At least 80 women, including high school and university students, were subject to torture and other forms of ill-treatment at the hands of a group of police officers at Mersin police station, according to several twitter accounts and media outlets.
The women were belived to be affiliated with the Gülen group, which is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a coup attempt on July 15, 2016.
The alleged victims were reportedly detained by the police officers from the Smuggling and Organized Crime Directorate (KOM) after “helping Gulenist families in need of food and resources” in Mersin province, according to a twitter account named @Turkeydeiskence (Torture in Turkey).
The claim has neither been confirmed nor denied by the Turkish authorities.
The same twitter account also tweeted that among the detainees are a mother and her 2-month-old baby who have been held under police custody for four days. Also, a 15-year old high school student has been held in detention at the Child Branch Office of the Provincial Police Department.
The twitter account also claimed that a lawyer representing the detainees fainted at the exit of the Police Department after witnessing the torture and ill-treatment in police custody.
Hearing from various sources that 80 women are being tortured and subject to inhumane treatment at Mersin Police station in Turkey for helping Gulenist families in need of food and resources. https://t.co/vpqeoU4Gd6
— Ozcan Keles (@Ozcan_Keles) February 25, 2018
1) Aralarında yaklaşık (20) kadar lise ve üniversiteli kız öğrencilerin de bulunduğu toplam (80) kişiye Mersin İl Emniyet Müdürlüğü’nde işkence yapılıyor!@aliihsansu_@MersinValiligi pic.twitter.com/zObsMtVeDC
— Türkiye'de İŞKENCE (@Turkeydeiskence) February 24, 2018
