DBP Şırnak Provincial Branch administrator Hurşit Külter had disappeared on May 27, 2016 and a campaign was launched asking the question, “Where is Hurşit Külter”. Külter held a press conference today in Kirkuk on what he has gone through for several months.

Külter thanked the people who carried out the campaign for his safety for months and said: “I sincerely apologize to everybody who fought for me for making this announcement so late. But it must be known that this is the first time I have the chance to make such a statement. Because the safety conditions I was under weren’t suitable for making a statement.”

I WAS DETAINED ON MAY 27

Külter said he was detained on May 27 during the self government resistance in Şırnak and was kept under custody for 13 days and continued: “They kept me in a basement somewhere for 13 days. They used intense psychological and physical torture techniques on me. They were constantly trying to force me to spy for them. They told me to go out and make a statement against the self government resistances. Special operations police did all this, and they were constantly talking about executing me during my detention. Sometimes I heard them talking among themselves, saying ‘Let’s just kill him after we have what we want’.”

IF THE PUBLIC DIDN’T REACT THEY WERE GOING TO KILL ME

Külter said he wasn’t executed in custody due to the intense reaction from the public: “They were talking among themselves, I heard them saying ‘He is on the spotlight now, let’s wait a while, the protests will die down, then we will kill him’,” he said.

Külter said when he was transferred to a higher floor from the basement, he started looking for an escape route and he escaped when he had the chance: “After I left the building, they noticed I was gone. They wanted to shoot me in the back, or to catch me, but I ran and escaped. I hid in the city. I looked for a way to contact my family or the press, but I couldn’t find any. For around 40 days, I hid in evacuated houses. Then I came across some resisters in the city and I got out of the city. After I got out, with some help I was able to get here in a 2 month long journey. For the safety of those who helped me, I wish not to reveal their identities. I didn’t tell anybody who I was after I arrived here. Now I’m making this statement to the press, after I feel completely safe and secure.”

ENDLESS GRATITUDE FOR ALL WHO FOUGHT FOR ME

Külter thanked the people and all national and international institutions who fought for him and said: “I want to thank the Saturday Mothers, the Peace Mothers and all national and international institutions that fought to bring to light what happened to me. If I am alive today, it is definitely thanks to those who fought.”

I WILL CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE

Külter said he will continue the struggle for freedom everywhere, like he did in the past, and that he thought it necessary to make such a statement for the moral duty of the events and he will share more information later when necessary.