Ramazan Turan, 70, who died yesterday in a cell in the Van High Security Prison, used to be subjected to constant pressure and threats in his village in Hakkari. An investigation was launched against Turan in 2011 with the allegation of "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization", by complaints of confessors and anonymous witnesses. As a result of the investigation, Turan was arrested on April 21, 2013 and sent to prison. Turan, who was released after nearly 2 years in prison, was given a prison sentence for "aiding a terrorist organization". The decision was taken to the Supreme Court for appeal. The Court of Cassation decided that Turan should be punished not for "knowingly and willingly helping a terrorist organization" but for "being a member of a terrorist organization" and sent the file back to the local court.

 

'HOW CAN I HELP AN ENTIRE ORGANISATION'

 

Turan was accused of "going to Iraq constantly, bringing aid materials to the members of 'the organization', having too much food in his house", using the code name "Fedai", with the statements of 3 anonymous witnesses and a confessor. Turan did not accept any of the accusations. In his statement, Turan said, “I have 10 children. I cannot take care of my children, how can I help an entire organisation?"

 

HE WAS ARRESTED

 

In the retrial, the local court sentenced Turan to 6 years and 3 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization". Upon the appeal, Turan's sentence was approved by the Supreme Court in December 2021.

Turan, who was detained at a check point on his way to his village after the sentence was approved, was arrested on December 31, 2021 and sent to Van High Security Prison.

 

HE WAS HELD IN SOLIRATY CONFINEMENT FOR 22 DAYS

 

Turan, being held in solitary confinement for 22 days, died as a result of a heart attack. While the autopsy procedures at the Van Forensic Medicine Institute were carried out without a lawyer present, the funeral vehicle and coffin that the family requested from the Van Metropolitan Municipality to be able to take the body to Hakkari, were not given. The family had to make a coffin at the carpenter's shop with their own means.

 

FUNURAL OF TURAN WAS BLOCKED BY POLICE

 

The convoy that took Turan's body to Hakkari was stopped frequently, and the citizens were subjected to a General Information Scan (GBT). Meanwhile, it was stated that the mosque imam in the neighborhood, who was called to fulfill religious obligations, did not come, saying that he had not received instructions from the Provincial Mufti. Turan's body was later buried in Hakkari.

 

'WE COULD NOT GET ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HIM'

 

Turan's wife, Hanım Turan, stated that her husband was held in solitary confinement for 22 days on the grounds of quarantine and that they could not get any information about him. She said that her children called the prison many times for him, but he couldn't speak to him because he was under quarantine .Turan asked, "How can a person be held in quarantine for 22 days alone? We have no regrets. Our head is high. We are proud of him. I will be the fighter of my husband's cause until the end. Despite all the suffering we have gone through, all we want is peace. Our only prayer from God is that all prisons open their doors and there are no more deaths."

 

'END THIS TYRANNY'

 

Stating that her father died under suspicious circumstancesand he might have been poisoned, or starved to death, Turan's daughter Revşan Demirel said: "We have waited for 22 day to hear from him. End this tyranny. Abandon these policies of Erdoğan. We are going through a nightmare which we used to watch on TV. What more will you put these people through? What do you want from us?"

 

 

‘WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO TO US?’

 

Turan's aunt, Momê Turan, said that "Turan is a man of his word and a person who fights for his own people with the truth of his heart. Turan was arrested but he was innocent. He was held in prison despite his old age. Ramazan has always been devoted to his people and will always be remembered as such. We still do not know why Ramazan died. We do not know whether he died of thirst or hunger. Enough is enough. We are also citizens of the Republic of Turkey, what do you want from us? How can the authorities not give us a funeral vehicle or a coffin? What does this mean? What more can you do to a dead person? Release the ill prisoners and treat them. Open the doors of prisons and let us live in peace in our lands."