ŞIRNEX - In Şirnex, the state came out of the gang that forced women, including children and foreign nationals, to prostitution. The relationship between the members of the gang and 1 non-commissioned officer, 3 of whom are specialists, draws attention, and it is noteworthy that these soldiers use their influence to bring women for prostitution in the city.
The investigation and trial process opened against 25 suspects in Şirnex (Şırnak- Southeast Kurdistan in Turkey) in 2013 reveals the special war policies in the region with all its nakedness.
The investigation launched in 2013 against 25 suspects on the charge of “establishing an organization to engage in prostitution” turned into a lawsuit 11 years later. Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office completed the investigation 11 years later and the indictment prepared by the Şırnak 3rd High Criminal Court against 25 suspects, 4 suspected victims and foreign nationals was accepted. The indictment included the crimes of “Establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime”, “Encouraging or causing children to engage in prostitution”, “Human trafficking against persons under the age of 18”, “Qualified abuse of a child”, “Encouraging or causing a person to engage in prostitution”, “Human trafficking”, “Threatening by using the names of criminal organizations”, “Blackmail” and “Usury”. The indictment requested multiple separate punishments in proportion to the number of crimes committed by the perpetrators, and also requested an increase in punishment due to the qualified nature of the crimes committed.
The indictment named İbrahim Tatar, who was arrested in 2013 and released in 2024, as the leader of the organization, Kenan Tatar as his deputy, and the other 23 perpetrators as “members of the organization”. The indictment drew attention to the military influence of 3 specialist sergeants and a non-commissioned officer who were used to bring children and foreign nationals to the city for prostitution.
SOLDIERS IN THE ORGANIZATION
The indictment stated that İbrahim Tatar is the leader of the organization and Kenan Tatar is his deputy. The indictment named Abdullah Yıldız, Emrullah Baysal, Specialist Sergeant Ertaç Kaya, Ferhan Dayan, Ferhat Açıl, Ferhat Ok, Hasan Açar, Specialist Sergeant Hüseyin Şahin, İbrahim Ercan, Kemal Yılmaz, Mehmet Kandemir, Münir Çakan, Petty Officer Mustafa Yalçın, Nimet Koluman, Necmettin Çevik, Önder Ateşoğlu, Remzi Yarar, Yunus Ertuğrul as suspects. Ayşe Yeren, Birsen Ateş, Meral Teker, Zübeyda Rüstemoğlu were named as suspects, while foreign nationals F. A., H. S., J. A., M. B., M. İ., N. H., R. S., T. Y. and X. Y. and Turkish nationals H. B., S. B., A. İ., A. A., M. Ç., N. S., Ş. D. were named as victims.
MILITARY INFLUENCE USED
The indictment stated that İbrahim Tatar, the leader of the organization, had sexual intercourse with adult women as well as children H. B. and S. B. and forced them into prostitution. The indictment emphasized that the women, who are suspects and victims, engaged in prostitution in exchange for money and mediated prostitution. It was recorded that the members of the organization, Emrullah Baysal and Kemal Özsökük, contacted the deputy leader of the organization and brought women from outside the province for prostitution by taking advantage of the influence of special sergeants Hüseyin Şahin, Ertaç Kaya and Petty Officer Mustafa Yalçın who were serving in Şirnex. It was recorded that one of these special sergeants Hüseyin Şahin had a relationship with organization member Meral Akın and they lived in the same house, that Specialist Sergeant Hüseyin Şahin was aware of the organization's functioning and that they knew each other.
The indictment stated that Ferhat Ok and Ferhan Dayan took part in bringing foreign women to Şirnex to work in Melisa Bar, which they operated, in line with the instructions of organization members İbrahim Tatar and his business partner Halim Enüştekin.
BANK MANAGER AND SPECIALIST SERGEANT SUICIDE
The indictment stated that suspects Birsen Ateş and Zeybda Rüstemoğlu had Mehmet Kandemir, the manager of Vakıflar Bank's Central Branch, examine the bank accounts of Specialist Sergeant Turgay Koç assigned to Çakırsöğüt 1st Gendarmerie Commando Brigade Command. It was recorded that Specialist Sergeant Koç was in a relationship with Ayşe Yaren, a member of the organization who engaged in prostitution and acted as an intermediary. It was stated that Koç later committed suicide at his home, and the investigation revealed that he was threatened and blackmailed by Kenan Tatar, the deputy leader of the organization. The indictment emphasized that Vakıflar Bank Branch Manager Mehmet Kandemir, who was aware of the organization's functioning, reported bank customer information that should remain confidential to the organization's executives and even negotiated women for sexual intercourse.
CHILD RAPE
The indictment stated that Kenan Tatar and Remzi Yarar, the deputy leaders of the organization, had forced sexual intercourse with underage H. B. and S. B., who were sent to male customers for prostitution, by threatening and pressuring them, and that they marketed these children for prostitution in exchange for money. The indictment stated that İbrahim Ercan, a member of the organization, forcibly sexually abused the same minors.
MA / Zeynep Durgut