"Beat & Release": He Asked for a Glass of Water - They Beat Him to Death, in Kahramanmaraş

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Hürriyet Newspaper, 12 September 2024)

                    Don't get thirsty in Kahramanmaraş.

On 6 September in Kahramanmaraş, butcher Mesut Kazancı (29) asked 

for a drink of water as he passed a factory in the light industry center.

The workers pointed to a water hose but Kazancı said "Don't you have 

a glass?".  An argument ensued (!),  prompting workers Ahmet I. and 

Erman N. to beat Kazancı with bats.  Kazancı tried to fight back with 

the hose in his hand but succumbed to the blows and fell to the ground.

The incident was captured on a cellphone camera, as the two workers

continued to beat Kazancı while he was lying on the ground.  Others

pleaded with them to stop the beating but Ahmet I. would not be 

deterred.  Kazancı, the father of a 2-month-old daughter, died at a

hospital.  Ahmet I. and Erman N. fled the scene but were apprehended

by police outside the city and then jailed. 

Kazancı's mother Gül Kazancı said she was unable to watch the video

of her son's beating, lamenting "A two-month-old baby is now 

fatherless.  They beat him viciously.  As a mother, I couldn't watch.

Could any mother or father bear to watch such a thing?!  They killed

my son in a monstrous way for a glass of water!!  Can we call them

human beings?!  I want justice!"