10.  The applicants, who were born in 1962 and 1966 respectively, live in Mardin. 11.  On 4 January 1998 police officers from the Mardin Security Directorate, together with soldiers from the gendarmerie station, arrived in Yüceli village and gathered the villagers in the village square. 20 villagers, including the applicants, were asked to indicate the places where PKK members were hiding. Subsequently the applicants were taken to the Mardin Security Directorate. 12.  On 5 January 1998 the applicants were examined by a forensic doctor. According to the medical report, the first applicant bore a swelling measuring 8 by 3 cm on the right side of his chin, a laceration and bruising measuring 4 by 3 cm on the back of his right shoulder, a laceration measuring 6 by 2 cm on the left tibia, widespread old scars measuring 8 and 3 cm on the right knee, a laceration measuring 4 by 3 cm on the left calf and widespread lacerations around the lips. Another report was prepared for the second applicant, which noted the presence of old abrasions measuring 4 by 3 cm on his left tibia and 2 by 2 cm on his right tibia and 13 or 14 old scars on his right arm. 13.  Following the medical examinations, the applicants were brought back to the Mardin Security Directorate and placed in custody. During their custody period, the applicants were blindfolded, stripped naked, subjected to verbal abuse, hosed with cold water, beaten with a truncheon, strung up by their arms and electric shocks were administered on their bodies. They were also threatened with death and forced to sign statements. 14.  On 8 January 1998 the applicants were medically examined by a doctor once again. The doctor drew up reports and noted the presence of various injuries similar to those recorded in the medical reports of 5 January 1998. 15.  On 8 January 1998 the applicants were brought before the Mardin Magistrate Court in Criminal Matters. The first applicant admitted before the judge that he had helped the PKK in the past by buying and transferring food for its members. The second applicant denied the charges against him however accepted that he had bought food for PKK members on one occasion. The court ordered their detention on remand. 16.  On 21 January 1998 the chief public prosecutor at the Diyarbakır State Security Court filed an indictment with the court and charged the applicants with membership of the PKK. The charges were brought under Article 168 § 2 of the Criminal Code and Article 5 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Law no. 3713). 17.  On 23 January 1998 the applicants were brought before the Diyarbakır State Security Court for a preliminary hearing. In view of the nature of the offence and the evidence contained in the file, the court ordered the applicants to remain in detention on remand. 18.  On 19 March 1998, the applicants’ lawyer asserted before the court that the applicants had been tortured by police officers from the Mardin Security Directorate. He accordingly requested that criminal proceedings be instigated against the police officers. The court decided to consider this request at a later stage. 19.  On 28 May 1998 the applicants argued before the court that their police statements had been extracted under torture. As the second applicant was suffering from tuberculosis, they asked the court to release the second applicant on bail. This request was rejected. 20.  On 26 November 1998 the Diyarbakır State Security Court found the first applicant guilty of aiding and abetting a terrorist organisation under Article 169 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to three years and nine months’ imprisonment. The court further acquitted the second applicant of the charges against him. 21.  The first applicant appealed against the judgment. He submitted to the Court of Cassation that he had been subjected to torture under custody and that the ill-treatment was proved by two medical reports. 22.  On 6 July 1999 the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal. 23.  No criminal proceedings have been brought against the police officers who had allegedly tortured the applicants.