Hozat locals protest illegal files

TUNCELİ - Doğan News Agency

A group of 700 people held a protest march in Tunceli’s Hozat district on Nov. 20, following the revelation last week that hundreds of illegal personal files, including one on the district mayor, were being maintained by police and gendarmerie forces. A march protesting the illegal documentations was organized in the district yesterday and some documented citizens filed a criminal complaint against those in charge of the records.

About 700 people attended the march including Tunceli Mayor and a member of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Edibe Şahin, Pertek district mayor Kenen Çetin from the Labor Party (EP), former BDP Tunceli deputy Şerafettin Halis, Hozat’s independent mayor Cevdet Konak and representatives of various non-governmental organizations.

The 77-year-old Bıra Karataş, who is among the recorded citizens, said, “In 2007, they shot my son without any reason and now they keep a file on me. I have not been able to sleep for days. I will file a criminal complaint against those who kept my records and charged me with being involved in illegal organizations.” Two inspectors are investigating the incident.