We saw only one NGO - the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) – working in immigration detention. Since the failed coup of 2016, civil society organisations, some of which previously contributed to detention monitoring, have been largely banned from entering Turkey’s custodial institutions, and from supporting detainees. Amnesty International (2018), among others, have published worrying reports on the persecution of an array of NGOs and other human rights activists. Even after the state of emergency was lifted in July 2018, civil society organisations still have limited space to work and many human rights activists remain in prison[12]. Gaziantep immigration removal centre held 800 people, including children and people suspected of links to terrorist organisations, many of whom were Syrians. The facility was prison-like and the family unit was a lamentably poor and unstimulating environment for children. Children were largely confined to a single landing, had very little activity and no toys. Parents and centre psychologists described behavioural and emotional disorders among the children. Physical conditions in the suspected terrorist unit were adequate but the men had few activities. Five men currently detained in the centre had attempted suicide. Many detainees complained about the quality of legal representation. There was little governance around use of force or isolation and no staff training in restraint techniques. Despite the Gaziantep centre director saying that he was unaware of any violence of bullying, during our visit we saw an apparent assault of a detainee by an officer and were told of other instances of mistreatment. During the visit, members of the NPM spent a considerable amount of time meeting privately with detainees to build a picture of their daily lives, and establish concerns from their first-hand accounts. In a final meeting with the director, the NPM coordinator systematically raised points emerging from the monitoring visit. The director was informed that an official letter would be sent to him requesting further information. The monitoring visit lasted about 10 hours. We visited the three units identified by the NPM as presenting the highest potential risks: the unit for suspected terrorists, the unit for families with children and a vulnerable detainees landing. [12] European Commission: ‘Key findings of the 2019 Report on Turkey’, Brussels, 29 May 2019. Last accessed 19.7.19. Available at: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_COUNTRY-19-2781_en.htm On alleged human rights abuses during the state of emergency, see the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (March 2018) Report on the impact of the state of emergency on human rights in Turkey, including an update on the South-East January-December 2017. Last accessed 23.7.19. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/TR/2018-03-19_Second_OHCHR_Turkey_Report.pdf. 04