On Kurdish Children

Children, who are worst affected by the war, are continuing to be killed, arrested and subjected to torture and maltreatment during their detentions in prison. Below are a few headlines in relation to children: Ceylan Onkol broke down the grenade thrower, haemophiliac Hasan Dundar has been sentenced to 4 years in prison, and children are being tortured in Maltepe prison.

 

It has been 9 months since Ceylan Onkol has been killed.

The grenade thrower that caused Ceylan Onkol’s death has been investigated on the request of Ceylan’s family and solicitors. However, the expert report on the grenade thrower is also protecting the guilty parties. It is claimed in the report that Ceylan hit the ammunition with a heavy item. It is said that the grenade thrower would not explode without some sort of impact on it. One of the peculiarities of the grenade thrower is that it moves in the air while making a whistle-like sound while being thrown. Witnesses said that they first heard a whistle after which the explosion took place. On the other hand, had the grenade thrower been hit, there would have been a hole formed in the ground where the explosion happened. Had Ceylan caused the explosion, her hands and feet would have been damaged first. However, her feet and hands were unharmed.

 

Torture and maltreatment on Kurdish children in prisons continue.

It has been established that children are being tortured in cells in Maltepe F-Type prison. Istanbul Branch of Human Right Association demanded an end to the alarming practise of keeping Kurdish children in cells of 6 square metres. Branch Manager Meral Cildir said children are under intense torture in Maltepe prison. The children who reach the age of 18 are put into single cells and the sick children are not being given medical attention. Cildir explained that the children, who suffer from the violence of the prison guards, are also subjected to abuse by other prisoners held for common offences. Explaining that the children are on hunger strike, Cildir said that “we call upon everybody to do something to stop the inhuman treatment on these small persons”.

 

Hasan Dundar (13) is sentenced to 4 years.

Children also continue to be sentenced for hurling stones. Hasan Dundar, who met cells only at the age of 13, has been imprisoned again after being released. Dundar, who remained at Adana Kurkculer and Pozanti cells for 4 months, has been sentenced to 4 years despite being a haemophiliac.

 

Iranian army killed two people, including a child

After the Turkish army, the Iranian soldiers have killed two young people. The Kurds who were crossing the border in Dalamber of Urmiye have been shot at. Zanyar Braimi (14) and another youth named Sahap Bigzade have been killed in the attack. The soldiers who wounded 3 other people, have also massacred 60 horses and took away 20 of them. Iranian soldiers massacred at least 32 Kurds on the border in the last 6 months.