Hesen Keçelano, one of two kolbers (border traders) allegedly tortured by Turkish soldiers, has died.
Iranian kolbers Hesen Keçelano (35) and Behnam Semedi were captured by Turkish soldiers yesterday morning (16 April) at the border between Turkey and Iran in the Çaldıran district of Van (Wan), near the Beydoğan (Şexsicih) neighbourhood.
Keçelano and Semedi were allegedly tortured by the soldiers. While Samedi’s face remained covered in blood, deep wounds could be observed in many parts of his body in a photo taken of him. Hesen Keçelano, who had three children, allegedly died as a result of the torture, reports the Mesopotamia News Agency (MA).
Later, Semedi was left at the border with the body of Keçelano. Relatives of the kolbers also confirmed the allegations. One relative who talked to MA said: “After Semedi arrived at the village we went with Iranian soldiers to the place where the body was found. Iranian soldiers said that the body was tortured. Then they called Turkish soldiers to the border.”
Iranian soldiers said that they cannot take the body due to torture and asked Turkish soldiers to pass the body from the border gate according to the law. “Then Turkish soldiers took the body and brought there,” said the relative.
A citizen from the village of Beydoğan, where the incident took place, also said that he witnessed the soldiers on duty from the Sedat Nezih Özok Police Station detaining two kolbers.