Lawyer Claims Police Brutality in Esenyurt Station; Calls for Interior Ministry Intervention

A lawyer's harrowing experience at the Esenyurt police station, where he alleges he was subjected to physical assault and obstruction while trying to perform his professional duties, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability. The incident, which saw lawyer Yunus Özayar reportedly beaten and forcibly ejected from the premises, highlights deep-seated concerns about the treatment of legal professionals within law enforcement facilities.

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Müvekkilimle görüştüm. Daha sonra dosyasını incelemek istediğimde bir dosyanın olmadığını belirttiler. Bunun bir adli gözaltı mı olduğunu sordum. ‘Adli gözaltı, idari gözaltı, ikisi de var’ dediler. İkisine dair evrak rica ettim ve dosyayı incelemek istedim ancak buna karşılık olumsuz ve gergin bir tavırla karşılaştım. Daha sonrasında aniden şiddete başladılar ve beni karakoldan yaka paça dışarıya attılar.

Özayar recounted the distressing events, describing the police officers' behavior as stressed and tense. He stated that when he attempted to review his client's case file, he was met with resistance and aggression. The situation escalated when officers allegedly resorted to physical violence, pushing him out of the station and barring his re-entry with threatening remarks.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, Özayar was reportedly forced to present his identification outside the station under camera surveillance, fearing further assault if he refused. This ordeal underscores the challenges faced by lawyers who often find themselves in tense environments while carrying out their work, which is crucial for the functioning of the justice system.

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Daha sonra da içeriye girmek istediğimde ‘Canın yetiyorsa gel’ içerikli beyanlarda bulunarak birkaç polis memuru benim karakola girmemi engellediler ve karakolun içine girer gibi yaptığımda tekrar saldırıya başladılar.

In solidarity, Istanbul Bar Association President Prof. Dr. İbrahim Kaboğlu and other board members accompanied Özayar to the courthouse. Kaboğlu emphasized that lawyers are an integral part of the justice system and their work, which begins at the police station and continues through to the execution phase, must be respected. He stressed that Turkey is a state of law founded on human rights, and the defense, prosecution, and judgment are the three pillars of justice.

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Ben artık yaşadığım süreç içerisinde kimliğimi karakolun dışında bulunan kamera kaydına tutarak göstermek zorunda kaldım. Çünkü kimliğimi göstermemem üzerine bir tartışma ortamı, yine bir saldırı ortamı oluşacaktı.

The incident has prompted calls for the relevant authorities to take immediate action to prevent such occurrences in the future, ensuring that legal professionals can carry out their duties without facing threats to their safety. The legal community is demanding that police stations become places where justice is upheld, not where lawyers are subjected to violence.

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Karakollar, adliyeler bizim iş yerimiz. Bu iş yerimizde her zaman gerginlik yaşayarak, her zaman problem ve engelleri aşarak çalışmak gerçekten yorucu. Biz yargının üçlü sac ayağından birisiyiz. Buna saygı duyulması gerektiğini düşünüyorum.