Police Shoots Man to Death in Ankara

Police officers shot Cem Aygün to death in Ankara's Keçiören district at around 11:30 on Thursday after he allegedly failed to comply with their orders to stop. Aygün, 24, died of three bullet wounds on his back.

"Is there such a law that tells the police to grab their weapons and kill people? How could a police officer take my own life away? I will not back down on this until the last drop of my blood. I [will] sue these officers. I would go to hell for my child if necessary," İsmet Aygün, the victim's father, told bianet.

Aygün said his son's funeral ceremony had taken place today, adding that the officials had not even provided him with any explanation and merely offered their condolences.

"They took me to the police station. An officer walked in after half an hour and merely [offered his condolences.] They said nothing more. No official could step forward and explain how the incident took place. They always watch out after the police. My son died, and the police are in their homes," he said.

"Having a criminal record is no reason to shoot someone"

Ali Gölpunar, the Ankara Provincial Manager of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) and the headman of the 19 Mayıs Neighborhood where the incident happened, said the affair had nothing to do with politics.

Cem Aygün had been sentenced to 13 months in prison for causing injury to a person and was released 50 days ago following the ratification of the Third Judicial Package, Gölpunar told bianet.

Aygün had been on probation since then, but the fact that he had a criminal record does not mean the police had to shoot him, he added.

Gölpunar then provided an account of the incident as follows:

*Two female friends of Cem had a disagreement, and Cem took both of them to his car where they began to talk about how to resolve their issue. One of the women's fingers was slit during the ensuing quarrel. Cem then told the women they were fighting despite the fact that he had come to reconcile them. He subsequently took one of them to hospital and got the other woman out of his vehicle. The woman who exited the vehicle filed a complaint with the police, arguing that she had been battered.

*The police stopped Cem and his injured friend while they were coming of out the hospital. Cem had been visiting the local police station to sign related documents at 19:00 every night, as he had been on probation since he came out of prison 50 days ago. He also did community service at a shelter home. The police knew everything about him.

*The two police officers who were new on their jobs reportedly stopped Cem and asked to see his identity card. When the police was about to run a background check, however, Cem told them in reproach that he was visiting the local police station every day anyhow.

*A quarrel then broke out and Cem began running away, according to the police. The police then fired ten rounds from his back, and three of those bullets struck him. Reports indicate that the two officers are under custody, but there is no clear and definitive information yet.

KESK launches protest meeting

The Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) also issued a press statement in relation to the incident.

The police killed Aygün solely because he did not comply with their orders to stop, Mevlüt Çakmak, the term president of the KESK's Ankara Branches Platform, said in the statement.

The KESK also called all Ankara residents to participate in a press meeting to be held on Friday evening at 18:00 on Yüksel Avenue. (EKN)