Minister Tunç: There is absolutely no strip search in our country.

07.04.2025 12:00

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç made a statement regarding the university students who were arrested during the protest demonstrations held after the investigations conducted against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). Minister Tunç stated, "The judiciary will make the necessary decisions based on the situation in the files." He also emphasized, "The issues that some people refer to as 'naked searches' are absolutely not the case in our country. We cannot allow this."

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Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç made a statement regarding the university students who were arrested during the protest demonstrations that began following the arrest of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was suspended from duty as part of the investigations conducted against the IMM.

"THE JUDICIARY WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY DECISIONS ACCORDING TO THE SITUATION IN THE FILE"

Minister Tunç's statements are as follows: "There have been unpleasant situations with our security forces. There have been issues that have been referred to the courthouse. We know that some of our young brothers are among those detained. Release decisions had been made regarding the young people.

There are those whose detention continues. The relevant peace judges will make the evaluation. It is our impartial and independent judiciary that will evaluate the role of individuals in those events and the use of violence.

According to the situation in the files, the prosecutors will make the necessary decisions. We must follow the judicial process regarding the investigation initiated against them. We do not have the authority to intervene in the judiciary.

"STRIP SEARCH IS DEFINITELY NOT AN ISSUE"

There cannot be a situation called an unlawful search. Our legislation is clear. We have laws and regulations regarding the management of penal institutions. There are applications made in accordance with the regulations. The issues that some have expressed as 'strip search' are definitely not an issue in our country. We cannot allow this.

In terms of preventing prohibited substances from being smuggled into prisons, if there is a suspicion, detailed search authority has been granted. Special attention is paid to the individual's privacy while using this authority. In this detailed search, measures are taken to ensure the individual's privacy, such as being searched by a person of the same gender and being provided with an extra garment outside of their clothing.

We will not compromise on our zero tolerance policy towards torture. Those who are detained in prison are entrusted to our state. We value the presumption of innocence.

RESPONSE TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S "JUNTA" REMARK

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel used a very unfortunate expression yesterday. Unfortunately, he referred to our President as 'junta leader.' This is, first of all, an impudence. We return these statements to him. Our President has fought for achieving a high-standard democracy. He has made great efforts and buried the coup plotters in history. They should first look at their own political history."