Diyarbakır 11th Criminal Court of First Instance gave a verdict that battering Uğur Kantar who was tortured to death while performing his military service was a qualified torture and sent the file to Diyarbakir High Criminal Court on duty.
Lawyer Senem Doğanoğlu from Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) said the offence was a qualified torture and requested the file to be sent to High Criminal Court with a decision of non-jurisdiction. Court accepted the request.
Even though the murder occurred in Northern Cyprus the only defendant in the case, Recep Tekin, has been living in Diyarbakır. Thus, the case has been going on in Diyarbakır province. There are 18 petitors in the case as well as Aydın Kantar, Uğur Kantar’s father.
Trial in Northern Cyprus has been going on
Another battering case related to Uğur Kantar has been proceeding in Military Court of Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Command. On June 3, next trial of the second case will take place.
Uğur Kantar was tortured to death while he was performing his military service in Northern Cyprus on July 25, 2011. Kantar was battered, left thirsty and hungry and he wasn’t allowed to go to lavatory. He was kept handcuffed under the sun and then taken to hospital when he fainted.
Kantar was taken to Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) from Girne Military Hospital. After two and a half months later, he lost his life on Oct.12, 2011. (AS/BD)
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