Ahmet Ataman’s home in Çelibibağı neighborhood in Van’s Erciş district was raided by soldiers and police on November 18 night. The house was lit on fire, claiming there were PKK members inside, and Hediye Ataman was murdered by soldiers that prevented her exit from the burning house.

37-year-old civilian Halit Ataman was taken into custody alongside three relatives of his in the wake of the incident, and held in custody for one day.

The man who has been suffering severe headache since his release, was taken to Erciş State Hospital by his brothers today.

Examinations and tomography results revealed that Ataman had suffered cerebral hemorrhage as a result of the assault he was subject to while in custody. Ataman demanded to get the medical report proving the violence he had suffered, but he was not allowed to receive it.

The man is in critical state of health and he was referred to a hospital in Van province.

Relative Fatma Ataman, an eyewitness to the incident, had spoken of her experience: “We woke up to the sound of gunfire. After several shots fired, the house was set on fire. Before the gunshots, there was nothing. The soldiers came and did this, then they found an excuse for it. The woman who owned this house was killed here. She burned to death because they didn’t let her leave the house. We don’t know where Hediye’s husband Ahmet Ataman is. Afterwards, they burned the house down and arrested our relatives under torture. They tore at the faces of people they detained. They didn’t tell us why. They just took them away for no reason.”