Diyarbakır Bar: Shooting of Kurkut is a Violation of Right to Live

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Diyarbakır Bar Association has issued a statement on Kemal Kurkut, who was shot to death by police during the Newroz celebrations. The bar said they it will pursue the investigation with determination.

Kurkut, who was studying at İnönü University Fine Arts Faculty Department of Music, lost his life by being shot by police at security check point during Newroz celebrations on March 21.

Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair Ahmet Özmen said, “The footage of the moment in which Kemal Kurkut was shot displays that the incident is a violation of right to live. Diyarbakır Bar will pursue the investigation with determination”.

The bar also demanded those who are responsible for the incident be suspended from duty.

What happened?

Kemal Kurkut was shot to death by police at security check point on Evrim Alataş street near Newroz Park in Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır province on March 21.

In the photos taken at the incident time, Kurkut was seen bare-chested quarreling with police at the check point and starting to run passing through the check point. As some of the police fire in the air, some others fire on him.

dihaber reported that Kurkut was shot despite a police chief ordering “Don’t shoot”.

Diyarbakır Governorship declared that Kurkut had a knife in his hand, he was “suspected to be a suicide attacker”, and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

Born in Adıyaman, Kurkut was a student at İnönü University Fine Arts Faculty Department of Music.

His funeral was held yesterday (March 22) in Batalgazi district of Malatya province. (AS/TK)