SERPİL SAVUMLU

Istanbul- Dilan Kortak was shot dead on December 3, 2015 in a police raid on her home in the Sancaktepe neighborhood of Istanbul. Although eight years have passed since she was killed, the police officers still walk freely. The police officers, protected by the armor of impunity, worked and still work as police officers. According to the latest reports, a gun used by the police officers during the raid is unregistered and missing.

The home of Dilan Kortak was raided by hundreds of police officers supported by helicopters. 25 bullets hit 20-year-old Dilan Kortak’s body and killed her.

‘The police officers acted in self-defense’

After the incident, a confidentiality order was issued on the investigation process. 101 days later, the public prosecutor's office issued a decision of non-prosecution. On March 18, 2016, the Istanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor claimed that the police officers acted in self-defense and resorted force according to Article 16 of the Law 2559 on the Powers and Duties of Police saying, “if a person or group resists and prevents the police from carrying out their duties, the police can resort to force to the extent required to eliminate this resistance”. Then, the confidentiality order was lifted.

No legal action has been taken against the police officers

After a short time, the lawyers of Dilan Kortak’s family found out that no evidence had been collected at the scene and that the documents in the investigation were prepared by the police. During the investigation, the weapons used by the police officers were not examined. The police officers stood trial on charges of “involuntary manslaughter”; however, the court issued a decision of non-jurisdiction and sent the case to the High Criminal Court. Since then, no legal action has been started against the police officers.

In an interview with NuJINHA, Bülent Aşa, the lawyer of Dilan Kortak’s family and member of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) Istanbul branch, said that Dilan Kortak had been shot 68 times. “17 bullets hit her back, seven hit her left chest and one hit her neck at close range. We proved with evidence that Dilan Kortak had been killed with extreme prejudice. The police officers could have arrested Dilan Kortak alive; however, the police officers killed her intentionally.”

‘There are many points that need to be clarified’

Recalling that a decision of non-prosecution was given against nine police officers, who planned the raid, controlled it and gave the order to shoot, Bülent Aşa said, “We filed an individual application to the Constitutional Court. We have not received a response yet. We will continue our legal struggle until all defendants are punished. There are many points that need to be clarified in the investigation launched in the killing of Dilan Kortak.”

Unregistered gun was used

According to the latest reports, the bullets found at the scene were fired by an unregistered gun. “This gun is still missing. The investigation report reveals that an unregistered gun was used by police officers during the raid.”

‘The perpetrators are protected’

Bülent Aşa pointed out the killing of Uğur Kaymaz, Dilek Doğan and Kemal Kurkut, who were killed by police officers. “The police officers, who killed Uğur Kaymaz, were acquitted on the grounds that they had acted in self-defense. The police officer, who killed Dilek Doğan, was sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of ‘involuntary manslaughter’. Kemal Kurkut was killed by police officers during the Newroz celebration. A court ruled that Kemal Kurkut was killed ‘within the legal framework’ and that the police officer accused of the murder did not commit a crime and that Article 17 of the constitution which regulates the right for life was not violated. The police officers go unpunished even if they kill innocent people. The perpetrators are protected by the state itself.”