Prosecutors dismiss investigation into refugee's killing near Turkey-Syria border

Photo: AA/File

Prosecutors have dismissed an investigation into the killing of a refugee while trying to cross into Turkey from northern Syria in November 2021, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported.

The refugee, Ridwan Îd Numan El Ehmed, was reportedly killed after being caught by Turkey's soldiers after he crossed into Mardin from Syria's Hasakah.

Examining a criminal complaint filed by his family, the Mardin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a decision of lack of jurisdiction and sent the file to the Kızıltepe Public Prosecutor's Office, which eventually dismissed the investigation.

While there were no witnesses to the incident, footage from a surveillance camera in the border area was deleted two days after the incident, the prosecutor's office concluded.

"Witness wasn't heard"

Azad Kaya, the lawyer of the Ehmed family, objected to the decision, alleging that the investigation was not adequate.

The prosecutors' decision was based on the statements of a border post commander who was among the suspects of the killing, which violates the principle of independence and impartiality of the investigation, the lawyer told MA.

"It is clear which soldier was on watch and which soldier was on patrol on the specified date. Although the watch and patrol schedules are available at the Akdoğan Infantry Border Post, no documents or information regarding this issue were requested [by the prosecutors].

"The only thing in the file is the statements [of the post commander] who said there were no witnesses to the incident."

A witness named Tamir Hammede was not heard, the lawyer further said. (VK)