A Chechen Woman was Arrested in Istanbul
According to Turkish daily newspaper Vakit, Petimat B., a Chechen woman asylum seeker was arrested after a traffic accident cause of she doesn’t have a residence permit in Turkey.
According to newspaper, on August 1, 2009 a car hit to Magomed Ali B., a Chechen asylum seeker child who is 7 years old, in Buyukcekmece region of Istanbul city in Turkey. Magomed Ali and his mother Petimat B. were taken to the hospital by police; Magomed Ali’s right leg took in plaster and after that he discharged from the hospital. During the procedure in the hospital, the police officers wanted to see the passport of Petimat B., when they checked it, they saw that Petimat B. doesn’t have a residence permit or visa for staying in Turkey. So the police officers arrested to Petimat B. immediately and she was taken to the police station. Petimat B. is still in the prison of Buyukcekmece Police Department in very bad conditions. She is staying there with another four women who were arrested with related petty offenses, Petimat has no bed and that women are always smoking in this small prison.
The husband of Petimat B. live somewhere outside of Turkey and she is trying to live with her 3 kids in Beylikduzu district of Istanbul. Petimat B. applied for the temporary residence permit in December 2008, but still she couldn’t got any answer.
As we previously published a news about the residence permits of Chechen refugees in Turkey, Petimat B. had applied again for residence permit, but before end of the her procedure she was arrested. According to police officers her procedure may go on in next 15 days and during this time she will be at prison.
Omer Duran, Buyukcekmece District Police Chief confirmed to news about Petimat B. and said that she was arrested cause of doesn’t have a valid visa for Turkey. “Her process which is about handing over to Aliens Office, is going on” said Duran, but he declined to news about her bad situation in prison.