Anniversary of Justice Watch | Şenyaşar family to women: Don't leave us alone

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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It has been a year since the Şenyaşar family started keeping a justice watch in front of the Urfa courthouse in southeast Turkey.

Emine Şenyaşar lost her spouse and two sons in an attack by the security guards and relatives of İbrahim Halil Yıldız, an MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Urfa. She and her son Ferit Şenyaşar, who survived the attack, have been seeking justice since then.

On the first anniversary of the justice watch on March 8 International Women's Day yesterday, Emine Şenyaşar was unable to come in front of the courthouse due to health problems, as reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA). The justice watch in front of the courthouse was taken over by the family's daughter Perihan Yüzügüldü and son Mehmet Şenyaşar.

'Justice for women'

Coming to the "Şenyaşar family justice corner" in front of the Urfa courthouse in the morning hours yesterday, the elder sister and brother began keeping the justice watch. Speaking about the family's protest that has been going on for a year now, Mehmet Şenyaşar said that his mother had to be out of town with his brother Ferit Şenyaşar due to a previously taken appointment.

"We resume the watch with my elder sister. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the watch; we are expecting to see all human rights advocates in front of the courthouse tomorrow. This watch will continue until justice is served. We demand justice for everyone," he said.

Perihan Yüzügüldü also noted that they took over the justice watch from their mother and brother and briefly added the following:

My mother and elder brother have become miserable in front of the courthouse for 365 days. We want justice to be served as soon as possible. We will not go anywhere from here until justice is served. We are calling out to everyone: We want justice for everyone; we only want justice, we don't want anything else. My mother wants justice for women. Today is Women's Day. May women not leave my mother alone tomorrow. My brother (Fadıl Şenyaşar) has been innocently behind bars for almost four years now. Let this imprisonment come to an end.

Continued support for family

In Urfa for an event on the occasion of International Women's Day, musician Nurcan Değirmenci and other musicians to give a concert as part of the same event visited the family in front of the courthouse. Mehmet Şenyaşar and Perihan Yüzügüldü informed them about what they have been going through as a family and gave information about their justice watch.

Speaking during their visit, musician Nurcan Değirmenci said that the family "wants justice for everyone" for a year and added: "We support the family's struggle. We are hopeful for a solution as soon as possible. We have not lost our hope at all. Today is March 8. We will celebrate it in the light of mother Emine. We dedicate this year's March 8 to mother Emine."

What happened?

During the election campaign of ruling AKP Urfa MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız in Suruç, Urfa on June 14, 2018, an attack turned into an armed conflict, which claimed the lives of Yıldız's brother Mehmet Şah Yıldız, shop owner Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and his sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar.

Having lost his father and two brothers and been wounded himself in the incident, Fadıl Şenyaşar was discharged from hospital and detained on June 17. He was then arrested and sent to prison.

Demanding justice for two sons, husband and her arrested son, Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit Şenyaşar, who survived the attack, have been keeping a "justice watch" in front of the courthouse.

There has been a confidentiality order on the file of the investigation into the attack for 3 years, 3 months. The second appeal of the Şenyaşar family against the "confidentiality" order on the investigation into the second attack at the Suruç Public Hospital was rejected on April 21, 2021.

The Constitutional Court, to which the family appealed, has not yet given its decision. One of the demands raised by the family on their justice watch is the removal of this "confidentiality" order. (EMK/SD)