The Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has filed an indictment against five people battered by the police in Van during a protest against the appointment of trustees to the Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Metropolitan Municipalities of Van, Diyarbakır and Mardin in August 2019.

 

Entering the coffeehouse where protesters took shelter, police officer attacked the people there with helmets, bludgeons and kicks and took them into custody. Among the five people detained on that day and facing a lawsuit now is also Fırat Koç, who is a patient of schizophrenia.

 

As reported by Adnan Bilen from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), as per the indictment accepted by the Van 5th Heavy Penal Court, five people, including Koç, are now facing the charges of "committing crimes on behalf of the organization as a non-member" and "attending unlawful meetings and demonstrations and refusing to disperse despite warnings."

 

THERE IS NO CRIMINAL EVIDENCE

 

According to the indictment, when Fırat Koç was searched by the security officers at the moment of incident, no criminal evidence was found on him. The indictment has also referred to the open source and inquiry report on his social media account and noted that there was also no criminal evidence.

 

Recounting the incidents, the indictment has also made references to a medical report prepared by Van Training and Research Hospital dated July 22, 2019, which concluded that "after his state of mind was examined, the suspect's capability of self-defense was found to be weakened."

 

In summarizing the deposition of Ferhat Koç to the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the indictment has shared the following accounts by him:

 

"...I don't have a job. I was strolling around the bazaar on the day of incident. The incidents occurred at that moment. A large crowd of people were running and there were shouts. I saw people coming towards me.

 

"I threw a chair in a sudden reaction and started running from the scene of incident. I don't have anything to do with the organization, I don't have any links. I don't have anything to do with the protesting group, either..."

 

THERE IS UNANIMITY IN THE ACT

 

The indictment has alleged that Koç and other four "closed the road, thereby committing crimes on behalf of the organization as non-members as they thought and acted in unanimity, and committed the offenses charged as they did not disperse despite being warned by the law enforcement."

 

While Koç now faces a lawsuit, the investigation filed against the police officers who battered him is still ongoing.

 

BACKGROUND

 

While a group of people were protesting the appointment of trustees to the HDP's Metropolitan Municipalities of Van, Diyarbakır and Mardin on August 21, 2020, police officers entered a coffeehouse in Van, battering people with helmets, bludgeons and kicks and detaining them afterwards.

 

Held in custody for five days, he was released with an international travel ban upon the request of the Van Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

 

Van Bar Association and lawyers filed a criminal complaint against the police officers who battered Koç and the prosecutor's office sent an official letter to the Van Governor's Office, requesting permission to identify the police officers and launch an investigation against them.

 

While three officers who battered Koç were identified, an administrative investigation was launched against them.