69 Deaths were not Soldier-Related
In the aftermath of the July 15, 2016, military mobilization, the Turkish Government has put forth the claim that suspected soldiers killed 251 citizens. To share this information with international reports, the Government submitted false documentation. However, subsequent autopsy and ballistics reports and the consistent defense of the defendants have led to the conclusion that this information may not be entirely accurate. At this juncture, researchers and journalists researching this claim have determined that 69 deaths were not soldier-related. Further studies suggest that this number may be higher. Unfortunately, the Turkish government has chosen to turn a social group into an object of hatred by foaming this information with media campaigns. This is even confirmed by the fact that Turkish prosecutors' offices or courts have acquitted the soldiers in 13 cases in the face of claims that the soldiers were responsible for 251 deaths. Please find below a table detailing the 69 deaths that cannot be linked to suspects.
Cause of Death | Number of Incidents |
| Death from a heart attack | 5 |
| Vehicle or motorcycle accident | 8 |
| Friendly fire or by ammunition not in military inventory | 3 |
| Deaths without bullets, shrapnel, or metallic objects | 5 |
| Death after July 15 due to a judicial incident | 1 |
| Accidental self-harm | 1 |
| Ballistics report did not match the bullet core with the suspects' weapon | 10 |
| Deaths that cannot be attributed to the suspect due to analysis of causes such as ballistics, autopsy, location of the deceased/suspects, distance, bullet trajectory, or lack of HTS (Historical Traffic Search) / Security Camera/ Scene Investigation/ Dress Inspection | 33 |
| Deaths in which the suspects proved their alibi | 3 |
Considering the information provided, it would not be in accord with justice for international organizations to directly accept the information provided by the Turkish Government regarding the 251 deaths alleged to have occurred after the July 15 events. It is essential for international organizations in positions of responsibility to take the initiative in the face of the use of the power of propaganda, which may disregard the principles of media ethics, publish false news, and trample on the presumption of innocence.
Dilaver Derviş
