The United Nations Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that the imprisonment of former Turkish Air Force Commander Akın Öztürk, who was accused of being the “number one” orchestrator of Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt, is arbitrary and violates international law. The panel has called for his immediate release, compensation, and an investigation into those responsible for his alleged mistreatment, according to a ruling issued in August 2024 and made public this week.
Öztürk, sentenced to 141 aggravated life terms and thousands of years in prison for allegedly playing a key role in Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt, was arrested without a warrant, denied a fair trial, and subjected to torture, the UN panel found.
The 13-page ruling, which has been delivered to Öztürk’s lawyers, states that Turkish authorities failed to present concrete evidence linking him to the coup. Instead, the case against him relied on coerced testimonies, unreliable witnesses, and manipulated or withheld evidence. According to the findings, Öztürk had actually attempted to prevent the coup and acted on orders from senior military officials to stop the uprising. Despite this, state-controlled media quickly labeled him as the coup’s leader, initiating a coordinated smear campaign. On July 16, 2016, hours after the coup was suppressed, he was detained without a formal charge and later tortured in custody. Reports indicate that he was subjected to beatings, forced nudity, acid being poured on his fingernails, and prolonged sleep deprivation.
His trial was marked by serious irregularities. Key exculpatory evidence was omitted, and witness testimonies obtained under duress were admitted in court. Prosecution witnesses testified in private sessions rather than in open court, and crucial security camera footage from July 15 was selectively edited, with only 101 hours presented instead of the full 319 hours of raw footage. Military officials reviewing the evidence were later revealed to be plaintiffs in the case. Öztürk was also forced to appear in a public “shame walk” before an angry crowd at his trial, further violating his rights.
The UN panel’s decision highlights a broader pattern of arbitrary imprisonments in Turkey since 2016. The Working Group urged Turkish authorities to immediately release Öztürk, compensate him for wrongful imprisonment, conduct an independent investigation into his arrest and trial, hold accountable those responsible for due process violations and human rights abuses, and allow international observers access to detention facilities to assess prison conditions.
The Turkish government, in response to the UN panel’s inquiries, denied all allegations and insisted that Öztürk’s conviction was lawful. However, the UN Working Group rejected Turkey’s claims, stating that the government failed to refute the allegations with evidence and that Turkey’s emergency measures following the coup did not justify the violations in Öztürk’s case. The arbitrary nature of his detention was found to be in clear violation of international human rights law. The panel further emphasized that arbitrary arrests, torture, and politically motivated trials could constitute crimes against humanity if found to be widespread or systematic.
Despite multiple legal appeals, Öztürk remains in solitary confinement in an Ankara prison, a condition the UN panel described as cruel and inhumane treatment. His lawyers have raised serious concerns about his health, prompting the UN Working Group to launch an “urgent action” procedure to address the issue. The ruling also noted that his imprisonment is part of a larger crackdown in Turkey following the failed 2016 coup, during which thousands of military officers, journalists, academics, and civil servants were arrested, dismissed, or exiled.
See the full report below.
