#Turkey - Doubts abound over tale of "Spy" suicide

Turkish authorities are facing mounting questions over the suicide behind bars of a man incarcerated on alleged espionage claims. According to official reports, Zaki Y.M. Hasan was discovered dead in his cell on Monday morning, with the tragedy of the death compounded by the widespread perception that he was being held, along with another person, to make a political point rather than based on any credible security concerns.

Speaking to Al-Arabiya, Hasan’s son Yussuf expressed dismay at his father’s treatment by Turkish authorities, saying ‘we were surprised that he was suddenly arrested after the false accusations against him’. He also called on world leaders to investigate his father’s death: 'I want the creation of a specialized medical committee, including a trusted Palestinian doctor who can go there and do the autopsy on my father´s corpse in order to find the truth himself.’

In the same interview, Hasan’s sister said she was certain her brother would not have committed suicide. This disbelief was echoed in other quarters, especially on social media, with Middle East commentator Ghanem Nuseibeh noting that the spy affair raises questions about Turkey ‘falsifying key info and making political gains out of a human tragedy’.

The Turkish Government’s track record of arresting those considered a threat by Ankara on charges of “espionage” is well known, and has no doubt contributed to the scepticism of the official Turkish narrative.

That these men were arrested in the first place had also raised human rights concerns, with many fearing that they would not have received a fair trial given the worsening levels of judicial independence in the country. In September of last year, the conviction and sentencing of 20 lawyers was described by Amnesty International as ‘further weakening public trust in the judicial system in the country’.

Recent actions by the Turkish government, both domestically and abroad, have prompted questions about Ankara’s true motives. Just last week, it emerged that the government has been providing funding and weapons to hard-line, Islamist militias in Libya. This ongoing “spying” episode will only add to the questions.

The fallout from Hasan’s tragic and avoidable suicide are yet to be fully understood. What is clear, however, is that the suicide has shone a renewed spotlight on politically motivated “justice” and prison conditions in the country.

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