Inhumane obstacles against funeral of political prisoner Erkmen

The body of political prisoner Vedat Erkmen, who was killed in Tekirdağ No.2 F-type Prison, was abducted by the police and not handed over to his family. The body of Erkmen, under the supervision of the police, was taken to Kars from Istanbul, and buried in Pazarcix (Dağpınar) town in the Digor district under police blockade.

Before the burial, the imam disallowed the body of Erkmen to be taken into the mosque, citing the order by the Provincial Office of Mufti, and refused to fulfil religious duties for Erkmen. Besides, the family was not given a tent to receive condolence visits, and they were forced to use a small storage room.

Elder brother Sayim Erkmen, who accompanied the body of Vedat Erkmen since Monday, reported that the autopsy was performed without Erkmen’s family and lawyers. He said, “They say that my brother committed suicide by hanging himself. It is very difficult to find a rope in an isolation cell. How can a rope be found there? We do not believe that it was a suicide.”

Expressing reaction to the obstacles and police repression against the funeral, brother Erkmen said, “Vedat did not deserve this.” He also condemned the obstacles against religious duties, saying, “There is nothing like this in religion.”