In Batman, a police dog was set on a 25-year-old mentally disabled man who was detained for participating in protests against the dismissal of the co-mayor in Batman. A bite wound on his neck required eleven stitches.
In Batman, 25-year-old Medeni Erol with a 70 percent mental disability was mistreated during his detention. His father, Mehmet Erol, a city councilor of the DEM party, said that the Turkish police first beat his son and then let a police dog loose on him. The animal bit the disabled man on the neck, and the wound had to be sewn in hospital. After the procedure, Erol was taken to the police station. He is accused of participating in a demonstration against the appointment of a trustee to replace the deposed co-mayor.
Regarding the violent raid on their house on Thursday morning, Medeni Erol stated the following: “We were woken up by the noise of armoured vehicles in front of our house. Suddenly and without warning, our apartment was stormed with a battering ram. Several police officers immediately knocked me down on the ground and knelt on me while other officers took my children to another room. I pointed out to them that Medeni has a mental disability. But shortly thereafter, I heard dogs barking and my son's cries for help. When I was allowed to see him, he was lying on the floor covered in blood.”
The police officers are said to have applied a makeshift bandage to Medeni Erol before the ambulance arrived, which had been called by the police. The medical team was horrified by the officers' action and immediately took the 25-year-old to hospital. There, the bite wound was sutured with eleven stitches.
Mehmet Erol said that his son was later taken to the police station and is being held there in a bandage. He added that lawyers are preparing a criminal complaint against the police officers involved.
