Death of Conscript Violates Right to Life, Says Constitutional Court

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The Constitutional Court has reversed the verdict of non-prosecution on the death of Mazlum Aksu, who allegedly took his life during his mandatory military service in Maden in Turkey's eastern province of Elazığ.

Ruling for a retrial, the Constitutional Court has concluded that the death of conscript Mazlum Aksu has violated his right to life.

Aksu, who was an executive at the Labor Party (EMEP), allegedly committed suicide on February 21, 2013, when he was doing his mandatory military service at the Hazar Gendarmerie Command in Maden, Elazığ.

Conducting the investigation into Aksu's death, the Military High Administrative Court gave a ruling of non-prosecution on June 7, 2013. The objection to this verdict was rejected by the Military Court of Malatya 2nd Army Command on July 11, 2013.

Constitutional Court says his right to life violated

The Constitutional Court has announced its ruling on the death of Mazlum Aksu upon the application of his family. Concluding that his death is a violation of right to life, the Court has ruled for a retrial.

As the Military High Administrative Courts were abolished following the referendum on April 16, 2017, the retrial into his death will be held at the Ankara 16th Administrative Court.

The Court has concluded that "the right to life of Mazlum Aksu has been violated on the grounds that the Military High Administrative Court did not consider the statements of witnesses as to the facts and his mental state before the incident of death, nor did it evaluate whether military authorities knew or at least should have known that Mazlum Aksu had a suicide risk and, if yes, whether precautions were taken to prevent his suicide."

Accordingly, the Constitutional Court has ruled that the trial into his death be held again so that the consequences of the right violation can be eliminated. (EKN/SD)

* Source: Evrensel – İnanç Yıldız / Orhan Kurul