‘Turkey has to fulfil its obligation to protect its citizen’

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The Human Rights Association (İHD) Van Branch has released its report regarding the killing of Şefik Bağa by the soldiers of Iran who violated Turkey's border by 250-300 meters in Yukarı Çilli (Çilli ya Jor) neighborhood in Çaldıran district in Turkey's Kurdish-majority eastern province of Van.

The incident reportedly occurred at around 10 a.m. on October 6, 2020. It was indicated that Bağa was shot to death after he had left his home to get cigarettes from the other side of the border.

The report has shared the following information about the conditions of the locals living in the region:

"It has been detected that earning income by selling the goods purchased from the other side of the border is a necessity considering the lack of working and employment opportunities in the Yukarı Çilli Neighborhood and the neighboring villages. There is a need for social and economic policies to prevent such violations in the region."

'Family suffers from grave emotional damage'

İHD Van Branch Chair Murat Melet, Central Executive Board member Kasım Kalkan, board member Sami Buldan and Clinical Psychologist Fırat Kolyiğit have shared the following information and observations:

"The Bağa family engages in border trade to meet their basic needs as their economic condition is not good.

"A. Bağa, the 15-year-old son of Şefik Bağa, has been suffering from grave emotional damage after the incident; it is seen that his elder brother has also been suffering from physical disorders. The Bağa family has been suffering from grave emotional damage.

"It has been confirmed by witness statements that the soldiers of Iran violated the border by 250-300 meters 'against international law.'

"The witness statements have raised suspicions that Şefik Bağa was shot in his head 'by being targeted'."

'An international crime was committed'

In the conclusion of the report, it has been emphasized that the right to life has been violated and an investigation has to be launched into the incident:

"Having openly violated the border, the soldiers of Iran massacred Şefik Bağa, thereby committing an international crime.

"The Republic of Turkey has to immediately start all official/administrative actions regarding this violation of right to life.

"Considering that its border was violated, the Republic of Turkey must make the related applications to international courts and it must fulfill its obligation to protect its own citizen.

"The State of Iran must apologize and pay all types of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages to the Bağa family.

"The authorities have made no announcement to the public regarding the shooting of Şefik Bağa by the soldiers of Iran, no talks have been held with the State of Iran with regards to this or nothing has been shared with the public as to a diplomatic note sent to the country." (AS/SD)