Turkish Police Warned: End Tear Gas Misuse
Human Rights Watch have launched an investigation into police usage of tear gas during the protests in Turkey. After interviewing victims witnesses, lawyers and medical personnel, they documented a compilation of ten cases related to the study. The NGO stated that during the protests in Turkey police had aimed tear gas capsules directly at protesters and turned them into a dangerous type of ammunition.
“Teargas canisters can inflict serious ‒ even life threatening ‒ wounds when fired directly at demonstrators, and that happened over and over again at Gezi Park,” said Human Rights Watch’s senior Turkey researcher Emma Sinclair-Webb. “The police and their commanders who used these canisters in such an irresponsible way should be held to account for inflicting unnecessary harm and endangering lives.”
The NGO’s appeal to Turkish authorities included these demands,
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The Turkish authorities should immediately issue improved guidelines on when and how teargas may be used.
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It must be clearly stressed in these guidelines that tear gas is not to be used in enclosed areas or fired directly at people.
- The authorities must try police officers who do not follow these guidelines.