Turkish police attack Özarslan's funeral ceremony

2015-07-26 10:50:33

ISTANBUL (DİHA) - Police attacked the crowd at the funeral for Günay Özarslan, assassinated during the course of police raids.

During Friday's massive police raids across Turkey, hundreds of people were arrested. In the Istanbul district of Bagcılar, police assassinated Günay Özarslan, accused of being a member of DHKP-C (Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front).

Officials initially refused to surrender Özarslan's body to her family and to lawyers, but her body was finally brought to the cemevi (Alevi place of worship) in the Gazi neighborhood yesterday afternoon. Members of the People's Front and families of political prisoners joined the crowd greeting Özarslan's body.

After a moment of silence, the crowd planned to march to the Gazi cemetery with Özarslan's body. Police blockaded the neighborhood and refused to allow a march. When the people started a sit-in, police opened fire with tear gas.

There was one arrest and two wounded during the clashes.

(cm/nt)