Investigation launched for Güven

ANKARA

Güven said on Oct 7 people who were not touched by the death of a terrorist on the mountain were not human beings. DHA photo

The Interior Ministry launched an investigation on Friday into Diyarbakır Police Chief Recep Güven, whose statement urging empathy for losses suffered by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in ongoing conflicts with state security forces caused a political uproar in the political sphere.

The investigation was launched upon an order by Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin, the Anatolia news agency reported, citing anonymous sources. The agency said both civil and police inspectors have been assigned to investigate Güven. Later on Friday, Şahin confirmed he had ordered the investigation when speaking to reporters at Parliament.

Remarks meet condemnation

On Oct. 7, Güven said people who were not touched by the death of a terrorist on the mountain were not human beings. Güven also said he cried for the “lost sons” who went up to the mountains in order to join the PKK. “I could not offer [them] a normal life and could not prevent [them] from becoming terrorists,” Güven said.

His remarks were met with condemnation from almost all leaders, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who said Oct. 9 that Güven should know his place as a police chief. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli called for Güven’s resignation.