Turkish National Security Council (MGK) Agrees to Parliamentary Debate on Constitutional Reform
At its monthly meeting on 21.08.2001, the MGK gave its consent to constitutional reform proposals, but remarked that they should not be pushed through in a special sitting of parliament. A number of the
reform proposals were to be limited. Observers say that such comments mean that the military want to further delay reforms. Included in the reforms are the lifting of the death penalty, guarantees against the closure of political parties, compromises on using native languages, and changes to the make up of the
security council giving it a civilian majority. 

Mesut Yilmaz, deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), had already said that he intended to raise the highly explosive issue of national security at the MGK’s monthly meeting.
Yilmaz recently criticised national security policies for hindering democratisation in Turkey and the reforms associated with this. Perceived threats to inner security included in such policies, have
obstructed any reasonable debate on important issues such as freedoms of opinion and other restrictions on human rights. According to sources close to Yilmaz, significant improvements to the
constitution are to be debated in a special sitting of parliament on 17.09.2001. The MGK therefore have to also discuss the proposed reforms to the constitution. The military are particularly worried about any change to Article 13 of the constitution (concerning restrictions on basic rights and freedoms) and Article 14 (concerning abuse of basic rights and freedoms). Other issues considered to be sensitive to the military are Articles 26 (restrictions on freedom of expression) and 28 (freedom of the press). The military are against any reform of these Articles because they fear it will facilitate Islamic fundamentalist and Kurdish separatists in distributing their propaganda. Supporters see the reforms as essential to fulfil the
Copenhagen Criteria.

Mesut Yilmaz said that the reforms were necessary to demonstrate to the EU that the government were taking their reform efforts seriously. The EU have Turkey’s progress in this respect, on their November
agenda. Yilmaz wants to implement the reforms before then. (Sources: Anadolu Ajansi, Turkish Daily News, 21./22.08.01) More on this at our Website www.kurden.de
 
More Forced Expulsions and Destruction of Kurdish Villages Danish Journalists Travel to Diyarbakir to Investigate
It appears as if Turkish forces have again resorted to their earlier practices of forced expulsions from Kurdish villages. The IHD reported that recently around 700 Kurdish inhabitants were driven out of 2
villages by soldiers in the south eastern Anatolian province of Sirnak. The people are now being housed in miserable conditions in tents on the outskirts of the town of Beytüssebap. According to the
organisation, they have evidence of torture having taken place.

Security forces claim that the inhabitants were suspected of aiding Kurdish rebels in the laying of mines. The government in Ankara have not yet responded to the IHD’s latest report.

A 25 member strong delegation of Danish journalists are currently in Diyarbakir investigating the accusations. They firstly spoke with the mayor, Feridun Celik (HADEP). Head of the delegation, Herbert
Bundik, said that the delegation had spoken with Celik about the political situation in Turkey, the GAP project and the special problems in the southeast. The state are still to investigate the accusations
concerning the destruction of the villages and the forced expulsions. Following the talks with Celik, Budnik announced that further talks were to take place with Diyarbakir’s governor , Ahmet C. Serhadli,
the state of emergency governor, Gökhan Aydiner, and the head of the south-eastern journalists association, Naci Sapan. (Sources: FR, 14.08.01; Hürriyetim, 20.08.01; Turkish Daily News, 21.08.01)
 

                             Murder of Üzeyir Garih
                           13-Year-Old Suspect Arrested
In the murder case of the businessman, Üzeyir Garih, a 13-year-old suspect, Fuat N., was released after making a statement to the state prosecutor. He was then later re-arrested following a confrontation
involving other youths. Fuat N. said that he had first seen the murder victim on that day. He had given him and his girlfriend 200,000 Lira (35 Pfennigs) each. Apart from that, he had had no contact with him
and had not committed the crime. Fuat’s father, Hasan N., was dismissed by his employers after his son appeared in newspapers as the murder suspect.

According to the lawyer Seda Akco from the Commission for Child Law at the Istanbul Lawyers Association, the arrested youth had been subjected to unlawful practices. Concerning the case, she
said, “It’s not on that a child can be taken into custody and then presented as being guilty without any proof. That’s how it appears to his family and friends. No consideration has been given to the
consequences of such. The methods and duration of the custody were also unlawful. The right of confidentiality had not been observe. If no new evidence had been available, then the re-arrest was also
unlawful. Routine breaches of legal procedures can be observed in this case”. A high-ranking representative from the Israeli government and 3 MOSSAD agents arrived in Istanbul to investigate the murder. They visited Fuat N. at his home. They also met with the Istanbul’s head of police, Hasan Özdemir. Özdemir then met with the state prosecutor at the state security court. 
(Sources: Cumhuriyet, Milliyet internet, 27.08.01; TIHV, 28.08.01) 
 

                       Özgür Ünal (16) Dies in Police Custody
On 23.08.2001 at 10.00am, Özgür Ünal was found dead in his cell. He had been taken into police custody 2 days earlier in Edremit in the province of Balikesir. It has been revealed that on 21.08.01 at
around 9.00pm, he had been taken from the petrol station belonging to his parents, to a police station by civilian police, on the grounds that a legal complaint had been made against him.
The head of police in Balikesir, Kemal Iskender, said that Özgür Ünal had been arrested on suspicion of sexually harassing 2 women and stealing their handbags. Concerning the cause of death, the head of
police said, “He took advantage of the inattentiveness of the officer on duty and took the bordering from a woollen blanket, and used it to hang himself from a heating pipe in the toilets”.

Özgürs father, Osman Ünal, gave a different version. He said that his son had ridden his moped into the centre of Edremit. On the evening of 22.08.2001, two policemen in civilian dress came to the petrol
station and took Özgür to Edremit’s police station. The father followed them. The police had told him that his son had ridden a motorcycle without a driving licence. He would therefore be required to pay a fine of 54,200,000TL and his motorcycle would be confiscated. They had then taken Özgür to a cell. They told the father that his son had harassed a woman. A legal complaint had been made against him and he would be appearing before a court the next day. The father was called to the police station the next day at around 11.00am. He was then informed that his son had committed suicide.

Police chief Kemal Iskender’s previous history leaves some doubt as to the credibility concerning his claim of “suicide”. As the police of chief in Manisa in 1995, Iskender had 16 male and female schoolchildren arrested for being members of an illegal organisation. Police officers under his command had severely tortured them and, after a lengthy legal process, had received custodial sentences. Iskender had then become the head of police in Ankara.

The Interior Ministry immediately sent inspectors to examine the case. It is known that they immediately took statements on the evening of the 22.08.2001, from the 3 officers on duty at the time of the death.
The lawyer for the Ünal family revealed that he was not given access to the autopsy report from the coroner in Bursa and that this was already suspicious. (Sources: Milliyet, Radikal, 25.08.01; Hürriyet, 28.08.01)
 

  IHD: No Improvements to the Human Rights Situation
The Turkish human rights association (IHD) have reported a significant increase in accusations of torture and infringements to freedom of opinions. IHD head, Hüsnü Öndül, revealed that in the first half of 2001, 435 people complained of torture in custody. In the previous year, the figure for the same period had been 263. In the first half of 1999 it had been 334. At a press conference where the half-yearly report was presented, Öndül said, “It’s obvious that there has been no progress on the elimination of torture since 1999”. Further statistics: state prosecutors have sentenced 1519 people to a total of 3125 years imprisonment, for the expression of their opinions whether written or verbal. (Sources: reuters, 23.08.01, PE von
IHD)
 

                   Minibus Driver Arrested for Playing Kurdish Music
Turkish gendarmes have arrested the minibus driver, Abdullah Yagan, because he played Kurdish music in his minibus. An officer, travelling as a passenger in the vehicle, informed the gendarmes at a control
point in Kalencik, that he had heard Kurdish music being played.
The “offending cassette” with music from Shakiro, Siwan Perwer, Kurdish dance music and various other music, was confiscated. Yagan’s driving licence and bus permit were revoked. (Source: Kurdish
Observer, 23.08.01)
 

                         AI-Urgent Action: Yasin Karadag
Yasin Karadag was arrested in Diyarbakir on 06.08.2001 and, according to reports, has been tortured by police. Although he had been transferred to prison on 15.08.2001, he was taken back into police custody 2 days later for interrogation. Amnesty International fear that Y. Karadag could again be maltreated or tortured. His family have not been permitted to visit him.

Y. Karadag’s brother had been arrested with him but had been released on 15.08.2001. Yasin told his brother that he had been tortured four times. Yasin Karadag had been taken back into police custody under the so-called “Remorse Law”. This legislation offers former members of illegal armed organisations, the opportunity to make statements against such organisations, in order to receive reduced sentences.
The governors of state of emergency regions can apply to a court for authorization to transfer prisoners who come under the “Remorse Law”, back into police custody for up to 10 days for questioning.
Amnesty International have many reports of ill-treatment and torture of prisoners have taken place during this period.

Yasin Karadag had already been arrested and tortured by police in 1993. Police allegedly beat him, crushed his testicles, hung him by his arms and gave electric shocks to his genitals. (Source: UA 209/01,
ai-Index: EUR 44/057/2001, 22.08.01 – us) Background and recommended action on our Web Site www.kurden.de
 

                            Raids on HADEP and MKM
In connection with the anniversary of the beginning of the PKK’s armed campaign (15th August 1984), the police have searched HADEP offices in Sirinevler, Maltepe, Ümraniye, Gaziosmanpasa, Beykoz,
Bahcelievler and Kagithane, as well as the Mesopotamian Cultural Centre (MKM) and the Women’s Cultural Centre Dicle (DKKM). Fourteen people were arrested. Amongst those arrested are Sebhattin
Celik, , Belkiz Balka and Haydar Isiktas (HADEP), as well as Ayten Atay, Nail Yurtsever and Semsettin Basci (MKM). (Source: Yedinci Gündem, 15.08.01)
 

                        Book By Celal Baslangic Confiscated
Istanbul’s second criminal court has ordered the confiscation of the book entitled “Temple of Fear” which comprises articles by the journalist Celal Baslangic concerning incidents in the regions under state of emergency conditions (such as the events in Gülükonak, the disappearances of Serdar Tanis and Ebubekir Deniz and incidents in Tunceli). The decision was justified on the grounds that the articles
disparaged the military. (Source: Radikal, 23.08.01)
 
                       Gendarmerie Frenzy in Akkise (Konya)
 On the night of 09.08.2001, an identity check in a café in the Akkise (district of Ahirli, Konya) resulted in the deployment of around 100 Turkish gendarmes, who killed 1 person and injured at least 5. Reports
that 30 soldiers had also been injured were later put into doubt.

Youngsters had been celebrating a farewell party for friends who were to begin their military service. They protested when 2 friends without ID were to be taken to the police station. The gendarmes firstly backed off but then returned under the orders of the NCO Ali Caliskan. He was allegedly the first to shoot into the air and then gave the order to fire. As a result, Hasan Gültekin was fatally wounded. Amongst the wounded were Sami Tokmak, Kemal Candan and Ismet Tasbasi. 

The human rights organisation, Mazlum-Der, have issued a report from their Konya office. It makes Caliskan responsible for the incident in Akkise. He took up his duties 6 months ago, and just 3 months
ago, while searching for smugglers, he ordered a building, housing only women, to be shot at. He has also allegedly detained and tortured a young woman for 8 days. Two months ago, he apprehended Sükrü
Gültekin (the brother of Hasan Gültekin, who had been killed) and Ali Arac without ID and interrogated them, under torture with blindfolded eyes, for 1 and a half hours. The report also stated that in respect of
the events of 09.08.2001, bullet casings had been removed from the scene prior to the arrival of an inquiry commission, and that therefore the number of actual shots fired certainly exceeded the 920 cases claimed to have been found. There was evidence of gun shots on the city offices as well as on the mosque. The report called on the authorities to reveal the names of the soldiers and officers who took
part in the operation, and queried whether anybody had been arrested in connection with the events.
(Sources: Various Turkish Newspapers, 11.-14.08.01)
 
Hunger Strikes Continue Police Pressure Increases on Solidarity Hunger Strikes
Ali Suat Ertosun, departmental head of prisons in the Justice Ministry, has revealed that 173 prisoners in 22 prisons are currently on death fasts, and 91 prisoners are on hunger strike. In the F-type prison in
Sincan, 67 prisoners have apparently ended their action, with 28 continuing theirs. For weeks now, special teams and soldiers with armoured vehicles and gas masks, have been occupying the deprived quarter of Armutlu, where death fasts are taking place by released prisoners and 20 of their relatives. Check points are located at all entry points to the quarter, with all visitors and residents being controlled. The situation is extremely tense with residents expecting attacks at any moment. Prisoners’ relatives and Armutlu’s residents have erected barricades before the houses occupied by the death fasters. They have also let it be known that they will set fire to themselves if the military attack.

Osman Osmanagaoglu (44) died on 14.08.2001 after continuing with his death fast in a house in Kücükarmutlu, following his temporary release from prison on 28.06.2001. He was allegedly a leading
member of the DHKP/C. He began a hunger strike on 20.10.2000 in Ümraniye’s prison and was apparently raped with a truncheon during his transfer to the F-type prison in Kandira. The number of dead
from hunger strikes has now risen to 31.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that bullets had been removed from the bodies of Murat Ördekci, Cengiz Calikoparan and Mustafa Yilmaz, prior to them being handed over to the coroner. They had died on
19.12.2000, during the operation against the prisons. Although it was obvious that the bullet wounds had been widened and the bullets removed, the state prosecutor and coroner failed to mention this in their reports. Bullet wounds were first given as cause of death later on at Istanbul’s coroners office. Forensic medical experts told the newspaper Radikal that an attempt had been made to remove the bullets and therefore to destroy evidence. (Sources: Cumhuriyet, 15./24.-26.08.01, Evrensel, Milliyet, 17.08.01; Radikal, 27.08.01)
 

                            Compulsory Virginity Tests
The lawyer Bekir Kaya has made a complaint concerning the forced virginity test on her client F.D.F. (16). She was arrested on 30.06.2001, along with 10 other people, under the suspicion of supporting the PKK. Without her agreement, she was taken from the police station to a maternity hospital in Van. She was then given a virginity test by Dr. Emine Karabulut. On 03.07.2001, Dr. Adnan Soner and Dr. Enver Sultanoglu from the state hospital in Van, certified that the prisoner had not been raped. In her complaint, the lawyer indicated that such treatment was to be considered torture and breached existing regulations. He also pointed out that the presence of a lawyer is required when a minor is being questioned. (Quelle: Yedinci Gündem, 21.08.01)
 

                          Proceedings Against Torturers
The Minister for the Interior, Rüstü Kazim Yücelen, revealed that in the period between 01.01.2000 and 30.06.2001, investigations were initiated against 203 police concerning torture and ill-treatment in
accordance with §§ 243 and 245 TSG. In 29 cases no charges were made, 14 cases were dismissed, 117 officers were found not guilty and 30 were found guilty. Punishment was suspended in 13 cases.
(Source: Hürriyet, 23.08.01)
 

                       MHP: No to Language Rights for Kurds
The right-leaning Turkish governing party, the MHP, has rejected the EU demand for language rights for the Kurds and have instead demanded a stronger role for the Turkish language within the country. The MHP representative, Müjdat Kayayerli, told Cumhuriyet that the EU’s demands in this area would open Turkey up to a “Cultural Divide”. If necessary, Kurdish could become a dialect. According to Cumhuriyet, the MHP are preparing a law proposal which would increase Turkish lessons in Kurdish regions and other regions inhabited by minorities. Furthermore, Turkish in daily life is to be reinforced, amongst other things by the “Turkisation” of street names. (Source: afp, 28.08.01)
 

                               Protests in Ankara
Protests by the masses against the economic crisis in Turkey are on the increase. The number of poor grows daily and pictures are becoming more frequent of the hungry searching for food on rubbish heaps. The Prime Minister and those from his close circle, just have to look around the streets of Ankara to see the extent of the poverty. Factories are being closed down, people are losing their jobs in masses and families are breaking apart. But it seems as if Prime Minister Ecevit doesn’t see any of it. The government are not active and just play for time within a triangle of dollar rates, share values and falling markets. In the meantime, the situation in Turkey
worsens day by day with families only just being able to send their children to school. It is not to be wondered then when a protestor, despite the tight security, manages to throw a cash register at the feet of the Prime Minister as he left his office. If this government is not capable of solving the problems, or even of resigning, then they have to at least tolerate the protests of its desperate citizens. (Source: Turkish Daily News, 21.08.01) More information available at our Web Site www.kurden.de
 

                       Iraq Extends Ethnic Cleansing in Kirkuk
According to reports from Kirkuk, Iraqi authorities have begun a new intensive campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kirkuk, as well as in other regions in Kurdistan under their control. They plan to resettle
6000 Arabic families from Himren, Riyadh and Hawija into the Kurdish regions of Lailan, Qara-Hanjeer and Shwan in the region of Kirkuk. As part of the Iraqi regime’s policy of promoting Arabisation, 22
organisations have been instructed to distribute cost free food (normally a governmental monopoly) to Arab settlers in Salayee, Lailan and Qara-Hassan. The Iraqi authorities have issued directives to all official establishments, including the cement factory in Kirkuk, to do everything possible to assist the Arabisation project – commonly known as “the 10,000 families”. This concerns the 10,000 Arab settlers brought in by the Iraqi authorities, with Kurdish and Turkmenish families being forced to move out. Free land was given to the Arab settlers and each family were rewarded with a sum of 10,000 Iraqi Dinars.
(Source: Kurdistan Newsline Nr. 3, 23.08.01, Article from 09.08.01)
 

                            Resettled Families Return
The fourth phase was to begin on 18.08.2001 of the return of 260 families to their homes in southern Kurdistan. Such further progress in trust-building measures within the peace process, had been agreed
at a meeting of the PUK and KDP in Hewler (Arbil). Fifty dwellings had been prepared to enable the owners to move back in. (Source: Kurdistan Newsline Nr. 3, 23.08.01, Article from 16.08.01)

                       US Efforts not Adequate to Protect Kurds
In a personal letter to the two southern Kurdistan leaders, Barzani and Talabani, US Foreign Minister Colin Powell, gave assurances that the new US government were determined to protect the Kurds and
their democratic experiment against any aggression from Saddam. The letter apparently confirmed that a 13% share of the oil revenues were to go to the Kurds in accordance with Resolution 986 of the UN
Security Council.

While this has been seen as a positive step, the attitude of the US government to the Kurdish people is considered weak and inappropriate. This is because the letter contained no statement on how long the protection and guarantees would continue, and whether the future of the Kurdish people could be guaranteed if the Iraqi question was resolved. On the one hand, the US government have not formally recognised the Kurdish people as a separate nation, but on the other hand, they treat the Kurdish people as a separate people with their own national identity, separate from other nations of the Middle East. The US government are also hardening their attitude concerning the humanitarian aspects of the Kurdish crisis and deny the political recognition that the Kurdish people justly deserve. (Source: KurdishMedia.com, 21.08.01)
 
Baghdad Responsible for Terrorist Attacks in South Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurds accuse the Baghdad government of carrying out terrorist attacks in their semi-autonomous region. Kurdish security forces in Arbil have reported many Iraqi terrorist attempts which they have 
managed to prevent. The KDP revealed that on 18.08.2001, a man was arrested who had a large amount of TNT in his possession and confessed that the Iraqi secret service had ordered him to carry out a bomb attack. The KDP also revealed that on 08.08.2001 they had seized a car, which had come from Kirkuk, containing 15kg of TNT. Its owner allegedly confessed that the Iraqi Mukhabarat (secret service) had loaded his car with explosives and ordered him to blow it up before the UN headquarters in Arbil. (Source: Iraq Press, 21.08.01) 
 

New Restrictions on Travel in the Northern Kurdish Enclave
With new restrictions, the Iraqi government have made it virtually impossible to travel in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. Government check points refuse entry, particularly to Arabs, to the
Kurdish region. Many travellers are interrogated by security forces before being forced to turn round. To travel through, they demand a permit from the security organisations. It is incomprehensible why the Iraqi government are introducing such restrictions at a time when President Saddam Hussein is calling on Kurdish parties to enter into dialogue.

Until now, Iraqis could travel into the Kurdish regions unhindered to carry out trade or visit relatives. Many exiled Iraqis use towns in southern Kurdistan to meet up with relatives from Iraq. The effects of the restrictions are already apparent in the Dohuk and Zakho. Hotels and restaurants are hardly doing any trade. Around 3.5 million Kurds live in the enclave in the three main provinces of Dohuk,
Arbil and Sulaimaniya. The political atmosphere in the Kurdish regions is freer than in the rest of Iraq. There is easier access to mobile telephones, Internet and satellite. The press are even relatively free.
Some Kurds explain the restrictions as the Iraqi government not wanting its people to become aware of the positive developments taking place in the Kurdish region. 

In recent days, the restrictions have become even stricter. Every Kurd is arrested who has identity documents issued in Kirkuk and who wants to visit the Kurdish region. Even Kurds from the Kurdish
region wanting to spend the night in Kirkuk are being arrested. (Source: KurdishMedia.com, Iraq Press, 24.08.01
 

                        Opening of Kurdistan Central Bank
The Prime Minister of Kurdistan’s regional government (KRG-Arbil), Nachirvan Barzani, has opened Kurdistan’s central bank in the capital city of Arbil. This is one of the development projects taking place
in the region. The bank is one of the requirements for the increase in trade with neighbouring states, in particular Turkey and Iran.

Turkey have observed this development with concern because the bank could represent a step towards an independent Kurdish state, which would have consequences for its own Kurdish regions. (source:
KurdishMedia.com, 18.08.01; reuters, 21.08.01)
 

                   Hundreds of Men Threaten Four Women in Arbil
According to reports in the weekly newspaper, Hawlati, on 14.08.2001 hundreds of men harassed and threatened 4 women in Arbil. The women were forced to take shelter in a shop until the men had
dispersed. They then escaped back home in a taxi.

Hawlati say that this is the second occasion in recent times that women have been attacked under the noses of the KDP police.

Threats to women in Kurdistan is part of a clever political tactic by various so-called Islamic parties, who are supported by Iranian or other regional powers. Critics say that both KDP and PUK encourage these powers by giving them positions in the regional government and treating them as legitimate political partners.

Muslims use a variety of methods to create a society similar to that in Iran or Afghanistan. Intimidation is one way to force civilised women to the cloth. (Sources: Kurdish Media.com, 26.08.01 aus Hawlati, 19.08.01)
 

First Meeting Since 1963 Between Kurds and Syrian Leadership

For the first time since taking power in 1963, the Syrian Baath Party invited members of the country’s Kurdish minority to talks. According to reports in the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, in a one hour meeting
representatives of the party leadership requested members of the Democratic Kurdish Alliance to formulate their demands in writing. More than 6% of Syria’s population are Kurdish. A large number of
these have been stateless since 1962. (Source: dpa, 22.08.01)
 

                         Mass Detentions of Kurds in Syria
On 07.07.2001, the Democratic Party of Syrian Kurds (KDP-S) reported the arrest of 19 Kurds: .(Names: Lukman Mohamed Kole, Hesen Omer Hemso, Abdulrehman Dawoud Qanber, Mahmud Bilal
Mistqalo, Mohamed Naser Tahhar, Adnan Mohamed Kole, Mohamed Mustefa Albakri, Kamiran Mustefa Rascho, Nuri Husen Baker, Mohamed Mustefa Sido, Yusef Ibrahim Sadeq, Khalil Mohamed Hannan,
Ibrahim Khalil Schukri Osman, Mustefa Habasch Raschid, Mohamed Hannan Ali, Mohamed Haji Abdulrahman Mohamed, Khalil Ahmed Husen, Murad Horo Horo, Omar Mohamed Omar, Wahid Mohamed Khalil, Ahmed Ibrahim Khalil, Mustefa Mohamed Mulla Mustefa, Ahmed Ismail Bilo Murad, Suleman Naser Tahhar) (See report in WIS 113/114).
This people are still being detained. The KDP-S have requested support in putting pressure on the Syrian government to release them. (Source: KDP-S Statement, 08.07.01)
                                                  

 44 Asylum Seekers Arrestedin Channel Tunnel
A group of 44 asylum seekers from a northern French refugee centre, have been arrested in the channel tunnel. According to the tunnel operators, nearly 300 people were apprehended at the tunnel opening on the French side. Trains had to be stopped for several hours . The refugees were sent back to the Red Cross Centre in Sangette which is located near to the tunnel. The tunnel operators have applied to the French courts to have the centre closed down. It currently accommodates around 1300 people, mainly Kurds and Afghans. 
 
“Mr. C. is used to being beaten”Medical Reports on Victims of Torture
Because he had been beaten since childhood, the asylum seeker C. could not have been traumatised by ill-treatment from the Turkish police. He was therefore “able to be deported” – there was no risk of
re-traumatisation in his homeland.

In was in this way that a Paderborn health ministry doctor, in October 2000, considered an asylum seeker to be “healthy”, enabling his immediate deportation to take place. This proved to be too much for
the doctor and psychologist Hans Wolfgang Gierlichs. The Paderborn doctor’s report contradicted another specialist’s opinion. Gierlichs considers such as further evidence of favourable medical
certificates being issued by the health ministries to asylum and foreigner departments who are keen on deportation. This has life threatening consequences for refugees and immigrants.
Gierlichs began a  project at the beginning of 2001 which soon attracted the support from more than 500 specialist doctors, psychologists and psychology institutes. It calls on doctors and psychologists not to allow themselves to issue “unethical and unacceptable reports”. “We are making efforts to improve the
appraisal of potentially traumatised immigrants/refugees. We intend to draw-up compulsory guidelines for such appraisals”.

It is a fact that German departments concerned with the official recognition of refugees, mainly use reports from doctors employed by the police, border guards or the health ministries, in deciding on
asylum applications. These doctors are often unqualified and have no experience to issue such reports. An inquiry by the Berlin Centre for Victims of Torture revealed that police doctors issue diagnosis on
asylum applicants without having any knowledge of international guidelines. In 100% of cases, the doctors considered that no treatment was required – contrary to the opinions from specialist doctors on the same applicants – and declared that the refugees could be deported.

Germany is considered to be way behind in traumatology – the science researching trauma resulting from violence and torture. Administrative guidelines and individual assessments by asylum and
deportation authorities are influenced by this lack of knowledge. On Gierlichs’ initiative, German scientists, doctors and psychologists have begun to work out guidelines concerning victims of violence and torture. Jean Amery, in her 1980 book on the effects of torture, wrote that “Whoever has been a victim of torture can never again feel at home in the world”. According to her, this fact, arrived at from the experiences of holocaust survivors, must be applied in the treatment of victims of torture. (Albrecht Kieser, Rheinisches JournalistInnenbüro Cologne, e-mail: rib-koeln@t-online.de,
This feature was part of a report on efforts being made  to have checks imposed on medical opinions on victims of torture, which are  in line with current medical knowledge, and to bring responsibility for this onto asylum and deportation authorities. The feature was broadcast on 24.08.2001 at 10.05am on WDR5
(radio).
 
Turkish Coastguards Stop Ship Containing 60 RefugeesItalian Police Apprehend More than 350 Illegal Immigrants
The Turkish coastguard stopped a Greek ship with 60 illegal immigrants on board. According to a report from the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the fishing boat was discovered in the Dardanelle near the town of Canakkale. The people originated from Iran and Iraq. They were arrested along with two traffickers.
Italian police have apprehended 354 illegal immigrants in the south of the country. They were discovered in a boat on the coast near Crotone. The majority of them were Afghans, Pakistanis and Kurds who had paid between 2500 and 5000 US dollars for the crossing from Turkey. The ship had sailed a week earlier
from Turkey. (Source: dpa, 21.08.01; afp, 27.08.01)

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