Eight Hostage Soldiers Released from Custody

After a battle in Daglica, in the south-eastern province of Hakkari, in October, twelve soldiers had died and eight had been taken hostage by the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK).

When the soldiers were released several weeks later, they were immediately arrested and taken into military custody.

All soldiers released from custody 

At the first hearing at the Van Gendarmerie Public Order Corps Command Military Court in Van on Friday (1 February), the prosecution had demanded the release of seven of the soldiers, excluding Private Ramazan Yüce, who faces the most serious charges.

Surprisingly, the court decided to release all eight soldiers from custody. Yüce and others who had completed their military service will complete formalities to be released from military service, while those who are still soldiers were sent to the Central Command Headquarters.

Serious charges against the soldiers

The eight soldiers have been charged with “praising crime and a criminal”, “insisting on disobeying orders, which led to great damage”, “abetting the crime of destroying the unity of the state and the integrity of the country”, deserting abroad”, “continuously spreading the propaganda of a separatist terrorist organisation in the press and the media”, and “spreading propaganda, making suggestions and announcements in the press and media which alienate the public from military service”.

Private Ramazan Yüce is said to be accused of all six charges. Yüce spoke on the Kurdish Roj TV channel and is known to speak Kurdish. He has been accused of forming friendly relations with the PKK hostage takers, and seeming happy to be there. In addition, Yüce is said to have aroused the suspicion of  the other soldiers by telling them “They will release us in 15 to 20 days”, as if he were in the know.

Sergeant Halis Cagan has been charged with three charges, namely “violating the duties of a civil servant”, “insisting on disobeying orders, which led to great damage” and spreading terrorist propaganda in the press and media.” The other soldiers are all charged with disobedience and desertion.

While the prosecution has demanded a life sentence for Yüce, the other soldiers face punishments ranging from 3 months to 10 years imprisonment.

"We respect the court" 

After his release from custody, Yüce was able to embrace his mother Fatma Aydin: “I cannot express my feelings; I am so happy to be reunited with my mother. Our respect for the court is infinite. We expected such a decision, we have not committed any crime. We think the court’s decision is appropriate. We will respect whatever decision it reaches.” (TK/AG)