WAN – Hikmet Çapraz claimed that he was forcibly handcuffed and beaten by five soldiers at a gendarmerie checkpoint in Elbak, shortly after having undergone an ID check just 10 minutes earlier. 

 

Çapraz, 47, traveling from Gever (Yüksekova) in Colemêrg (Hakkari) to Wan (Van) for a hospital appointment, said his minibus was stopped at the Albayrak Gendarmerie Checkpoint in Elbak (Başkale). When he mentioned that he had already been checked just 10 minutes before, he was removed from the vehicle and assaulted. The five soldiers allegedly forced him to the ground and handcuffed him before taking him to the station.

 

“We had a hospital appointment. From Gever to Elbak, we were stopped and ID checks were conducted two or three times. I objected, saying ‘We passed a checkpoint just 100 meters ago.’ Then they pulled me out of the vehicle, took me to a place without cameras, and asked me to undress. When I refused, they beat me. Five soldiers forced me to the ground and handcuffed me. Later, they took me inside. I told them that such actions were provocative. Then they released me,” Çapraz stated.

 

Çapraz was released after a short time at the station and announced that he will file a complaint against the soldiers. The entire incident was recorded by bystanders.

 

MA / Adnan Bilen