Survivor of Ankara massacre charged with ‘having made an announcement for blood donation’
Korhan Rüzgar, an executive member of Haber Sen (Media Communication and Postal Employees Union), appeared before the court today for having ‘made an announcement about an urgent need for blood donation’ in front of a hospital in Ankara after the suicide bomb attack at Ankara train station. While Rüzgar said in his testimony that his only purpose was to get help for the wounded, the court decided for the video images of his announcement to be examined by a team of experts.
BURCU CANSU
The first hearing of the case filed against Korhan Rüzgar – an executive member of the Haber Sen (Media Communication and Postal Employees Union) – based on claims that he had acted provocative in front of a hospital in Ankara following the suicide bomb attack on October 10 by making announcement for a need of blood donation was held today (October 26). In his testimony, Rüzgar said: “Since the health professionals next to me at that moment saw that I was holding a megaphone and told me there was a need for blood donation, I made an announcement for blood. Then, professionals from the hospital took the megaphone from me to make announcements about the need for blood donation, too.”
The lawsuit against Rüzgar has been filed after he was targetted by the Minister of Health then. Former health minister Müezzinoğlu had referred to those making such announcements as agitators. The first hearing of this case, in which Rüzgar is charged with ‘taking the responsibility of a public duty in an improper way’, was held in Ankara 1st Penal Court of First Instance today. Along with CHP MPs Orhan Sarıbal and Hilmi Yarayıcı, executive members of Haber Sen and KESK (Confederation of Public Workers Unions) also attended the hearing.
Rüzgar: ‘Health professionals said there was a need for blood donation’
Emphasizing that his purpose in making the announcement was to simply help people at that moment, Rüzgar said: “We had participated in the ‘labor, peace, and democracy meeting’ with the call of our Union. Two bombs exploded near us. We were also subjected to tear gas attack of the police. I was holding the megaphone that we used during the march before the explosion. With the shock of the incident, we began trying to help people around us. Then, we went to the Numune Hospital. Ambulances kept coming in and out. When the health professionals saw the megaphone in my hand, they asked me to call out to crowd (in front of the hospital) with it to open the way. So, I made an announcement for that. Then, the health professionals told that there was a need for 0RH type blood. So, in order to help people, I made an announcement for that, too, since I was still holding the megaphone. Then, a health professional continued making the announcement with the megaphone.”
Court decides for the video images to be examined
Meltem Salman, lawyer of Korhan Rüzgar, also defended Rüzgar by saying ‘the purpose of making the announcement was to be able to help more people to be saved.’ Emphasizing that the act of Rüzgar was not an element of a crime, lawyer Salman reminded that the health professional at the site also made the same announcement. Salman then submitted the CD having the video image of the scene to the court. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for 22 February 2017.