Click to read the article in Turkish
Hospitalized in the Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul, arrested lawyer Ebru Timtik lost her life on the 238th day of her death fast for her right to a fair trial yesterday (August 27).
CLICK - Lawyer Ebru Timtik dies on 238th day of death fast
Expressing their reactions on social media, several politicians, legists, artists and journalists have criticized the silence displayed in the face of Timtik's demands and underlined the importance of the right to a fair trial.
Some of the tweets posted after Timtik's death are as follows:
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara MP Filiz Kerestecioğlu: "Is there a word left to say? Ah, Ebru..."
Musician Hüsnü Arkan: "She was seeking justice, we won't forget it."
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) İstanbul MP Gürsel Tekin: "On a death fast for 238 days, lawyer Ebru Timtik has lost her life. Constitutional Court rejected her release 'as there was no risk of death.' A politicized judiciary means a judiciary that has turned into an executioner. If there is no law, there is persecution. The AKP regime will stand trial for the crimes it committed against justice before history and the nation."
Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Chair Şebnem Korur Fincancı: "The members of the Court of Cassation who waited for September 3 are also accountable for the death! Like all of us..."
CHP İstanbul MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu: "I am really at a loss for words while we are trying to explain the state of law in Turkey. Ebru Timtik has lost her life, may her soul rest in peace. She was sent to death before the eyes of everyone despite the report of the Forensic Medicine Institution. The judiciary is the biggest party to this process. Shame on the judges who did not give a ruling of release for Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal today, shame on the Court of Cassation and doctors."
Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chair Leyla Güven: "I apologize...'
Human Rights Association (İHD) Co-Chair Eren Keskin: "They were released in the first hearing, the 'political will' immediately intervened and issued an arrest warrant again. The epitome of injustice has been reached. Don't forget that it can also happen to you tomorrow. Don't stay silent, raise your voice!"
Artist Zülfü Livaneli: "The death of Ebru before the eyes of everyone is the death of humanity, justice and conscience in this country."
Journalist-MP Ahmet Şık: "This evil will, of course, come to an end, but when that day comes, we will be unable to look each other in the face due to the silence today."
HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu: "They handed down a ruling for Ebru Timtik together!!! No matter what opinion you have, be respectful for the hunger of a person for justice, you will not lose your humanity. What is left for the state officials is a permanent shame, they only looked like a concrete wall for 238 days. Without any soul, feelings or mercy..."
Economist - former Motherland Party Chair Nesrin Nas: "I am so sorry. All she wanted was a fair trial. A state, a majority who shuts its ears to citizens' demand for a fair trial... Where are we running to?"
Actress Füsun Demirel: "Aytaç Ünsal must be kept alive. People's Law Bureau, you can ensure that Aytaç comes back to life. They made their demands for a fair trial heard. The world has heard about it. You cannot unring a bell. The government does not hear it? So be it. They will answer for it before history. Just do not let Aytaç die."
Journalist Banu Güven: "Ebru Timtik demanded her right to a fair trial. Her file and that of Aytaç Ünsal were kept waiting at the Court of Cassation as if there had been no urgency. If Ebru Timtik had lived in a country where the rule of law was respected, she would now be at her home, preparing for the hearing tomorrow."
Journalist Can Dündar: A lawyer who has lost her life for justice... It is on the government... The responsibility is on the shoulders of us all..."
HDP Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş: "Musa Orhan is free... Ebru Timtik is dead..."
CHP Party Assembly member Gaye Usluer: "What will it change if we say the worst words or scream... Justice is dead."
HDP Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan: "Ebru Timtik has been massacred by the tyrants in the government!"
Journalist Ayşenur Arslan: "Ebru Timtik has lost her life. Or this country has lost her."
Journalist Yılmaz Özdil: "Shame on this country, shame... The ground should open up and swallow us in shame as a nation for being captured by this atrocity, for not showing the courage to raise our voice."
Ankara Bar Association Chair Erinç Sağkan: "They did not hear the cries for fair trial for months. They shut their ears and turned their heads. They have massacred both justice and conscience."
Kocaeli Bar Association Chair Bahar Candemir: "Her demand was just to be tried fairly. She said she wanted to be released and treated, to get rid of the walls that she was tired of seeing and run to green fields. But it did not happen. Ebru Timtik lost her life while she was arrested, staying in a hospital room behind the walls she was tired of seeing."
Antalya Bar Association Chair Polat Balkan: "It is a murder of the judiciary! May the knot of truth be always on your throat, may a plague fall on your conscience, you murderers in gowns!"
Bursa Bar Association Chair Gürkan Altun: "Ebru Timtik could not hold on to life and lost her life. Justice was late for Ebru! Just speak up for Aytaç Ünsal, please?"
Mersin Bar Association Chair Bilgin Yeşilboğaz: "On a death fast for a fair trial for 238 days, lawyer Ebru Timtik has lost her life. We are grieved. To the question 'Why is justice necessary,' we once again answer: 'Because justice keeps one alive. Injustice kills.' The community of law and her family, please accept my condolences."
Amasya Bar Association Chair Melik Derindere: "She was first released in the first hearing, she was arrested again without seeing the daylight. She died while reiterating her demand for a fair trial and justice. We could only post a tweet."
Ordu Bar Association Chair Haluk Murat Poyraz: "I am so sorry. We could not keep our colleague, lawyer Ebru Timtik, a life alive." (EKN/SD)
