Sub-sub-series 48 - Mizgin Ovat

7 files

Materials pertaining to the application filed by Mizgin Ovat (legally known by the Turkish name Nergiz Uvat as opposed to her given Kurdish name; Ovat used her Kurdish name in daily practice which the Turkish Government did not acknowledge) on 20 December 1993 against the Republic of Turkey with the European Commission of Human Rights (application number 23179/94, referred to internally within the Kurdish Litigation Project as Case 67 and assigned to Kevin Boyle as lead) regarding the destruction of her home and property during an operation by gendarmes carried out in the village of Pecar (Güldiken), Lice District, Diyarbakır Province, on 24 June 1993. Early materials pertaining to the Halit Şahin application (A44/43/6/73) prior to the joining of the applications is also present.
On the evening of 24 June 1993, security forces arrived in the area surrounding Güldiken village by helicopter. On the morning of 25 June 1993, gendarmes entered the village and gathered people from the upper neighbourhood in the area in front of the school. Gendarmes in the lower area carried out a search and then proceeded to burn houses in the lower neighbourhood of Güldiken village. Villagers pleaded with the gendarmes not to burn their houses but were told to remain quiet or they would be thrown on the flames. When asked why they were burning the houses, the gendarmes told the villagers that it was a punishment for helping the PKK.
On 9 September 1997, the Commission adopted its report in the case and joined Ovat's application to those of Rabia Dündar (A44/43/6/32), Emine Yılmaz (A44/43/6/96), and Halit Şahin, who were also residents of Güldiken whose houses and properties were destroyed on 24 June 1993.
The case of Menteş and others (A44/43/1/46 and A44/43/6/62) also deals with the events of 24 June 1993 in Sağgöze and Güldiken.