ŞIRNAK - The families of 21 people who lost their lives during the first long curfew in Cizre five years ago, are still waiting for justice. Of the investigation files initiated regarding the deaths, 'non prosecution'decision has been made for the 9 of them and 6 of them have dropped due to prescription.

 

It has been 5 years since the first long curfew declared in Cizre district of Şırnak. The ban declared on September 4, 2015, ended on September 12. Following the declaration of the curfew the phone lines and internet were cut in the city and all enterances to the city were bloced while tanks and armoured vehicles were placed all over the city.

 

Thousands of homes were destroyed by the ammunition used by the law enforcement, especially in the neighborhoods of Cudi, Nur, Sur and Yafes. While the citizens of the district with a population of 130 thousand had difficulty meeting even their basic needs, many citizens who stepped out of their homes to get water from their gardens were targeted by the bullets. 

 

21 PEOPLE DIED INCLUDING ELDERLY AND CHILDREN

 

Throughout the ban that injured dozens of citizens; Mehmet Emin Levent (21), Hacı Ata Borçin (70), Gadban (Xetban) Bülbül (78), Sait Çağdavul (19), Muhammed Tahir Yaramış (35 days old), Cemile Çagırga (10), Osman Çağlı (18), İbrahim Çiçek (80), Meryem Süne (53), Özgür Taşkın (17), Seyit Eşref Erdin (59), Zeynep Taşkın (18), Maşallah Edin (35), Mehmet Sait Nayci (17), Selman Ağar (10), Bünyamin Citizens named İrci (14), Mehmet Dökmen (71), Bahattin Sevinik (50), Suphi Saral (50), Mehmet Erdoğan (75) and Şahin Açık (70) lost their lives.

 

While 5 of those who lost their lives were buried during the ban, 16 people were buried in a mass ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people after the ban. The funeral ceremony, which was dominated by pain and anger, was marked by a special coffin made for the 35-day-old baby Mohammed, whose identity card has not yet been issued.

 

THE BODY KEPT IN THE FREEZER

 

The body of Cemile Çagırha (10) who was shot by the law enforcement officers in front of her house was kept in the freezer to prevent it from decaying by her family who could not step out to bury their daughter because the fire opened by the law enforcement officer continued.

 

To date, no results have been obtained from the investigations initiated into the deaths and the applications made by families and lawyers. Details regarding the files of those who lost their lives under the ban are as follows:

 

Mehmet Emin Levent (21):" Non-prosecution" decision was given regarding the investigation launched into the death of Levent, who lost his life as a result of fire opened from an armored vehicle in Nur district. The death of Levent was declared "in accordance with the law" despite the absence of any fire residue on his body and the statements of the eyewitnesses. The file was brought before the Constitutional Court (AYM).

 

Hacı Ata Borçin (70): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation launched into the death of Borçin, who died of a heart attack after the explosion in Alibey District. In the investigation filed with the allegation of "abuse of duty, killing by negligence", it was noted that Borçin died naturally and there was no "fault". Lawyers brought the file before AYM.

 

Gadban (Xetban) Bülbül (78): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation initiated on the allegation of "misconduct" regarding the death of Bülbül, who died as a result of a heart attack. In its decision, the prosecutor's office used the statements "… it has been understood that there was no intention, defect or negligence that could be attributed to someone else in the death of the victim as a result of a heart attack". The file was brought before the AYM.

 

Osman Çağlı (18): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation file of Çağlı, which includes a confidential witness statement. The prosecution claimed that Çağlı was a "member of the organization" and lost his life as a result of an armed conflict. The file was brought before the AYM.

 

Özgür Taşkın (17): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation into the death of Taşkın, an 11th grade student who died as a result of sniper fire. The decision was based on the anonymous stataments of a witness coded as 'Pamuk'. It was claimed that Taşkın lost his life in an armed conflict. File was brought before the AYM

 

Zeynep Taşkın (18): The file of Taşkın, who stepped out of the house and was shot while holding her baby is still open. A permanent search warrant was issued in the file that contains witness statements.

 

Maşallah Edin (35): A permanent search warrant was issued for Edin who does not have any record in 'Archived research report'.

 

Mehmet Sait Nayci (17): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation launched into the death of Nayci, who was injured as a result of the fire opened from the armored vehicle and died due to blood loss. The file was brought before the AYM.

 

Mehmet Dökmen (71): The investigation file on Dökmen's death is still open. 

 

Şahin Açık (70): A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation launched upon the complaint of Açık's daughter Leyli Açık. There was no "defect" in the death of Açık, who could not be hospitalized after a heart attack. The file was brought before the AYM.

 

Sait Çağdavul (19): The investigation into the death of Çağdavul, who died as a result of the fire opened from an armored vehicle and whose body was kept in the mosque for days, is still ongoing.

 

Muhammed Tahir Yaramuş (35 days old): A decision of non prosecution was given regarding the investigation launched into the death of Tahir. Her mother Suşin Yaramuş had to be deposed as a suspect. The objection to the judge regarding the decision was also rejected. The file was brought before the AYM.

 

Cemile Çagırga (10): A permanent search warrant was issued for Cemile Çadırga who was shot and killed in front of her house. Her family had to keep her body in the freezer in order to prevent the body from decaying because they could not get out to bury their daughter due to the continuing sniper shots. No action will be taken until statue of limitations passes.

 

Seyit Eşref Erdin (59): The file of Erdin, who died as a result of the fire opened while sitting in front of his house and whose body was kept at home for 2 days, is still open.

 

Selman Ağar (9): The file of Ağar was also left to pass the statue of limitations. He lost his life as a result of a shot in his head. The statue of limitations were determined to be year 2040.

 

Bahattin Sevinik (50): No information could be obtained about Sevinik's file, who was shot in front of her house.

 

Mehmet Erdoğan (75): A permanent search warrant was issued for Erdoğan who thought he wouldn't be shot because he is old but shot as he stepped out the door. It was alleged that the perpetrators of Erdogan could not be found in the filed and that the crime scene could not be determined.

 

İbrahim Çiçek (80): No information could be obtained about the file of Çiçek. Çiçek died because his relatives could not get him to the hospital although he was having health problems.

 

Meryem Süne (53): The file of Sına, whose cause of death was declared as "she died due to internal bleeding", was also left to pass the statue of limitations.  Süne's body who had 7 children was also kept in a freezer. It was claimed that the perpetrators could not be found.

 

Suphi Saral (50): No information could be obtained about Saral's file, who was targeted by bullets while running to Sevinik's help.

 

Bünyamin İrci (14): In the report sent by the District Police Department to the prosecutor's office, it was claimed that İrci was acting in line with the people firing at the law enforcement officers.  A decision of "non-prosecution" was given regarding the investigation initiated into the death of İrci. The file was brought before the AYM.

 

İRCİ'S FATHER: FIND THE PERPETRATORS

 

İrci's father Tarık İrci stated that his son worked at the school canteen and he was killed trying to bring water and ice to his aunt. Father İrci said: "We have filed a law suit. They took our statement once and nothing happened after that. We want the perpetrators to be found. I haven't had a night's sleep for the last five years."

 

MA / Müjdat Can - Zeynep Durgut