In late 1995 and throughout 1996 widespread student protests tool place in Turkey. Following an unrelated violent incident in Ankara on 30 March 1996, in which three petrol bombos were thrown into a street in the centre, 31 students from universities in the city were detained almost three weeks later at their homes, their unversity or in the street. AI concludes that the circumstances suggest that the students were targeted because of their previous peaceful campaigning and that they are prisoners of concience. The organization is calling for their immediate and unconditional release, and for a thorough and impartial investigation into their allegations of torture and sexual assaults by police officers.
