Serhat Temizer died in the T-Type High Security Prison in Van after a court ordered his release. Having remained in prison from 2017 to 2019, the 22-year-old Kurdish youngster was arrested again in March 2021 on charges of ‘destroying the unity and integrity of the state’. He was brought from a prison in Erzurum to Hakkari for his court hearing on Friday. The court sentenced him to four years and three months in prison for membership of a terrorist organisation and ordered his release due to the length of his pre-trial detention. After the verdict was handed down, Temizer was meant to be taken back to Erzurum for release procedures, but he was taken to Van T Type Closed Prison on the grounds that it was getting dark. After a while, the family was informed that Temizer collapsed and was taken to hospital. Immediately afterwards, the family was informed that Temizer had lost his life. 

Serhat Temizer suffered from epilepsy. His father told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) that he was taking medication for his illness. During the court hearing, he said, Serhat was in a good mood and was very happy about the cancellation of the arrest warrant. “We requested his release several times because of his illness, but all requests were rejected. He was not released because he was imprisoned for political reasons,” said Hatip Temizer, adding that he did not know why his son was taken to Van or how he died.

Serhat Temizer was laid to rest in Van on Saturday. The co-mayors Neslihan Şedal and Abdullah Zeydan also attended the funeral.