Disappeared Man's Body Found 14 Years Later

Relatives of Hasan Ergul, who disappeared and allegedly murdered by the illegal Gendarmerie Intelligence Unit (JİTEM) 14 years ago, identify his body from photographs.

Following former PKK militant, informant and JİTEM gunman Abdülkadir Aygan's statements, Ergul family and lawyers from the Human Rights Association (İHD) applied to Elazığ public prosecutor's office on 8 April.

The family had been informed that Cevizdere villagers found Ergul's body in a sack and later his remains were buried in the cemetery of unidentified people. 

Family's lawyer Serdar Çelebi told bianet that a DNA examination on the corpse would be executed for ID confirmation.

Hasan Ergul was hijacked in 1995 in Şırnek, while returning from a hospital with his son. Several men forced him into a white automobile and he was never heard of again.

When a body was discovered in Cevizdere, the prosecution took photographs but closed case failing to identify him. According to Günlük daily, the family was able to identify Ergul from those photos.(TK/AGÜ)