Ahmet Ataman’s home in Çelibibağı neighborhood in Van’s Erciş district was raided by soldiers and police last 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.

Photographs from the scene show that Ataman has been murdered. The clothes Ataman was wearing display the full range of atrocity. Blood on the villagers’ clothes show that they were battered by the soldiers as they went to put out the fire.

ATT. KULA: THEY CAN’T COVER THIS UP

Attorney Sedat Kula investigated the scene and said they won’t let anybody cover up the incident. Kula said they will share details with the public as soon as possible and called for public awareness to the issue.

ATAMAN FAMILY: SOLDIERS BURNED THE HOUSE AND FOUND AN EXCUSE FOR IT

Relative Fatma Ataman spoke 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.”