Şenyaşar family, one year demanding justice

The Justice Vigil carried out by the Şenyaşar family has been held for one year. The vigil was launched on 9 March 2021 by Emine Şenyaşar, who lost her husband and two sons as a result of the attack carried out by AKP Deputy İbrahim Halil Yıldız’s bodyguards and relatives, in Suruç, province of Urfa, on 14 June 2018.

The vigil has been carried out since then in front of the Urfa Courthouse by Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit, who survived the attack. 

Ferit Şenyaşar said that the Justice Vigil completed its first year today and continues uninterruptedly “under persecution. We made a call to human rights defenders. Human rights defenders will be with us all day long today in solidarity. Despite the rainy weather today, people call and say they will come. No matter what the conditions are, they will be with us today.”

TBB will visit

Şenyaşar stated that tomorrow (10 March) the President of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) Erinç Sağkan will visit the Justice Vigil and added: “Tomorrow, we will say right, law and justice. The head of the TBB wants to meet with the Chief Public Prosecutor after the statement. I hope there will be a meeting. We are wondering how the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor can make a statement regarding a case that has not been opened for 4 years.”

Emine Şenyaşar said that the Justice Vigil will continue and added: “We only want justice. We want justice for everyone. May all the mothers whose hearts burn, stand up. We faced obstacles for a year, but we did not give up and we won’t give up until we achieve justice. Everyone knows we are right. Why are they doing this cruelty to us?”

Statement expected

On the anniversary of the Justice Vigil, human rights defenders, representatives of non-governmental organizations, democratic mass organizations and political parties, are expected to pay support visits throughout the day. The family, together with the human rights defenders, will make a press statement in front of the courthouse at 12 am.