Disinformation Combat Center denied it, reports confirmed assault: Eren Üner filed a complaint

In a statement on his social media account, Eren Üner reported that on March 24, he shared posts from police officers who had publicly shared footage of individuals detained during the Saraçhane protests, accompanied by insults and threats.

Following these posts, Üner was detained at his home the same day by teams from the Istanbul Police Department's Cyber Crimes Investigation Branch. Üner was subjected to various forms of torture during his detention.

Üner and his lawyers filed a criminal complaint against the police officers on the grounds that they committed the crimes of torture through assault, insults, and threats, as well as misconduct in public office.  filed a criminal complaint against the police officers.

POLICE OFFICERS FILED A COMPLAINT

According to a report by Haber.Sol, an investigation was launched after some of the police officers whose posts Üner had quoted filed a complaint against him.

Within the scope of the investigation launched against him, Üner was detained at his home on March 24 by police officers from the Istanbul Cyber Crimes Investigation Branch and taken to the Istanbul Police Department's Cyber Crimes Investigation Branch located on Vatan Street.

Üner stated that after passing through the entrance of the Cyber Crimes Investigation Branch, he was taken to a workroom on the left, where he was beaten for hours and tortured by 6 police officers. Üner, who was threatened with his own death and that of his family, also noted that he was subjected to insults, being called a "traitor" and a "son of a b----."

Üner reported that while he was being assaulted in the interrogation room, two police officers from the riot police branch, whom he had previously posted about, were brought into the room, and the moments of his assault were shown to these officers with the remark, 'Your revenge is being taken.'

It was stated that these events were confirmed upon examination of the investigation files and subsequent criminal case documents regarding Üner, and that the riot police officers were brought to the Cyber Crimes Branch to provide statements while Üner was in custody.

LAWYER DID NOT INTERVENE DURING THE ASSAULT

While Üner was being assaulted, lawyer İsmail Gümüş, affiliated with the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2 and requested via the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK), arrived at the branch office. Despite witnessing the assault on Üner, Gümüş did not intervene. The lawyer merely addressed the police officers, saying, 'Don't beat him that much, beat him a little less.'

Following the assault, Üner sustained injuries to both ears, the nape of his neck, both arms, and various parts of his body.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION CONDUCTED, REPORT CLAIMED NO ASSAULT

However, Üner stated that while being taken to the courthouse for a medical report at Bayrampaşa State Hospital, he was threatened before the physician's examination and told not to speak in front of the doctor. Police officers accompanied Üner into the examination room, and a report was prepared stating that Üner had not been subjected to any assault.

Üner, who was ordered to be arrested by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace on March 25, was delivered to Metris Prison by police officers from the Cyber Crimes Branch.

GENDARMERIE OBSERVED SIGNS OF ASSAULT

When Üner was about to be handed over to the prison, he informed the prison gendarmerie personnel that he had been assaulted. Upon observing that Üner had been assaulted—evidenced by his ears being bruised purple and visible marks on his face and neck—the gendarmerie personnel on duty at the prison informed the police that Üner could not be admitted to the prison in that condition and that he must be taken to obtain a medical report documenting the signs of assault.

It was noted that after the police called their supervisors at the cyber crimes unit, one of the supervisors who had allegedly assaulted Üner argued with the prison gendarmerie officer over the phone.

Unable to hand Üner over to the prison, the police officers took him to Haseki Hospital. After undergoing a CT scan and necessary examinations, Üner was seen by a doctor. During the final medical examination, the police officers on duty did not enter the examination room with Üner, and as a result, all signs of assault and force were documented in the hospital report.

One day after Üner was admitted to the prison, he showed the signs of assault and force to the prison doctor during an examination, and these marks were also documented in the report issued by the prison doctor on March 26.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AGAINST ÜNER FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF SECURITY

Following Üner's post, the General Directorate of Security issued a statement today, denying the events and announcing that they would file a criminal complaint against Üner.

The statement made from the General Directorate of Security's X account included the following:

"The allegations made on 20.04.2025 by E.Ü., with the username '@erennuner' on the X platform, claiming that he was subjected to ill-treatment during his detention, are untrue, baseless, and consist of slanders aimed at discrediting our organization. It has been observed that the aforementioned person was detained on 24.03.2025 for the crime of 'Unlawfully Obtaining and Disseminating Personal Data,' was arrested and sent to prison on 25.03.2025 following the procedures, and was released on 09.04.2025."

Upon examination of the (3) medical reports obtained during the detention period, it was determined that no signs of assault or force were found, and furthermore, in his statement taken in the presence of a lawyer, he did not mention any issues of assault, force, or ill-treatment, nor did he file a complaint. Indeed, it was also understood that from the date of his release on 09.04.2025 until the date he made the allegations on 20.04.2025, he had not made any application to any judicial authority/law enforcement unit regarding having been subjected to violence or ill-treatment.

On the other hand, the searching of detained persons is carried out in accordance with the 'Regulation on Apprehension, Detention, and Taking Statements' and the 'Regulation on Judicial and Preventive Search,' and our Organization carries out all these tasks and procedures with great sensitivity and meticulousness within the framework drawn by the aforementioned regulations. A criminal complaint will be filed with the judicial authorities regarding the aforementioned person."

DMM DENIED THE ASSAULT INCIDENT

The Center for Combating Disinformation (DMM), directed by Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, also stated that the claims of Üner and his lawyers were not true.

In the statement made, it was said, "The person in question was detained on March 24, 2025, for the crime of Unlawfully Obtaining and Disseminating Personal Data, and was arrested and sent to prison on March 25, 2025, following the procedures. He was released on April 9, 2025."

In the statement, it was alleged that Üner did not make any application to any judicial authority/law enforcement unit regarding having been subjected to violence or ill-treatment from the date of his release on April 9, 2025, until the date he made the allegations on April 20, 2025.  Furthermore, it was claimed that no signs of assault or force were found in the examination of the 3 medical reports obtained during the detention period.

The statement, which noted that it was determined that Üner did not mention any assault, coercion, or mistreatment, nor did he file a complaint during his statement taken in the presence of his lawyer, continued as follows:

"On the other hand, the searching of detained individuals is conducted in accordance with the 'Regulation on Apprehension, Detention, and Taking Statements' and the 'Regulation on Judicial and Preventive Searches,' and the Turkish National Police carries out all these procedures with great sensitivity and meticulousness within the framework defined by the aforementioned regulations."

MEDICAL REPORT CONTRADICTS ALTUN

The medical report obtained by Üner contradicted the claims made by Fahrettin Altun.

Üner shared the medical report he received two weeks after the torture he experienced. According to the report dated April 11, signs of assault were still present on Üner's body:

"The patient, who presented with a statement of assault, showed tenderness at the level of the cervical vertebrae, a 10x10 cm ecchymosis (older) on the left deltoid muscle, areas on the outer surface of the right forearm interpreted as dermatitis, and minimal epidermal peeling and healing tissue measuring 1x0.5 cm on the right wrist."

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED BY ÜNER'S LAWYER

One of Üner's lawyers, Halil Enes Kavak, also refuted the claims made by the General Directorate of Security and the Disinformation Combat Center. Kavak further emphasized that despite the criminal complaint, the authorities have taken no action whatsoever.

Emphasizing that no action has been taken despite the criminal complaint and that the prosecutor's office has not lifted a finger for 15 days, Lawyer Kavak said, "The 30-day period expires in 2 days; after 30 days pass, they will simply say the camera footage has been deleted and will not provide it."

POLICE WENT TO HIS HOME AGAIN

Stating that police went to Eren Üner's home today just 3 minutes after the General Directorate of Security's statement, Kavak expressed that another detention order might have been issued against Üner due to his social media posts and that they are trying to verify the situation.

Stating that the latest statement by the Disinformation Combat Center and the General Directorate of Security does not reflect the truth, Kavak said, "The General Directorate of Security is either unaware that we filed a criminal complaint, or despite being aware, they are issuing a statement claiming 'no criminal complaint was filed.' It is not true; the statement made by the General Directorate of Security does not reflect the truth. I personally filed the criminal complaint on April 8." Kavak stated that the allegation that his client committed the crime of "Unlawful Acquisition and Dissemination of Personal Data" is false.

News Source: 12punto