European Court of Human Rights: Kurt Vs Turkey Kurt Judgment of 25 May 1998

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
KURT vs TURKEY
(15/1997/799/1002)
KURT JUDGMENT OF 25 MAY 1998
Group B
23 to 25 November 1993 - security forces operation- Kurdish Workers

Party (PKK). - zeyir spent the night of 2425 with soldiers - She saw
bruises and swelling on his face as though he had been beaten. - zeyir
told her that he was cold.- She returned with his jacket and socks applicant applied to find out information on the whereabouts of her son. - On 14
December 1993 National Security Court in Diyarbakr - On 28 February 1994 - She
denied in her statement to the public prosecutor that the villagers had been
tortured - Complaint against applicants lawyer, she did not case against
State but just son, Government said, he joined PKK, house burned down he wan seen one month back in tent,- evidence of villagers escaping to
mountains on military actions poor weather dark Govt made witness
that he went on his own that night there was no military action
Government/Commission found intimidation of her and her lawyer
statement from 12 villagers PKK kidnapped zeyir March 1994domestic authority dismissed the case
ECHR Commission Written and oral evidence oral testimony of
villagers- Bismil district public prosecutor 13 witness summoned- 6
Some important points from case document

Turkey Governments Preliminary Objections Dismissed
A. Non-validity of application
B. Non-exhaustion of domestic remedies
Article 2 : Right to life. Unlawful deprivation

Article 3 : Prohibition of torture. torture/inhuman/degrading
treatment/punishment
Article 5 : Right to liberty and security. Lawful/unlawful arrest, inform, communicate,
produce
Article 13 : Right to an effective

remedy
Article 14 : Non-Discrimination
Section III, Article 25 : Commission Right to receive complaints. 6 High
Contracting parties.
Article 50 : non-pecuniary damage as well as reimbursement of costs and
expenses .
Article 32 1 (Committee of Ministers, 2/3 majority) and

Article 47(Failure of efforts and friendly settlement) of the
Convention Complaint made under
Article 25 Complaint lodged with the commission by a
Turkish national.
Turkish Constitutional Provision, Article 125
(Administrative liability)
(All acts or decisions of the administration are subject to judicial review ...
The administration shall be liable to indemnify any damage caused by its
own acts and measures. )
Turkish Criminal Code,

Article 179 (depriving liberty)
Article 191 (issue threats)
Article 243 and 245 ( torture or ill treatment)
Turkish- Code of Criminal Procedure

Article 151 and 153 offences complaints lodged with public prosecutor, investigate, initiate prosecution
decision
Article 148 Complainant may appeal against if prosecutor not order for criminal proceedings..
If Military under Article 152 of the Military Criminal Code.
Turkish- Civil-law provisions

Article 41 civil code, claim for compensation
Article 46 compensation
Article 47 non-pecuniary or moral damages Complainant may appeal against if prosecutor not order for
criminal proceedings..
International Conventions
- United Nations Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (G.A. res.
47/133, 18 December 1992)
- United Nations Human Rights Committee, acting within the framework of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has drawn up reports on a number of cases of forced disappearances:
- Article 5 4 of the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR concerning communication no. 563/1993: HRLJ vol. 17 nos.
12, p. 19).
- Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons (resolution adopted at the 7th Plenary
Session by the General Assembly, 9 June 1994,
Article 2 , forced disappearance

Article 4, responsibility of State,
Article 18 United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Resolution
663 C [XXIV] of the Economic and Social Council, of 31 July 1957)
Decree no 285. Earlier cases, Prevention of Terrorism Act 1981, Lack of legal
knowledge.
Submissions of Amnesty International written submissions.
(a) a deprivation of liberty; (b) by government agents or with their consent

or acquiescence; followed by (c) an absence of information or refusal to
acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or refusal to disclose the fate or
whereabouts of the person; (d) thereby placing such persons outside the
protection of the law.
Velsquez Rodrguez v. Honduras judgment of the Inter-American Court, Amnesty
International reported that the practice of disappearances often involves
the secret execution without trial and concealment of the body and that
the prolonged isolation and deprivation of an individual are in
themselves cruel and inhuman treatment, which is harmful to the
psychological and moral integrity of the victim..
amounts to a violation of Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights which mirrors Article 3 of the European Convention on Human
Rights
Rules of Court A, as a Chamber composed of the

following 9 judges:
Mr R. BERNHARDT, President, Mr F. GLCKL, Mr F.
MATSCHER, Mr L.-E. PETTITI, Mr I. FOIGHEL, Mr J.M.
MORENILLA, Mr G. MIFSUD BONNICI, Mr K. JUNGWIERT,
Mr U. LHMUS,
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT

Dismisses unanimously the Governments preliminary objection concerning the
1) validity of the applicants application; 2. non-exhaustion of domestic remedies;
3. Holds unanimously that it is not necessary to decide on the applicants complaint under
Article 2 of the Convention; and 4) respect of her son under Article 3 of the Convention;
5. Holds by six votes to three that there has been a violation of Article 5 of the Convention;
6) Article 3 of the Convention in respect of the applicant herself;
7. Holds by seven votes to two that there has been a violation of Article 13 of the
Convention; KURT JUDGMENT OF 25 MAY 1998 45
8. Holds unanimously that there has been no violation of Article 14 of the Convention taken
together with Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Convention; 9. no violation of Article 18 of the
Convention;
10. Holds by six votes to three that the respondent State has failed to comply with its
obligations under Article 25 1 of the Convention;
11. Holds by eight votes to one

(a) that the respondent State is to pay the applicant in respect of her son, within three
months, by way of compensation for non-pecuniary damage, 15,000 (fifteen thousand)
pounds sterling to be converted into Turkish liras at the rate applicable on the
date of settlement, which sum is to be held by the applicant for her son and his
heirs;
(b) that the respondent State is to pay the applicant, within three months, in respect
of compensation for non-pecuniary damage, 10,000 (ten thousand) pounds
sterling to be converted into Turkish liras at the rate applicable on the date of settlement;
Judge Matcher, partly dissenting opinion. Genuinely and honestly believed is not proof
Judge Golcuklu , dissenting opinion Art 13, no satisfactory and efficient investigation
Judge Pettiti, dissenting opinion. Majority held that person is suspected of serious
international crime case but applied personal conviction standard. Individual evidence is
weighed against that of all witness. Objective evidence and documents that convince the
judges beyond all reasonable doubt.

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EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

KURT JUDGMENT OF 25 MAY 1998

23 to 25 November 1993 - security forces operation- Kurdish Workers

Some important points from case document

B. Non-exhaustion of domestic remedies

Article 2 : Right to life. Unlawful deprivation

Article 13 : Right to an effective

Article 32 1 (Committee of Ministers, 2/3 majority) and

Turkish Criminal Code,

Turkish- Code of Criminal Procedure

Turkish- Civil-law provisions

Article 2 , forced disappearance

Submissions of Amnesty International written submissions.

(a) a deprivation of liberty; (b) by government agents or with their consent

Rules of Court A, as a Chamber composed of the

FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT

11. Holds by eight votes to one

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