A shot in the back of a 20-year-old during a Turkish army operation in the province of Van has once again sparked horror and protests. The incident occurred in the town of Arçak between the districts of Özalp and Ipekyolu. The victim, Mehmet Ali Nametoğulları, is in serious condition and in intensive care at the regional hospital in the province of Van. Attempted executions and extra-legal executions by members of the military are becoming increasingly common in the region.

According to Iskender Nametoğulları, the father of the 20-year-old, his son had left on Sunday by vehicle in the direction of Van to visit his sick sister. On the way, he said, he saw a military vehicle, stopped driving and tried to turn back. Shortly after, he noticed that he was being followed by the army vehicle. "He then drove onto a village road. When it became more and more likely that the pursuit was directed against him, he stopped and got out of his car with his hands up. The soldiers then fired several shots at him, both from the front and the back. One bullet hit him in the back. After that, the same soldiers took him to the hospital injured," Nametoğulları told Mezopotamya News Agency (MA).

It is unclear why Mehmet Ali Nametoğulları did not continue driving after seeing the soldiers. It is possible that he wanted to escape a fine for violating the Corona-related lockdown. State authorities have not yet commented on what happened in Van.