Recently some of citizens have been attacked and their houses also have been attacked and burnt down in Sorgun District, Yozgat Province. These attacks have been made by organized groups by reason of some citizens are “engage in prostitution”. Effective preventive measures were not taken, on the other hand; aggressors were allowed in different times to gather and attack to citizens’ right to life.
Moreover; in their statements to press, the Governor of Yozgat Province and the District Governor of Sorgun District did not hesitate to define aggressors as “provoked citizens” and tell that attacked citizens had provoked people. For example; the Governor of Yozgat made the following statement: “Citizens had attacked to those, who associated with such corrupted actions, and houses that they knew people engage in prostitution…”.
If right to life is not under the security in a place, no one can mention any rights and freedoms in this place. The first task of the State and administrators, who work on behalf of the State, is providing security to life for its citizens. No one has right attempt to punish people through putting himself/herself in security forces, Public Prosecutors or courts’ place. None of reason can justify or excuse the attack.
In a democratic law state, some people cannot regard themselves as “vice squad”. If there a crime, security forces follow and prevent it. Moreover, crime is punished by Public Prosecutors and Courts.
Authorities’ attitudes, actions and statements, which might justify or excuse the attacks even partially, are totally serious. Normally, authorities are primarily responsible for citizens’ life security and have obligation to prevent any kind of attacks, provide public order.
Administrative investigation, by Ministry of Interior, is a positive step. On the other hand, problem is not is related with security forces. Problem is more related with public administrators’ attitude, opinion and statements. Therefore, we ask that administrative investigation should be expanded and cover public administrators as well.
Moreover, we call for the Governor of Yozgat and District Governor of Sorgun for Resignation. The Governor and the District Governor were ineffective to prevent attacks and excused them via identification aggressors as “provoked citizens” in their statements.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION