ŞIRNAK - 7 years have passed since 12-year-old Nihat Kazanhan was murdered by the police in Cizre. While she waits for the outcome of the application made to the Constitutional Court against the local court's decision, mother Ayşe Kazanhan noted that she will continue her struggle.

 

It has been 7 years since the murder of 12-year-old Nihat Kazanhan, who was targeted and shot by the special operations police while playing in front of his house on January 14, 2015, in the Cizre district of Şırnak. Although government officials claimed that the police had nothing to do with the incident, the images and witnesses revealed that the murder was committed by the police. In the investigation launched into the murder of Kazanhan, the footage recorded by armored vehicles, the radio conversations of the police and the phone records of the police were not included in the file. A lawsuit was filed against Mehmet Nurbaki Göçmez, , and his deputy commissioner U.İ. and special operations police H.V., O.Ç. and G.T. at the Cizre 1st High Criminal Court.

 

THE DECISION OF THE LOCAL COURT

  

In the case that was finalized on November 11, 2016, one of the defendants, Mehmet Nurbaki Göçmez, was charged with 13 years and 4 months with "possible intentional killing of a child", and the other defendants O.Ç., UI, GT and H.V. was charged with not denouncing the crime even though they are public officials and sentenced to 6 years each. The announcement of the verdict was deferred.

 

With the approval of the decision by Gaziantep Regional Administrative Court in June 2017, Kazanhan family's lawyers applied to the Supreme Court. The 1st Penal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals rejected the objection in July 2019, stating, "There was no inaccuracy in the decision." 

 

APPLICATION TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

 

Lawyers applied to the Constitutional Court (AYM). The details of the incident were reminded in the application filed on the grounds of "violation of the right to life", "violation of the obligation to conduct an effective investigation in the context of the right to life" and "violation of the right to a fair trial". In the application, where it was stated that Kazanhan was killed intentionally, it was reminded that the investigation was carried out only through a police officer and that the other accused police officers were only investigated for not reporting the crime. 

 

ACTION FOR COMPENSATION

 

In the compensation lawsuit filed for the murder of Kazanhan, the Mardin 1st Administrative Court ruled that the incident took place under "unjust provocation" and approved the compensation amount of 134 thousand 202 liras to the family.

  

KAZANHAN'S SCHOOL UNIFORM AND LAST PHOTOGRAPH 

 

While the application to the Constitutional Court against the verdict against the police has not been finalized yet, mother Ayşe Kazanhan said that her son was a 6th grade student and that his report card came home shortly after he was murdered. Mother Kazanhan said she tried to console herself with her son's school uniform and last photograph. Stating that she is still grieving, Ayşe Kazanhan said she will continue her struggle until those responsible are held to account.

 

ERDOĞAN'S COPS

 

Mother Kazanhan stated that her son was murdered by the state and said, "My son was still a child and he did not harm anyone. Erdogan shows effection to children in front of the cameras never minding the fact that Kurdish children are getting killed by his cops. He never questioned the death of my 12-year-old son. They tell us that we are terrorists. They are the real terrorists. We are a proud people and we will never bow to anyone. I will never give up on my cause even though if I am left alone fighting for justice. My son was killed by Erdoğan's cops."

 

'HE IS STILL 12'

 

Stating that she will continue to fight for justice until the murderers of his son is held to account, mother Kazanhan said: "I always remember him when children in our village get their report cards. How can I forget? I will not give up on my fight for justice even if the whole country unites and stands against me. My Nihat would be 20 this April but he is still 12. "

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut