The Justice Vigil carried out by the Şenyaşar family has reached day 366. 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.

To mark the first year of the Justice Vigil, human rights defenders, including representatives of non-governmental organizations, democratic mass organizations and political parties, visited the Şenyaşar Family and made a statement.

The following political figures and organizations came to the courthouse to support the family's resistance; Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Berdan Öztürk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Saliha Aydeniz, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Party spokeswoman Ebru Günay HDP deputies Ömer Öcalan, Feleknas Uca , Ayşe Sürücü, members of the Peace Mothers Initiative, families holding the Justice Vigil in Amed Bar for detainees who are not released, Women's Branch of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Urfa, Malatya, Amed, Şırnak, Batman, Mersin and Adıyaman branches of the Human Rights Association (İHD), Amed, Antep, Mersin and Urfa branches of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD), representatives from all regional bar associations and scores of citizens...

MILLIONS SUPPORT VIGIL

A Chair of Justice was set up during the event. “This vigil is now supported by millions of people. Mother Şenyaşar was subjected to systematic torture. We will continue to stand in solidarity with the family until justice is genuinely served, no matter how many years, not just one year,” HDP spokeswoman Günay said.

'MOTHER SUED'

DBP co-chair Aydeniz emphasized that Emine Şenyaşar is carrying out the Justice Vigil for all people living in the country. “A case has not been filed yet, but the mother has been sued several times. It clearly shows the injustice in Turkey. We will be with the family until the end,” she said.

'PERPETRATORS ARE KNOWN'

DTK co-chair Öztürk said that “there was a massacre against the family. We will always stand with the Şenyaşar family. We know the perpetrators of this massacre very well, they will be held accountable.”

‘MOTHER EMINE’S VOICE SHOULD BE HEARD'

The family's lawyer, Bülent Duran, said that there is judicial protection for those close to the government in this country. “We demand a fair and impartial judiciary. Mother Emine demands justice, her voice should be heard,” he added.

Nazime Boltan, who has been on Justice Vigil for 121 days in Amed Bar Association for her jailed children, made a speech on behalf of the Peace Mothers Initiative. “We, as mothers, want justice for everyone, she said.

JOINT STATEMENT

Serdar Tüm read out a statement on behalf of the Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD).

“Despite the judicial violence and physical and psychological attacks that Emine Şenyaşar has been subjected to, the family did not renounce the vigil. Hence, those who seek justice have become more hopeful. To this day, the demand for justice has not been fulfilled by the judicial authorities, there is no fair trial,” he said.

 MURDERERS ARE PROTECTED

Tüm pointed out that no effective investigation has been carried out for the last 4 years since the massacre, and the case file is kept hidden from lawyers and the family. He added that camera footage of Suruç State Hospital, where the massacre took place, was stolen and 12 investigations were launched against Emine Şenyaşar while she demanded justice. “The Justice Vigil of the family inspired other vigils. Mothers of prisoners have started justice vigils in Diyarbakır and Van cities.”

“We believe that the Şenyaşar family's pursuit of justice is important in terms of restoring trust in law and justice at a time when lawlessness is rampant in the country. This case is an outcome of the policy of impunity that has been in place for years in Turkey. We know that public officials who are involved in crimes are protected,” he said.

The lawyer expressed their demands, saying; “We demand the end of unlawfulness and negligence in the hospital file (immediate action to be taken against all those responsible for the disappearance of hospital footage), the removal of the confidentiality order on the file, and a fair trial for Fadıl Şenyaşar.”

Speaking after, Mehmet Bozgeyik, co-chair of the Confederation of Public Labourers' Unions (KESK), stated that the family is carrying out the Justice Vigil for everyone. “We regard their struggle as a common struggle for the rights of Turkey’s peoples. We will fight until justice is served, we are not afraid,” he said.

Officials from the Human Rights Association (İHD), TOHAV, HDP, TİP, CHP, Deva Party Urfa Provincial Organization, Urfa, Antep, Amed, Mardin and Mersin bar associations emphasized that they endorsed the justice vigil of the family.

'WE WILL SECURE JUSTICE THROUGH HONORABLE RESISTANCE'

Ferit Şenyaşar made a speech and thanked those who did not leave them alone as they marked the first year of the Justice Vigil. “We will achieve a just life through the honourable resistance of the righteous people. The case regarding the massacre has now become public,” he said.

'AKP PROTECTS MURDERERS'

“Russia and Ukraine are currently at war. Despite the war conditions, no one attacked a hospital or an ambulance. This act is a crime against humanity and this crime was committed in Turkey on June 14, 2018. The perpetrators of this massacre are freely walking outside under the protection of the deputy of the ruling AKP.

Our file is taken care of at the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. When we go to meet with the prosecutor who handles the case, they avoid us because they have no legal answer to give us.

(...)Prosecutors launched an investigation against us for 'disrupting public order' since we displayed a photo of the ambulance, which became unusable, in front of the courthouse. Peace Mothers, who came from different cities for solidarity, were seen as "dangerous" and not allowed to meet us. They have launched 14 investigations over my mother's laments so far. Our struggle against the law of superiors will pass into history. A sensitive author is now writing a novel about our experiences. The mother's resistance is becoming a documentary to be screened at international festivals. As a country, we are going through a difficult situation in every aspect. Despite everything, we will not lose hope. This struggle will continue until justice is served,” Ferit Şenyaşar said.