Fiancee of Pakistani man killed by drunk driver demands justice

The pursuit of justice for Naveed Akbar, a Pakistani university student fatally injured by a drunk driver while sitting on a bench in Gemikonağı, continues amid frustrations over the handling of the case.

Akbar’s fiancée, Aycan Taliman, expressed deep disappointment with the authorities’ response, particularly noting that the drunk driver has not been prosecuted because he is a soldier.

Taliman shared her distress with Yeniduzen, describing the lack of communication from the police and military about the judicial process. She accused the authorities of neglect, emphasising, “Our soldiers and police, who are supposed to protect us, are currently playing dead“.

Recalling the night of the incident, Taliman recounted a happy evening spent with Akbar before parting ways. She received a visit from Akbar’s friends at 3:30 am, informing her of the accident. Rushing to the hospital, she found herself amidst a chaotic scene with no clear information about her fiancé’s condition. Despite the fact that she is Turkish Cypriot, she felt the authorities’ response was influenced by her and Akbar’s Pakistani identity.

Taliman described the distressing experience at the hospital, where she was misled about Akbar’s condition and witnessed a division between Akbar’s Pakistani friends and the soldier’s associates. A police officer intervened, cautioning her against causing a confrontation. She observed soldiers being quietly removed from the scene, prompting her to confront the police about the situation. Her interaction with the police became aggressive, and she was eventually informed of Akbar’s death after a prolonged wait, discovering that his body had been removed without their knowledge.

In response to the perceived injustice, Taliman announced a protest set for June 25, organised with the support of 11 civil society organisations, demanding accountability and justice for Akbar.

Details of the accident reveal that on June 15, 2024, at around 2 am, 22-year-old Mehmet Eren Erdoğan, driving under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his vehicle on Ecevit Street in Gemikonağı. The car veered off the road, hitting the bench where Akbar and 22-year-old Sajidullah Khan were sitting, before crashing into a light pole and falling into the sea. Despite medical interventions, Akbar succumbed to his injuries at Cengiz Topel Hospital. The police reported that Erdoğan was arrested following the incident.

Taliman’s call for justice underscores a broader issue of systemic neglect and prejudice faced by the Pakistani community in the region. The upcoming protest aims to highlight these grievances and press for a more transparent and fair judicial process.