26 August 2010
Ramazan Doğan died without knowing what really happened to his son who disappeared when he was 13 after been detained
Ramazan Doğan has died last night. He spent the last 15 years of his life in search of his son who disappeared after he was detained by the soldiers when he was still 13. However, like mother Asiye Doğan, the life of Ramazan Doğan did not suffice to find their son Seyhan Doğan. Now it is everybody’s responsibility to find out about Seyhan’s fate.
Seyhan Doğan was only 13 when he was detained by the Turkish soldiers in Dargecit district of Mardin in 1995. Since then the family has constantly looked for the fate of their disappeared son, or at least his bones. However, Ramazan Doğan heart could not stand anymore and he died due to a heart attack last night. Until the day they passed away they have never lost their hope for finding out the responsible and bringing them before justice.
He was only 13 when he went missing
13-year old Seyhan was detained together with his 9-year old brother Hazni by the soldiers who raided their house on 29 October 1995. When the mother went to the military base to ask for her sons she was told that they will be back home soon. However, while Hazni was released a couple of days later Seyhan remained in the custody. Hazni told the family that he saw his brother hanged upside down and subjected to severe tortures. Seyhan had to face “Palestine hanging” while his peers were at the school.
The mother was also tortured while searching her son
The mother Asiye Doğan never gave up looking for Seyhan. After she could not get any response from the official she appeared on Med TV, the first Kurdish TV, and said: “They state took my son away, I want him back.” Shortly after the broadcasting she also went missing for 11 days. Although the officials denied that she was arrested, 11 days later when she was back she said she was in custody and subjected to severe torture. The torture has injured her health and she did not survive long after she was released.
Seyhan was registered as “dead”
The family later found out that while the officials did not do anything to find out what happened to Seyhan the registry office records defined him as dead.
After the mother passed away the father Ramazan continued looking for Seyhan. He joined the Saturday Mothers who were gathering in front of Galatasaray High School in Istanbul in order to ask for their sons’ and daughters’ fate. The father has also been detained and tortured as a result of which he could not use one of his hands anymore. His only guilt was that he refused to be a village guard which cost him a son and rest of his life.
On 31 July in response to the Turkish PM who said “I do not know what they are doing but the Saturday Mothers are used by someone” Ramazan Doğan was screaming to make himself heard. “I have been looking for my sons’ bone for years. What are you doing Prime Minister.”
It is reported that the funeral for Ramazan Doğan will be conducted by Saturday Mothers and human rights defenders.
ANF / MARDIN
ANF NEWS AGENCY
