Delegation violently detained by Turkish police deported back to their countries

The 15 members of a youth delegation from Germany, France and Italy who were arrested in Turkey have returned to their home countries after being deported. The delegation was in Ankara to attend the fourth congress of the Green Left Party (YSP), now called the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (HEDEP). The activists, who had visible injuries resulting from violence by Turkish security forces, released a video message explaining the developments.

On 14 October 2023, the European delegation was arrested by Turkish police in Ankara during a press statement against the attacks on northern and eastern Syria. After three days in detention, they were deported to their home countries. The German delegation was questioned by German police on arrival at Hamburg airport. The one-hour interrogation was described by the young people as a repetition of the interrogations on the Turkish side and led to re-traumatisation. After the interrogation, they were given a report which contained only limited information about the course of the interrogation.

Physical and psychological violence by the Turkish police

A member of the delegation reported that after their arrest they had no lawyer, no interpreter and no contact with the outside world in the police station, adding: “We had no right to speak to a judge or have a trial, which meant that for three days we were in complete uncertainty about what was going to happen to us. We also did not know who was aware of our whereabouts.”

There are also reports of abuse by Turkish security forces: “It was not only psychological violence that we experienced there, in the form of harassment, psychological pressure and psychological violence in many forms, but also physical violence. We were beaten, choked, kicked, male friends were beaten naked, and I think this shows once again how little rule of law there is in Turkey.” The delegation said that the violent crackdown by Turkish security forces on individuals who openly speak out against Turkey’s internationally illegal attacks on northern and eastern Syria and northern Iraq cannot be separated from Turkey’s military operations. According to a member of the delegation, the aim of the Turkish state is to silence all voices for democracy and human dignity.

Repression of opponents of the war

The statement of the deported delegation members continued: “We were all there because we are interested in the Kurdish question and wanted to see at first hand what this means for the people on the ground. Now we have certainly seen up close the arbitrariness to which the people there are subjected and how any opposition to the war is simply suppressed. When we then see how the German state cooperates with the Turkish state and that only yesterday Annalena Baerbock met with Hakan Fidan, who is now foreign minister, but who for many years was the head of the Turkish secret service and was responsible for enormous torture, searches and arrests, we ask: Where is the solidarity? Where is the responsibility of the German state?”

The video message ended with an appeal to all people in German society who value democratic values and freedom of the press, to all journalists, to all members of the Bundestag to take a clear stand and oppose Turkey’s war against the Kurdish people and also against the Turkish government.