Hurşit Külter Speaks in Kirkuk

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Not being heard of since May 27, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Şırnak Provincial Manager Hurşit Kütler made a press statement today (October 7) in Iraq’s Kirkuk province.

Külter said he escaped from the basement after being held for 13 days and fled to Kirkuk after hiding in evacuated houses for 40-45 days.

According to ANF’s report, Külter said:

“They kept me in a building’s basement for 13 days. The inflicted intense physical and psychological torture on me and constantly imposed pressure on me to serve as a spy. They wanted me to issue a statement against self-resistance. Especially special operation police officers did this and during this time, the officers were constantly telling me that they would execute me.

“When they were speaking with each other, they were saying ‘It is a hot topic now, let us wait it for a while, the reactions will cool down anyway, then we kill him’. I was hearing these talks.

“I looked for ways to escape after being taken to the top floor from the basement and I ran when I found the opportunity.

“They realized that I was gone after I escaped from the building. They wanted to shoot me to death from behind or catch me but I ran away. I hid in the city. I looked for some means to reach family or press but couldn’t find. I hid in the evacuated buildings’ basements for 40-45 days, then I came across those resisting in the city and moved out of the city. After I left, I could make it here with the help of some of them in two months. I don’t want to share information of who helped me for their safety. I didn’t tell anyone who I was after I’ve come here. I am issuing a statement to press after I feel perfectly safe”.

“I want to express my thanks to all national and international organizations struggling to find out what happened to me and especially the Saturday mothers, peace mothers. I am alive today thanks to the struggle of people who fought for me.

“I apologize to anyone who fought for me for issuing this statement this late but it has to be known that this is the first time I found an opportunity to make such a statement because the security conditions that I was under didn’t let me make this statement”.

What had happened?

Some photos suggesting Hurşit Külter was detained had been shared on a Twitter account thought to belong to special operation forces called “BÖF” on May 27, and then this post was withdrawn and the account was suspended for hours.

Külter stated that he was surrounded in his message he sent to his family and said “Give your blessings”.

Şırnak Security Directorate and Şırnak Governorship announced that Külter was not in custody. The Governorship added that the allegations that Külter was seen in Şırnak Division Commandership didn’t reflect the truth.

Following this, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MPs Leyla Birlik and Aycan İnmez submitted a parliamentary inquiry about the disappearance of Külter. Furthermore, HDP members spoke to Minister of Interior Efkan Ala face to face.

The Kültür family applied to Provincial Security Directorate, Chief Public Prosecution Office and 23rd Gendarmerie Border Division Commandership and the Governorship demanding information. After receiving the reply “We don’t have a record of detention with this name”, attorneys applied to the United Nations.

The Human Rights Association also went to the European Court of the Human Rights (ECtHR) on June 3.

As many as 18,000 people joined the petition launched on change.org.

Minister of National Defense Fikri Işık had announced on June 23 that a civil inspector was assigned to investigate into Kültür’s situation. (ÇT/TK)