The AKP government which subjects the lands of Kurdistan to bombardments since its initiation of war policies as of July 24, does on the other hand deprive families of fallen guerrillas the right to receive the bodies of their children.

Bodies of 16 HPG guerrillas are still being held at Malatya City Cemetery for 40 days now, and not given to their families under the pretext of “DNA test” procedures.

Out of the 16 guerrillas, 5 lost their lives as a result of Turkish airstrikes in Hakkari's Şemdinli district on September 2, and 11 others in a clash in Şırnak's Beytüşşebap district on September 24.

The bodies, held in an icebox in a tent at the City Cemetery, remain unidentifiable due to the torture and intense bombardment they were subject to. Families are waiting for the finalization of DNA tests for 40 days now.

HDP Amed deputy Nursel Aydoğan stated that families of the guerrillas were living another pain due to the denial of permission to receive their children's bodies, adding; “The Public Prosecutor we talked to about the subject told that the bodies were decomposed and unrecognizable, because of which families gave blood samples, and this caused a delay in the delivery of bodies. Yet, it is rather meaningful that the DNA tests haven't been finalized for 40 days now. We do not believe a state institution could act so slowly and we believe they are doing this deliberately.”

Aydoğan said they also had a talk on the subject with officials from the Ministry of Justice who, however, made no efforts to enable the delivery of bodies to their families.

Describing the continuation of procedures for 40 days as an explainable situation, Aydoğan stressed that; “On contrary to a democratic country where people have the right to reclaim and bury their bodies, the AKP government disrespects the dead and deprives their families of this right. This is unacceptable and doesn't comply with human rights and values that are trampled on in this country.”

Aydoğan noted that families will hold a protest in the event that they are not given the bodies of their children for some more time.

Regarding the torture perpetrated on the bodies of guerrillas and civilians murdered by state forces, Aydoğan said; “AKP has come to the point of being tried at international courts for all these massacres it has committed. We as HDP will take this savagery to the parliament and take any action possible in order for the AKP to be tried at international courts.”