AMED, NORTHERN KURDISTAN
Mazlum Dag was sentenced to death in his first trial on the grounds of killing MIT officials in Southern Kurdistan on 17 July 2019. Osman Köse, Neriman Osman and Beşdar Ramazan who were reportedly on a “six-month mission in Erbil Consulate” were assassinated by Mazlum in Huqqabaz Lounge in Hewler.
Mother and Father of Mazlum, Kudret and Zeki Dag spoke at a press conference on the issue, informing that prison officials were disabling Mazlum from seeing his lawyer so he is not able to appeal to his death sentence.
Speaking at the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Amed Provincial Directorate, Mother Kudret Dağ stated that she had met with her son 5 months after his arrest. Noting that he had met with her son in prison for 3-4 times after her son was sentenced to death, Dag explained that they had hired a lawyer for Mazlum, but that the lawyer had not been able to see Mazlum.
The mother explained that Mazlum’s lawyer had travelled to the prison where he is being kept numerous times, but prison officials were disabling the lawyer from seeing Mazlum. The objection period to the death sentence, as determined by the local court, is nearing it’s expiration date, the Mother explained. Worried that her sons death sentence is being refused the right to an appeal on purpose, the mother expressed that if her son is not able to sign a Power of Attorney, the deadline for the appeal process would expire.
The lawyer’s applications to visit Mazlum are being responded to as “There is no such person in our facilities.”
“We know that he’s there,” the mother said, “he phoned last week. Since the borders are closed, we have not been able to go for a month. They took him to court 7 months after his arrest and sentenced him to death. How does their conscience accept this?”
Pointing out that the death penalty was not in line with human rights and law, Father Dag demanded that the sentence be rebutted and that a punishment befitted in accordance with human rights and law be given.
Zeki Dağ said, “I condemn the death sentence of the court. The death penalty given by the court is a violation of human rights. We want this sentence to be broken. We want a punishment in accordance with human rights. Let them impose a life sentence, but the death penalty is not a law that complies with the law and human rights. We demand that this penalty be broken. It is a shame that they execute two Kurdish youth.”
According to the laws of the Federal Kurdistan Region, the death penalty must first be approved by the courts of appeal. After the approval process, the decision will be submitted to the approval of Neçirvan Barzani, Head of the Region. Penalties can be executed upon Barzani’s approval.
