Murat Uygar and his family members were tortured during a house raid by Turkish soldiers on February 21 in Patnos district of Ağrı province, eastern Turkey. Uygar made a press statement at the Human Rights Association (IHD) building after he applied to the association.

Uygar said in his statement: “My house was raided by dozens of soldiers. They kept my children and my wife outside half naked in the snow. My wife has a 45 percent disability report. She remained half-naked on the snow. My son attempted to intervene, but they kicked his back, laid him on the ground and put a gun to his head. They also used me as a human shield. They pointed a gun to my head, placed me before their shields and searched all the rooms. If there were a sound in my house at that time, an armed conflict would erupt. They point a gun to your children at midnight, but you cannot interfere in any way. Who is responsible for this and who will give an account for it? Who will cure this trauma of my children? I want those who did this to be punished as soon as possible."

IHD: Torture cases are increasing in Kurdish cities

IHD Van Branch head Murat Melet pointed out that this incident was not the first in Kurdistan.

"The police and soldiers are doing this arbitrarily. Murat Uygar and his family were tortured. The torture cases are increasing. We will apply to the prosecutor's office with the family today," he said.