Memorial for Hacı Esvet and his sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar

Hacı Esvet and his sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar, who were murdered by the bodyguard and relatives of AKP Urfa MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız, were commemorated by people and institutions.

On 14 June 2018, the bodyguards and relatives of AKP Urfa MP Ibrahim Halil Yıldız attacked the Şenyaşar family's shop in Suruç during the election campaign.

In the attack, brothers Celal, Adil, Mehmet, Fadıl and Ferit Şenyaşar were injured. Relatives and supporters of AKP MP Yıldız, badly injured Celal and Adil Şenyaşar, and their father Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar, when he went to the hospital to visit their sons. He was brutally murdered, being lynched in front of his wife Emine Şenyaşar.

On the 4th anniversary of the massacre, a memorial was held for the first time for Hacı Esvet and his sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar.

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Bedran Öztürk, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chairs Saliha Aydeniz, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Urfa MPs Ayşe Sürücü and Ömer Öcalan, members of the Urfa Peace Mother Assembly, members of the Urfa Labor and Democracy Platform, HDP executives and many people attended the memorial together with the Şenyaşar family.

The crowd gathered in front of the cemetery for the commemoration. Police wanted to prevent people from entering the cemetery and eventually allowed only the family and the deputies to the cemetery, while kept the people outside.

Family, deputies and members of civil society organizations protested to the attitude of the police. After Emine Şenyaşar stated that she would not visit the cemetery if the people were not allowed in, and that she would sit at the gate until everyone was allowed in, the police let the people in. A mass march took place from the cemetery entrance to the graves of the murdered family members.

At the memorial, Ferit Şenyaşar on behalf of the Şenyaşar family spoke about the killings and the struggle for justice they have been carrying out for 4 years. Şenyaşar said: “These three people were buried in the midst of tear gas. They have not been forgotten. Nothing is being done because an AKP deputy is involved. Millions took up our cause, especially the people of Suruç. We have not been able to mourn for 4 years. We will do so when justice is served. Let justice be done as soon as possible.”

DBP co-chair Saliha Aydeniz pointed out that the massacre took place before everyone’s eyes and said: “A massacre was committed before the eyes of the world. 4 years passed, but justice was not served. The fact that no steps have been taken for 4 years shows that there is no justice. There was a massacre in the state hospital. Mother Emine Şenyaşar wants justice for everyone and is fighting for it. The mother is resisting for the whole of Turkey. Democracy cannot come without justice for the Şenyaşar family.”

Speaking on behalf of the Urfa Labor and Democracy Platform, Health and Social Service Workers Union (SES) Branch Co-Chair Salih Karataş said that they side with the family and invited everyone to the Justice Vigil that they will hold in front of the courthouse in Urfa.

The commemoration event ended with carnations left on the graves.