Letter from arrested students: 'Opening a Turkish flag is being presented as evidence!'

Students who were arrested and sent to Metris Prison for participating in protests following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a message through CHP deputy Utku Çakırözer. 

Çakırözer and his accompanying delegation visited the detained students. The students conveyed their messages to the public through Çakırözer, describing the difficulties and mistreatment they experienced during their detention process. 

What the students conveyed to Çakırözer is as follows: 

'THERE ARE 10 OF US IN THE WARD, ONE IS SLEEPING ON THE FLOOR'

Yusuf Başyiğit: 

“I am 23 years old, I work in a warehouse in Esenler. I was detained at the Aksaray tram stop. I was subjected to mistreatment and battery by the police. We were mistreated at the Vatan Street Police Headquarters. They even imposed a ban on using the toilet. We are staying 10 people in the ward. One of us is sleeping on the floor. The CHP provided legal support.”

'THOSE WHO ATE THE FOOD VOMITED'

Azad İzci: 

“I am 23 years old. I am a student at Istanbul University, Department of Computer Engineering. I went to Saraçhane with my girlfriend. We left before the rally ended. I was detained at the tram stop. I was not involved in any violent incident. The reason for the arrest is non-compliance with Law No. 2911. However, democratic demonstration is our fundamental right. We exercised this right. We are not enemies of this country, but its children. The only thing they show as evidence is a photo of me with handcuffs on after I was detained. During the detention, we were treated as if they were taking revenge. We were both mistreated at the Vatan Police Headquarters and left hungry. What they brought as food smelled so bad that no one could eat it. Those who ate it vomited.”

'THEY WERE BEATING US WHEN THE PRESS WAS NOT AROUND'

Araz Denizcioğlu: 

“I am a 3rd-year student at Piri Reis University. I was not in Saraçhane. I was taken out of the tram by the police. I was punched in the face. They kicked me. I spent three hours with reverse handcuffs. I asked for it to be put in the doctor's report. They would stop when the press arrived and beat us when they left. I was not in Saraçhane. They put my photo among the police as the only evidence. There were 30 of us in detention. They only gave us 2 bottles of water. When we asked for food, they replied, ‘We aren't eating either.’”

'I ASKED THE POLICE FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE METRO AND WAS DETAINED'

Ömer Çelebi: 

“I am a graduate of the KTÜ Electrical Energy Department. I work in electrical jobs. I had gone after work. I left after listening to Özgür Özel. I don't know that area very well. When the rally ended, I asked the police for directions to the metro. I was detained 20 meters later. I was in detention for 4 days. The only photo shown as evidence is the picture taken the moment the police detained me. They also know we are innocent. The judge left the courtroom as if fleeing after announcing our arrest decision. We have no crime. Participating in a rally is not a crime. We will spend the holiday here, and then they will send us to Silivri. We don't have a problem, but we don't want to be left alone. We need to know that we are not alone.”

'WE WERE SUBJECTED TO A LOT OF PROFANITY'

Ufuk Yılmaz:

“I am both studying and working. I am in the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department at Arel University. We don't even understand why we were arrested. The only evidence they presented is my photo taken while they were putting me into the police vehicle. We were subjected to a lot of profanity from the police.”

'WE ARE ALL INNOCENT'

Taha Berkay Aygül: 

“I am a musician and sound engineer. I do sound recording in the studio. We watched the rally with my girlfriend. They detained me at the tram stop, they didn't take her. The 4-day detention period was bad. No food. Toilet is subject to permission. They made us spend 4 days there specifically for psychological pressure. They say, ‘The demonstration was banned, why did you go?’ There are 8 of us in the ward. There is a student, a barista, a cook. We are all innocent.”

'THEY TOOK THE PHOTOS AFTER DETENTION'

Emir Sayer: 

“I both work in a shopping mall and study in the aircraft technology department. I take care of my mother and sibling. But now, unfortunately, they are also in trouble because I cannot go to work. Random detentions were made. For example, they took someone because he was grinning. Many people could not even reach the area due to the crowd. That's why they took the photos as documents after they were detained. The lawyers sent by the party and the bar association are very attentive.”

'WE HAVE BEEN WEARING THE SAME CLOTHES FOR 6 DAYS'

Serhat Yağmur: 

“I am a worker in Esenyurt. A group was running from Saraçhane. The police were heading towards them. I warned the group not to go there. There was a police officer behind me, they grabbed me by the collar. I was slapped and cursed at. I spent 7-8 hours in the detention vehicle. I was handcuffed behind my back for 2 hours. The person in the documents they showed me is not me. They say you chanted slogans, I didn't. We have all been wearing the same clothes for 6 days.”

'WE COULD NOT BUY CLOTHES, THE CANTEEN IS CLOSED'

Yusuf Efe Aktaş: 

“I am studying Psychology at Kent University. I was working as a barista in a cafe. I had to quit my job to be able to come to Saraçhane every day. I was detained around 20:00 on Wednesday evening. I was punched 3-4 times during the detention. There was no food at the police station either. We haven't been able to get clothes, socks, etc. yet. The canteen is also closed.”

'WE WILL SEE BEAUTIFUL DAYS'

Burak Yıldız: 

“I am 18 years old. I work at a market. I left Saraçhane on Monday and returned home. I was detained by Counter-Terrorism teams at home in a dawn operation on Tuesday morning. I guess they found us from our photos. We are experiencing a completely unlawful detention. We will serve our time and get out. As long as those outside resist. We will see beautiful days, I believe in that.”

'WE WILL NOT GIVE UP'

Mahsuni Kahraman: 

“I am 19 years old. I am a cleaning worker at a housing complex. I came from Tokat, I am here until I go to the military. I was detained by the Counter-Terrorism police who came to the house in the morning. I thought there couldn't be this many police for us. They took me. Going to Saraçhane shouldn't be something unlawful. They left us hungry and thirsty at the Vatan Police Headquarters. We will defend our rights to the end, we will not give up.”  

'OPENING A TURKISH FLAG BECAME EVIDENCE'

Oğuzhan Özcan: 

“I am involved in trade. I think I am the only one among those here who is married and has children. When the police fired tear gas in the rally area in Saraçhane, I opened a Turkish flag with both hands. It was shown in newspapers and on television. That image is being presented as evidence against me. They threw me to the ground and 7-8 police officers beat me. They kicked my head. Images of these were also published. They kept me handcuffed behind my back for 3 hours. I lost feeling in my wrists at one point. A human being would not do this. Then we were subjected to psychological mistreatment in detention. We didn't throw stones, we didn't resist. They say you insulted the President. We say no. They show me that photo with the flag. I have a lawyer too. But the volunteer lawyers helped these children a lot. God bless them.”