MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Rıha- 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 third year. Despite persecution and obstacles, Emine Şenyaşar goes in front of the Urfa Courthouse every day to demand justice for her relatives.

Although many investigations have been launched against her and five legal cases have been opened against her, Emine Şenyaşar is determined to hold her sit-in protest until justice is delivered. Every morning, she leaves her home in Suruç to go in front of the Urfa Courthouse with her son Ferit Şenyaşar. In Ramadan, they break their fast in front of the courthouse as they did last year in Ramadan. Every evening, many people coming from other cities to be in solidarity with the family break their fast with the family.

‘I demand justice not only for my family but also for everyone’

We spoke to Emine Şenyaşar about their sit-in protest for justice and upcoming elections in Turkiye. “There is no justice in this country,” she said, “Everyone wants Erdoğan to go because they are tired of this persecution.”

She added, “I demand justice not only for my family but also for everyone. This government, this state has no justice. Our sit-in protest has entered its third year. I have been sitting here (in front of the courthouse) for years. We break our fast here. Last year, we broke our fast here for 30 days. We miss spending time with our children at home.”

‘All innocent people must be released’

Indicating that she wakes up every day with the hope of the day when the persecution against them will end, Emine Şenyaşar said, “My son (Fadıl Şenyaşar) has been kept in a solitary cell for six years. I sit here because I demand justice for everyone. My son should be released from prison so that we can spend all holidays together. We have been persecuted since we started our sit-in protest. We have been detained, beaten many times. They almost killed my son Ferit here. They (The ruling party) just persecute. They should go (lose the 2023 elections). All innocent people must be released from prison. I wait to see it these days. I will not leave until my son is released.”

‘Everyone waits for the day he will go’

Speaking about the elections to be held in Turkiye on May 14, 2023, Emine Şenyaşar said, “We come here every morning and return home every evening. It is enough, the truth should be revealed. Everyone should see how they killed my family members. When Erdoğan goes, justice will come. Everyone waits for this. They say, ‘This persecution should end’. If he goes, this persecution will end. They kill and arrest people. Everyone waits for the day he will go.”