Policy of intimidation against Kurds in Mersin: Arbitrary homeraids increased

2021-04-09 11:05:40


	 

	MERSİN - While the police raided the house of Adem Bağış, who went abroad for political reasons, 5 times in a month, the İHD and ÖHD stated that such applications have increased recently and evaluated the pressure against families as "a policy of intimidation, not catching the perpetrator of a crime."

	 

	The pressure on Kurdish families who migrated from the provinces of the region that settled in Mersin due to state pressure continues. In particular, attempts such as house raids and pressure on the families of those who were forced to go abroad for political reasons, or have a wannat issued against them.

	 

	HIS HOUSE WAS RAIDED 5 TIMES IN A MONTH

	 

	One of these families is the Bağış family living in the Akdeniz district of Mersin. Adem Bağış who had to migrate abroad due to political reasons 3 years ago. Despite the fact he is abroad for the last 5 years, the house of Bağış's family was raided by the police five times in one month.

	 

	Stating that their house were raided dozens of times in the last 3 years by different units of the security directorate, Ferhat Bağış said: "They frequently come to our door, raid our house, ask about my brother. Our house was raided five times in March alone. We told them he is abroad however they said they will keep coming until my brother is caught. This creates a psychological pressure for our family. It makes us uncomfortable that they can come raid our house any time they want."

	 

	INCREASE IN THE APPLICATIONS TO IHD

	 

	Human's Rights Association (İHD) Mersin Branch Co-Chair Hakkı Demir stated that the application to their association has increased recently. Stating that they contacted the relevant police department as the association management when someone applies to them, Demir said: "The police says this is a routine procedure. An applicant, who recently came to us, was told that he was kidnapped by the police and if he cooperated with them, a truck would be gifted to them and things will get much easier for them. When we spoke to the law enforcement units about this, they refused it ever happened and they did not do such thing. We told them if it wasn't them, then some illegal structure was doing things like this on their behalf and if they want to prevent a criminal activity, they should investigate who is doing that. 

	 

	Underlining that they recieve similar applications, Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD) Mersin Branch Co-Chair Sarıyıldız said: "When law enforcement cannot reach people who we think are missing, who have just been released from prison or who have been sued, they are trying to their anger on their families."

	 

	Commenting on the pressures on the families, Sarıyıldız said: "They are not trying to catch the perpetrators of a crime. On the contrary, this is a policy of intimidation against the families" and called on the families to file a criminal complaint at the prosecutor's office.

	 

	MA / Ömer Akın