Suspicious Death in Custody on Parliamentary Agenda

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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Adana MP Meral Danış Beştaş has submitted a parliamentary inquiry about Murat Araç (19) who allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the third floor of Gazipaşa District Security Directorate in Antalya.

The inquiry demanding response from Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu asked, “Are the detention centers monitored with camera? Are you considering to share the camera footage with the public?”

Speaking to bianet, Human Rights Association (İHD) Mersin Branch Chair Ali Tanrıverdi said that they are in effort to obtain information about the incident, they met with the family and will follow the investigation.

In his speech at the parliament concerning the incident, Minister Soylu said that “all sorts of investigations and inspections are launched into the incident” and “they have the intel that ‘PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) instructed its members to ‘commit suicide as soon as you realized that you will be captured’”.

His family stated that there were bruises and battering scars on Murat Araç's neck and face.

Neither funeral vehicle nor condolence spot was provided

The inquiry included following information:

“Pro-government news agencies reported that Murat Araç was a ‘terrorist’ and ‘committed suicide’ by his own will.

“According to Araç’s elder brother İlhan Araç’s statements, Murat Araç was 19 years old, not 24 as the media reported and he was not someone to commit suicide”.

The inquiry mentioned Minister Soylu’s statement as well and it was expressed in the inquiry that Araç was interred under police blockade and that neither funeral vehicle nor condolence spot was provided for the body taken from Antalya to Urfa. (AS/TK)