Criminal Complaint About Death of 70-Year-Old Özçelik Following a Police Raid

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The family of 70-year-old Edibe Özçelik have filed a criminal complaint about the death of Özçelik, who fell ill during a police raid to her house in the district of Samandağ in Hatay and lost her life afterwards.

Submitting their petition to the Samandağ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the family have complained against both the police officers for ill treatment and misconduct in office and the prosecutor for issuing a search warrant for the house "based on unfounded, intangible information."

CLICK - 70-Year-Old Woman Dies After Falling Ill During Police Raid

'They didn't call an ambulance, nor did they let us do it'

In their complaint petition, Edibe Özçelik's sons Ümit Özçelik, Servet Özçelik and Behçet Özçelik have recounted the incident in following words:

"On January 10, 2020 at 5 a.m., police officers came to our house where we have been living since we were born. They did not knock on the door, but directly broke down the door and came in. They woke us by poking us with long-barreled guns. When we woke up, their guns were pointed at us and they only told us 'to lie on the floor' without saying anything else.

"Our mother fell ill during this ill treatment. We told them that she fell ill because she was afraid and an ambulance had to be called; however, the law enforcement officers did not take any action.

"Even some of them threatened us, saying 'Silence this woman or we will come again.' As my mother fainted shortly afterwards, they allowed us to take her to a hospital in our own vehicle. Our mother passed away in evening hours due to what happened on that day.

"And no elements of crime were found in the search that was conducted at the house. It is clear that the raid was carried out without any reasons, it was based on unrealistic information and aimed to disgrace our family in the eyes of others. The reason for raiding our house before even the dawn broke must be explained to us immediately.

"We complain against the police officers who conducted the search contrary to law and caused the death of our mother and against the prosecutor who issued a search warrant despite the absence of a criminal suspicion."

The prosecutor's office also took the deposition of the brothers.

The sons of Edibe Özçelik have been staging a sit-in-protest, demanding that the responsible parties be brought before the court. (AS/SD)