA - The criminal complaint of women journalists who were subjected to strip search in Sincan Women's Prison was concluded with non-prosecution on the claim that "There is no element of crime".

 

Five female journalists, who were arrested on October 29 and taken to the Sincan Women's Closed Prison as part of the Ankara-based investigation, were subjected to strip search at the prison entrance. The criminal complaint filed by women journalists against the practice resulted in non-prosecution.

 

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE: STRIP- SEARCH IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE REGULATION

 

The criminal complaint filed by women journalists with the Ankara West Chief Public Prosecutor's Office was responded to on December 14. The Prosecutor's Office defended that strip search is compatible with the regulation.

 

The prison institution also told that the female journalists were searched in a closed room without anybody seeing it and they had robes on and there were no video recording device in the room.

 

Based on the statement of the institution, the prosecutor's office said that "no crime/criminal element was encountered" regarding the strip search imposed on the journalists and decided not to prosecute. Journalists appealed to the Ankara West Criminal Judgeship of Peace against the decision not to prosecute.