Şenyaşar Family relocates Justice Vigil to Court of Appeal in Antep

The Justice Vigil launched on March 9, 2021, by Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit Şenyaşar  in front of the courthouse in Urfa marks its 352nd day. Emine Şenyaşar a lost her husband and two sons in an armed attack on 14 June 2018 in the Suruç district of Urfa, that involved the bodyguards and relatives of AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız, and her son Ferit Şenyaşar was injured in the same attack.

The mother and son headed to Urfa from their home in Suruç district after a weekly phone call with Fadıl Şenyaşar, who is jailed in Elazığ Prison.

‘WE WILL NOT RENOUNCE’

The family made today’s statement in front of the “Şanlıurfa” signboard at the entrance of the city to raise concern over the difficulties they have experienced for 352 days.

“We want to draw attention to the road we used to go from Suruç to Urfa every day. The distance between Urfa and Suruç is 42 kilometres, which we have been traveling for 352 days each day. Fatal accidents take place every day on this road. We have risked everything, and we will not renounce our cause. We will go back and forth on this road until justice is restored in Urfa,” Ferit Şenyaşar said.

Şenyaşar noted that his brother Fadıl Şenyaşar has been kept in a solitary cell for about 4 years. “The case was unlawfully divided into two separate files. One file concerns the incident at the state hospital in Urfa and there is still a confidentiality order on it. 3 people were killed, yet no single person was arrested. Lawlessness prevails. The file, on the basis of which my brother was sentenced, has been submitted to the Court of Appeal in Antep. Therefore, from now on, we will carry out our vigil in front of the Antep Court of Appeal on certain days of the week. My brother is currently being held in prison for political motives. We will continue the justice vigil until justice is restored. We will not accept this persecution,” he said.

 ‘MY SON IS HELD HOSTAGE’

“We have been carrying out the vigil in front of the courthouse for about a year. This vigil will continue until my child is released. We have been shuttling on the Suruç-Urfa road for a year. My son is being held as a hostage; they should release him. Why aren’t the perpetrators arrested? What kind of justice is this? If I’m going to die, I want to die on this road. Enough is enough, what kind of conscience is this? Is this justice?” mother Emine Şenyaşar said.

The family started today’s vigil in front of the courthouse after reading out the statement.