Turkish Medical Association head responds to investigation over 'chemical attack' statement

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Prosecutors are investigating Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, head of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) because of her remarks on the allegations of a chemical attack on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

Korur-Fincancı, a forensic physician by profession, had commented for the pro-Kurdish Medya Haber TV on a video allegedly showing two PKK members suffering from a chemical attack.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office yesterday (October 20) opened an investigation into Korur-Fincancı for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Türkiye and its institutions."

"I proved many times that I will not keep silent, therefore I do not think that this investigation is targeting me. This investigation is meant to be an intimidation for the whole society," she told bianet.

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"Irresponsible reporting"

Korur-Fincancı recalled her statements made to Medya Haber, which constituted the substance of the investigation, and criticized the way her statements were presented.

"I criticize the way my statements were presented; it was irresponsible reporting. In the footage that was broadcast, there were people who had involuntary bodily movements and the allegation is that chemical weapons were used.

"I stated that these involuntary movements could occur with the effect of a chemical getting hold of the nervous system and that an effective investigation should be carried out in relation to this if there were allegations that a chemical had been used.

"I stated that if there was death, it was necessary to make a medical investigation according to the Minnesota Protocol and that it is compulsory that the investigation should be carried out by independent institutions since this is considered as a war crime in the scope of the Geneva Convention. However, the presentation of the news was indicating that I had proven this incident, so it was not reflected very correctly."

"The impression of concealing a crime"

About the investigation, Korur-Fincancı said, "It is not realistic that an investigation should be started, if there are such allegations they should have been allowing an effective investigation on the incident. Opening an investigation to the one who is saying 'an investigation should be made' gives the impression of concealing a crime.

"We also know why such an investigation was opened. They want that no doctor should talk about these issues again, this investigation is an attempt towards intimidating and silencing people.

"However I proved many times that I will not keep silent, therefore I do not think that this investigation is targeting me. This investigation is meant to be an intimidation for the whole society. Great misfortune for Türkiye!

"In any case, what needs to be done in this kind of a situation is to request an effective investigation. They should have started an effective investigation and proven that they have not used any chemicals instead of opening an investigation for me.

"Again during the pandemic, when we said 'your data and the data we collect vary' we were criminalized as a professional organization." (RT/PE/VK)