Amnesty International warns Turkey against 'covering up' torture of two villagers in Van

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Amnesty International has written a second letter to the government about the torture of two villagers in the Kurdish-majority eastern province of Van in September.

The letters were sent to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior following the publication of a report about the incident by journalist and independent lawmaker Ahmet Şık on November 2. 

Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban were detained by soldiers in Van's Çatak district during an operation in September. Two days later, they were found in the intensive care unit of Van Regional Training and Research Hospital. While Şiban has recovered, Turgut lost his life after 20 days of treatment.  

Interviewing witnesses, Şiban and the two people's families and examining documents, MP Şık concluded that the allegation that the two people were dropped from a military helicopter, which shaped the public discussion about the incident, originated from soldiers.

"The gendarmerie officers' claim that 'they have jumped off the helicopter,' has gone into medical registers as 'falling off from a distance,' and therefore 'falling off from the helicopter'," Şık wrote in the report, saying that an "official lie" was created to cover up the torture of the citizens.

In its communications to the ministries, Amnesty International asked about progress in the investigations that have been opened and renewed its call for a prompt, independent and impartial inquiry to bring to justice all the suspects.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu told the parliament on November 27 that they had UAV footage showing "terrorists" entering Şiban's house in Çatak during a military operation.

He said an investigation into the incident was continuing.

"The comments of the Minister of Interior raise concerns that there may be an official reluctance to uncover the truth regarding the torture allegations by alleging the two men were involved in criminal activity," Amnesty said in its letter.

It also expressed concern at the arrest of four local journalists on October 9 and called on for their release in the absence of any
evidence of criminal behavior. (EKN/VK)