‘I Used Force Within Legal Boundaries’, Said Officer Who Broke the Arm of a Protester

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In Güvenpark in Ankara, a statement for the press was to be held in support and solidarity for hunger striking teachers Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça on July 23, 2017. Zeynel Danacı wanted to attend this statement. However, the police intervened against the group and the arm of Danacı was broken by police officer E.T. from the Ankara Security Directorate.

Journalists who were there to report on the statement for the press captured the moment when Danacı's arm was broken.

A lawsuit has been filed against police officer E.T. on charges of "extending the limits of his power in using force" and "deliberately injuring in a way to break bones". The next hearing of the lawsuit will be held at the Ankara Penal Court of First Instance this Thursday (October 24).

A lawsuit has also been filed against Danacı for attempting to attend the statement for the press to be held in Güvenpark, Ankara. Danacı has been charged with "membership of an illegal organization".

'He was so severely injured that it could affect his life functions'

According to the indictment filed on May 17, 2018, the arm of Danacı was broken while he was trying to prevent the police from detaining İlhan Kaya, another protester who was in Güvenpark to attend the statement.

Sharing details about how the arm of Zeynel Danacı was broken, the indictment has recounted that "...Zeynel Danacı removed the handcuffs from İlhan Kaya and interlocked his arm; when the police officer attempted to separate them, he twisted the arm of Danacı from behind and after Danacı started shouting, the officer called an ambulance..."

The indictment has further indicated that "though Danacı did not have a life-threatening situation, he was so severely injured that it could lead to a bone fracture that could not be treated with a simple medical intervention and could affect his life functions seriously (level 4)".

'Yes, I will break it and you will see that'

The officer had his first hearing on December 19, 2017. Testifying at court, defendant officer E.T. defended himself in following words:

"I don't accept the charges. On the day of incident, we detained the complainant [Zeynel Danacı], who attended the unauthorized demonstration, by gradually using force within legal boundaries.

"I did not commit the act of deliberate injury. I don't know him personally anyway and I don't have a personal hostility."

As for Danacı, he said, "On the day of incident, police officers neutralized a person, handcuffed him and were battering him with kicks and punches. I intervened against them, saying what they do is not humane.

"In response, the defendant twisted my arm from behind, I told him 'You are gonna break my arm'. He answered me 'Yes, I will break it, you will see that soon'. My arm got broken because he twisted it from my back.

"I showed the reporters my condition and told them to capture it. And the defendant denied it, saying 'he is slandering me, I did not even get close to him'. But the images show that he broke my arm."

He had a series of operation, his treatment continues

75 people in total were taken into custody during the police intervention in Güvenpark in 2017. 53 of them were released a few hours later and a ruling of non-prosecution was given for them.

As for the rest, they were kept in custody for a week "because they were registered in National Judiciary Informatics (UYAP) System" and a lawsuit was filed against them.

Zeynel Danacı is also among the ones, against whom a lawsuit was filed. He has been charged with "membership of an illegal organization" for having attended the statement for the press held in support of Özakça and Gülmen.

Danacı was not detained on the day of incident, he was referred from Güvenpark to hospital. Lawyer Ceren Yılmaz Danacı indicated that he has had a series of surgical operations and his treatment still continues. (AS/SD)