The İstanbul governor has blocked an investigation into allegations of mistreatment against pro-Palestine activists who were detained last year after protesting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over his government’s ongoing trade with Israel, the Gazete Duvar news website reported on Wednesday.
The decision, issued by İstanbul Governor Davut Gül, blocks any legal action against police officers and security forces accused of using excessive force against the nine activists detained during a protest at the TRT World Forum in November.
Turkish activists interrupted a speech by the president Recep Erdogan at the TRT World Forum, protesting the country's trade ties with Israel. pic.twitter.com/xqbUNNxkUI
— PALESTINE ONLINE
(@OnlinePalEng) November 29, 2024
The activists had confronted Erdoğan over continued trade with Israel, despite Ankara’s public condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The governor’s office justified the decision by claiming that the intervention was “legitimate” and served to maintain public order.
The official statement referred to Turkish law and argued that the accusations were “too general” and lacked sufficient evidence, even though the detainees had received medical reports documenting injuries sustained in detention.
The activists, six women and three men, were detained during and after the forum where they had criticized the Erdoğan government for its hypocrisy — publicly condemning Israel while continuing economic ties. They were taken into custody by Erdoğan’s security personnel and riot police. They claim that they were subjected to physical violence, strip- searches, verbal abuse and prolonged deprivation of food and water.
Some of the activists reported that their headscarves were forcibly cut off as they entered the prison, an incident that sparked further outrage as Erdoğan has long positioned himself as a defender of religious rights in Turkey. Three prison guards were suspended over these allegations.
However, the governor of İstanbul ruled that the security forces who detained the activists had not engaged in any wrongdoing.
The activists’ lawyers appealed the decision to the regional administrative court, arguing that the decision granted the security forces impunity for human rights violations. Lawyer Adem Bingöl condemned the decision and emphasized that the governor of İstanbul, Gül, himself witnessed the abuses and did not intervene when the security forces violently detained the protesters.
He also pointed out that hospital reports confirm injuries consistent with beatings, contradicting the governor’s justification for refusing an investigation.
The crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists has intensified criticism of Erdoğan’s stance on Israel. While his government has publicly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, reports have shown that trade between Turkey and Israel has quietly continued, including oil shipments routed through Turkish ports.
Activists argue that the detention and subsequent mistreatment of protesters who exposed this contradiction reveal the performative nature of Erdoğan’s pro-Palestinian messages.