The 9th hearing of the case against 19 police officers who are being tried for 'malpractice' regarding the ISIS bomb attack to the Peoples' Democratic Party rally on June 5, 2015 was held at Diyarbakır Criminal Court of First Instance. 

 

The hearing was followed by HDP Diyarbakır Provincial Co-chairs Hülya Alökmen and Zeyat Ceylan and members of the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP).

 

While the intensive security measures taken in front of the courthouse before the hearing were attracted attention, it was found curious that 5 police officers followed the hearing while the accused police officers did not attend the hearing.

 

'GO AWAY! YOUR DEATH HAS ARRIVED!'

 

Complainant Gülizar Kurul who attended the hearing, emphasized the security vulnerability at the rally. Kurul said some police told them 'Go away! Your death has arrived!' while they were entering the meeting area. Kurul stating that she lost her brother at the bomb attack, said she is a complainant and she wants to participate in the proceedings."

 

Speaking after Kural, the attorneys of the complainants Nadide Kurul and Gizem Miran said: "Even though the person who carried out the attack had a warrant for his arrest, the police officers who approached the attacker and only performed general information screening (GBT). They came from Syria and were staying at a hotel in Diyarbakır. And there was asecurity vulnerability at the rally area. We demand that the defendants on trial be punished as soon as possible."

 

After the break, the court accepted the lawyers' request for a larger court room and adjourned the hearing to 10 July.

 

BACKGROUND

 

ISIS member Orhan Gönder carried out a bomb attack at the rally organized by HDP two days before the June 7 2015 General Elections where 2 thousand 360 police officers were assigned to be on duty. 5 people were killed at the bombing and more than 400 were injured.