Askar Simitko
Encyclopedia
Askar Simitko, alternative spellings use "Asgar" and/or "Smitko", (1953–January 28, 1995) was a Kurdish
Iran
ian spy operating in Turkey
. He was found tortured and shot dead by unknown persons in Istanbul
.
Simitko was born 1953 in Urmia
(West Azarbaijan province
) in Iran
as a son of Tahirhan.
As of September 1985, he was dwelling in İstanbul
, and along with his father he secured communication between members of the Barzani
organization.
In the same period, he had connections to persons from the Iranian intelligence organization (SAVAMA), who requested from him to collect information regarding names and activities of followers of the former Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
and members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran
. An official report on the Susurluk scandal
authored by Kutlu Savaş, a high-ranking civil servant, states that in addition to his illegal activities, he submitted information on the Iranian regime opponents causing the execution of many.
In 1993, he applied for asylum in a third country.
On January 15, 1995, he and his friend Lazım Esmaeili
, were abducted by unknown persons when they left the casino of Polat Renaissance Hotel in Yeşilköy
, İstanbul at local time 03:45. On January 28, 1995, villagers found the corpses of the two in Kerev Creek, Silivri
, about 60 km (37.3 mi) far from İstanbul. They were tortured, ears cut and shot multiple times to death. According to the "Second MIT Report" authored by Mehmet Eymür
, the incident's motive was not political but drug trafficking in connection with the Susurluk scandal gang.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian spy operating in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. He was found tortured and shot dead by unknown persons in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
.
Simitko was born 1953 in Urmia
Urmia
- Demographics :According to official census of 2006, the population of Urmia is about 871,204.- Language :The population of Urmia is mainly Azerbaijani people, with Kurdish, Assyrian Christian, and Armenian minorities...
(West Azarbaijan province
West Azarbaijan Province
West Azerbaijan Province or West Azarbaijan Province , is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in the North West of the country, bordering Turkey, Iraq and Nakhchivan, and the provinces of East Azerbaijan, Zanjan and Kurdistan....
) in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
as a son of Tahirhan.
As of September 1985, he was dwelling in İstanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and along with his father he secured communication between members of the Barzani
Barzani Kurds
The Barzani tribe is one of the most prominent Kurdish tribes in Kurdistan.The origin of the word Barzani is connected by scholars to the ancient Hurrian god Barzani. The sheikhs of Barzan are descendants of Imadia princes. Their grandfather, Massoud, moved to the village of Nafneka, near Barzan,...
organization.
In the same period, he had connections to persons from the Iranian intelligence organization (SAVAMA), who requested from him to collect information regarding names and activities of followers of the former Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
and members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran
People's Mujahedin of Iran
The People's Mujahedin of Iran is a terrorist militant organization that advocates the overthrow of the Islamic Republic of Iran....
. An official report on the Susurluk scandal
Susurluk scandal
The Susurluk scandal was a scandal involving the close relationship between the Turkish government, the armed forces, and organized crime. It took place during the peak of the Turkey–Kurdistan Workers' Party conflict, in the mid-1990s...
authored by Kutlu Savaş, a high-ranking civil servant, states that in addition to his illegal activities, he submitted information on the Iranian regime opponents causing the execution of many.
In 1993, he applied for asylum in a third country.
On January 15, 1995, he and his friend Lazım Esmaeili
Lazim Esmaeili
Lazım Esmaeili was a Kurdish Iranian spy operating in Turkey, who was found tortured and shot dead by unknown persons in Istanbul.Esmaelli was born 1945 in Urmia in Iran as a son of Selim....
, were abducted by unknown persons when they left the casino of Polat Renaissance Hotel in Yeşilköy
Yesilköy
Yeşilköy is a neighborhood of the Bakırköy municipality of Istanbul, Turkey.It is located along the Marmara Sea about 11 kilometers west of Istanbul's historic city center...
, İstanbul at local time 03:45. On January 28, 1995, villagers found the corpses of the two in Kerev Creek, Silivri
Silivri
Silivri is a city and a district in Istanbul Province along the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, outside of metropolitan Istanbul, containing many holiday and weekend homes for residents of the city. The largest city in the district is also named Silivri...
, about 60 km (37.3 mi) far from İstanbul. They were tortured, ears cut and shot multiple times to death. According to the "Second MIT Report" authored by Mehmet Eymür
Mehmet Eymür
Mehmet Eymür is a retired Turkish intelligence official. He led the counter-terrorism department of the National Intelligence Organization , which he joined as a student in 1965 as a "pursuit officer"...
, the incident's motive was not political but drug trafficking in connection with the Susurluk scandal gang.