Lawyers call on authorities to investigate what detainee went through in 87 days

The family and lawyers of a man arrested over "terror" charges in Turkey said that he had been allegedly captured and subjected to torture months before the authorities officially acknowledged that he is in custody, and that it is falsely stated in official documents that he was captured at a check point in Turkey on 20 July.

According to a report - dated 20 July - by state news agency AA, Savas Celik was "captured in an overseas operation by the National Ingelligence Agency," while it is stated in official documents that he was captured at a check point in Turkey on 20 July.

However, when Celik was finally able to meet with his lawyers in prison, he told them that he had been detained in Lebanon and handed over to Turkish authorities at the airport, and that he had been subjected to torture for months.

Upon Celik's statements, the lawyers filed criminal charges in September against state officials over allegations involving "torture and inhuman treatment," "deprivation of freedom and unlawful detention," and "fabrication of official documents."

In their application, the lawyers cited Celik who told them that he had been kept in a very small and dark place with his hands and eyes tied, unable to sit or breathe comfortably, that he was constantly beaten till he passed out, that he had been subjected both to electric torture and to sexual assault with a baton being inserted into his anus, and that he was sprayed with high pressure water after torture sessions. He was at the same time threatened by officials that his family members would be subjected to same kind of torture, and to rape.

Celik, who weighed 71 kg when he was detained, lost 22 kg during the time he was subjected to torture, and had to use diapers for 20 days while he was sexually assaulted, the lawyers added.

He was asked to confess to several offenses, and to accuse many people of taking part in similar offenses.

The lawyers noted that although Celik told the prosecution on 29 July that he had been brought from Lebanon months ago, no step has been taken by the judiciary to investigate.

They added that they still have not received any official response to the criminal charges they filed on 19 September, and that they were told on 21 October that no investigation has been launched over their application.