HDP Committee visits Van to see Osman Şibal and Servet Turgut

September 23, 2020

September 23, 2020

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) sent a committee to the city of Van (Wan) in Turkey after hearing reports that Osman Şibal and Servet Turgut had been subjected to torture after being detained and thrown from a military helicopter.

The committee, which included HDP PM Soruhan Oluç, Van deputy Muazzez Orhan, Murat Sarısaç, Mersin deputy Rıdvan Turan, party assembly members and Central Executive Committee HDP members and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) executives, issued a press statement in front of the hospital where Şibal and Turgut were being treated. The hospital was placed under a police blockade. The police stopped journalists from recording and directly reporting the statement that was issued.

Saruhan Oluç stated that the committee will keep monitoring these reported torture cases involving Şibal and Turgut. Oluç criticized the Van governor’s statement regarding the incident and added that the governorship tries to cover up the torture that has occured.

He asked: “Who gave the order to torture them? Who is trying to cover up the torture that has taken place? We are asking Süleyman Soylu, the Interior Minister, to ascertain who is responsible for the torture that has taken place. Were Special Forces involved in these torture incidents? We ask Hulusi Akar: Is the National Defence Minister responsible? Did security forces commit these acts? Was Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism (JİTEM) involved in these incidents? We wish to learn the truth”.

The committee stated: “It is free to oppress the Kurds in Turkey and no legal action is being taken against the perpetrators. They are even rewarded for these actions. Security forces, special forces, or special centres – whoever oppresses the Kurds – are always rewarded. The Kurds are treated as if they have no rights and they are not citizens of this country”.

After the Committee issued its statement, its members entered the hospital and visited Osman Şiban.

Governorship denies the claims

Even as the Van Governorship has denied the claims of torture, the families of Şibal and Turgut have affirmed that torture took place. Moreover, a health report had also confirmed that Şibal and Turgut were thrown from a helicopter.

HDP Van deputy Murat Sarısaç asked four written parliamentary questions about the incident

HDP Group Deputy chairpersons Meral Danış Beştaş and Saruhan Oluç also called upon parliament to establish a parliamentary investigation committee to investigate these reported torture incidents.

What Happened?

Osman Şiban (50) and Servet Turgut (55) were seized by soldiers and allegedly detained, tortured and thrown from a helicopter in Van.

After three days, it was revealed that they were being treated in Van’s Regional Training and Research Hospital. Şiban suffers from memory loss due to the torture he was subjected to. This fact had been recorded in a health report.