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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has welcomed the upcoming trial of 13 Turkish gendarmes accused of torture and custodial death, calling it a rare opportunity to confront impunity for law enforcement abuse in Türkiye. The officers face charges stemming from the February 2023 arrest of brothers Ahmet and Sabri Güreşçi in Hatay province, following allegations of looting in the aftermath of devastating earthquakes.
According to the indictment issued on February 20, 2025, the brothers were subjected to severe physical abuse, including beatings and threats, while held in a storage room at the Altınözü Central District Gendarmerie Station. Ahmet Güreşçi later died from a brain hemorrhage, with forensic reports attributing the cause to blunt force trauma. His brother Sabri sustained a broken bone and other injuries.
The accused officers deny the charges, claiming the injuries were pre-existing and not inflicted during custody. The first hearing is scheduled for September 9, 2025, in Hatay’s First Assize Court.
Türkiye is a signatory to multiple international treaties prohibiting torture, including the UN Convention Against Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights. HRW and Amnesty International have urged Turkish authorities to uphold these obligations and ensure justice is served.
The case is seen as a litmus test for Türkiye’s commitment to human rights and legal accountability in cases of alleged abuse by security forces.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Tahara Kamara | The City Law School, GB
Court of Cassation in Ankara2 Picture by Metuboy
