The verdict came out in the lawsuit filed on the murder of Muğla University student Şerzan Kurt (21), who was first targeted by civil fascists and then by the police. The lawyers of the Kurt family and the lawyers of the murderer, police officer Gültekin Şahin, were present at the final hearing of the lawsuit on the murder of the Kurdish youngster.

Deciding on the reduction of sentence, the court sentenced Şahin to 5 years and 2 months.

Background of the case

Şerzan Kurt, a 21-year-old student of Muğla University, was attacked by racist and fascist groups on 12 May 2010. Kurt, wounded when the police opened fire, died on 19 May.

Policy of impunity in effect

The case was moved to Eskişehir on the pretext of security and the killer, police officer Gültekin Şahin, was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 2012. After the Court of Cassation overturned the sentence, the police officer was sentenced to 16 years in 2014. In 2016, the Court of Cassation appealed the verdict once again. In 2019, Gültekin Şahin's sentence was then reduced to 7 years and 6 months. While the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation upheld this verdict in 2021, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation objected. The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appealed to the General Assembly of Criminal Chambers again, claiming that the police officer's action ‘caused death by conscious negligence’. The 7 years and 6 months' imprisonment sentence against the defendant was also overturned.