SRL Talks #3: Weaponization of Torture by Autocratic Regimes: The Case of Türkiye
Date: June 5, 2025
Organizer: Security Studies and Rule of Law Association (SRL Swiss)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Kutluer Karademir, Teesside University, United Kingdom
The third event in the SRL Talks series focused on the use of torture and ill-treatment as instruments of repression and control within authoritarian political environments, with Türkiye as the principal case study.
In his presentation, Dr. Kutluer Karademir examined the issue from the perspectives of policing, public policy, human rights and the rule of law. The discussion addressed how weakened legal safeguards, institutional practices and limited accountability mechanisms can create conditions in which torture and ill-treatment become broader structural concerns rather than isolated individual acts.
The webinar also explored the relationship between state power, policing, accountability and fundamental rights, emphasizing the importance of independent oversight, effective investigations and judicial safeguards in preventing torture and ill-treatment.
Using Türkiye as the central case study, the session considered how coercive practices can affect democratic institutions, public trust and the protection of human dignity. The discussion highlighted the continuing importance of human rights standards, accountability and the rule of law in preventing abusive practices and strengthening institutional safeguards.