‘What happened to M.H.Y, how did a little child hang himself?’

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İzmir MP Sevda Erdan Kılıç has submitted a Parliamentary inquiry and requested a Parliamentary investigation into "the allegation that 12-year-old M.H.Y. committed suicide while staying in the Muş Karlıyaka Quran Course as a boarder."

Against the background of this incident, the MP has demanded a Parliamentary investigation to "examine the allegations of sexual abuse and suicide about the children staying in the dormitories of religious communities and cults and quran course and to take measures."

While a confidentiality order has been reportedly imposed on the child's file, Erdan Kılıç has shared the family's remarks in the inquiry:

"Living in Diyarbakır, M.H.Y's family say they went to Muş upon a phone call; they were told that their child hanged himself to the toilet door with a belt.

'It is not even 1-meter high'

"Taken to the Muş Public Hospital in an unconscious state, the child's family says that they do not believe that their child committed suicide.

The family says, 'There is so much difference between the child's height and the door handle. The handle is not even 1-meter high. There is also the belt. You touch the ground even if you sit. For this reason, we find this incident suspicious.'

'It doesn't look like suicide'

"The family also says that the doctor who did the first medical intervention in Muş indicated, 'This doesn't look like suicide; I see hand marks and bruises.'

"The Quran course officials say that they do not have negligence in the incident. But if M.H.Y. really hanged himself, they have to explain where they were at that moment and why they failed to prevent this suicide.

"The fact that the Muş Karşıyaka Quran Course is not yet closed and no statement has been made by the Muş Governor's Office or the Mufti's Office of Muş is also something that needs to be inquired.

'What is it, if not suicide?'

"These children need to be laid claim to and their participation in education has to be ensured, instead of sending them to the schools and dormitories of religious communities and cults.

"What happened to M.H.Y? How could a little child hang himself there? If the truth is not suicide, what is it? All these questions are now awaiting an answer and they have to be answered."

What happened?

Staying as a boarder in the Muş Merkez Karşıyaka Quran Course, 12-year-old M.H.Y. was found hanged on a door handle in the toilet on July 3, 2021. Taken to the Muş Public Hospital and resuscitated, the child was referred to the Elazığ Medical Park Hospital.

He lost his life on July 14. (RT/SD)