omct: tur060398/arrest and torture/Turkey

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TUR 060398

The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT
intervention in the following situation in Turkey.

Brief description of the situation:
The CETIM (Centre Europe-Tiers Monde), a member of the network, has
expressed its grave concern about the detention of Mr Kemal Yildiz,
lawyer at the bar association of Istanbul, member of the Association
of Juristes Contemporains (CHD) and of the Human Rights Association of
Turkey (IHD).

According to the information received, Mr Kemal Yildiz was arrested on
21 February 1998 in Yozgat, while he was leaving the city after having
visited his client in the local prison. He has been interrogated by
the police although, according to the Turkish legislation, lawyers can
only be heard by a prosecutor.

He is allegedly suspected of being a liaison officer of an illegal
organisation. He may be charged with article 169 of the penal code
which provides for a sentence of 3 to 5 years imprisonment.

According to another source of information, Mr Kemal Yildiz is
currently being detained in Yozgat E-type prison.

Action requested:
Please write to the Turkish authorities urging them to :

i.	guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr Kemal
Yildiz;

ii.	order the immediate release of Mr Kemal Yildiz in the absence of
valid charges or, if such charges exist, bring him before a competent
and impartial tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all
times;

iii.	ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with national laws and
international standards.

Addresses:
President S=FCleyman Demirel, Office of the President, Cumhur
Baskanligi, 06100 Ankara. Fax : + 90 312 427 13 30 Telegram :
President Demirel, Ankara, Turkey. 

Prime Minister M. Yilmaz, office of the Prime Minister, Basbakanlik,
06573 Ankara, Turkey. Fax : + 90 312 417 0476

Mrs. Ismail Cem, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Disisleri Bakanligi 06100 Ankara Turkey. Fax : + 90 312 419
15 47

Mr. Olatan Sungurlu, Minister of Justice, Adalet Bakanligi, 06659,
Ankara, Turkey. Fax: + 90 312 417 39 17

Mr. Basegioglu, Ministre de l'Int=E9rieur, Fax : + 90 312 419 16 64

Geneva, 6 March 1998

Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
The World Organisation Against Torture
Case Postale 119
37-39 Rue de Vermont
CH1211 Geneva 20 CIC
Switzerland
Fax 4122 733 1051
Ph  4122 733 3140
OMCT is: l'Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture
         The World Organisation Against Torture

OMCT at IPROLINK.CH
http://www.omct.org/

OMCT - The World Organisation Against Torture is the Worlds largest 
network of human rights organisations fighting against all forms of 
torture, cruel inhuman or degrading treatment, forced disappearances 
summary execution or other more subtle forms of violent repression.
 
OMCT has consultative status with the UN, The ILO and the 
African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights.

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