MURDER IN ANATOLIA - European Stability Initiative - ESI

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difficult situation and to weaken it. The plans indicated that missionary activities were
increasing in Malatya and that there would be some operations.” 221
Muzaffer Tekin, a retired captain and member of the ultranationalist Worker‟s Party, played a
leading role in organizing protests against Christians and liberal writers in Istanbul in 2006
and 2007 together with former gendarmerie general Veli Kucuk and other ultranationalists.
He was linked to handgrenades found in Istanbul in 2007 in a place owned by a close
associate of his, another retired military called Oktay Yilidirm. Tekin was charged with
having ordered the 2006 attack killing a judge in Ankara (see page 4). Tekin was indicted in
the first Ergenekon indictment in 2008.
Ozen claimed to know high-ranking figures in the military hierarchy. “When I was in 1997 in
Balikesir-Edremit as an infantry soldier, my commander was Hakan Korkmaz. We would go
out together. On one of these occasions we met Muzaffer Tekin. Until the end of 2005 I met
Muzaffer Tekin many times.” 222 It was during one of these meetings that he learned about
concrete assassination plans, Ozen testified.
“I know that from 2004 onwards, the Hrant Dink and Malatya operations were brought to
an active status. There was talk that there were missionary activities in Malatya and
surrounding areas. I also heard that efforts were made to discredit the government in
power. I met with Veli Kucuk, Levent Ersoz and Muzaffer Tekin at the end of 2004 in
the Istanbul Sariyer officers‟ club together with persons with the code names Siran and
Yusuf. I was outside the room. According to what Siran and Yusuf told me, there would
be an operation against missionaries in Malatya to discredit the government. The efforts
were brought to active status and although no date had yet been set for the operations,
preparations began.” 223
This was a few months before the Malatya Ulku Ocaklari organised demonstrations against
local Christians.
Answering a question about JITEM activities, Ozen explained:
“The system worked in cell structures of 3, 4 or 6 persons. The higher ranks (ustler) gave
the order for an operation. The planning was done by Levent Ersoz, Muzaffer Tekin and
Veli Kucuk. During the implementation, people from different segments were used. The
commanders decided that.” 224
Ozen also claimed that the rector of Malatya‟s Inonu University, Fatih Hilmioglu, supported
these activities and the monitoring of missionaries in Malatya by his staff.
Hilmioglu had already been arrested in April 2009 and indicted in connection with the
Ergenekon court case. He was a close associate of the former head of the gendarmerie in
Turkey, Sener Eruygur, who stands trial for plotting to overthrow the government in 2003-
221 Today’s Zaman, “Witness in Malatya murders case says he worked for JITEM”, 13 October 2010,
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-224254-witness-in-malatya-murders-case-says-he-worked-for-
JITEM.html.
222 Protocol of the 29 th Court Hearing, 15 October 2010, p. 3.
223 Protocol of the 29 th Court Hearing, 15 October 2010, p. 4.
224 Protocol of the 29 th Court Hearing, 15 October 2010, p. 4.
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