Prosecutors are investigating Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, head of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), because of her comments on a video published by ANF on October 18, showing two PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) members suffering from a chemical attack in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office yesterday (October 20) opened an investigation against Korur-Fincancı for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey and its institutions."

The substance of the investigation is constituted by Fincancı’s comments to Medya Haber. The head of TTB stated that the involuntary movements of the people seen in the video could occur with the effect of a chemical getting hold of the nervous system and that an effective investigation should be carried out in relation to this if there are allegations that a chemical was used.

"I proved many times that I will not keep silent, therefore I do not think that this investigation is targeting me. This investigation is meant to be an intimidation for the whole society," she told Bianet.

Regarding the investigation, Korur-Fincancı said, "If there are such allegations, they should have allowed an effective investigation into the incident. Opening an investigation against the one who is saying 'an investigation should be made' gives the impression of concealing a crime. We also know why such an investigation was opened. They want no doctor to talk about these issues again. This investigation is an attempt towards intimidating and silencing people.”

"However, I proved many times that I will not keep silent, therefore I do not think that this investigation is targeting me. This investigation is meant to be an intimidation for the whole society. Great misfortune for Turkey,” Fincancı noted.

The head of the Turkish Medical Association added, "In any case, what needs to be done in this kind of a situation is to request an effective investigation. They should have started an effective investigation and proven that they have not used any chemicals instead of opening an investigation against me.”