URFA - Blood samples were taken from the family of the missing Faik Kevci, after it was determined that the bones found in the area in Urfa, which was used as the "JITEM Headquarters" in the 1990s, belonged to a man.

 

While some work was being done in a field in Hilvan on June 7, human bones were found in 3 separate bags buried underground. The owner of the plantation living in Ankara applied to the Governorship of Urfa on July 21, upon being informed of the incident. The gendarmerie, who came to the scene one day after the governorship was informed, excavated the bones under the supervision of the prosecutor's office. During the excavations, 9 pieces of bones were found, including the femur of the foot, which was considered to be human.

 

FAMILY OF KEVCI GAVE BLOOD SAMPLES FOR DNA TESTING

 

The discovery of the bones in the field belonging to the village guards of the Bucak tribe which was allegedly used as the "JITEM Headquarters" in the 1990s, mobilized the families whose relatives were victims of unsolved murders. The families of Ahmet Kalpar, Hüseyin Taşkaya, Şefik Geçgel, Faik Kevci, Adnan Bağca and Nazım Babaoğlu, who were forcefully disappeared between 1993-1994, applied to the Hilvan Chief Public Prosecutor's Office through the Human Rights Association (İHD), the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) and the Urfa Bar Association. 

 

Following the application, the bones were sent to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Board for examination. In the report prepared by the Forensic Medicine Institude (ATK), it was stated that the bones belonged to a man. After eyewitnesses said that Faik Kevci was murdered in the area where the bones were found, Kevci's family gave a blood sample at Viranşehir State Hospital.

 

FAMILIES ARE WAITING FOR RESULTS OF THE DNA TEST 

 

İHD Urfa Branch Co-Chair Mustafa Vefa, who has been following the issue closely, stated that despite the applications, there was no progress in the investigation. Pointing to the ATK report, Vefa said, "The report that the bones are compatible with a male DNA profile has been added to the file." Stating that there are 6 applicant families in the file, Vefa said, "At this stage, only one family's blood sample was taken. Eyewitnesses residing in that village stated that the body there might belong to Faik Kevci's relatives. The prosecutor's office gave priority to the Kevci family and took the blood sample. The blood sample was sent to Forensic Medicine Institude, according to the result, if it is not compatible with the Kevci family, other families will also give blood samples."

 

'INVESTIGATION MUST BE EXTENDED'

 

Stating that they requested the prosecutor's office to "investigate the region in general, excavate the field and conduct sufficient research in the surrounding area", Vefa shared that the residents of the region stated that the place where the bones were found was used as a JİTEM headquarters for a period and that people brought from different cities were interrogated here. Vefa said that the families of the missing had applied before, but there was no progress until the bones were found. Emphasizing that the investigation needs to be expanded, Vefa said, "There are so many people whose relatives were dissappered. They just want to know if their loved ones are alive or not. They just want a grave where they can find solace even if they're not alive. They are not asking for much. This is why we think that this case should be approached meticulously."

 

WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CLOSELY

 

Stating that the fate of the people who fell victim to an unsolved murder should be investigated for the sake of truth, Vefa said: "As ÖHD, İHD and the Urfa Bar Association, we will continue to follow closely. The whole region needs to be investigated, it should be labelled as a crime scene and investigations should be carried out meticulously. We, as NGOs, are ready to do our best. As long as we see the that the pursuit for justice and truth is done seriously.

 

MA / Müjdat Can