‘Torture house’ found on Istanbul’s historic city walls, Syrian victims rescued

ISTANBUL

Photos: Doğan News Agency

Turkish police have discovered a house of horror in which a Syrian couple was reportedly tortured by a drug dealer on Istanbul’s historic city walls.

The suspect, identified as Suat Ş., was detained with nine other people on Aug. 17 after an informant told the police they were selling drugs in Istanbul’s historic Fatih neighborhood.

Suat Ş.’s home, a makeshift shack he built on the Silivrikapı section of the old city walls, was also raided. 


Syrian citizens Ali H. and his wife Hulud H. were found lying unconscious inside the shack, which was hidden from public eye by a municipal sign that apologizes for the ongoing construction at the site.


Police also found three pistols, two shotguns and illegal drugs in the shack.

After being rescued with injuries to their arms and legs, Ali H. reportedly told the police Suat Ş. had imprisoned him and his wife. The couple was tied to the old city wall with a dog leash, left without food for days and tortured by fire from a gas cylinder, he said. His wife was also raped, Ali H. added in his testimony.


The court arrested Suat Ş., who had previously been convicted for 13 crimes, while releasing the other suspects. 

Suat Ş. will be tried on charges including kidnapping, sexual assault, drug dealing and keeping unlicensed arms. 

The body of 33-year-old American tourist Sarai Sierra was found on Feb. 2, 2013, along another section of Istanbul’s city walls, near Sarayburnu beneath Topkapı Palace.

Ziya Tasalı, a drug user who murdered her, was sentenced to life in prison last year.