ECHR Convicts Turkey of Police Fire
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a verdict on the case of Şamil Camekan who was shot by police in 2000.
The court found Turkey guilty of the lack of efficient and rapid investigation regarding right to life.
Turkey was ordered to pay 6,000 euros as non-pecuniary damages and 2,000 for court expenses.
It took 12 years to issue a verdict
On December 10, 2000, Şamil Camekan was shot by police in Istanbul’s Okmeydani district along with his two friends. All three fired back at the police, causing an armed clash. While Camekan’s friend Özkan Tekin died, Şükrü Yıldız got severely injured. Camekan was shot in the ear.
According to a medical report by Turkey’s Forensics Institute on December 17, Camekan was only shot in the ear and he didn’t have a critical health situation.
Camekan, on the other hand, claimed that he was subjected to torture and made a complaint.
13 policemen were ordered to stand trial for “willful murder” according to Turkish Penal Code Article 448 and “excessive willful murder” according to Turkish Penal Code Article 463 separately.
Following the investigation on Tekin’s killing, Beyoğlu District Prosecutor’s Office decided not to follow charges for Şamil Camekan and Şükrü Yıldız for “property damage and attempted murder of policemen”.
On May 24, 2012, Beyoğlu 1st High Criminal Court acquitted the policemen, saying that they defended themselves. The case has been appealed.
In 2008, Camekan applied to ECHR, saying that the investigation process was not completed at a reasonable period. ECHR found Turkey guilty of the lack of efficient and rapid investigation regarding right to life. (AS/BM)