Dead Gezi Protestor’s Mother Discontinued From “Threat” Charges
* Photo credit: Selda Alkan
An investigation for charges related to “threatening Recep Tayyip Erdoğan” against Hatice Cömert, mother of dead Gezi protestor Abdullah Cömert, has been discontinued on the grounds that her words were not “a threat but malediction”.
On June 3, Abdullah Cömert was shot in the head by a tear as canister and died at a hospital in the southern province of Antakya.
According to the investigation complaint, Hatice Cömert pronounced the aforementioned words on February 21 during a commemoration tent set up for Özgecan Aslan - a male violence victim. She was charged with up to 2 years of prison according to Turkish Penal code Article 106.
According to the complaint, Hatice Cömert allegedly said the following: “I hope Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will not even wear a shroud, it will not be possible for him. He will die burning, burning, I hope.”
“Considering the speech as a whole with its before and after, the aforementioned words do not constitute the elements of threat crime,” prosecutor wrote in a document. (AS/BM)
What happened? |
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The investigation regarding Abdullah Cömert, hit by a tear gas canister during Gezi Park events on 3 June 2013 and lost his life after being hospitalized, have been concluded on 14 April 2014. According to the bill of indictment accepted by Hatay 2nd High Criminal Court, the police officer Ahmet Kuş is being tried on the grounds of Article 81/1 and 21/1 of Turkish Penal Code which rule “killing with eventual intent”. The first hearing of the case was held on 4 July in Hatay 2nd High Criminal Court. However, before the first hearing, the lawyer representing suspect Kuş applied for the case to be transferred to another city. Hatice Can, lawyer representing Cömert, has explained that the right to a fair trial is violated. However, the objection made by lawyer Can was not taken into consideration and the case was transferred to Balıkesir 2nd High Criminal Court with a decision by Penal Department No. 5 of the Supreme Court. The case is seen in Balıkesir, the witnesses and Cömert family will attend the court hearing from Hatay and the suspect police officer Ahmet Kuş will attend from Mersin. The request for the arrest of Kuş, however, has been rejected. |
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.