Eleven months ago today, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were brutally murdered. They were hit in a place they considered safe, the office Fidan was going to everyday to do her job: a meticulous, diplomatic work to get French politicians aware and informed on the crime and repression against Kurds.

Three women, three generations of Kurdish women committed at different levels and in different fields tirelessly working both to denounce the persecution of Kurds and for a path toward a just and lasting peace through dialogue.
Both issues (exposing the violence against a people of 40 millions and working for peace) were the target of those who ordered the murder. The hand which pulled the trigger may well as been that of the "suspect" arrested two days after the killings. Ömer Güney was the last who saw the three women alive. He was with them in the office. French investigators accuse him of being the killer. If this indeed were the case, the trial will show.

But the case is proceeding very slowly. To date no hearing has been scheduled as the investigation is not over yet. It is not so clear how the French investigators are proceeding, which leads (if any) they are following. Indeed they have leaked some of their "concerns"to the press. Police sources told Reuters some weeks ago that the magistrate in charge of the case was about to lodge a formal appeal for information to Turkey about Ömer Güney.
Police sources said Turkish authorities had earlier provided some biographical information about Güney, but the French magistrate was expected to seek responses to recent disclosures. Reuters said that a spokesman for France's foreign ministry said the French state exerts no influence over judicial investigations. Paris' anti-terrorism court denied that political tension was slowing down the case.
Comte said records of Güney's phone activity with Turkey were placed in the investigations file in July, five months after his arrest, said the Reuters' report. These contacts could be crucial to finding out whether Guney was involved in the killings and, if so, with or without foreign backing.

However, the details cannot be checked without help from Turkey, Antoine Comte, a lawyer for the Kurdish victims in France said. The reality is nothing seems to have moved as to a precise line of inquiry aimed at answering vital questions: who ordered the killings ? How could such a murder be carried out in a city like Paris, on a busy road such as Rue Lafayette ?

More, to which extent (if any) is Turkey "collaborating" to the inquiry especially since, as Comte said, records of Güney's phone activity with Turkey were placed in the investigations file in July, five months after his arrest. Who was he meeting during his trips to Turkey ? Who was he talking to ? Why ? Who is Güney ?
All these questions remained unanswered and justice remains far and so does truth. Eleven months have gone by since that sad 9 of January.

Kurds are preventing this vicious murder to end up forgotten or being put aside. They cannot be left alone because this is a murder which concerns the very democratic and justice values professed by Europe. This is a murder which concerns Europe not just because it was committed in an European city but also because it proved that there are those who - in Europe - feel safe to act knowing they would benefit or some kind of impunity. This is something Europe should reflect upon very seriously and act very quickly.

Rendition flights, political murders, kidnappings "approved" by some governments, denial of permission to land or fly to presidential planes (the last case being that of Bolivian president, Morales): all of this questions the very freedom and independence Europe boasts so much about but clearly does next to nothing to really defend.
These questions must be answered. Soon.