Activists allege sexual violence during detention in Turkey

German activists are alleging widespread abuse and sexual violence following their detention in Turkey. A group of 16 activists, including 13 women, traveled to Southeast Turkey and North Kurdistan in January at the invitation of the DEM Party to visit Kurdish initiatives. During their trip, the group was intercepted by military police and deportation authorities near Mardin and transported to Istanbul.

One activist, identified as Paula Maier, has publicly alleged that she was raped by a security official while in deportation custody in an Istanbul prison cell. Other members of the delegation have reported various forms of violence and mistreatment during their detention. The activists stated that such sexualized violence is often used as a tool against politically active women.

In response, the Federation of Class Struggle Organizations (FKO) has organized demonstrations across several German cities under the slogan ‘Your violence does not break us’. Cansu Özdemir, foreign policy spokesperson for the Left Party in the Bundestag, has called on the German government to ensure an independent and thorough investigation into the allegations and to provide necessary support to those affected.