Gezi prisoner Kahraman subjected to handcuff torture during hospital visit

Gezi prisoner Tayfun Kahraman was subjected to handcuff torture during a hospital visit for a check-up for MS, his wife announced. Silivri and Bakırköy chief public prosecutor's offices have launched a judicial and administrative investigation into the torture after it stirred a huge reaction.

Friday August 30 2024 01:30 pm

Duvar English

Gezi prisoner and urban planner Tayfun Kahraman on Aug. 29 was subjected to handcuff torture during his visit to a hospital, his wife Meriç Demir Kahraman announced on the same day.

Bugün, 29 Ağustos 2024’te, eşim ve kızımın babası Dr. Tayfun Kahraman MS hastalığı nedeniyle rutin nöroloji kontrolüne giderken, kendisine eşlik eden kolluk güçleri, sabahtan itibaren 6 buçuk saat boyunca, kelepçesini bileklerindeki kan akışını durduracak ve fiziki zarar verecek…
— Dr. Meriç Demir Kahraman (@de_meric) August 29, 2024

Kahraman said in a social media post that her husband was brought to a hospital for a routine neurology check-up for his MS disease.

“Officers accompanying him tighten his handcuffs for 6.5 hours from the morning onwards in such a way as to stop the blood flow to his wrists and cause physical harm?,” Kahraman said and asked, “Who gave the instruction?”

She further said, “When my spouse said that he was hurt, they tortured him by tightening his handcuffs even more out of spite, causing him to suffer and his wrists to be bruised.”

Kahraman also said the officers did not leave the doctor’s office during the examination, “although the law and legislation prohibit the presence of law enforcement officers during a doctor's examination and despite the doctor and Tayfun Kahraman reminding them of the law and asking them to leave?”

“Where do these people get the audacity to threaten my spouse, who asked for a report to be filed in the face of unfair treatment and persecution? You took away our freedom, you broke the law. But we won't let you touch our dignity!,” Kahraman further said, and tagged justice and interior ministers.

The incident stirred a huge reaction on social media.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel said, “As the CHP family, we consider this treatment an insult to ourselves, to all of us. We will take the necessary initiatives immediately. Those who made Tayfun spend this day, who is in prison for no crime, will be held accountable.”

Tayfun Kahraman'a yapılan muamele, hukuki de değildir, vicdani de değildir, ahlaki de değildir.

CHP ailesi olarak bu muameleyi kendimize, hepimize yapılmış sayıyoruz.

Derhal gerekli girişimlerde bulunacağız. Suçsuz yere ve hepimizin yerine cezaevinde yatan Tayfun’a bu günü… https://t.co/VTb8KqnIoW
— Özgür Özel (@eczozgurozel) August 29, 2024

Silivri and Bakırköy chief public prosecutor's offices have launched a judicial and administrative investigation into the torture after it stirred a huge reaction, online news outlet Gerçek Gündem reported on Aug. 30.

Academic and urban planner Tayfun Kahraman received an 18-year prison sentence on the alleged charge of "attempting to overthrow the government of the Republic of Turkey,” during the 2013 nationwide anti-government Gezi Park protests.