Police Violence Gets Punished in Istanbul

An Istanbul court ruled 6 police officers to serve 15 months of prison for assaulting a driver who protested a traffic accident caused by police officers.

The victim, a lawyer, involved in a traffic accident in Istanbul's Kadikoy district, where a police vehicle collided his car. He blinked his car's headlights to protest the accident. Police officers, in fury, stormed out of their vehicle and handcuffed the lawyer behind his back, dislocating his shoulder.

Previously, a public lawsuit has been filed against the driver for insulting and resisting police officers.

The driver, in return, filed a lawsuit against the police officers who injured him. Governor of Kadikoy district--acting according to a law that only permits state workers to be prosecuted upon supervisor approval--allowed the administration court prosecution, saying that "his officers did their job correctly". Several organizations got involved with the case, including Istanbul Bar Association.

The administration court announced the verdict, ruling that it cannot be commuted nor postponed, that police officers' professional licenses will be suspended in the meantime. (ÇT)