Dilek Doğan’s family to appeal to the ECtHR

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The family of Dilek Doğan, who was shot to death by special operations police officer Y.M. during a raid on her house in İstanbul on October 18, 2015, will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

In the lawsuit filed against Y.M., where he faced 20 years to 26.5 years in prison, the prison term was reduced to 6 years, 3 months due to "good conduct." While the Court of Cassation has not yet upheld or overturned this final ruling of the local court, the perpetrator will serve only 45 days behind bars if the Court of Cassation upholds the ruling.

The Doğan family will take the case to the ECtHR.

'I want justice'

Speaking to Esra Solin Dal from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA), mother Aysel Doğan has denounced the impunity for the defendant police officer. "My daughter is in the ground, but the police officer who shot her has received 45 days of prison term," the mother has said, asking, "Is it fair that 45 days [are given] for a life? I only want justice. No one should say, 'This would not happen to us.' What has happened may happen to anyone."

Father Metin Doğan has recalled that the police officer who shot Dilek Doğan said at court, "The state had ordered and I shot [her]." Referring to the "calmness" of the police officer who killed Doğan, the father has said, "The justice system in Turkey has become the police. The ones who arrest are the police, the ones who put on trial are the police, the ones who penalize are the police... Judges and prosecutors cannot act with their own will."

Concluding his remarks, Metin Doğan has reiterated that "they will follow up this injustice", announcing that they will appeal to the ECtHR.

What happened?

The police raided the house where Dilek Doğan was living with her family in Küçük Armutlu neighborhood in Sarıyer, İstanbul at around 4.30 a.m. on October 18, 2015. She was shot to death by a police bullet. Wounded in her lungs, she was then taken to the intensive care unit of the Doğan Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital.

She lost her life on October 25, 2015.

The indictment filed into the killing of Dilek Doğan was accepted on December 12, 2015. Facing 20 years to 26 years, 6 months in prison, police officer Y.M. stood trial on charge of "deliberate killing with negligence" as per the Article 83 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

At the seventh hearing held by the İstanbul 12th Heavy Penal Court, the police officer was sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison. The prison sentence was upheld by the court of appeals. The file is now to be examined by the Court of Cassation. (RT/SD)