Hundreds of people gathered at Taksim Square in Istanbul on Monday evening to protest against the torture inflicted on members of Grup Yorum music band and of People’s Front political organization. The demonstration protest was also supported by a large number of artists.

Heavy security measures were taken in the area where protestors were followed by police and surrounded by panzer vehicles during their march to Galatasaray Square.

Making a speech on the case of torture against members of a music band, Grup Yorum member Cihan Keþkek said that; “Those performing art for people have never bowed to the repression they faced and therefore  we will continue to bear this honor in our revolutionary art struggle, just like we have been doing for the last 27 years.”

In an interview to ANF on 16 September, lawyer Taylan Tanay said that “Grup Yorum members were tortured in custody after they were detained by police along with 26 others on 14 September during and after the delivery of body of Ýbrahim Çuhadar who carried out an armed attack on Gazi Police Headquarters on the 11th and lost his life in the same attack.

Lawyer Tanay noted that all detainees, including two Yorum members Selma Altýn and Ezgi Dilan Balcý, have been in custody and subjected to torture since the detentions. Tanay added that the injuries caused by police torture have also been reported by a doctor.