A Diyarbakır prosecutor has requested the arrest of a police officer who shot a young man, Kemal Kurkut, to death during Nevruz celebrations in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır last week, on suspicion that he was a suicide bomber.
Last week, two officers were detained then released after Kurkut was shot dead by police at Nevruz celebrations in the Bağlar district of Diyarbakır on March 21. The police officers have also been suspended from their jobs by the Diyarbakır Governor’s Office.
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is overseeing the investigation into Kurkut’s killing, has objected to the release of the police officer who shot Kurkut to death and demanded his arrest.
Dihaber editor Abdurrahman Gök, who shot photos of Kurkut’s confrontation withand killing by police minute by minute, submitted the photos to the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The photos, which total of 28 in number, clearly rule out the possibility of Kurkut being a suicide bomber. Gök also testified to the prosecutors as a witness.
Police found poetry books and clothes in Kurkut’s backpack after he was shot on suspicion that he was a suicide bomber.
According to the dihaber website, Kurkut was studying at İnönü University’s fine arts faculty department of music and came for Nevruz celebrations in his hometown of Diyarbakır early on March 21. He stayed with his brother and joined in the celebrations the same day.
A bare-chested Kurkut quarreled with police at the checkpoint when trying to get into the venue, photos taken during the incident show.