URFA - In the statement made on behalf of the 200 lawyers who participated in the Senyaşar family's Justice Watch, it was said, "The demand of the Şenyaşar family is the demand of all of us," in reaction to the silence of the judicial authorities.

 

The sit in Şenyaşar family refers to as the 'Justice Watch' started by Emine Şenyaşar who lost her husband and two sons in the attack carried out by the relatives and bodyguards of AKP Urfa MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız and Ferit Şenyaşar who survived the attack wounded is on its 200th day today. 200 lawyers, who came together with the call of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD) Urfa Branch, joined the Senyaşar family's sit in for the day. 200 lawyers, including ÖHD, Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD)  and bar association presidents, made a statement during the sit in. The lawyers were blockaded by the police right before the press release.

 

THE SUMMARY OF THE MASSACRE

 

ÖHD Urfa Branch Co-Chair Ali Arslan, who read the joint statement under the blockade, thanked the bar associations and lawyers for their support. Pointing out the importance of being in solidarity in this process where unlawfulness and injustice are perpetuated by the judiciary, Arslan said, “The incident that started with the attack of AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız, together with his family and bodyguards, on the workplace belonging to Şenyaşar family while canvassing the neighborhood for the 2018 elections, continued Suruç State Hospital. Three people from the family lost their lives as a result of the attack. The massacre that took place in the hospital, which is a public institution, was carried out brutally in front of the governor, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of the time, Ahmet Eşref Fakıbaba, the police forces and the hospital personnel. 

 

THE CASE FILE IS BEING HID FROM THE LAWYERS

 

Stating that an effective investigation has not been carried out even though it has been 3 years since the incident, Arslan said that the perpetrators were not revealed. Referring to the restriction decision in the file that has been going on for 3 years, Arslan stated that the file is being hid from the family and lawyers. Arslan underlined that the sit in initiated by the family on March 9, demanding that the "restriction decision on the file to be lifted, an effective investigation to be carried out and the perpetrators to be punished", which had given up hope on the judicial authorities, shows the reality of the situation.

 

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 200 DAYS

 

Arslan explained what happened in the 200 days as follows: “The family wanted to go to the AKP Provincial Building on 16 December 2020 and meet with the provincial president. Mother Emine Şenyaşar, whose request for a meeting was rejected, started a sit-in with her son Ferit Şenyaşar in front of the AKP Provincial Building. The mother and son, who were taken into custody upon the AKP Provincial Presidency's complaint, remained in custody for one day. The family, who was referred to the Criminal Court of Peace by the Prosecutor's Office with a request for arrest, was released on the condition of judicial control. On March 9, 2021, the family started the justice watch in front of the Urfa Courthouse, and said they no longer have the patience to wait.

 

THE FAMILY WAS DETAINED

 

On March 16, 2021, the 7th day of the sit in, the mother was detained on the grounds that she insulted a public official while she wailed for her lost family members. The mother and son, whose statements were taken, were released the same day. After DTK Co-chair Berdan Öztürk and DBP Co-Chairs Saliha Aydeniz and Keskin Bayındır visited the family on the 17th day of their protests, the family was detained on the charge of "Opposing the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations No. 2911". Both was released the same day after the proceedings.

 

BATTERED BY THE POLICE

 

On March 31, 2021, the 22nd day of their sit in, the mother and son were detained without any reason. After being kept in the Security Branch Directorate for a while, both were released without even giving their statements. On April 2, 2021, the 24th day of their protest, the police attacked. Ferit Şenyaşar, who was battered by the police, was taken to the hospital for treatment after he had a nervous breakdown.

 

THE FAMILY WAS FINED

 

On 14 July, before HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan's visit to Urfa, the family was stopped at the city entrance and detained on the charge of "insulting a public official". Although the deposition proceedings were over, the family was kept in the police station until Pervin Buldan left the city. The police, who attacked in the family during the sit in on August 12, 2021, imposed an administrative fine on Ferit Şenyaşar, on grounds that he hung a banner on the barriers.

 

LAW SUIT AGAINST MOTHER ŞENYAŞAR

 

Emine Şenyaşar struggle for justice turned back to her in the form of a law suit againts her. A law suit was filed against Emine Şenyaşar for insulting AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız who was involved in the murders of her family members.Emine Şenyaşar, who is facing a prison sentence of up to 4 years, is on trial at the Urfa 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance.

 

THEY ARE TRYING TO FRUSTRATE THE FAMILY 

 

Stating that the only reason the family was harassed this much was to frustrate the family , Arslan said: "The family on the other hand is very determined to continue their sit in until justice is provided."

 

'FAMILY'S DEMAND IS OUR DEMAND'

 

Stating that the justice mechanism is not functioning, Arslan said: “As you know, many of our colleagues are on trial for their professional activities. As you know the law suit against the HDP which is knows as the Kobané Case continues. We believe that it will be important for the Şenyaşar family to get results as the atmosphere of lawlessness is intensely felt in Turkey, in terms of ensuring trust in law and justice. This file is a reflection of the policy of impunity that has been going on for years. In Turkey, crimes committed by public officials are protected by the policy of impunity. We know from the unsolved murders that the public officials are protected because of their status. We are talking about a file that has been confidential for 3 years. We don't know what stage is the investigation at. The demand of the Şenyaşar family, who started the justice watch against the attitude of the judicial authorities, which became silent in the face of the family's demands for justice, is the demand of all of us.

 

SYMBOL OF THE STRUGGLE

 

Stating that it is a symbol for a mother who could not find an interlocutor to seek justice by scratching the ground on the foundation of the courthouse with her bare hands, Arslan said, "This is a symbol of injustice, unlawfulness and impunity policy, but also of not giving up on justice, resistance and struggle despite the crooked and blocked legal mechanism. We will continue to be the voice of Emine Şenyaşar. We are here today with our togs to put an end to this lawlessness and to end this persecution.”