TNT History Mini-Series: Bekir Ağa Prison - Turks in Turkish Hands/Part V

//Ed. note: In addition to describing the various types of 
torture he personally saw in Bekir Ağa Prison, Süleyman 
Sırrı also included passages from Rıza Nur's book 
"Cemiyet-i Hafiye" (Secret Society), which was published 
in 1912. Rıza Nur was in Bekir Ağa Prison at the same
time as Sırrı.

Rıza Nur had been given a death sentence but was 
pardoned by Cemal Paşa, one of the CUP leaders, and 
sent off to exile.  Years later, he was implicated in an
assassination attempt against Atatürk.  He fled Turkey
and returned after Atatürk's death in 1938.//
 




                                  'Domuz topu' (hog-tied ball)

Methods of Torture

The interrogation team had completed its duty.  We were all talking
among ourselves, relating how we were beaten and what other kinds of
tortures we experienced.  We even mimicked our torturers and made
each other laugh.  In this regard, the 'domuz topu' (hog-tied ball) stood
out.  One's legs are forceably folded and tied to the hands making the
person actually look like a ball.  But since not everyone's legs can be
easily folded all the way back, it is quite painful and makes breathing
difficult.

After being put in this ball position one is randomly smacked with a

bat all over.  Most of those who suffer this torture faint.  A can of water

poured over the head wakes one up, a cigarette is offered and then the

'kazıklama' torture begins, whereby the prisoner is made to kneel and 

a piece of wood the size of a wrist is placed between the legs.  If they

want to intensify the torture a bit more, just tying the prisoner's hands

behind his back is sufficient.

These tortures were implemented on all of us.  In fact, the sole of 

one fellow's foot exploded and a small bone flew off.  Another one's

big toe was torn off by a bat blow and blood spilled all over the floor. 

The toe was picked up and saved by Gendarmerie soldier Mustafa

Efendi, who was one of the beaters, and it was later displayed in the 

Parliament by Lutfi Fikri Bey (a CUP opponent).    

                       Lutfi Fikri Bey

Gendarmerie soldier Mustafa, who was a prisoner just like the rest of 

us, was forced to make us beat each other. One day I saw that another

beater, named Ömer, had his hand bandaged.  I asked him what had

happened and he said that he hurt his palm while beating prisoners.

Nevertheless, Salim Bey (prison warden) told Ömer to wrap a cloth

around the bat's handle and keep on beating the prisoners.  Ömer did

this but his hand became so badly hurt that he had to bandage his
hand, in addition to the bat handle. 

The large-link chain that was bound to 'Glasses' Mustafa and Hacı Kemal

was from the warship 'Mahmudiye'.  So when either of them had to relieve

himself three people had to help carry them to the lavatory.  When these

poor fellows were in the 'kazıklama' position the 100-kilogram chain was

wrapped around their necks.


                      Appropriate technology for torture.

In his book 'Cemiyet-i Hafiye' (secret society), Rıza Nur Bey wrote:

"There was a deep silence during the night.  I would stretch out on my

bed like free people do but plunge into terrible dreams.  Now and then,

from what seemed like beneath the floor, came earthquake-like sounds

that were actually the soul-rending clanking of the chains filling the 

entirety of the dungeon.  After these sounds passed, would come cries 

and screams, then moans and death-like groans."

"Once, I got up and asked a guard what these sounds were.  He told me

that a dog was dying, but it wasn't a dog.  It was a few innocent fellows

enduring torture and screaming and wailing from it.  Without a doubt,

these sounds were coming from desperate men, fed up with life." 

Another story from Rıza Nur Bey's book: "I awoke from a incredibly

horrible dream. In this woozy state, the cracking sounds of blows being
struck brought me to my senses.  My God! Some poor fellow was being
beaten to a pulp, shaking the walls of the entire dungeon. Together with
the bat-blows, the screams and moans of this fellow created a cacophony
of desperate and exhausting sounds."

"My hair stood on end from the terror it induced.  I was shaking violently. 
From one side came the terror of the bat-blows and the terrifying barking
orders of the tyrants inducing them.  From the other side, came the
prolonged sighs and moans of the victim bound to two parallel columns
in the dead of the night.  I thought of the overwhelming power of a just
God and this tyranny here on Earth.  Slowly I looked towards the
heavens and away from this den of terror."

//END of PART V//