On Wednesday evening last week (21 November), 26-year old electrician Feyzullah Ete was sitting in a park in Avcilar, in northwest Istanbul, with his friend.

According to the friend, they were asked to show their ID by three plainclothes policemen and then told to go home. When Ete said that they were "guys from this neighbourhood", police officer Ali M. punched the friend, then tried to pull Ete off the bench. When Ete refused to get up, he kicked him in the chest. The young man sank to the ground, and, when taken to hospital in the police car, was found to be dead.

Police statement denies responsibility 

The Istanbul Police Department said in a statement that Ete fell to the ground during a scuffle and then "could not get up". The statement, posted on its website, further said that police officers were on the beat in the area and had received complaints that "two people in the park were drinking alcohol, yelling and disturbing others". According to the statement, the policemen went and warned the two men and asked for their IDs. Ete and his friend are said to have sworn at the police, refused to show their IDs and said, "We can drink and yell wherever we want".

Ete's death is explained as follows: "During the ensuing scuffle, F.E. and one of the officers fell to the ground. The police officer got up again, but it became clear that F.E. could not get up. Thus, F.E. and his friend A.Y.O. were taken to a private hospital in the police car. Despite the efforts made at the hospital, F.E. died. The exact reason for death is unknown and will become clear from the autopsy report of the Forensic Medical Institute."

Police officer later arrested 

It was later decided to arrest police officer Ali M., the officer said to have kicked Ete.

According to NTV news, the Police Department has sent two police examiners to Istanbul to investigate the case. Ali M. first gave a statement to the Public Prosecutor and was then arrested for "causing a death". He has been a police officer for twelve years.

IHD Istanbul: Limit Police Authorities

When the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights  Association (IHD) made its statement, the police officer had not been arrested; the association condemned the fact that he had been released after questioning.

The IHD has also called for an immediate review of the Law on Police Duties and Authorities, arguing that since changes in the law were made, there has been an increase in police violence, sometimes also resulting in death. It recalled the suspicious death of Nigerian refugee Festus Okey, who was shot dead in the Beyoglu Police Station. (TK/AG)