“Will PM Davutoğlu Apologize For Manipulating Public Opinion?"

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak deputy Faysal Sarıyıldız submitted an official inquiry to PM Ahmet Davutoğlu regarding the killing of 12 year old Nihat Kazanhan in the southeastern province of Şırnak on January 14. 

Mehmet Emin Kazanhan, the dead child’s father, said one policeman has been arrested even though there were supposedly three policemen in the incident scene. He also urged the authorities to apologize as PM Davutoğlu made an earlier statement claiming that “Nihat wasn’t killed by the police”.  

Reminding PM Davutoğlu’s statements that no policeman was responsible for the incident and that they didn’t use tear gas at the time of the incident, deputy Sarıyıldız wrote the following in his question: “On what ground and evidence could you say that the police didn’t use tear gas or weapons?  Why did you manipulate public opinion? Are you planning to apologize from the public due to such perception operation?”

Regarding the killing of Kazanhan, Interior Ministry said that police could be culpable. Soon after the statement yesterday, a special-op policeman was arrested. Fox News Turkey released a footage on the killing of Kazanhan on Wednesday.

“My son was killed with a purpose”

According to Cumhuriyet newspaper, Mehmet Emin Kazanhan said the following after emphasizing on the footage that showed how the incident took place:

“What about police using neither tear gas nor weapon. Interior Minister, PM was claiming that their police didn’t commit such an act. 

“According to the footage, after my son fell on the ground and during his hospitalization, police used both weapons and tear gas. What kind of conscience would accept this?

“What does a police officer from Mardin province have to do there? One policeman was arrested but there are actually three in the footage. And there are those who gave these orders. My son was killed with a purpose. If the state is sincere, they must apologize from me. Those who cry for Palestine, they become ignorant when our sons are dead.” (EKN/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.