Lawyer Tahir Elçi Commemorated on Fourth Anniversary of His Killing

Photo: AA

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Lawyer and human rights defender Tahir Elçi has been commemorated in several cities on the fourth anniversary of his killing in Diyarbakır.

Elçi's family, members of the Tahir Elçi Human Rights Foundation, chairpeople of 25 bar associations and hundreds of lawyers walked from the Diyarbakır Courthouse to the Sheikh Matar Mosque, where he was shot dead during a press statement on November 28, 2015.

Türkan Elçi, the wife of the late lawyer, made a speech there, saying, "We came again two your four-legged door," referring to the mosque, which is known as "the Four-Legged Minaret" by locals.

"They want to make us believe that the death of the one who will lie on the ground forever is a coincidental death," promising that they will come to the mosque until the end of their lives.

"We won't give up telling this minaret, which utters the name of God five times a day, which witnessed your death, about our situation. Maybe the divine justice will be served, maybe our crying will end, maybe spring comes to this street..."

After a moment of silence for Elçi, Diyarbakır Bar Association Chair Cihan Aydın made a speech, saying that the situation of human rights is worsening and unidentified murders are being covered up with the cooperation of the administration and the judiciary. Peace, which was Elçi's dream, is not even talked about, Aydın said.

"You sleep well. We know you're not alone where you have gone. There are Ape Musa, Şevket Epözdemir, Medet Serhat, Metin Can, Yusuf Ekinci and many others with you. But do not forget! There are your colleagues and friends who resist with their big hearts in the place where you left us.

"You know, there is a famous word: 'This world will change the big hearts.' Even, we have a promise about this, we will change this world. Once again, we remember you with love, respect, longing."

(AS/VK)