UN rights boss calls on Turkey to investigate security forces shooting


(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The United Nations’ top human rights official called on Turkish authorities on Feb. 1 to investigate the shooting of a committee of civilians on Jan. 20 in the Cizre district of southeastern rnak province.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein was referring to an incident in which 10 people were wounded in the district on Jan. 20 when a committee including two opposition politicians came under fire while rescuing people hurt in clashes.

Zeid said “extremely shocking” footage filmed of the incident showed what appeared to be a man and woman holding white flags and pushing a cart - possibly carrying bodies - across a street while being watched by an armored military vehicle.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirta said the committee was subjected to gunfire and new casualties including Refik Tekin an award-winningjournalistworking at private broadcaster MC from gunfire purportedly shot by security forces.

“As they reach the other side they are apparently cut down in a hail of gunfire” Zeid said in a statement also expressing concern for Tekin.

Demirta said on Jan. 21 that a committee of 15 civilians including HDP rnak deputy Faysal Saryldz took refuge in a building’s basement in Cizre after they went to the town besieged by clashes between Turkish security forces and outlawedKurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK) militants to care for civilian casualties.

Upon Demirta’s remarks several administrative figures and deputies from the HDP asked Turkish Parliament Speaker smail Kahraman and the Interior Ministry to take action on the casualties.


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