This report outlines AI’s most pressing concerns in Turkey. Human rights violations are increasing rapidly in gravity and scale. Political killings occurred almost daily in 1993 and the number of “disappearances” recorded is growing. Many of these violations occur in the context of the conflict between government forces and PKK guerrillas in southeast Turkey, much of which is under emergency legislation. AI is concerned about the persistence of routine torture in police stations and gendarmeries in many parts of Turkey. At least 24 people died in police custody during 1993, apparently after interrogation under torture. The freedom to report human rights violations is under constant attack: journalists, writers, trade unionists and academics are being tried and imprisoned for expressing their non-violent views. Intimidation, torture and killing of lawyers and human rights activists has been reported. Abuses committed by PKK guerrillas are also described in this report.
