WAN - The investigation launched into the throwing of two villagers from a helicopter in Wan is being carried out "secretly" even though 3 years have passed. Servet Turgut's brother and lawyer stated that the policy of impunity is implemented in the file.

 

It has been 3 years since 2 villagers were thrown out of a helicopter by the soldiers in the Shax (Çatak) district of Wan. Soldiers who went on an operation detained Servet Turgut (55), the father of 7 children, and Osman Şiban (50), the father of 8 children, on September 11, 2020. Two days later, it was revealed that Turgut and Şiban were in the intensive care unit of the Van Regional and Training and Research Hospital.

 

Turgut, one of the villagers thrown from the helicopter, died on September 30, 2020. A lawsuit was filed against Osman Şiban and the journalists who covered the event. On April 11, 2023, Şiban was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization". MA Reporters Adnan Bilen and Cemil Uğur, and JINNEWS reporters Şehriban Abi and Nazan Sala, who announced the incident to the public, were arrested on October 9 of the same year. Journalists, who were detained for 1 year, were acquitted in the trial they were tried on.

 

Although 3 years have passed since the incident, the "confidentiality" decision in the investigation file has not been lifted. In this process, 3 prosecutors who oversaw the investigation changed. All appeals by lawyers against the "confidentiality" order were unsuccessful.

 

LAWYER BİLİCİ: POLICY OF IMPUNITY IS IMPLEMENTED

 

The families' lawyer, Baran Bilici, noted that there was no progress in the investigation. Lawyer Bilici said: "Nothing is shared with us, such as the suspect's detection or the litigation process. We see that there is an effort to protect those responsible and to cover up the crime. Instead of conducting a thorough investigation, a policy of impunity is implemented over time."

 

APPLICATION WILL BE MADE TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

 

Stating that all people in the chain of command should be identified, Bilici said: “There is always impunity in crimes in which the state is a party. The state must explain what happened to these people. We will apply to the Constitutional Court for an effective investigation."

 

MA / Adnan Bilen