Turkish Revenge Brigade

The Turkish Revenge Brigade (Turkish: Türk İntikam Tugayı, TİT), also referred as the Turkish Vengeance Brigade,[1] is a Turkish ultra-nationalist militant organisation that has used violence against those who are perceived to be insulting Turkey.[2][3] In the political violence of the 1970s, TİT gained notoriety during political clashes and is believed to be responsible for over 1,000 deaths during this period. After the military coup of 1980, most of its members were arrested but later released and assisted Turkish military intelligence in operations against Kurdish militants.[4]

Incidents

1979

In 1979, police arrested a man named Cengiz Ayhan in Mersin on charges of being the leader of the Turkish Revenge Brigade. Ayhan denied the charges and claimed he was falsely accused of involvement in the group due to his opposition to leftist groups in Turkey.[5]

1993

According to Human Rights Watch, murders of parliamentary deputy Mehmet Sincar and the journalist Ferhat Tepe in 1993 have been carried out in TİT's name.[6] Later, it was found that Mehmet Sincar was assassinated by Turkish Hezbollah, who were aiming to assassinate Nizamettin Toğuç.[7]

1996

In 1996, it is reported that they were involved with the murder of Turkish Cypriot journalist Kutlu Adalı.[8]

1998

TİT claimed responsibility for an armed attack in 1998 on the then Turkish Human Rights Association president, Akın Birdal, in which he was critically wounded.[9][10] The perpetrator was the TİT's leader, Mehmet Cemal Kulaksızoğlu, who was never given a diplomatic passport by rogue National Intelligence Organization officer, Yavuz Ataç. That time Mehmet Cemal Kulaksızoglu never serve with Ataç but they were close friends. The boss of Kulaksizoglu was Mehmet Eymur. [11]

2005

Human Rights Association President, Eren Keskin and two HRA board members received death threats while in Istanbul.[12]

2006

On September 12, 2006, in Diyarbakır, ten civilians were killed (7 of them children) and 17 wounded by a bomb placed next to an elementary school. According to Guardian Unlimited, Associated Press, and the BBC, Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) claimed responsibility.[13][14][15] According to Akşam, TİT claimed responsibility.[16]

References

  1. ↑ http://dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/11848726
  2. ↑ Haberfeld, Maki R., Joseph F. King and Charles A. Lieberman, Terrorism in Comparative International Context, (Springer Science, 2009), 94.
  3. ↑ Nash, Jay Robert, Great pictorial history of world crime, Vol.2, (Scarecrow Press Inc., 2004), 1606.
  4. ↑ Metelits, Claire, Inside Insurgency: Violence, Civilians, and Revolutionary Group Behavior, (New York University Press, 2010), 154-155.
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "Turkey: Condemn Threats on Human Rights Defenders". Human Rights Watch. 2005-04-2-. Retrieved 2008-10-29. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ "Sincar cinayeti çözüldü" (in Turkish). Akşam newspaper. 2001-12-05.
  8. ↑ Nancy J. Woodhull and Robert W. Snyder, Journalists in Peril, (Transaction Publishers, 1998), 3.
  9. ↑ Suicide Terrorism in Turkey:The Workers' Party of Kurdistan, Prof. Dogu Ergil, Countering Suicide Terrorism: An International Conference : February 20–23, (International Policy Institute, 2001), 126.
  10. ↑ "Turkey: Death threats/Fear for safety". Amnesty International. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  11. ↑ Arikanoglu, Soner (1998-08-23). "Gözler, MİT'çi Ataç'ta". Radikal (in Turkish). |chapter= ignored (help)
  12. ↑ Turkey, Human Rights Watch World Report 2006, (Seven Stories Press, 2006), 409.
  13. ↑ "Death Toll in Turkey Bombing Rises to 10". Guardian Unlimited (London). 2006-09-13.
  14. ↑ "Bomb kills 7 in southeastern Turkish city". Jerusalem Post. Associated Press. 2006-09-12.
  15. ↑ "Explosion rocks SE Turkish city". BBC News. 2006-09-12.
  16. ↑ Altintas, Canan; Turkyilmaz, Ufuk (2006-09-14). "Hain bomba dört kardeşi anneleriyle birlikte aldı". Akşam (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.