Duygu Erol/JINHA

AMED - For more than three months, Sur district of Diyarbakır has been under blockade. Children, had been evacuated from the town, were sent to Child Protection Agency by prosecution decision. The state is taking away the children from their families. Gazal Bayram Koluman, a lawyer, reached to the situation by saying that all legal proceedings are continuing to give back the children to their families.

For 97 days, the blockade has continued in the Sur district of Diyarbakır. Nearly 18 children, including Kadir Şahin (11) and Talat Abiş (7) managed to get out of the town alive on the 93rd day of the blockade. Five unidentified children were sent to Turkish Social Service and Children Protection Institution by the prosecution decision without confirmation of judge. Gazal Bayram Koluman, a lawyer and the president of the Diyarbakir Bar Association Children's Center, stated that the families applied to Diyarbakır Bar Association and told them that their children had been taken under the state protection. "We, as children's rights activists and lawyers working on the children's issues, think that children who has war trauma, must stay with the people those children know well." said Gazal.

"Nearly 18 children were evacuated from Sur on March 3, 2016. 11 of them aged between 12 and 18. They have been taken into custody since then. Meanwhile, seven children under 12 years old, were sent to Child Protection Agency by prosecution decision. We learned that when the families applied to us." said Gazal

Gazal said that two children were sent to Girls Dorm of the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies. Kadir's mother talked to the prosecutor to take back her son. However, the prosecutor told her that her son will not be given back to his family.

"The curfew in Sur was lifted for one-day on the ninth day of curfew. Kadir's family went to Sur to take their stuff in their home. Kadir disappeared. His mother looked for him. However, she couldn't find him. Kadir had stuck in the town about three months. He stayed in a war environment. He suffered a major trauma in the town. He needs a safe environment now. He needs his family now. However, the state is taking him away from his family." said Gazal.

(ny/mg/gd)