Metin Kızmaz, an 18-year-old Kurdish man, was unofficially detained by Turkish police on three occasions within the past two months and forced to work as an informant in Batman (Elih) province in Turkey, MA reports.
The young man filed a criminal complaint and sought legal support from the Human Rights Association (IHD). Noting that the threats affected him both physically and mentally, he explained how he was forced to work as an informant: “Despite returning home in the mornings and going to work at nights, where I am not involved in any other activity, they called my family and asked me to come and have some tea. Despite me not being involved in any activity … This affects me both physically and psychologically: it also affects my work. I cannot continue under this stress.”
He emphasized that he was being asked for information about people whom he had never met. “They asked me questions about people who I have never met. They forced me to work as an informant, although I have no information about them.” He also stated that he was offered money by the police.
“They told me that they will provide me with anything I want. This conversation happened at my workplace, at Millet Garden. One week ago, they stopped me at night time, asked me where I was going and after the ID check, they told me that they would be in touch again.”
Kızmaz was even asked about his aunt, Seve Kızmaz, who joined to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) 25 years ago. However, he is only 18-years-old and has not met his aunt his whole life.
“I have not met with any of them until now. They asked me whether I know these people. They think I have connections with them. I do not know any of them. They said, ‘Let them come to the city and build a new life.’ I have never met with any of them before.”
