‘Where is Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit?’

* Photo: Nursena Küçüközyiğit

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"We call the judicial, administrative and political authorities for duty to ensure that the truth about Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit, missing since December 29, 2020, is revealed, his life safety is guaranteed and he reunites with his family: The whereabouts of Küçüközyiğit must be found by carrying out an effective inquiry and investigation and his family must be informed."

Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch and Saturday Mothers/People have made a press statement about Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit, who was reported missing in late December 2020.

During the press conference held at the İHD İstanbul Office in Beyoğlu, the rights defenders have said, "The whereabouts of Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit, who has been missing for 50 days, must be announced."

The rights defenders have also called the Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Committee and the Intelligence and Security Committee for duty "to ensure that the truth about the allegations of enforced disappearances and secret detention centers is disclosed."

He was discharged from public service

The İHD statement has also shared details about the circumstances in which Küçüközyiğit got missing. According to the statement, Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit was discharged from public service while he was working as a rapporteur for the Prime Ministry.

The statement has also been indicated that "Küçüközyiğit was living in Ankara and he and in his family were in contact during the day; he would also come to Kocaeli to visit his family; in their phone call on December 29, 2020, he said that he would come to Kocaeli for the New Year's, but he did not; they have been unable to reach him since then."

Both he and his vehicle have got missing

The İHD statement has noted that the vehicle with the license plate 34 FNF 28 has got missing together with Küçüközyiğit. Belonging to his brother, the vehicle was driven by Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit.

"According to the camera records of the office where Küçüközyiğit works, he left the office on December 29, 2020 at 5.23 p.m.; according to the same camera records, there were also three others suspected by the family to follow Hüseyin Galip Küçüközyiğit while he was entering the office."

Family have applied to all official authorities

The İHD has also noted that the family, worried about his life, applied to the Kocaeli Bekirpaşa Police Station on December 31, 2020, applied to the Presidential Communications Center (CİMER) on January 1, to the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on January 5, to the United Nations (UN) on January 12 and to the Constitutional Court on January 22, 2021.

"However, no results have been obtained from these applications, the association has indicated further.

'32 people abducted from 2016 to 2020'

Further in its statement, the İHD has said that 32 people were forcibly abducted and reported missing in the media from 2016 to 2020, adding that the fate and whereabouts of four are still unknown.

"25 people showed up at the Counterterrorism Branch of the Ankara Security Directorate after a very long time," the İHD has said and added:

"Of these people, Ayten Öztürk, Zabit Kişi, Mustafa Özgür Gültekin, Önder Asan, Gökhan Türkmen and Mesut Geçer testified at court, saying that they were held in secret detention centers and seriously tortured for 6 months, 108 days, 121 days, 42 days, 271 days and 16 months, respectively."

Noting that the families of these persons also made applications about the fate and whereabouts of their relatives, but they could get no information. "The Küçüközyiğit family is now going through the same thing," the İHD has concluded its statement. (AS/SD)