There is a deafening silence about torture in the international response to the attempted Turkish coup. This will suit President Erdogan.

Even before the events of the last seven days, torture was a regular feature of the government’s approach to managing political dissent. Now more than ever, Erdogan needs to be reminded of his international human rights obligations and the damage he will inflict on Turkey’s future if his crackdown looks like that of his Syrian neighbour Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey is a country with a deeply chequered reputation on human rights – a reputation that is, sadly, not unjustified. Unlike its Middle Eastern neighbours, Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe and is bound by the European Convention of Human Rights. It is also a longstanding signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. So it would be fair to assume that it has been valiantly working to end torture practices. But this is not the case.

The European Court of Human Rights has frequently found Turkey to be in breach of the absolute ban on torture and our clients at Freedom from Torture are living proof that it continues to take place under Erdogan’s government.

In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Show all 17 1 /17 In pictures: Turkey coup attempt In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Erdogan attends the funeral service for victims of the thwarted coup in Istanbul at Fatih mosque on July 17, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey Burak Kara/Getty Images In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soldiers involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge with their hands raised in Istanbul on 16 July, 2016 Gokhan Tan/Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A civilian beats a soldier after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 REUTERS/Murad Sezer In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Surrendered Turkish soldiers who were involved in the coup are beaten by a civilian Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Soliders involved in the coup attempt surrender on Bosphorus bridge Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wave flags as they capture a Turkish Army vehicle Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People pose near a tank after troops involved in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, 16 July, 2016 Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Brigde Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt A Turkish military stands guard near the Taksim Square in Istanbul Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Pierre Crom/Twitter In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers secure the area as supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim square AP In pictures: Turkey coup attempt People demonstrate in front of the Republic Monument at the Taksim Square in Istanbul Murad Sezer/Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish soldiers detain police officers during a security shutdown of the Bosphorus Bridge Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish Army armoured personnel carriers in the main streets of Istanbul Getty In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Chaos reigned in Istanbul as tanks drove through the streets EPA/TOLGA BOZOGLU In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks to media in the resort town of Marmaris Reuters In pictures: Turkey coup attempt Supporters of President Erdogan celebrate in Ankara following the suppression of the attempted coup Reuters

Despite Turkey’s announcement that it will “suspend the ECHR”, it is not off the hook. It is not possible, even in a state of emergency, for a party to the convention to ‘opt out’ of the absolute ban on torture – no matter how much President Erdogan wishes differently.

Our specialist clinicians provide therapy and forensically document torture of people who have sought refuge in the UK. Turkey has consistently been one of our top 10 countries of origin for referrals and last year moved up this ignominious league table to number five.

Two months ago, our clinicians raised their concerns with me about the horrific torture they were hearing about and forensically documenting for Turkish survivors this year. Over the last 25 years we have heard and documented harrowing cases of repeated beatings and electrocutions; of the horrific rape and sexual torture endured by men and women in Turkey. All while being interrogated, often about political activity.

These types of torture are well known to have devastating consequences for mental and physical health. Our clients struggle with flashbacks, nightmares and suicidal thoughts.

Many report experiencing torture because of a real or perceived link to Kurdish causes, viewed by elements of the Turkish government as an intense threat to national security. Given the current security crisis we can expect a similarly brutal response. The removal of thousands of judges from their posts is particularly worrying in its potential to remove the opportunity for implementation of already weak protections against torture or guarantees of due process.

In light of this, it is shocking that the joint statement by John Kerry and Francesca Mogherini at this month’s EU Foreign Affairs Council, reminding Turkey of its EU aspirations and Nato commitments, failed to specifically mention the very severe risk of torture and ill treatment of those who are being rounded up. It is also alarming that there has been no action to rescind the highly controversial EU-Turkey refugee deal.

How the government acts in the coming months to bring the coup plotters to justice will be a litmus test of President Erdogan’s commitment to human rights. Of course the government needs to investigate the attempted coup and hold those responsible accountable. But it needs to do so while respecting the rule of law and due process. There is a clear role for the international community in restraining Turkey from repressive acts. As the crisis in Syria demonstrates, torture is a violation of the most basic principles of international law, it is also a disastrous way to try and secure long-term political stability.