Şebnem Korur Fincancı, President of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), was taken into custody in Ankara, a few days after saying that the Turkish state's chemical weapons attacks should be investigated.

In a statement on Twitter, the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) said: “TTB President and Board Member of our Foundation Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı was taken into custody on an unacceptable basis. She should be released immediately.”

From the statement, Prof. Fincancı is under investigation for “propaganda for a terrorist organisation” and “publicly degrading the Turkish Nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey and its institutions.”

Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office also requested from the court to end Fincancı's duty as the Chairman of the TTB Central Council and to elect a new president.

Background

After learning of the investigation against her, Prof. Fincancı said: “I stated that these involuntary movements could occur with the effect of a chemical getting hold of the nervous system and that an effective investigation should be carried out in relation to this if there were allegations that a chemical had been used. I stated that if there were deaths, it was necessary to carry out a medical investigation according to the Minnesota Protocol and that it is compulsory that the investigation should be carried out by independent institutions, since this is considered as a war crime in the scope of the Geneva Convention… Opening an investigation to the one who is saying ‘an investigation should be made’ gives the impression of concealing a crime… This investigation is meant to be an intimidation for the whole society.”