Turkish governor says deputy has acted in deception as deputy undergoes surgery

Turkish governor says deputy has acted in deception as deputy undergoes surgery
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Update: 11 October 2022 01:28
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A governor has spoken out in defense of the police officers after two deputies were subjected to police violence, one being treated in hospital for fractures.

After two deputies were reportedly subjected to police violence during a demonstration in Turkey, the governor issued a statement saying the deputies tried to create a deceptive impression that they were beaten by the police, by "throwing themselves on the ground."

Deputies for the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Habip Eksik and Sait Dede, were physically assaulted by the police in the Kurdish-majority city of Yuksekova on Sunday during a protest held on the occasion of the anniversary of Abdullah Öcalan's enforced departure from Syria 24 years ago.

The incident on 9 October 1998 marks the beginning of a series of events that resulted in the abduction of Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), on 15 February 1999 in Kenya's capital through a joint operation by the US and Turkish intelligence agencies.

Saying that the protesting group had been "warned that they were holding a demonstration in support of terrorism," the Governor of Hakkari province claimed:

"The deputies in the group threw themselves on the ground during the scuffle with an intention to create a perception that they were beaten by the police officers and that the police used excessive force. Then they shared images on social media showing them injured."

HDP deputy Habip Eksik, who was hospitalized after the incident and suffered fractures in his foot, was taken to Turkish capital Ankara late Sunday and had a surgical operation early Monday, Mezopotamya News Agency reported.

The chair of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, responded to the governor's claims on Twitter, saying:

"Dr. Habip's fractures could not have been caused by him throwing himself on the ground, considering the shapes of the fractures. It must have happened under a considerable force! And we call it torture!"