The father of former Turkish football legend and former ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Hakan Şükür, Selmet Şükür, who was arrested on Aug. 12 in an investigation into a failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, has been released due to health problems on condition of house arrest and wearing an electronic bracelet on his ankle.
During his period of detention, Selmet Şükür was reportedly denied food and water, therefore losing 40 kilograms in three months.
Lawyers representing Selmet Şükür told the Aktif Haber news portal that when he was arrested he weighed 75 kilograms.
“In only three months he went from 75 to 35 kilograms. He fainted many times because his body is no longer strong. Yet, prison management refused to send him to a hospital. They only allowed him to receive treatment in his cell. When his condition got even worse, they finally transferred him to a hospital. Even though doctors said he risks death, he was sent back to prison after the treatment.”
Earlier, on Aug. 11, the Sakarya Public Prosecutor’s Office requested the arrest of Şükür and his father over their alleged ties to the coup attempt.
Police raided the houses of Şükür and his father in Sakarya and İstanbul on the same day. Selmet Şükür was arrested on Nov. 12 by police after he performed Friday prayer in a Sakarya mosque.
The former star earlier said that he had moved to the US in order to take part in a project to open a sports academy and to learn English. Şükür also faces up to four years in jail if convicted over his tweets allegedly “insulting” Turkish President Recep Erdoğan.