Şebnem Korur Fincancı arrested over comments on chemical weapons

  • actual
  • 11:25 26 October 2022
  • |
img
 
ANKARA - The Turkish doctor became a target of President Erdogan and his coalition partner Bahçeli folowing her comments on Turkey’s alleged use of chemical gases against the PKK during the ongoing operations in Iraqi Kurdistan.
 
Sebnem Korur Fincanci, head of the Turkish Medical Association, known as TTB, was arrested on early Wednesday morning during a raid to her home.  A prosecutor in Ankara gave the order of arrest as part of a new investigation of “terror propaganda” into Fincanci.
 
Prosecutor also demands the court to terminate Fincancı’s position as the head of the TTB by electing a new head for the executive council of the union.
 
COMMENT ON TOXIC GASES
 
Turkish prosecutors earlier this week launched an investigation into prominent doctor and human rights activist after she had examined video images released by Firat News Agency ANF and stated her suspicions that chemical weapons might have been used.
 
"It's obvious that one of the toxic chemical gases that directly affects the nervous system has been used," she stated..
 
"Although it is forbidden to use it, we see it is used in clashes."
 
‘ENEMY OF THE TURKS’
 
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 24 targeted Fincancı, saying, “Both fort his person and fort his institution necessary steps will be taken.”
 
Erdoğan also said he has given “instructions” to his ministers to speed up their works in progress on the “new legistlation on all professional organisations, including the Turkish Medical Association”.
 
“A union which is the enemy of the Turks can not have the name of Turk in it. One of the most feasible things to do is to strip those who throw chemical weapons mud at Turkish soldiers with the mouths of traitors and villains, such as the President of the Turkish Medical Association and others, of their Turkish citizenship and condemn them to statelessness,” Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, the MHP, said. 
 
DEBATE ON CHEMICAL WARFARE
 
ANF on October 18 released images of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK, fighters, with the headline, “Last moment of the guerilla after being exposed to chemicals” which showed a man having a nervous crisis, hardly breathing, and shaking all over his body. 
 
Images triggered great response from the çivil society and the Kurdish diaspora around the World as tens of thousands took the streets protesting the against Turkey’s alleged deployment of chemical warfare during the ongoing cross-border aggression in Iraqi Kurdistan.
 
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), a non-partisan federation of medical groups in over 60 countries, sent a mission to northern Iraq in late September.
 
"Some indirect evidence for possible violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention was found," it said in its report.
 
"Material found near an area abandoned by the Turkish Army included containers for hydrochloric acid and bleach, which could be used to produce chlorine, a classical chemical warfare agent," according to the report. 
 
On the other hand Turkey strictly denied any use of chemical weapons.
 
"The allegations that 'chemical weapons' are used by the Turkish Armed Forces are completely unfounded and untrue," the Turkish defence ministry said.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

View More Articles

11/07/2025
20:17 Davutoglu: What we must do now is leading the new era
20:12 I hope this step will bring good results says Erdogan
20:09 Bese Hozat: We took this step with a clear decision
17:07 Echo of historic ceremony in Amed: Demand constitutional guarantees for those who lay down arms
16:51 CHP Chair Ozel: Process must be managed in Parliament with swift and decisive steps
16:27 Names of participants in historical ceremony of PKK
16:15 We reached end of our work on commission says Parliament Speaker
16:04 Peace Mothers: The state has no more excuses, it must take action
15:32 Nechirvan Barzani: Important and encouraging step
14:36 People watch historical ceremony of PKK with rapt attention
14:13 Footage of historic ceremony of PKK
14:08 Critical threshold has been passed says AKP Spokesperson
14:07 Founding leadership of the PKK kept his promise says Bahceli
13:21 Details of historic ceremony: Legal regulations needed
12:51 KCK Executive Council Co-chair Besê Hozat led historic ceremony
12:44 First images from historic ceremony
12:29 Delegation leaves the site after witnessing historic ceremony
11:58 Peace and Democratic Society Group: We voluntarily destroy our weapons
11:26 Ceremony to be in Şikefta Casenê
11:12 DBP, HDK, and DEM Party arrive at ceremony site
10:58 People awaiting for the “Peace and Democratic Society Group”
10:02 ‘Dream Travelers’ to commemorated with events: Let’s unite on a common ground
10:00 International delegation heads to ceremony site
09:11 Citizens participating in public meetings: The state must take steps
09:10 Ali Bozan: It’s turn of the state to take steps
09:09 Spent 30 years in prison: Ill prisoners should be release for peace
09:09 Tuberculosis patient prisoner subjected handcuffed examination for 3 years
08:07 Delegation on the way to Sulaymaniyah for ceremony
10/07/2025
16:35 He releases from prison after 30 years: We will continue the struggle
16:04 Journalists heading to PKK ceremony: We will witness historic moments
14:35 Call against increasing repression by the Iranian regime
12:33 People set off from Amed for PKK's ceremony
12:22 Censorship of Ajansa Welat by Instagram
12:19 Future of process depends on the government's attitude says Journalist Er
10:42 She lost 2 children during conflicts: Commission must be established, steps must be taken
10:29 Sile Municipality Mayor Kabadayı detained
10:26 Call from Roboskî to mothers of soldiers: If we join hands, peace will come
10:13 KCK: We are determined to take the step Leader Apo has asked of us
09:27 Nature of Şirnex to be plundered with 10 new energy activities
09/07/2025
22:04 Ocalan's video message celebrated in North and East Syria
21:46 Details of the Damascus meeting: 10 March agreement must be fully implemented
21:21 Abdullah Aksu releases from prison after 31 years
21:05 DAANES and transitional government meeting ends
16:38 Mayor Karalar and Deputy Mayor Sahin dismissed
16:19 Roadmap of Ocalan for solution will contribute to shaping future says DBP Co-chair
15:40 DEM Party will be in Sulaymaniyah on 11 July says Aysegul Dogan
15:15 AANES Delegation to meet with transitional government
14:21 After 26 years Amed citizens heard Öcalan: Urgent steps must be taken
13:58 Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call echoes in international media
13:42 Politicians and intellectuals to depart for ceremony in Sulaymaniyah