Diyarbakır Bar Association, Diyarbakır Medical Chamber, HAK Initiative Representation, Humans' Rights Association (İHD) Branch, Humans' Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV) held a press release in Bar Legal Aid Service building regarding the watchmen being authorized to use weapons, search people, detain people and ask for ID cards.  

 

AUTHORIZATION TO USE WEAPON

 

Speaking on behalf of the institutions, Diyarbakır Bar Association Chairperson Cihan Aydın, reminded that the law proposal was adopted after being discussed at the Internal Affairs Committee and submitted to the parliament despite the growing reaction of the public. 

 

Aydın, explaining that the bill was introduced as a reinforcement to the police and the gendermerie, said: "The watchmen have been given the authority to search people, detain people and ask for ID cards and more importantly, the right to use weapons."

 

 

WHAT IS THE POINT OF CREATING A POLICE STATE?

 

Emphasizing that the guards are equipped with all the powers of the law enforcement through the proposal of the law, Aydın said, “What is the purpose of creating an alternative law enforcement regime equipped with almost the same powers when there is a general law enforcement? This question was not satisfactorily explained in either the general justification of the law or the justification of the article."

 

'DYING BY THE HAND OF THE STATE'

 

Aydın, stating that these arrangements offered as a security service to the public become a door open to torture, said: "In addition to those who were stopped due to reasonable suspicion and those who are exposed to the physical violence of the police during the GBT screening, the members of this parallel law enforcement regime are also given the authority to use arms; explicitly invites new extrajudicial executions and deaths as a result of excessive and unnecessary use of force. Remembering that Medeni Yıldırım, Kemal Kurkut, Recep Hantaş, Özgür Arda, Ferit İli, Ethem Sarısülük and dozens more died as a result of the police using weapons unnecessarily, the fact that the guards are given the right to use weapons will mean more threats to the right to life of more people. We would like to announce to the public that it will lead to death with the "bullet of the state"."

 

'INDICATES APATHY TOWARDS FREEDOMS' 

 

Stating, "At a time when police violence is so widespread, we have no doubt that these forces, which were launched without any training, and equipped with the authority to use weapons, will produce more deaths, victimizations and violations of rights", Aydın continued as follows: "While these personnel, who constantly work with the citizen, should be subjected to longer training processes both in terms of human rights and socially and psychologically, to appoint them after an exam and leaving the training after their appointment indicates government's apathy towards freedoms, especially the right to life."

 

Aydın concluded the statement and said: "Therefore, we call for the complete withdrawal of this draft law, which will lead to more deaths, eliminate and restrict fundamental rights and freedoms."