29 November 2016•Update: 29 November 2016
ANKARA
The UN’s special rapporteur on torture met the head of Turkey’s prison service Tuesday as part of a week-long visit to investigate claims of mistreatment of prisoners following the July 15 coup attempt.
Nils Melzer met General Director of Prisons and Detention Houses Enis Yavuz Yildirim, a Justice Ministry official said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.
He is due to visit Sincan prison near Ankara and Silivri prison in Istanbul, as well as police stations, to probe allegations of torture, the official added.
According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Melzer will also meet human rights groups, local and international civil society organizations, alleged victims and their families.
Turkey has strongly denied claims of torture and the official said Turkey had invited Melzer to demonstrate the inaccuracy of the allegations.
The rapporteur will hold a news conference to give his preliminary comments in Ankara on Friday and is due to present a final report with recommendations to the Human Rights Council in March.
Following the defeated July 15 coup attempt, tens of thousands of suspected members and supporters of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and the PKK have been arrested and detained.
Reporting by Kemal Karadag;Writing by Ayse Humeyra Atılgan
