Evidence not admitted: Footage of torture emerged

2025-02-27 09:11:07


	ISTANBUL - Footage of the torture inflicted on Musa Adsız, prisoner in Bolu Type F Prison, which the prosecutor and judge did not consider as "evidence", has emerged. The footage shows the guards spraying Adsız with water cannons, attacking him with shields and batons, kicking him, and throwing him into a padded room with reverse handcuffs.

	Musa Adsız, a prisoner in Bolu Type F Prison was tortured by "Prison Emergency Response Team" on January 13, 2021 and was put in solitary cell. His application to go to hospital for a report on torture was rejected by the prison administration. Due to the torture, Adsız filed a complaint to Bolu Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against those responsible. The prosecutor's office initiated an investigation upon the complaint and took Adsız's official statement via Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS) on August 6, 2021.

	 

	The prosecutor's office requested video footage from the prison administration. After examining the footage, the prosecutor's office claimed that there is "insufficient evidence" for the allegations of the applicant and issued a non-prosecution decision on 31 August 2021. Adsız appealed against the non-prosecution decision, stating that an effective investigation was not conducted. Bolu Criminal Judgeship of Peace, which examined the objection, rejected the application on 22 September 2022.

	 

	Following the rejection, Adsız applied to the Constitutional Court due to the lack of an effective investigation. The Constitutional Court, which is examining the application, has not yet finalised the application.

	 

	IMAGES OF TORTURE NOT ACCEPTED AS EVIDENCE

	 

	However, the footage of the torture, which the prosecutor's office and the judges examined but "did not accept as sufficient evidence", has emerged. In the footage reflected on the cameras in the padded rooms and corridors, it is seen that the torture Adsız was subjected to was recorded moment by moment. Firstly, in the corridor of Adsız's cell, a team of guards wearing helmets and shields called "Prison Emergency Response Team" appears in the footage. They are followed by the prison administration and a large number of guards. In the footage, it is seen that the team took a fire extinguisher hose and went directly to Adsız's cell and sprayed Adsız with water cannons. Afterwards, Adsız was dragged out of the cell.

	 

	Adsız was taken to the padded room where the torture continued. In the footage recorded by the sponge room camera, it is seen that Adsız, who is faced with torture, tears the tarpaulin adhered to the sponge in the sponge room, and then many guards enter the sponge room with shields and helmets. The footage shows the guards attacking Adsız with shields and batons, and the torture continues with Adsız being pressed against the wall with shields and batons. The footage continues with Adsız being beaten with shields and truncheons, laid on the ground, handcuffed behind his back and handcuffed to his feet.

	 

	THOSE RESPONSIBLE MUST BE JUDGED

	 

	Adsız's lawyer Tahir Demirci, a member of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), said, "Such incidents of torture in prisons are repeated due to the lack of effective investigations by administrations and prosecutors' offices. Effective mechanisms should be established against such systematised cases and all officials and those responsible for this crime should be prosecuted. Covering up torture is also a crime. As ÖHD, we will continue to follow the process."

	 

	MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu