Torture and mistreatment are commonplace in Turkey. Both governmental and non-governmental organizations have detailed many instances of recent torture. The European Commission issued a report in 2003 noting, ï ¿ ½torture cases persist.ï ¿ ½ The Human Rights Directorate of the Office of the Prime Minister received 50 complaints of torture in the first four months of 2004. The Turkish Human Rights Association reported 692 incidents of torture or mistreatment in the first half of 2004. And the Turkish Human Rights Foundation received requests for medical treatment from 597 individuals who were abused in prisons during the first eight months of 2004.
In 2002, when Turkey sought admission to the European Union (EU), it was turned down, largely due to its human rights record. The EU cited a failure to promote ï ¿ ½the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.ï ¿ ½ Although President Bush maintains that Turkey can serve as a role model for other Islamic countries, the U.S. State Department has acknowledged that it is a known human rights offender. In 2003, the State Departmentï ¿ ½s Human Rights Report on Turkey concluded, ï ¿ ½security forces reportedly killed 43 persons during the year; torture, beatings, and other abuses by security forces remained widespread.ï ¿ ½Ã¯ ¿ ½
Turkey has had a longstanding battle with its Kurdish population. In the 1990s almost 400,000 Kurds were forcibly expelled from their villages in southeast Turkey by government forces. Most of the Kurds have not been able to return to their homes because the Turkish government has not made an effort to assist them. Many of their villages lack electricity, schools, and hospitals. Yet prior to their expulsion, most villages had electricity and access to a school system. When Kurds do return, government-sponsored village guards frequently beat them and steal their property. The mistreatment has resulted in domestic terrorism by the Kurdish Workers Party, which the Turkish government maintains has killed over 30,000 people.
Discrimination against women is common. According to a report issued last year by the Turkish government, domestic abuse is widespread. The organization Human Rights Watch cited a recent study that determined that 39 percent of women have been the victims of physical abuse. The murder of a woman believed to have dishonored her family, referred to as ï ¿ ½honor killings,ï ¿ ½ is a frequent occurrence. Typically, a family will encourage a brother to kill his sister for engaging in premarital sex or infidelity. According to the Turkish Human Rights Association, at least 40 women were the victims of ï ¿ ½honor killingsï ¿ ½ in 2003.
President Bushï ¿ ½s recent praise for Turkey is undoubtedly linked to the war on terrorism. Turkey is the third largest recipient of U.S. military aid, since it is a principal ally in the war on terrorism. This year, Congress granted $37 million in military aid and weapons, and the Bush administration has requested $28 million for 2006.
Turkey has undertaken some efforts in recent few years to become more democratic. And the Bush administration is correct to support those efforts. But Turkey still has considerable progress to make before it should be regarded as a model for the Middle East, especially to nascent democracies like Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Gene C. Gerard taught history, religion, and ethics for 14 years at several colleges in the Southwest and is a contributing author to the forthcoming book "Americans at War," by Greenwood Press.
