* Drawing: Murat Başol
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The case of the massacre, which took place in the district of Lice in Turkey's southeastern province of Diyarbakır on October 22, 1993 and claimed the lives of 15 civilians, the then Regional Gendarmerie Commander Bahtiyar Aydın and one soldier, was concluded at the 14th hearing on December 7.
İzmir 1st Heavy Penal Court ruled that the retired colonel Albay Eşref Hatipoğlu, the then Diyarbakır Gendarmerie Regimental Commander and the only suspect of the case, shall be acquitted.
The lawyers of the intervening families stated they will appeal against the verdict of acquittal on national and international levels.
Şiyar Kaymaz from the Lice Calls for Justice Platform said, "This verdict will not hinder the quest for justice. Sooner or later, the truth will be faced regarding the massacre of Lice.
What happened in Lice and the Lice case?In Lice district of Diyarbakır, 17 people were killed, scores of homes and workplaces were set on fire on 22 Ekim 1993. Brigadier General Bahtiyar Aydın was among the killed. The indictment regarding the massacre was accepted one day before the timeout. The trial began 21 years after the massacre, on January 2014. According to the indictment, the attack was not carried by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), contrary to what authorities announced at the time. Then Diyarbakır Gendarmerie Regimental Commander Colonel Eşref Hatipoğlu and First Lieutenant Tünay Yanardağ were identified as perpetrators of the massacre. The two former officers were charged of "premeditated murder", "encouraging the people to riot" and "forming an organization on the purpose of committing an illegal act". The prosecutor demanded prison sentences up to 24 years and aggravated life imprisonment for both Hatipoğlu and Yanardağ. The suspects were not arrested after the hearing. In the following months, the case was first moved from Diyarbakır to Eskişehir, and then moved to Diyarbakır again. For the last time, the case was moved to İzmir on the grounds that there was not a court authorized by the 10th article of the anti-terror law in Diyarbakır. İzmir 1st Heavy Penal Court suspended the trial on June 13, 2014. The court ruled that after the abolishment of the special courts, continuing this trial is subject to permission. Intervening lawyers appealed against the decision. High Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) reversed the judgement and gave its verdict that the case to be continue at İzmir 1st Heavy Penal Court. With Tünay Yanardağ losing his life on August 2015, Hatipoğlu remained the only defendant. Lawyers of the victims stated that they do not believe Yanardağ is dead and demanded investigation from the court but overruled. |
(AS/VK)
