Fake raid reveals Turkish police are a fear factor in society

Turkish police have come under the spotlight once again following an incident in which five people dressed as law enforcement officers stormed a restaurant and kidnapped a woman in Istanbul.

Fake raid reveals Turkish police are a fear factor in society

The incident happened in August but only came to light this week after suspects in the case were taken into custody.

The five suspects, dressed as police, raided a crowded restaurant and kidnapped a woman and then raped her for six hours. The kidnappers faced no resistance from fellow patrons or restaurant staff.

Security footage of the incident shows how one of the attackers dragged the 25-year-old woman 50 meters to a waiting car, while others beat waitresses working at the restaurant.

Media reports suggest that one of the suspects, Yusuf Kilic, planned with friends to kidnap the woman after she refused his advances on several occasions.

The attackers purchased the police costumes for around 85 YTL ($54), according to media reports.

The incident also sparked widespread public outrage, and was harshly condemned by local media.

While two top officials say citizens should not hesitate to demand police show their ID, experts say the incident is an important indicator of the "fear of police" anxiety that exists in Turkish society.

CITIZENS SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID

Istanbul police chief, Celalettin Cerrah, criticized fellow diners at the restaurant for not reacting to the stop the attack, for not demanding to see police IDs and for failing to contact the authorities to report the incident.

"Ask to see the ID of any individual who approaches you claiming, 'I am the police'. If you are suspicious of the identification, then contact the authorities," Cerrah told reporters on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek also said that no one should fear asking policemen to present their identification.

Despite EU-inspired efforts to bring police behavior in line with European standards, the police force remains among the least trusted institution in the country according to opinion polls. Controversially, the army tops the polls.

EXPERTS: PEOPLE AFRAID OF POLICE

Observers and experts say this incident clearly illustrates that Turkish citizens are afraid of police, which is why the attackers faced no resistance or questioning during the incident.

People are unaware of their rights when dealing with law enforcement officers, in addition to being clearly afraid of them, said Fatih Mahmutoglu, a professor at the Istanbul University.

hurriyet