The prevention of torture in international and regional instruments : implementation in Turkey

Abstract

Despite Turkey's adherence to various human rights treaties, including regional and international conventions prohibiting torture, abuses of this non-derogable and non-limited human rights remain systematic and widespread throughout the country respect for human rights is still bleak in Turkey and everybody arrested is at risk of torture. Gendameric and public officials continue to unlawfully arrest and torture detainees and prisoners. Since the establishment of the Turkish Republic as a secular and democratic, based on Western standards, the state has continually faced identity questions and, hence, turmoil with its citizens and minority groups, especially Kurds.