İZMİR- Police who makes criminal record check to the people according to their looks and their birth places, illegally check their phones to see their social media shares and takes them under custody. Attorney Zafer İncin drew attention to the fact that courts are condoning this.

 

In Izmir, many people, especially young people, are detained following the General Information Survey (GBT) on the grounds of  reasonable suspicion.Police are checking people's social media accounts illegally taking their phones even though they dont have a warrant for search or arrest.After examining the social media accounts for their past shares, the custody process is applied.Detainees are either released or gets arrested  on the grounds of  'making propaganda for an illegal organization' .

 

Attorney Zafer İncin evaluated the situation:

Incin stating that police are illegaly taking statements down, said: The police has an authority to ask for ID's. Yet, these days they are illegally taking people's phones checking their social media accounts. We are trying to raise this issue in the courts. To confiscate people's phone without warrants and check them is illegal. In spite of this, the courts do not take much consideration, although we have often demanded acquittal.Courts often tolerate or endorse the unauthorized search of the police unlawfully."

 

İncin stated: 'In the recent days, the state conducts social media operations withouth any concrete evidence just to intimidate them. Even though they write that the phone was given willingly in the record, we know they are not given willingly.The privacy of private life is also violated here.Police check people's phones according to their looks and birth places. So to say, people from east and south east are being seen a potential criminal."