Cansız, Doğan and Şaylemez families met yesterday to assess the information submitted to their lawyers that Güney was severely ill and would demand to be released. The families were then informed by French authorities that Güney, who was set to be put on trial next month, was dead.

Sakine Cansız's brother Metin Cansız, Fidan Doğan's father Hasan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez's father Cumali Şaylemez released a statement on learning about Güney's death.

Cansız, Doğan and Şaylemez families said the followings in their statement:

“16.12.2016 Friday evening, our trial lawyers informed us that the sole suspect Ömer Güney was critically ill according a most recent medical report of his, that his lawyer demanded his release, and that this demand would be discussed by the court on Monday, 19.12.2016. We therewith met on Saturday to evaluate this situation and we were informed right then that the suspect was dead.

The investigation into the incident lasted three years and was concluded in May, 2015. Still, the trial did not begin and it was never announced when the court would hold the hearing. After a long while, the date for the first hearing at Paris High Criminal Court was determined as December 5, 2016. In June of 2016, the date of the first hearing was changed as between January 23 – February 23, 2017 without any reason being put forward.

Despite the fact that Güney was known to be facing with health problems since the first day of his arrest, and continued medical reports highlighted his health problems, why wasn't his hearing held until now?

Why did those who were informed of his health problems carry on the investigation for three years although no single document was added to the case file apart from some official documents during the first two years?

Although the investigation was finalized in mid 2015, why was the trial set for January, 2017? Was the hearing deliberately postponed from December 5, 2016 to January 23, 2017?

As is stated in the case file and indictment, this is an organized incident and the perpetrator is not one single person as the Turkish MIT (Intelligence Service) is behind the incident. Despite this much information available, why were others responsible for the incident not reached and why was the case file grounded on one single suspect alone?

As families of the victims, we demand an answer to these questions.

We have repeatedly demanded the exposure of those behind this massacre. As Kurdish people and families of victims, we have voiced our demand for justice and exposure of the truth in a democratic manner numerous times so far, and we have called on French judiciary to take action on this issue. We have also warned all relevant political institutions that those responsible shouldn't be left in dark for the sake of political and economic interests.

We have warned again and again that the suspect could be made away with. Unfortunately, we turned out to be right finally.

It seems this scenario had been written and put into practice already. Had Güney been put on trial, not only he himself but the Turkish state, Turkish MIT and the Turkish government would have been tried and sentenced as well. This is what was tried to be prevented, and consequently obstructed indeed. Ömer Güney was a pawn, the elimination of which brought the Turkish state under protection.

French authorities are responsible for the emergence of this situation.

We as families of the victims will be a strict follower of this case. The perpetrator is not one single person and other perpetrators must be exposed and tried as well. This file cannot be closed and the Turkish state cannot evade trial just because one suspect has died.

We demand assistance from everyone that seeks justice."