Autopsy Done, Courthouse Hostage Perpetrators’ Funeral Today

The bodies of Şafak Yayla and Bahtiyar Doğruyol, two  DHKC members who held Berkin Elvan case prosecutor as hostage and were killed in a police operation, have been sent to their homelands for funeral after their autopsies were complete. 

The transfer took place despite the perpetrators’ wish to be burried in Gazi Cemetery in Istanbul’s predominantly Alevi-populated Gazi neigborhood. Istanbul Governor’s Office declined their families’ request due to “security reasons”. 

While Yayla’s funeral will be held in the northern province of Giresun, Doğruyol’s funeral will held in Ankara - both today. 

It was also reported that police assaulted the mourners of 2 DHKC members outside the forensics institute building with teargas and water cannon, detaining more than 30 demonstrators by force. 

On the other hand, Özgür Yılmaz, an advocate who observed the autopsy of two perpetrators of Istanbul Courthouse hostage crisis, told bianet that authorities refused to hand him a copy of the preliminary autopsy report.  

Various newspapers reported that a crime scene investigation held in Prosecutor Mehmet Selim Kiraz’s office returned with 1 pistol, 43 empty shells and 21 loaded shells. 

“Both bodies were not recognizable from their faces,” Yılmaz said. (AS/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.