The Turkish young man who went missing in Marmaris has emerged in Rhodes: The family is shaken by allegations of torture.

In Marmaris district of Muğla, it has been reported that 16-year-old high school student Hüseyin Sebeb, who allegedly went missing while working on a boat on August 16, is being held in custody by Greek security forces in Rhodes. Hüseyin Sebeb’s sister, Damla Madan, expressed that her brother called her for help, saying, “My brother told me he was tortured there and that he was subjected to violence because he had no money in his pocket.”

Speaking on the program ‘Haberin İçinden’ with Pınar Ergüner on TGRT News, Damla Madan, while sharing that her brother Hüseyin Sebeb reached out to her and said he was being held in a police station in Rhodes, could not hold back her tears in her helplessness. Describing the moments when she heard her brother’s voice, Madan stated, “My brother called me yesterday; he was able to reach us through a gentleman there. He said, ‘Sister, I am in custody at the police station in Rhodes. They are holding me here; I went to court on October 31, and they said they wouldn’t release me; they treated me very harshly.’ He said he was tortured there and that he was subjected to violence because he had no money in his pocket. They said if he had some money, he could hire a lawyer. He indicated that he was beaten because he did not have pocket money.”

Damla Madan noted that her brother informed her that other Turkish children were also in custody with him at the police station. Madan said, “Hüseyin told me that there are other Turkish children there, even children as young as 9-10 years old. My brother and the other children are being held in difficult conditions. ” Damla Madan stated that she could not reach the families of the other Turkish children in Rhodes and expressed that they were in poor conditions while in custody, saying, “These children’s families might think they are missing. But they are all here, being held in an open juvenile correctional facility in Rhodes. It is clear that most of these children have no connection to human smuggling. We do not understand why especially young children are being held here.”

“My brother is in a very difficult situation.”

Madan pointed out that her brother’s psychological health is deteriorating and requested help from state officials. Madan said, “My brother is experiencing psychological problems due to the lack of parental support. Now he is being tortured there, subjected to ill treatment. My brother is in a very difficult situation. He is hungry and thirsty, and because he has no money in his pocket, he is even having trouble reaching us.”

“Meeting is blocked under the confidentiality policy.”

Damla Madan stated that they have contacted the authorities in Rhodes, but their communication with her brother is blocked due to confidentiality policies. Madan continued, “Greek authorities do not allow us to meet with my brother under the pretense of a confidentiality policy. My brother says he is being tortured, but he is being hidden from us to prevent these claims from being heard. They did not inform us of his location. Now, they are trying to cover up the truth under the guise of confidentiality policy.”

Madan mentioned that she appeared on TGRT News to draw attention to her brother’s situation, saying that after this broadcast, officials in Rhodes contacted her brother. “Once the news aired, they contacted my brother because they were afraid. However, the obstructions continue under the excuse of confidentiality,” she said.

The family called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials

Damla Madan stated that they expect support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all authorities, saying, “We want my brother and the other children who are unjustly detained there to be rescued as soon as possible. Please help so that the trauma these young people are experiencing comes to an end.” The family hopes that the authorities will take action for the rescue of Hüseyin Sebeb from Rhodes and his return to Turkey.