Şenyaşar family: ‘We expect all human rights defenders to attend the hearing’

On the 780th day of their sit-in protest for justice, the Şenyaşar family called on all human rights defenders to attend the hearing to be held tomorrow by the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court.

Riha (Urfa) - The sit-in protest held in front of the Urfa Courthouse by Emine Şenyaşar, whose husband and two sons were murdered in the attack carried out by the relatives and bodyguards of AKP Urfa MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız in Pirsûs (Turkish: Suruç) district of Urfa province on June 14, 2018, and her son Ferit Şenyaşar has entered its 780th day.

Today, Emine Şenyaşar stays at her home in Pirsûs due to her health problems. In the morning, her son Ferit Şenyaşar came in front of the courthouse to seek justice again by unfurling their banner reading, “Justice for the Şenyaşar family”.

‘Justice that hasn't come for five years’

Making a speech during the sit-in protest, Ferit Şenyaşar said, “Justice that has not come for five years… A struggle that has continued for five years… The persecution that has continued for five years. 20 prosecutors have been appointed to our cases in five years…But nothing has changed for five years. Tomorrow, we have a hearing. The first hearing to be held after the decision to merge the “workplace” and “hospital” cases regarding the massacre against our family is tomorrow.”

‘The prosecutors do not do what is necessary’

Noting that he knows that the government controls the judiciary across Turkey, Ferit Şenyaşar added, “The prosecutors and judges know all the facts; however, they do not do what is necessary because the government has taken the judiciary captive.”

 

Call on all human rights defenders

Calling on all human rights defenders to attend the hearing to be held tomorrow by the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court, Ferit Şenyaşar said, “We will keep struggling until justice is ensured. We call on all human rights defenders to attend the hearing.”

About the legal process

 

Two legal cases, “The workplace case” and “The hospital case” were filed regarding the attack on the Şenyaşar family’s workplace and the murder of three members of the family at the Suruç State Hospital. In the workplace case, Fadıl Şenyaşar was sentenced to 37 years and nine months in prison and Enver Yıldız was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court. Then, the conviction of Fadıl Şenyaşar was overturned by the Antep Appeals Court. This case has been reportedly merged with the “Hospital case” held by the Malatya 5th High Criminal Court. The merged cases will be held by the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court.

Tomorrow, the first hearing of the merged cases will be held by the Malatya 3rd High Criminal Court at 9.30 am.