Brother of Tahir Elçi, who was murdered in Amed's Sur district earlier today, said the AKP government and its prosecutors had pointed his brother as a target before his murder today.

Ahmet Elçi spoke to ANF regarding the murder of his brother and his funeral which will take place tomorrow.

'ONE THING CLEAR; THE STATE MURDERED MY BROTHER'

Elçi's brother said the statements of Turkish President and state officials don't reflect the truths, adding; "The state and AKP government pointed my brother as a target. After becoming a target of the state's prosecutors and AKP government's ministers, he has been murdered by the state today. The state has various tricks, with all of which we are familiar from throughout the history of Turkish Republic. My brother was killed for demanding peace and being an opponent. When in trouble, the state commits massacres against intellectuals and opponents. The AKP government is doing the same thing today. My brother wasn't caught in gunfire, but was deliberately targeted and shot dead. There is one single thing clear; my brother has been murdered by the state.”

'WE WILL LAY HIM TO REST IN KURDISTAN CAPITAL AMED'

Ahmet Elçi pointed out that; “Thousands coming from Cizre asked us to bury him in Cizre (his hometown), but we have eventually decided to lay him to rest in Amed, the capital of Kurdistan, where he studied, struggled and lived with his family for years. This was requested by his wife and friends.”

'ALL PEOPLES WELCOME TO THE FUNERAL'

Elçi said his brother fought for the fraternity and equality of all peoples, noting; "We invite not only Kurds but also Armenians, Syriacs, Arabs, Turkish people siding with fraternity and everyone calling themselves a 'democrat' to join the funeral which will take in Amed tomorrow.”

A farewell will be bid to Elçi from Selahattin Eyyubi State Hospital where his body is being held now to Koşu Yolu Park at 10:00 tomorrow. A funeral will be held for human rights defender Tahir Elçi in front of the Koşu Yolu Park's Human Rights Monument at 11:00, after which he will be laid to rest in Yeniköy Cemetery."