Disappearances in Detention

Following efforts by the Diyarbakır branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD), the prosecution of Lice district in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır has initiated excavations near the village of Dibek, where human remains have been found.

It is likely that the bones belong to Seyithan Ulumaskan and his son Sadık, both of whom disappeared in 1997.

Should DNA samples prove this to be true, then the investigation into their kidnapping, which was dropped in 2007 after the statute of limitations ran out, could be reopened.

Bones found

Serdar Çelebi, a lawyer at the Diyarbakır Bar Association, told bianet that he and Muharrem Erbey, president of the Diyarbakır İHD, and lawyer Gamze Yalçın accompanied the excavation ordered by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecution and carried out by the Lice district prosecution.

Human bones were found during the excavation at a place identified through statements of villagers.

When travelling from Viranşehir to Diyarbakır on 4 December 1997, Seyithan and Sadık Ulumaskan were stopped by people identifying themselves as police two kilometres from the city. They tried to take them into custody. However, because father and son had been threatened before, they escaped and sought refuge with villagers.

The İHD says that the people identifying themselves as police said that father and son were "members of an illegal organisation" and threatened the villagers who tried to prevent them from being taken into custody.

Their disappearance has been taken to the European Court of Human Rights. (EÖ/AG)