A Turkish man has been detained again after video footage emerged appearing to show him torturing a 17-year-old boy in the Mardin province, according to reports. The incident, which allegedly stemmed from accusations of theft, has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the initial investigation.
RE-ARRESTED
The suspect was initially taken into custody but released after the boy reportedly withdrew his complaint.
The boy’s mother, who lives separately from her son, shared the disturbing video on social media after being unable to reach him and alleging that his father was preventing her from seeing him. She expressed fears for her son’s safety and wrote, “Withdrawing the complaint does not legitimize torture. I request that authorities accept the video as evidence and take immediate action.”
Following the renewed attention brought by the video circulating online, the suspect has been re-arrested and is currently in the custody of local authorities, where investigations are ongoing.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The suspect allegedly took the 17-year-old to a barn, accusing him of stealing pigeons. There, he allegedly stripped the boy, inflicting physical abuse in an attempt to learn the location of the birds. The suspect also allegedly threatened the boy with a dog and with death.
In the video, the suspect can be heard saying, “You will bring my pigeons back no matter where they are.” The boy responds, “Uncle, I swear they aren’t with me.” The suspect then allegedly strikes the boy, saying, “There is no uncle. If they aren’t with you, how do you say that?” He continues to hit the boy as the teen maintains his innocence, stating, “How are they not with you, they are with you.” The suspect is also heard threatening to unleash a dog on the boy and saying, “I will kill you with a gun.” A person filming the incident can be heard saying, “Enough. It’s a sin.”
