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Yesterday (January 5) was the birthday of Berkin Elvan, who lost his life at the age of 15 after being shot in the head with a tear gas canister fired by a police officer during Gezi resistance in 2013. If Elvan were alive today, he would turn 21 years old yesterday.
Berkin Elvan was commemorated by his family and loved ones at his grave and at the point where he was shot in İstanbul. The commemoration ceremony was attended by Elvan's parents Gülsüm and Sami Elvan as well as several other people including his friends.
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency, while the point where Elvan was shot was blockaded by the police, several armed vehicles were also stationed in the points of entry and exit of the neighborhood.
* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, mother Gülsüm Elvan said, "If Berkin was alive today, he would be 21 years old. He did not die, he lives. Before the sky lanterns that we fly, I wish justice for Berkin and for all massacred children. Let this be hope for all children."
After the statements, sky lanterns were flown in memory of Berkin Elvan.
What happened?On June 16, 2013, Berkin Elvan was hospitalized due to grave head injuries after the police intervention in the district of Okmeydanı in İstanbul. When he was admitted to the Okmeydanı Research Hospital, his heart had reportedly stopped already. Suffering from a brain hemorrhage, Elvan went through at least five surgeries. On January 5, 2014, Elvan turned 15 in his comatose. He died on March 11, 269 days after being shot. While the prosecutor investigating the incident was changed for six times, the investigation was completed on December 7, 2016. Prepared by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the indictment demanded that police officer F.D., who was referred to as the only defendant, be penalized on charge of "killing with eventual intent." The 11-page indictment sent to the İstanbul 17th Heavy Penal Court has been accepted. A verdict of non-prosecution has been given for 42 police officers, who previously made their depositions as part of the investigation into the death of Elvan. Speaking to bianet, Oya Aslan, one of the attorneys for the Elvan family, stated that a lawsuit was filed only against a single police officer who was on the scene of incident and added that since the lawsuit was filed for "killing with eventual intent", rather than for "wilful murder", it has reduced the foreseen prison sentence to 20 years. |
(RT/SD)
