Lawsuit by AKP MP Nurettin Canikli Against Father of Rabia Naz Vatan

Click to read the article in Turkish

İstanbul MP of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Nurettin Canikli has filed a criminal complaint for defamation against Şaban Vatan, the father of Rabia Naz Vatan, who suspiciously lost her life in Giresun.

While it is alleged that Rabia Naz Vatan lost her life by committing suicide or falling from a higher place, her father Şaban Vatan argues that his daughter was run over by a car, adding that the issue has been covered up after AKP MP Nurettin Canikli intervened in the incident.

Posting a series of messages on his Twitter account, AKP's Nurettin Canikli has stated that he does not have any connection with the incident and, if needs be, his parliamentary immunity can be lifted so that the suspicious death of the child can be brought to light.

Canikli has tweeted the following messages:

'It doesn't aim his messages about his daughter'

"I called our Ministers of Interior and Justice regarding the death of Rabia Naz Vatan and requested that all allegations regarding the incident be extensively investigated in such a way to remove the claims and doubts of the father and the truth be brought to light as soon as possible.

"The Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) has also sent inspectors to determine whether the previous investigation was properly conducted. Moreover, the investigation has been launched again. The Ministry of Interior has also launched an investigation again.

"I submitted a parliamentary inquiry, requesting that a 'Parliamentary Investigation Committee' be established and the incident be investigated in its all aspects by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).

"I have not filed a lawsuit for a long time, thinking that the father has been displaying such behavior because he is in sorrow. In fact, I withdrew the lawsuit that I filed in the first place."

Stating that the lawsuits he is filing are about "the insults and defamations", Canikli has added, "This criminal complaint does not aim to prevent posts and allegations of the father about the death of Rabia Naz Vatan."

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."

(AÖ/SD)