ISTANBUL – Maaz Hamza Buğday, who was subjected to an attack by three plain-clothes gendarmes, stated in his testimony that he lost consciousness due to the beating and that the gendarmes said among themselves inside the detention vehicle, “The door opened, we’ll say he fell from the vehicle.”

 

On 26 January in Sakarya’s Akyazı district, Maaz Hamza Buğday (20) was driving when a Dacia Duster vehicle began following him for an unknown reason. Due to being followed, Buğday did not stop and later parked his vehicle in front of a café. The individuals who had been following him also arrived there. It was later learned that the three individuals were plainclothes gendarmes. According to Buğday, the gendarmes attacked him inside his vehicle as soon as they got out of their car. They then pulled him out of the vehicle and continued to beat him with punches and kicks.

 

MA OBTAINED THE FOOTAGE

 

In the footage obtained by our agency, Buğday is seen bleeding from his mouth and nose while three plainclothes gendarmes force him to the ground and detain him with reverse handcuffing. Blood is visible on the ground, while citizens in the area recorded the incident. The gendarmes are heard addressing the citizens, saying, “Film it, there is no problem.” Buğday is then put into a vehicle and taken away.

 

‘WE’LL SAY HE FELL FROM THE VEHICLE’

 

Buğday, who was taken into custody, gave his testimony at the Akyazı District Gendarmerie Station. In his testimony, Buğday stated that he was followed by a civilian vehicle and that there were no signs indicating that the individuals were gendarmes, such as identification or an announcement. He said that the gendarmes insulted and verbally abused him and that he lost consciousness due to the beating.

 

Buğday stated the following in his testimony: “While they were following me by car, they did not make any announcement. As soon as I stopped my vehicle, they assaulted me. Afterwards, they put me into the vehicle and we started heading toward the station. Inside the vehicle, the plainclothes gendarme sitting in the front passenger seat was saying things among themselves such as, ‘The door opened, we’ll say he fell from the vehicle.’ At the same time, they continued insulting me directly. I only learned that they were plainclothes gendarmes after I was beaten. Since I was alone, it was not possible for me to resist them. These statements will also be visible on the City Security Management System (KGYS) cameras.”

 

FILED A COMPLAINT

 

Buğday, who was released late at night, obtained a medical report documenting the assault and filed a criminal complaint with the Akyazı Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office against three gendarmerie personnel.

 

MA / Ömer İbrahimoğlu