E/CN.4/1994/31 page 121 585. Mehmet Keklik was reportedly arrested by the police on 27 May 1993 in Alçiçekköyü (his native village, close to Elbistan), along with six other persons from neighbouring villages. He was being held at the State security prison at Malatiya (Devlet Güvenlik Mahkemesi). A relative who was able to see him allegedly reported that Mehmet Keklik had been so badly tortured that his face was difficult to recognize. (13 July 1993) 586. Nezahat Özmen, correspondent for the Özgür Gündem newspaper, was detained on 16 July 1993 in Mardin. According to the reports, on 19 July 1993 she had to be transferred to hospital as a result of the ill-treatment she had suffered while in detention, in spite of being seven months pregnant. The police reportedly came to the hospital and insisted that she be taken before a judge and formally arrested, although she was in need of continuing medical treatment. She was then committed to Mardin prison. (2 August 1993) 587. On 22 September 1993 the Government replied that Nezahat Özmen had been taken into police custody on 19 July 1993 for making unfounded accusations and for offensive and insulting behaviour towards the police. A statement had been taken from her, and the same day she had appeared before the Government Procurator, who had immediately referred her to the magistrates’ court at Mardin. By decision of 19 July 1993, the court had ruled that she should be placed in detention. Before being brought before the judicial authorities, Nezahat Özmen had undergone two medical examinations, followed by reports on her state of health. According to these medical reports there were no traces of blows or wounds on her person and she made no mention of any ailment. After her statement was taken on 19 July 1993, she had said that she was six or seven months pregnant, whereupon she had been taken to the appropriate doctor. Her situation having been taken into consideration, she had been brought before the court that same day. 588. Ahmet Ibili, correspondent for the weekly newspaper Mücadele in Mersin, was reportedly arrested when the police raided the office of the newspaper on 18 August 1993. Ahmet Ibili was said to have resisted and, in response, to have had his head hit against the floor until he lost consciousness. He was reportedly taken to the Mersin police headquarters where, according to witnesses, he was being subjected to severe torture and death threats and he was being denied water. (1 September 1993) 589. On 23 November 1993 the Government replied that this person had been taken into custody on 17 August 1993. After being interrogated the judicial authorities had issued an order of detention against him. Medical reports indicated that he had not been submitted to torture while in custody. 590. Abdullah Ay and Semsettin Ay, from Kelekçi village; Mehmet Tekin, Ömer Ünal and Mecit Memiç from Kayikli village: according to the reports, on 27 July 1993, village guards and the security forces set fire to houses in Kelekçi, Günegli and Kayikli near Dargeçit, province of Mardin, on the border with Syria. This was reportedly done in retaliation for the villagers’ refusal to take up arms as village guards. The villagers were then driven away, but returned later and tried to rebuild their villages. On 30 August, village guards from neighbouring Altinoluk came again to these villages, with a team from the gendarmerie (soldiers carrying out police duties in rural areas), gathered the inhabitants together and told them to leave, threatening,