Euro court fines Turkey 50,000 euros over man’s death by police in Adana

STRASBOURG

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has fined Turkey 50,000 euros for failing to conduct “a proper investigation” into the death of a 25-year-old man killed by police fire in 2004 in the southern province of Adana. 

On May 28, 2004, Şiyar Perinçek was shot by a police officer from the Adana Directorate of Security during an operation the police said was aimed at preventing an attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Perinçek died later in the hospital.

Relying in particular on Article 2 of the European Convention (the right to life), Perinçek’s father, Mihdi, complained that the police had killed his son unlawfully and no effective investigation into the incident had been carried out.

In a ruling on May 29, the court said his right to life was violated, fining Turkey 50,000 euros for non-pecuniary damages.

Following his son’s death, Mihdi Perinçek applied to domestic authorities, but in a March 2007 ruling, an Adana court acquitted the police officer responsible for Şiyar’s death, saying he had acted in self-defense.

Mihdi Perinçek appealed against the acquittal and argued the police officer had shot his son at close range and his son had been unarmed. He pointed out many alleged irregularities in the investigation.

His appeal was dismissed in March 2009, leading him to file an application with the ECHR.