Politician Ahmet Türk released on probation

* Photo: Social media

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Removed from office by the Ministry of Interior, dismissed Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk was summoned to depose as part of an investigation launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office into the "Kobani incidents" on October 6-8, 2014. Türk gave his statement via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS) yesterday (October 19).

Following the related proceedings at the prosecutor's office, Ahmet Türk was referred to the Ankara Penal Judgeship of Peace to be released with an international travel ban. The judgeship of peace has ruled that Türk shall be released with an international travel ban.

Taken together with Türk, the number of people who have so far been released on probation as part of the same investigation has increased to five. Former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MPs Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Altan Tan; arrested former MP Gülser Yıldırım and Central Executive Committee member Gülfer Akkaya were released on probation before.

Over 20 politicians currently behind bars

The following politicians are behind bars as part of the same "Kobani investigation": Former HDP Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş (September 20, 2019); HDP Central Executive Committee member Alp Altınörs, HDP Foreign Affairs Commission member Nazmi Gür, former MP Ayla Akat Ata, former HDP Central Executive Committee members, Bircan Yorulmaz, Berfin Özgü Köse, Dilek Yağlı, Can Memiş, Günay Kubilay, Bülent Parmaksız, Pervin Oduncu, İsmail Şengün and Cihan Erdal, former HDP General Accountant Zeki Çelik, HDP RTÜK member Ali Ürküt, HDP's Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen, former MP Prof. Emine Beyza Üstün, Emine Ayna (October 2, 2020); Democratic Regions Party (DBP) former Co-Chair Sebahat Tuncel and former MP Aysel Tuğluk (October 12); former Metropolitan Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Gültan Kışanak (October 16).

About Kobani protests

Before the protests in support of Kobani in northern Syria started in October 2014, those who were waiting in the district of Suruç in Turkey's southeastern province of Urfa to cross the border were intervened with pepper gas and rubber bullets. In the meantime, some pictures allegedly showing ISIS militia crossing the border of Turkey were published.

President and ruling AKP Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements indicating that they equated PKK with ISIS. While the wounded coming from Kobani were kept waiting on the border, the wounded from ISIS were treated at hospitals. Several news reports were reported in the press, saying "Kobani fell." These news reports were denied every time.

After the HDP made a call to take to the streets against a possible massacre in Kobani, thousands of people protested in Kurdish-majority provinces as well as Ankara and İstanbul. While left parties also supported these protests, deaths also occurred with the onset of police violence. Street conflicts ensued. 42 people lost their lives from October 6 to 12, 2014.

According to a report by the Human Rights Association (İHD), 46 people died, 682 people were wounded and 323 people were arrested in the protests held between October 6 and 8, 2014. As reported by the AA, 31 people lost their lives, 221 citizens and 139 police officers were wounded.

Conducted by Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor Yüksel Kocaman, the "Kobani investigation" started a year ago. First, the depositions of former jailed HDP Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş were interrogated as part of this investigation. Released in the trial where he had been arrested pending trial, Selahattin Demirtaş faced another ruling of arrest as part of this "Kobani investigation" on the same day.

Taken into custody on September 25 as part of this investigation, 17 politicians from the HDP, including Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen, were arrested on October 2, 2020. (RT/SD)