Sevinc Ozarslan
Istanbul Bar Association attorney Özge Elif Hendekçi has issued an urgent call to her fellow lawyers and bar associations across Turkey following the detention of 208 university students in a massive police operation centered in Gaziantep and extending to 47 provinces.
In a public statement, Hendekçi urged the Turkish Bar Association, the Gaziantep Bar, and legal professionals nationwide not to abandon the students, who she says are being subjected to unlawful treatment and psychological pressure. Hendekçi herself previously served 5 years and 5 months in prison alongside her young daughter and claims she was incarcerated based on a coerced statement obtained under police threats.
“The students are currently under a 24-hour lawyer visitation ban, and a confidentiality order has been imposed on their case files,” she said. “This indicates that the files are empty for now. These students are being accused simply for attending overseas trips or visiting family—activities that are not criminal. The authorities are now trying to fabricate cases.”
Drawing from her personal experience, Hendekçi described how detainees are pressured into making false statements. “When I was in custody, a woman detained with me later testified against me, accusing me of trying to prevent her from cooperating with authorities. I was arrested based on this false testimony. Months later, that same woman appeared in court and confessed she had never met me before and that her statement had been made under police threats and pressure, as she feared for her 9-year-old son.”
“The Students Are Under Psychological Duress”
According to Hendekçi, Turkey is currently witnessing a resurgence of police intimidation tactics reminiscent of darker times. “We are hearing threats like ‘You will never see sunlight again’ being used during interrogations,” she said. “This is a systemic method to induce fear and extract the statements authorities want.”
She warned that vulnerable detainees—such as those with anxiety disorders, asthma, or other medical conditions—are being specifically targeted. “These individuals are more susceptible to coercion. Authorities pressure them into signing false statements, which are then used to justify pre-trial detention. By the time the truth emerges in court, the damage is already done.”
“Lawyers Must Not Remain Silent”
Calling on the legal community to act urgently, Hendekçi stressed the importance of documenting all rights violations and unlawful procedures. She appealed directly to the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) attorneys and the Istanbul Bar Association’s Attorney Rights Center to intervene.
“I urge my colleagues to remember their role in the justice system as defenders of due process,” she said. “It is imperative for all bar associations, especially Gaziantep’s, to dispatch lawyers to police stations and courthouses without delay. We must not let these young people face this ordeal alone.”
The mass detentions have sparked concern over the continued erosion of the rule of law in Turkey and the increasing criminalization of ordinary civic activities. Hendekçi’s statement stands as both a call for legal action and a stark reminder of the human toll of systemic legal abuse.
