VAN - Bahattin Keve, the father of Barış Keve who died under suspicious circumstances in the prison where he was transferred, stated that they do not believe that his son committed suicide and said: "My son was murdered in an organised way."

 

Barış Keve, who was kept in a cell in Malatya Akçadağ Type T Closed Prison, died under suspicious circumstances on September 18. Many investigations and lawsuits were filed against Keve on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organisation", "aiding and abetting the organization", "insulting the President" and "propagandizing for a terrorist organisation" with the end of the solution of Kurdish Question. Keve, who was arrested in 2017, was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison by the Van 4th High Criminal Court for "being a member of a terrorist organization". Keve, who was detained for 3 and a half months with the decision, was released on condition of judicial control. The sentence, which was upheld by the appeal, was then moved to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided to consolidate all of Keve's cases and sent the file to the local court. In June 2022, while he wanted to go abroad, he was detained in Edirne and arrested.

 

It was claimed that Keve, who died 5 days after being transferred from Edirne to Akçadağ Prison, committed suicide. Keve's preliminary autopsy report was not given to the family. His elder brother İlkkan Keve, who entered the autopsy, stated that his brother had scars on his neck, but his neck was not broken. Speaking about the death of his son under suspicious circumstance, the father Bahattin Keve stated that he did not believe the claim of suicide.

 

KEVE'S STORY

 

Father Keve, who said that his son participated in the work of a political party in the process carried out under the name of "solution of Kurdish Question" in 2013, stated that after the expiry of the term, a lawsuit was filed against his son for "being a member of a terrorist organisation" and he was sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison by the Van 4th High Criminal Court. Noting that in addition to his prison sentence, his son was banned from leaving the country, Keve said:"My son was caught at the Edirne border, where he went to leave the country due to the punishment. We wanted to contribute to this work in the peace process because we have suffered a lot. Like every Kurdish family, we faced the pressure of the state. My brother Sadun Kava was killed 'unsolved murder' in 1996. From that day on, our house became the target of the state. We still do not know where his bones are. My children and I have worked on the solution of Kurdish Question process so that the suffering will not happen anymore, but after the process ended by the government, lawsuits were filed against my son Barış Keve.”

 

THE FAMILY DOES NOT BELIEVE IN SUICIDE

 

Keve said:"My son last talked to his wife on the phone on September 16 and his condition was good. He died on the 5th day he was brought to Malatya. He stated that his situation was very good and he did not have any problems. The injustice and cruelty of the state is everywhere. I do not believe my son committed suicide. My son was held in 3 months in prison in Edirne, why he didn't commit suicide there, but committed suicide on the 5th day when he was brought to Malatya and put in a cell. I think my son was murdered in an organised way."

 

'THE ENEMY LAW CONTINUES'

 

Noting that the policies towards Kurds have never changed, Keve said:"The massacres done by JİTEM in the 1990s are spreading everywhere today. In the 90s, Kurds were murdered in the streets. Today, the situation is no different. They are killing Kurds, but they have changed their tactics. They arrest them under the so-called law and murder them in prisons. We see this every day. Hundreds of people lost their lives in prison. The enemy law against these Kurds still continues. The deaths are the most important indicators that it continues. Everyone should say 'stop' to the suspicious deaths in prisons. If the Kurdish Question is not resolved, no one should wait for peace and democracy to come to this country. We do not want anyone to die anymore. We want the Kurdish Question to be solved in a democratic way. We want to live humanely as Kurds in this land. Prisoners live their lives in prisons. Everyone needs to raise their voice against this situation. If public opinion is not formed, these deaths will continue. Everyone needs to be sensitive about this issue."

 

MA / Hakan Yalcin