Prosecutor Derides Police Officer's Mother Who Wanted To See Arrested Son

The mother of Deputy Police Chief Ensar Doğan, who was arrested following a controversial anti-police operation in late July, has told the Turkish media that a public prosecutor treated her unkindly when she asked to visit her son earlier this week.

According to Zehra Doğan, she went to the Bakırköy Courthouse in İstanbul on Sept. 15 to ask a prosecutor to allow her to see her son who is currently in Metris Prison. However, the prosecutor, who she did not name, initially turned down the mother's request and treated the old woman in an unkind manner. "Who told your son to be arrested? Why did your son land himself in jail?" the prosecutor mockingly asked Zehra Doğan, implying that the policeman was arrested of his own accord.

Doğan was detained on July 22 along with 115 other officers as part of the first wave of consecutive anti-police operations. Doğan and 35 officers, including high-ranking police chiefs, were arrested on accusations of illegal wiretapping and spying. The arrested officers are in custody in Metris Prison and are awaiting trial.

Zehra Doğan said she was shocked by the prosecutor's response. “My son spent many years serving his country and the government. He captured many terrorists. He joined [police] operations against criminals without thinking of his own security even for a moment. So, why are they [prosecutors] treating us this way?” she asked.

She also said the prosecutor later allowed her to see her son, but she spent the time she saw her son weeping. “I froze when the prosecutor treated me that way. I was paralyzed. I couldn't even leave the prosecutor's room. He needn't have treated me that way,” she said.

Zehra Doğan also noted that her son was arrested as he was involved in the investigation into Tawhid-Salam, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization. “My son's colleagues ordered him to wiretap the suspects [as part of the investigation]. If this is a crime, why haven't those police officers been arrested?” she asked.

In addition, the mother questioned why she was treated unkindly by the prosecutor. “[Singer] Ebru Gündeş [who is the wife of Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab, who was briefly detained after the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption operation] was allowed to see her husband every day. Was she allowed because they have much money and are we not allowed because we do not have money? Don't I have the right to see my son?” she asked.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)