Lawyer targeted after demanding investigation over chemical warfare allegations

Prosecutors launched a criminal investigation against lawyer Aryen Turan after she said chemical warfare allegations against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) militants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq should be investigated.  

Turan made those remarks during a speech in the bar association of Turkey’s western city of Izmir where she concluded her words with the Kurdish slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadi” (Women, labor, freedom)

Some nationalistic members of the association protested Turan chanting “we are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.”

Officials from the ruling bloc as well as the nationalist parties in opposition denied allegations. 

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan targeted the chair of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Sebnem Korur Fincanci over her remarks that a toxic chemical gas which affects the nervous system was apparently used against a victim, after she watched a video posted on social media. 

A criminal investigation was already launched over Fincanci's remarks on 20 October.

Following the video coverages posted on social media, showing PKK militants who were allegedly suffered from chemical weapon attacks, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) called on international institutions to investigate the allegations concerning the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish military in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).