Turkish prosecutor seeks 15 years in jail for Kurdish villager thrown out of military helicopter
In their final opinion, a Turkish prosecutor has sought up to 15 years in jail for Osman Şiban, a Kurdish villager thrown from a helicopter by the Turkish army, over the charges of being a “member of a terror organization.”
Duvar English
A Turkish prosecutor has demanded up to 15 years in jail for Osman Şiban who was pushed out of a military helicopter on Sept. 11, 2020.
The prosecutor accused Şiban of being a “member of a terror organization.”
During the last hearing, Şiban denied such claims and demanded his acquittal.
One of the “witnesses” claimed Şiban was a “member of a terror organization” during the hearing.
The prosecutor presented their final sentencing opinion (“mütalaa”) and demanded up to 15 years in jail for Şiban.
The court adjourned the case to April 11, according to reporting by Mezopotamya News Agency.
The prosecutors' indictment had accused Şiban of providing “logistical aid” and “living materials” for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in rural areas of Van and Şırnak.
Servet Turgut and Osman Şiban were detained in September as part of an operation targeting the PKK in Van. They were thrown from an army helicopter, prompting outrage among human rights groups.
While security forces claimed that the men were injured as they were trying to escape and told the hospital that the injuries were a result of "falling from a high place," Şiban gave a detailed account of how they were tortured.
Turgut, meanwhile, died shortly after the incident.