The Case of the Girls

The Case of the Girls, one of the most striking examples of the dramatic collapse in Turkey's legal system, involves the prosecution of 15 girls aged between 13 and 19 for their ordinary daily routines. Activities such as studying, going to the cinema, ordering food, and playing bowling are being treated as acts of terrorism, a reflection of the harsh crackdown policies targeting individuals dismissed through emergency decrees (KHK) and their families in Turkey.

The case, which includes accounts of the girls being subjected to strip searches during police interrogations, highlights a deep crisis not only in terms of innocence but also in children's rights and human rights. Source: İltica Haber

The first hearing of the case, known as the Case of the Girls, was held at Istanbul's 24th High Criminal Court between September 23 and 27,2024. The case has been documented in a report by Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights.

The report, published on the Federation's website, states:

"Prosecutors consistently prepare indictments lacking logical connections between evidence and charges. This reflects an ideological and political motivation within the judiciary and highlights the widespread abuse of anti-terror laws."

Excerpts from Stango's Report:

"Reports such as FIDU's 2023 document on prosecutorial practices in Turkey reveal that such flaws are systemic. Indictments often contain politically charged language, conspiracy theories, and narratives copied from other cases." "Reports indicate that minors aged 13 to 17 were apprehended during dawn raids, detained without access to legal counsel or even their parents, and coerced into implicating their peers. Such practices violate both national laws and international agreements, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to which Turkey is a party."

Regarding state officials, the report states:

Turkish prosecutors frequently fail to comply with Article 170/5 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK), which requires the inclusion of exculpatory evidence, revealing their lack of impartiality.

Prosecutors often prepare indictments that are biased, ideological, and detached from reasonable standards of evidence.

Turkish prosecutors are known to rely on police and intelligence reports as definitive evidence without independent verification. This practice leads to concerns about the fairness of trials, as it essentially endorses government narratives without proper investigation.

"This case is a regrettable example of how anti-terror laws are used to restrict freedoms of expression, association, and privacy."

++The report also references the 2024 Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project, highlighting Turkey's rankings among 142 countries:

128th in criminal justice system impartiality, 138th in an independent criminal justice system free from government interference, 133rd in fundamental rights, 135th in checks on government power.++

Report- TÜRKIYE: INTERIM TRIAL MONITORING REPORT on the “Girls’ Case”

Youtube- Antonio Stango's 8-Minute Statement on the Case of the Girls

Source: Kronos