Military prosecutors have launched an investigation into the identity the alleged torturers. Kantar was taken to GATA on June 24 for treatment, where he remained in a coma for 80 days. Kantar's body was released to his father, Aydın Kantar, and his family ahead of his funeral in İstanbul. Aydın Kantar had previously spoken with Ayhan Sefer Üstün, the head of the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Investigation Commission, arguing that his son had been badly beaten, kept hungry and thirsty for three days and tied to a chair and left out in the sun for many hours.
Military prosecutors stated that due to the allegations of torture, it had questioned 37 members of the military and said the investigation was still under way.
A military commemoration ceremony was not held for Kantar because military officials did not classify Kantar’s death as martyrdom. Kantar’s funeral was held at Emniyet Mosque in the Üsküdar district of İstanbul on Thursday and was attended by human rights activists as well as the victim’s family and friends.
The Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights Commission earlier announced plans to establish a sub-commission to investigate recent claims of the maltreatment of soldiers during compulsory military service.
