Killed in Mardin, Buried in Istanbul 19 Years Later

A funeral ceremony has been held in Sütlüce Cemetary this afternoon for Nurettin and Nejat Yalçınkaya - two relatives who have killed under detention by gendarmerie officers in Kızıltepe in 1995 and whose relics were discovered only 5 years ago.   

The bodies were transferred from Mardin province early morning. Following that a commemoration ceremony, attended by scores of local residents in Beyoğlu, was held in Hacı Ahmet Park. 

Among the notable attendees of the ceremony included members of Saturday Mothers of Turkey, Human Rights Association (IHD) Disappeared People Commission, YAKAY-DER and BDP Istanbul District Organization Co-Chair Emrullah Bingül. 

“Until our last beloved one is found” 

“Kurdish people are having this struggle for a long time,” Bingül announced to the crowd after recapping on the investigation process of the case. “We will never give up on those who are responsible for these disappearances.” 

Maside Ocak from IHD Disappeared People Commission, on the other hand, pledged that they would never give up on their struggle until the last beloved one is found and those responsible appeared before the court. 

Following the commemoration ceremony in Hacı Ahmet Park, dozens of attendees chanted slogans “Kurdistan will turn into a grave for fascism and marched towards Sütlüce Cemetery.  

What happened?

In 2008, an excavation has been made in Katarlı village - a so-called “death center” for Turkey’s gendarmerie intelligence service (JITEM) for the disappeared Kurdish people of 1990s. 

On May 8, 2013, it was found that some relics in the site belonged to Yalçınkayas after a series of forensics investigation. 

On January 22, the relics have been received by advocate Erdal Kuzu, IHD Mardin Branch Chairman. 

IHD underlines the importance of investigations and prosecutions related to the disappeared people during the first half of 1990s as most cases are facing statute of limitations. (IK/AS)