CAT/C/TUR/CO/4 Allegations of extrajudicial killings and ill-treatment in the course of counter-terrorism operations 13. In addition to the allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees noted above, the Committee is concerned at reports it has received concerning the commission of extrajudicial killings of civilians by the State party’s authorities in the course of carrying out counter-terrorism operations in the south-eastern part of the country. The Committee regrets that the State party did not respond to requests for information as to whether investigations are under way into widely reported cases, such as the alleged killing by police snipers of two unarmed women, Maşallah Edin and Zeynep Taşkın, in the Cudi neighbourhood of Cizre on 8 September 2015. The Committee also regrets the failure by the State party to ensure accountability for the perpetrators of killings in cases previously raised by the Committee, such as the killing by security forces of Ahmet Kaymaz and his 12-year-old son Uğur in a counter-terrorism operation in November 2004, which was the subject of a decision of the European Court of Human Rights. The Committee is further concerned at reports that family members of those killed in clashes between security forces and members of armed groups have been denied the ability to retrieve their bodies, which has the effect of impeding investigations into the circumstances surrounding those deaths. Moreover, the Committee expresses its serious concern at reports that the imposition of curfews in areas in which security operations have taken place has restricted the ability of the affected populations to access basic goods and services such as health care and food, causing severe pain and suffering. 14. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Ensure that prompt, impartial and effective investigations are undertaken into all allegations of extrajudicial killing by the State party’s authorities, including the alleged killing of Maşallah Edin and Zeynep Taşkın by police snipers in Cizre on 8 September 2015, and that the perpetrators of such killings are prosecuted and held accountable; (b) Ensure that in all cases the family members of individuals killed in the course of counter-terrorism operations are given notice and a reasonable opportunity to retrieve their bodies, and investigate allegations that family members have been denied this opportunity in recent cases; (c) Promptly, impartially and effectively investigate allegations that the State party’s imposition of curfews during security operations has had the effect of depriving affected persons of access to food and health care, causing severe suffering; discipline or prosecute those responsible for the imposition of such ill-treatment; and take measures to ensure that measures taken in the course of future security operations do not have such effects. Excessive use of force against demonstrators 15. The Committee is concerned that allegations of excessive use of force against demonstrators have increased dramatically during the period under review. The Committee notes with regret that the State party’s investigations into the conduct of officials in the context of the 2013 Gezi Park protests in Istanbul and Ankara have not resulted in any prosecutions, despite the allegations of excessive use of force noted by observers, including the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee also regrets that the State party did not provide any data on the specific sentences, if any, that police officers tried on charges of excessive use of force during the reporting period had received. It further expresses concern over the recent legislative amendments in the Domestic Security Package granting additional powers 4