Kevser Demir (55) in the Bağlar district of Diyarbakır was battered by the police who detained her son. The police knocked out her 3 teeth and broke his arm during the raid on their home. Demir, who got an assault report from the Saladin Ayyubi State Hospital, filed a criminal complaint regarding the torture and ill-treatment she was subjected to. Demir also applied to the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) and the Diyarbakır branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD).

 

'THEY DRAGGED ME ON THE FLOOR PULLING MY HAIR'

 

Speaking to Tigris Newspaper, Demir explained what happened on the evening of May 18, 2021, "I have 8 childen. One of my sons is addicted to drugs. He is also married and has a child. I asked the police officers how could I get my son treated. They said they didn't know. I want to save my son. I came from work and around 18.15 I heard sone noises coming from downstairs. I tought someone had fallen from the balcony and I ran. I have another apartment in the building I leased out. I saw my son went down to my tenant, 3 police officers had laid my son on the ground, trying to handcuff him. One was sitting on his back and one was holding him from his neck. My son was screaming, 'Mum, they are killing me". I ran towards them pleading for his life. I told them not to hurt him. One of the police officersheld me from my hair, dragged me out pulling my hair. One of them kicked me and knocked 3 of my teeth out. I have bruises all over my body. My arm is broken. The other two police officers were trying to stop the police officer that beat me. My daughter came running. She told them they could take my son to the police station if he is guilty and asked why they were beating me. They beat her too. He was yelling that he used to be a boxer. He kicked me in the gut and I fell down the stairs."

 

'HE THREATENED ME'

 

Demir explained that she filed a complaint to the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER) and said that the police who beat her, also threatened her after her complaint. Demir said: "The same police officer threatened her. He came to our door, screaming my son was a drug addict. He was harassing us, saying he will detain 3 more people from my family. I wrote to CİMER but they did not respond. I haven't filed a criminal complaint at the prosecutor's office yet but I gave a statement to the Bağlar Police Station."

 

GOVERNORATE: THEY ATTACKED THE POLICE

 

Diyarbakır Governorship also made a statement regarding the incident. In the governor's statement, it was claimed that the police violence "did not reflect the truth". The statement alleged that family members "resisted" and "used violence against police officers" during the detention. The statement reads, "2 of our officers were injured from several places on their bodies and filed a criminal complaint against N.D,K.D, and F.D with an assault report they got from the hospital. An investigation has been launched against the 3 people with the instruction of the Chief Public Prosecutor."

 

The fact that the statement did not mention the broken arm and teeth of the 55-year-old woman drew attention.