MÊRDÎN, NORTHERN KURDISTAN
On 26 May 2016, a military curfew was declared in the Nisêbîn district of Mêrdîn by the occupying Turkish state followed by armed self-defence and declaration of autonomy by the peoples. While many people were massacred in the basements of Northern Kurdistan by the occupying Turkish state, the peoples were burnt alive with chemical weapons and the corpses of starved babies were preserved in fridges.
Following the heavy war crimes committed, state officials benefited from complete impunity and the victims were subject to litigation.
During the proceedings of the case, which was opened on May 26, 2016, over 70 children were detained.
Today, three trial proceedings of the Mêrdîn self-government resistance were heard in the Mêrdîn 4th High Criminal Court.
The trial of Dilber Tanrıkulu was heard first. Tanrikulu, who was present in the courtroom, stated that her defense writing was confiscated by the prison administration and had still not been returned. Tanrikulu emphasised that a fair defense will not stem under given circumstances. The hearing was postponed to 3 December.
Later, the hearing of Fırat Çiftçi who was detained in Osmaniye Type-T Prison was seen. Çiftçi, who is present in the courtroom, said that he would only make a defense with his private lawyer and demanded additional defense. The court accepted the request and adjourned the hearing to 10 December.
The final hearing was of Recep Yel, who is arrested in Osmaniye Type-T Prison. Yel, who was present in the hearing room, demanded a rejection of the judge. Yel stated that he had requested his file on the merits of the previous hearing, but the file was sent to him as a CD. Yel could not access the file because he is in prison. Yel requested additional time for the defense.
The court dismissed Yel’s request as an attempt to delay the court. Then Yel’s lawyer took the floor and demanded the rejection of the judge. The court rejected this request and adjourned the hearing to 6 December.
