Family seeks answers in imam’s detainment
Calgary father imprisoned in Turkey in mass arrests after failed coup attempt
Cemil Hanci is 8 years old and his brother Vedat is just 9, although he likes to say he’s 10 in anticipation of his birthday.
The two boys learned to play many sports, thanks to their father Davud Hanci. Soccer, baseball and, like many Canadian kids growing up in the suburbs, hockey.
But the boys haven’t seen their father in more than two months, nor have they heard his voice.
“It’s hard for them,” said Rumeysa Hanci, Davud’s wife and the boys’ mother.
Davud has been in a Turkish prison, with no contact with his family or officials from the Canadian government since late July.
Originally from Turkey, Davud was visiting his dying father with his family there when a failed coup attempt took place on July 15.
Turkish authorities arrested him, claiming he was affiliated with Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric who Turkish officials blame for the coup.
He was one of many detained in the mass arrests that took place in the days after the coup attempt. Many more were suspended from their jobs in the public sector in reaction to the failed uprising. “When the coup happened, we were so shocked,” Rumeysa said, recounting the events leading up to her husband’s arrest.
“I told myself that it must be a bad nightmare, I just wanted to wake up and for everything to be over.”
For Rumeysa and the two children, the consequences of their visit to Turkey have been traumatic.
During the first few days of Davud’s detainment, Rumeysa drove to the police station where he was being held.
“We were waiting in the room but then a police officer told us that we can’t see him. Then we were leaving, and we had a chance only to see him for 30 seconds. I asked him how he’s doing and he said he’s okay, and then we left,” Rumeysa said.
“That 30 seconds felt like only one second . . . That was the last time I had seen my husband.”
When they returned home to Calgary without him, Rumeysa said it just didn’t feel right.
“It’s so sad,” she said crying. “When I came home . . . I just wanted him to come with us. On the way back, it was our 13th anniversary.” “Without him, it’s empty.” Davud worked as an imam for the federal and provincial correctional services in Alberta, visiting prisons across the province to provide religious counselling for inmates. He’s lived in Canada for 15 years, eight of them in Calgary.
“My husband is a very peaceful man and he is not involved in any violence. He’s against violence,” Rumeysa said. “I just want everything to be understood that he’s not involved in anything.”
Rumeysa and the boys have now relocated to Vaughan to live with her sister.
Although they are safe with family now, they’re not sure what the next step is. Rumeysa is a stay-at-home mother but is now searching for a job to support the family.
Canadian officials have been unable to contact Davud, according to Rumeysa.
In an email to the Star, Global Affairs Canada said officials are continuing to raise the issue directly with the Turkish government.
“I feel like one side of me is empty. We had a very happy family, and we miss him so much and love him so much.” RUMEYSA HANCI WIFE OF MAN ARRESTED AFTER TURKISH COUP
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Turkish president about Hanci during China’s G20 summit in early September, a Global Affairs spokesperson said.
Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian journalist who was imprisoned in Egypt for 438 days, advised Rumeysa to look to other avenues for help.
“Any government, not just the Canadian government, has certain red tape and obstacles when dealing with governments in complicated political cases such as mine, or (Davud’s),” Fahmy said.
“Families on the ground have a bit more leeway and I strongly advise this family to establish contact with NGOs on the ground in Turkey and individuals who are close to the Turkish regime, in order to establish an open dialogue and be able to get direct access . . . to the correct people in Turkey’s government.”
Rumeysa has reached out to Amnesty International and would like to hear from any other organizations that can help.
Not knowing is the most difficult part for the family.
“I feel like one side of me is empty. We had a very happy family, and we miss him so much and love him so much.
“He’s our family holder, he’s so important for us, and we feel empty without him.”