MANİSA - Family of Kurdish politicial Ömer Bartan who stated that Bartan who extradited to Turkey by the KDP because he did not accept being a spy, was delivered to Turkey blindfolded and handcuffed.

 

Kurdish politician Ömer Bartan (48) who had to go to the Hewlér district of Federated Kurdistan District because of the prison sentence he got for allegedly 'being a member of a terrorist organization', was arrested by the public security forces of the KDP on July 3, 2019. His family repeatedly went to Hewlér to get information about him but they did not allowed to see him or provide them any information. 

 

Bartan was delivered to Turkey blindfolded and in handcuffs on January 28 from the Habur Border Gate in the Silopi district of Şırnak. Bartan who was sent to Şırnak Type T Closed Prison, called his family on the phone on February 22 and told about his experiences so far.

 

After the incident reflected to press, the Ministry of Interior of the Federated Kurdistan Region has made a statement and denied all claims and said the news were unfounded. 

 

Bartan's family spoke to Mesopotamia Agency (MA) about Bartan's arrest and his extradition to Turkey.

 

'HE HAD TO LEAVE'

 

Bartan's brother Bekir Bartan said that his brother was detained while working in Bitlis Municipality in 1992 and was arrested on the grounds that he was a “member of a terrorist organization.” Bartan stated that his older brother Ömer was first sent to Mardin Prison and then to Bartın Prison. He was released from prison because his sentence was over in June 2001. After he was released from prison, he took part in the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) activities in Manisa at that time. Ömer did not only work in Manisa.He continued his political activities in Van and Adana in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Investigations were opened against him due to his political activities and, as far as I know, he was sentenced to 7 and a half years in prison in one of these cases. When the Supreme Court upheld the sentence, he had to leave."

 

'PUBLIC SECURITY FORCES OF THE KDP ARRESTED HIM'

 

Stating that they kept in touch after his brother left, Bartan said that KDP Public Security Forces arrested his brother without any reason on July 3, 2019. Pointing out that they could not get any news from his brother for 3 months after he was arrested, Bartan said that they learned he was arrested from other families whose relatives are in prison in Hewlér.

 

Bartan who told that he went to Hewlér to see his brother and after a while the public security forces accepted he was in prison, said that he was not able to see him and that the guards told him to leave his number and that they'll make his brother call him but his brother never called. Bartan said: "Then the pandemic started and I couldn't go back to Hewlér. Finally we learned that my brother was delivered to Turkey on January 28 by the KDP. The police in Turkey called us. That's how we learned."

 

'KDP GAVE ME UP TO TURKEY'

 

Stating that his brother called him from Şırnak Type T Closed Prison on February 22, Bartan said: "We spoke for 10 minutes. He told me that KDP gave him up to Turkey. He told me what he had gone through in prison in Hewlér and KDP's betrayel. He was very angry. My brother told me he was subjected to pressure and threats for 19 months and they asked him to spy and he told them he wouldn't no matter how long they kept him in prison. He told that people who were sentenced to prison by Turkey are subjected to even more pressure in Hewlér. He told me he lost a lot of weight and he was delivered to Turkey blindfolded and handcuffed."

 

'KDP DID US WRONG'

 

Bartan said: "KDP did us wrong and they are lying to hide its betrayel. KDP Public Security Forces told me themselves that my brother was there. We know that the security forces are controlled by the KDP and we all know it. Of course we will not remain silent in the face of this betrayel. No one should."