Ministry acknowledges event involving 'torture, killing' of refugees on Turkey-Syria border

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The Ministry of Defense acknowledged the event on March 11 involving the torture of eight refugees in Hatay, resulting in the death of two of them, after they entered Turkey through the border, announced Green and Left Party (YSP) Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, based on the response he has been given to the parliamentary question he has directed to the Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler.

Gergerlioğlu gave the following information related to the torture that the refugees have been subjected to:

"After 8 refugees entered Turkey, they were captured by soldiers, and nearly 10 soldiers subjected these individuals to torture and mistreatment. Our parliamentary question was about this, horrendous torture had been inflicted upon them. Diesel fuel was poured into their mouths, faces, and bodies, and they were beaten with sticks, and clubs, and given electric shocks. Can you imagine such things? You are subjecting eight people to horrendous torture, one of them dies there unable to bear it, and then you just walk away as if nothing happened."

"As an MP, I inquired about this incident with the Ministry of National Defense, and the incident was acknowledged. Criminal proceedings were initiated against two soldiers. Four contract personnel were dismissed from their positions, and proceedings are underway regarding one reserve officer. It is clear that torture has been acknowledged and cannot be denied. We had submitted well-documented pieces of evidence, including videos of those who were subjected to torture, to the Ministry, and they couldn't deny it."

What happened?

Eight Syrians who crossed the border into Hatay on March 11 from Syria were beaten at a border outpost, and two of them lost their lives.

According to information provided by the lawyer who is following the investigation, an investigation was initiated by the Reyhanlı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the gendarmerie personnel who assaulted the Syrians on charges of "manslaughter."

Following their statements, two lieutenants and one first lieutenant-ranked military personnel were arrested. Three of the soldiers who gave statements were released under judicial control.

The Reyhanlı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office imposed a secrecy order on the investigation. (AS/PE)