It was claimed that Fırat Şişman, a HPG member, lost his life in the military operation carried out in the Besta Region, which is located in the countryside of Şırnak and Siirt provinces, on 10 April. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu stated that Şişman is alive in a statement he made days later. Şişman's family then applied to the Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. However, although 33 days have passed, the family has not been informed about the whereabouts of Şişman.

 

Şişman's brother Mesut Şişman and family lawyer Nevroz Uysal explained what happened since then.

 

NO INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED

 

Şişman's brother, Mesut Şişman, stated that they went to Şırnak to claim the body and applied to the prosecutor's office after the news of his brother's death. Şişman said that they were shown some bodies at Şırnak State Hospital but none of them was his brother. Stating that they applied to the prosecutor's office again upon Soylu's statement, Şişman stated that they were not given any information, but the lawyers were informed that his brother was out of the woods and was doing better.

 

NO WARRANTS ISSUED AGAINST HIM

 

Noting that contradictory responses were given to their applications, Şişman said, “We conveyed what we wanted to meet, but the prosecutor said that they could not see him. They told us he rejected meeting with us, saying that he will see us after he gets better. We don't believe this. Süleyman Soylu said his statement was taken. The prosecutor says he's been in the ICU for 16 days. How can a person give their statement from the ICU? How can they speak? This is not only medically impossible, but also inadmissable in terms of law."

 

Stating that the applications of the lawyers could not lead to any results, Şişman said the prosecutor's office said they can not give any information about his brother because there is no warrants against his brother yet. Şişman said: "It is not understood by me how can the legal process of a person they have been holding for a month could not have been started. Şişman also added that the Şırnak Gendermerie Command has been calling the family telling them that they can see their brother but they said they couldn't go there due to the lock down. Şişman said: "We told them the lawyers are already there and they could see him. They told us that they can't because there is no warrant for his arrest yet."

 

'WE DON'T NEED PROTECTION, HE DOES'

 

Stating that the police came to their house trying to get us to sign a paper for the protection of the family, Şişman said: "They tried to send a police car in front of our house to protect us. We don't need any protection and we never requested something like that. I told them the only person who needs protection is my brother whom they have been holding for a month without processing. I don't know what they are aiming at. The only person who needs protection is Fırat Şişman whom the state officials said to be wounded. He needs protection. We are concerned for his life. We have no idea how he is at the moment." 

 

'THERE ARE CONTRADICTION IN THE DOCUMENTS'

 

Nevroz Uysal, one of the family lawyers, stated that the prosecutor agreed to meet only twice and then rejected their request for a meeting. Stating that they could not access any information despite all their efforts, Uysal said, “On the one hand, the detention process has not started, on the other hand, it is stated that he does not want to meet both us and his family. But they do not show us his statement that he does not want to see us. They say the document was signed on April 9. We do not know if such a document exists. And even if it does, it is inadmissable, because the prosecutor said he was in the intensive care unit (ICU)."

 

Underlining that either the document does not exist or Şişman was made to sign it in an unconscious state, Attorney Uysal said: "Currently his is being held illegally, deprived of his rights. He can be caught, arrested and sent to prison but the prosecutor avoids starting the legal process. The prosecutor says they can't get his statement because he is undergoing treatment. The gendermerie says his treatment is completed. These are not legal practices."

 

SUSPICION OF TORTURE

 

Pointing out that they will continue to work for him to access health, Uysal said: "Considering the prosecutor and law enforcement units hiding information, giving contradictory statements and distracting us and the family, we suspect he is subjected to ill treatment and torture. We are calling on for awareness and trying to create public opinion with the human's rights organizations."

 

 

 

MA / İdris Sayılğan