Confidentiality Order Lifted in Case of Suspicious Death of Rabia Naz

First recorded as suicide, the death of Rabia Naz was heard in the public after her father pursued the case what he claims was a murder.

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Confidentiality Order Lifted in Case of Suspicious Death of Rabia Naz

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The confidentiality order on the case of the suspicious death of Rabia Naz Vatan has been lifted, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Sevda Erdan-Kılıç has announced.

Rabia Naz (11) lost her life in April 2018 after being found injured in front of her family's house in the northern Giresun province. Although her death was recorded as suicide, her father Şaban Vatan has pursued the case, claiming that Rabia Naz was killed by a relative of the former mayor of the Eynesil district in Giresun.

Erdan-Kılıç, also a member of the parliamentary investigation committee on suspicious child deaths, spoke to the daily BirGün after the committee's investigation in the place where Rabia Naz lost her life in Eynesil.

The committee met with the family of Rabia Naz and walked on the roads where she passed on the day she died, she said, adding that the committee's on-scene examination is important to prevent a "cover-up."

Şaban Vatan also accompanied the committee through the walk, telling them about his suspicions, Erdan-Kılıç said.

The confidentiality order on the case was removed during the committee's visit to Giresun, she noted.

The committee

A committee for the "investigation of suspected child deaths, especially the death of Rabia Naz Vatan, and determination of measures to be taken in this regard" was established in July.

Here are the members of the committee:

Chairperson: Cengiz Aydoğdu (AKP)
Deputy Chair: Osman Mesten (MHP)
Spokesperson: Zeynep Gül Yılmaz (AKP)
Clerk: Ahmet Özdemir (AKP)

Members

Justice and Development Party (AKP): Pakize Mutlu Aydemir, Cengiz Demirkaya

CHP: Jale Nur Süllü, Necati Tığlu, Sevda Erdan Kılıç

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): Cemal Enginyurt

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP): Filiz Kerestecioğlu

İYİ (Good) Party: Hayrettin Nuhoğlu

What happened?

Rabia Naz Vatan was found injured in front of her home in Eynesil, Giresun on April 13, 2018. While the police records said that the girl committed suicide by jumping from the terrace of her family's home, her father claimed that she was killed.

"A car hit my daughter but the hit was not strong enough to result in her death. Those who hit Rabia Naz then brought her near my house to make the incident look like my daughter committed suicide. My daughter lost her life because of blood loss," he said.

Vatan said that the person who hit her daughter by a car was the nephew of Eynesil Mayor Coşkun Somuncuoğlu, according to the information he obtained.

Vatan also claimed that the case was covered up after the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Giresun MP Nurettin Canikli intervened in.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu met with Vatan in February on the killing of his daughter. He told bianet after that the meeting took 10 minutes.

Giresun Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said on Mach 20 that the Görele Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is currently conducting the investigation into the incident and the search for evidence is still continuing.

On March 21, Şaban Vatan was taken into custody upon the complaint of his brother and referred to a mental institution for a mental health check. Father Vatan was then released from detention the next day, on March 22.
On March 26, father Vatan deposed at the security directorate upon the criminal complaint of AKP MP Nurettin Canikli

On April 10, the Giresun Penal Court of Peace has ruled that Şaban Vatan shall be hospitalized in Samsun Mental Health Institution to determine whether he is mentally sound or not. Vatan has referred to the verdict as "a downright injustice."

(TP/VK)