Turkey: UN experts on arbitrary detention visit Turkey

At the conclusion of its visit to Turkey from 9-20 October, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention welcomed the strengthened safeguards against arbitrary detention in the criminal justice system. The experts nevertheless expressed concerns at the lower procedural standards applicable to terrorism cases, including the power of the police to detain suspects in custody for up to four days and to deny lawyers access to evidence for up to six months. The experts also criticized the large number of cases where individuals suspected of terrorism were detained on remand for several years.