JINHA

WAN - Shot by police the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Hakkari Provincial Council member Sibel Çapraz has been in prison even if she is wounded. She has been held in Menemen R Type Prison and she has struggled for life in the prison. The DBP Van Province Co-Chair Nazmiye Acar noted that Sibel should be released and treated under better condition.

Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Hakkari Provincial Council member Sibel Çapraz was seriously wounded when the police opened fire from armoured vehicles on 28 November 2015 in Yüksekova (Gever) district of Hakkari. She has been jailed with charges of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" and she has been held in İzmir Menemen R Type Prison. Her doctor stated that in Sibel's health report that Sibel's health condition is still critical. Many women organazations have continued to issue calls for Sibel. Meanwhile, the DBP Van Province Co-Chair Nazmiye Acar noted that there is no legal basis for holding Sibel in prison. She said, "We'll increase our activities and actions until our friend is released pending trial and treated outside of prison."

Nazmiye pointed out that women have been pointed as target by state forces. She said, "Organization of women always disturbs male mentality, that's why we have faced such attacks. These attacks will never reach their goal. Sibel went out with citizens in neighborhood in order to protest the ongoing attacks by using her democratic rights against annihilation and denial policies imposed on Kurdish people."

Nazmiye said that Sibel has been seriously wounded by police; however, no police officers have been taken under investigation about the event yet, "Our friend narrowly escaped death. While no legal process against police officers has been begun, our wounded friend was taken into custody and sent to jail as if she were a killer. She has been expelled to İzmir Menemen Prison. Our friend Sibel should be released and treated under better condition."

(htk/dc/dk/gd)