Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit Şenyaşar have been holding a vigil outside the Şanlıurfa (Riha) courthouse for the past 8 days. The prosecutor, whom the family wants to meet and share their demands for justice, has not only refused to meet with the family but has now introduced a new “ban” regarding the areas of the courthouse they have been holding their vigil. This in addition to Emine being detained yesterday, 15 March.

Emine Şenyaşar’s husband, Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and two of their sons, Adil and Celal, had lost their lives as a result of an armed attack by the bodyguards and relatives of the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP’s) Urfa deputy, İbrahim Halil Yıldız in 2018.

Celal was shot dead in the family shop after telling the AKP MP and his group to get out of their shop and that they would never vote for them. During the confrontaion one of the AKP group, Mehmet Ali Yildiz was also shot and died of his wounds.

Later the AKP group stormed the hospital where Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and Adil Şenyaşar were recieving treatment and brutally attacked and killed them.

Fadıl Şenyaşar, another son of the Şenyaşar family, was detained by the police for the death Mehmet Ali Yıldız even before his medical treatment for injuries sustained in the attack had been completed. He has been in prison ever since.

Emine Şenyaşar has repeated her demand that the murderers of her family members must face justice. She has been also calling for the release of her other son Fadıl Şenyaşar, who is under arrest facing a 150 year imprisonment term despite acting in self defence, yet noone from the AKP MP’s group has been brought to justice for the killings of the Şenyaşar family members.

Prosecutor imposes “ban” on peaceful protest

After being detained yesterday the Şenyaşar family came to the Urfa courthouse in the morning for the 8th day of their sit-in vigil to demand justice, but were not even allowed to enter the courthouse based on a new “banning order” introduced by the prosecutor, who has also refused to meet with the family despite their peaceful attempts.

“The prosecutor has also now prohibited us from entering the courthouse yard. The whole world heard our scream for justice but the Minister of Justice did not hear our voice,” said the Şenyaşar family in the statement they shared on the 8th day of their vigil for justice.

The Şenyaşar family again walked to the entrance gate of the Urfa Courthouse yard before they were stopped.

“That’s enough, we have died. We have been dying in this state. We have been dying because of this nonexistent state. God, aren’t you there in the skies?” said Emine Şenyaşar screamed in tears.