JINHA

ŞIRNEX – 16-year-old boy Hüseyin Paksoy has passed away in the besieged town of Cizre. The boy was the subject of an urgent application to the European Court of Human Rights for the boy’s right to medical assistance after he was wounded by a Turkish state sniper.

In the town of Cizre, where a 24-hour curfew has been enforced for 37 days, Turkish state snipers targeted three individuals several days ago. One of those shot by the snipers was a 16-year-old boy named Hüseyin Paksoy. Snipers continued to open fire on citizens trying to retrieve the wounded boy.

Local politicians worked to get an ambulance to the boy in the town, where state forces have targeted and killed healthcare workers and denied citizens access to hospitals. When an ambulance finally entered the neighborhood, it had to return without finding the boy due to the intensity of state attacks.

Lawyers made an urgent application to the European Court of Human Rights regarding the denial of medical attention. A dead body was retrieved from the neighborhood shortly after the ECHR made a ruling in the lawyers’ favor in the case. Hüseyin’s family has confirmed that the body is that of their son.

Meanwhile, in the Cudi neighborhood of the town, Turkish state forces are denying medical access to 20-year-old Orhan Tunç. Orhan was wounded yesterday evening when he set out from his home to search for his older brother Mehmet, who the family was unable to contact for five days. Ambulances are being refused access to the area.

In the Cudi neighborhood, snipers have shot and wounded two unidentified individuals (one a child). Snipers are continuing to open fire on citizens attempting to reach the wounded, who are reported to be in critical condition.

The body of Mehmet Kaplan, shot in the head and killed in the Cudi neighborhood two days ago, remains in the site where he was killed. Citizens have been unable to retrieve Mehmet’s body due to the intensity of the state assault.

State forces positioned in nearby villages are continuing an intense mortar assault on the town. Heavy tanks on hills overlooking the town continue to bombard many neighborhoods with artillery.

(at-ab-ma/gc/cm)