Anti-torture protest with sacks in Turkey

The protestors carried the photos of Iraqi prisoners being tortured and banners with messages "Don’t remain silent against this torture," "U.S.-type democracy," "No to NATO meeting, we don’t want to see torturer killers in our country," received great interest from the people. The protest march started in Taksim Square and ended in front of Galatasaray High School.

Harshly criticizing the torture, Mazlumder Istanbul Branch Chairman Mustafa Ercan said the following: "We are right in our conjecture that those who have occupied Iraq for democracy and human rights, were not sincere and that they use democracy and human rights for their own political benefits. Iraqi people are treated very badly and that, they cannot explain it. We want the occupational forces to leave Iraq as soon as possible."

Journalist-writer Ali Bulac stated that the TV footage of the torture were just the visible part of the iceberg and said, "There are worse and more terrible treatments in Iraq."

OzgurDer Chairperson Hulya Sekerci said, "The U.S. and its compradors have made the world a blood bath. We don’t want the NATO meeting to take place in Turkey or U.S. President Bush to come to Turkey."

After speeches the protestors shouted slogans like "Damn U.S. imperialism," "Iraqi public is not alone."