11 Doctors from Turkish Medical Association in Custody, Sealing Order on File
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11 Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Central Council members have been detained in seven different cities.
Speaking to bianet, lawyer Deniz Özbilgin expressed that the 11 doctors for whom detention warrants were issued have been detained, however, they couldn’t receive any official information from the prosecutor’s office since their detention proceedings weren’t completed, and that they couldn’t reach the documents.
Saying that there is a sealing order on the investigation file, Özbilgin expressed that he met with the four doctors, who were detained in Ankara, in the Ankara Security Directorate where they are kept. “They are fine, they send their regards to everybody outside”.
Police intervened in the crowd that gathered in front of the central council building to support the doctors, and detained some of them.
Seven cities, 11 doctors
Names of the detained doctors and the cities where they were detained are as follows:
İstanbul: Prof. Dr. Mehmet Raşit Tükel, Prof. Dr. Taner Gören.
Ankara: Dr. Hande Arpat, Prof. Dr. Sinan Adıyaman, Dr. Mehmet Sezai Berber, Dr. Selma Güngör.
Eskişehir: Dr. Bülent Nazım Yılmaz.
İzmir: Dr. Funda Barlık Obuz.
Adana: Dr. Dursun Yaşar Ulutaş.
Van: Dr. Ayfer Horasan.
Diyarbakır: Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp.
Besides, some documents were seized digital documents were copied during the search carried out in the building of TTB Central Council.
What happened?
On January 26, 2018, President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called TTB “terrorist lovers” at the Extended Provincial Chairs Meeting at the AKP Headquarters. The title of the declaration which Erdoğan denounced was “terrorist lovers”.
CLICK - Erdoğan Calls Turkish Medical Association 'Terrorist Lovers'
Erdoğan targeted the TTB in Çorum and Amasya as well yesterday (January 28). On his return from his inspection at the Repatriation Center in Antep, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu told journalists that he would file a criminal complaint against the TTB.
Prof. Erez had spoken to bianet
Speaking to bianet, Chair of İstanbul Chamber of Medicine Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erez had said:
“We the doctors always prefer peace over war.
“Our sensitivity naturally increases when it comes to a war that will end the life our soldiers, in other words our children. However, our sensitivity applies to our neighbours as well. This cannot be interpreted as terrorist loving”.
Investigation was launched
On January 28, the Ministry of Interior declared that it will file a criminal complaint to Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against the TTB Central Council members.
CLICK - Ministry of Interior to File Criminal Complaint Against Turkish Medical Association
An investigations was launched upon the criminal complaint on January 29.
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Declaration of the TTB We the doctors warn: War is a human-made matter of public health causing harm in nature and human and threatening public life. Every conflict, every war brings a huge humanitarian tragedy with it by causing irreparable physical, psychological, social and environmental damages. As member of a profession that vows to make people live, we keep in mind that advocating life and looking out for the peace climate is our primary duty. The only way to deal with war is to perpetuate a fair, democratic, equalitarian, independent and peaceful life. No to war, peace right now! |
(AS/TK)