Mardin Kızıltepe Municipality Removes Statue of Kaymaz

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The trustee appointed to Mardin’s Kızıltepe Municipality has removed the statue of Uğur Kaymaz, who was killed aged 12 with 13 bullets along with his father in Mardin in 2004.

The statue of two children holding pigeon in their hands was erected by teacher Kamuran Aydoğan on August 4, 2009.

A trustee was appointed to the municipality on December 6, 2016.

According to a report by dihaber, anti-riot vehicles and armored vehicles removed the statue yesterday (June 11). As filming the removal of the statue was prevented by the police, it was not stated where the statue was taken to.

What happened?

Uğur Kaymaz (12) and his father Ahmet Kaumaz was murdered by law enforcers in Kızıltepe district in Mardin on November 21, 2004 on the grounds that they were “terrorists”.

Uğur Kaymaz was hit with 13, his father with eight bullets.

A lawsuit was brought against four police officers. The defendant police officers were released by the court pending a trial.

The court ordered acquittal of the police officers on the grounds of “self-defense”.

Following the acquittal, the family applied to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The ECtHR declared its decision in February 2014 and sentenced Turkey to pay for pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages.

Uğur Kaymaz’s mother Makbule Kaymaz was discharged from her job at the municipality through a statutory decree date November 23, 2016.

Makbule Kaymaz was working at the municipality as a cleaning worker for 12 years. (TP/EKN/TK)