Gezi Resistance Deaths Commemorated

Gezi Resistance deaths have been commemorated across Turkey. 

On June 1, Ethem Sarısülük, a young protester killed by police in Ankara during Gezi Resistance, was commemorated in the place where he was shot. It was also the birthday of Medeni Yıldırım, a young Kurdish boy killed during the protests of police station construction project in Diyarbakır's district Lice. His birthday was celebrated on social media.

On June 2, Mehmet Ayvalıtaş, a young protester killed by an intended car crash in İstanbul during Gezi Resistance, was commemorated at his graveside. In Eskişehir province, hundreds of people marched towards to the place where Ali İsmail Korkmaz, a young protester killed during Gezi Resistance, was beaten to death.

Also today, in the death anniversary of Abdullah Cömert, a young protester killed during Gezi Resistance in Hatay, a public garden in Bakırköy [district in İstanbul] will be renamed after him.

Abdullah Cömert

Abdullah Cömert had lost his life today last year in Hatay due to an injury in his head by a gas bomb canister.

Today, his name will be given to a public garden.

Before the opening ceremony that will be held at 2:00 pm local time, Cömert Family visited Gezi Park. Zafer Cömert, the brother of Ahmet Cömert, shared the photo of his mother and father in Gezi Park via his Twitter account.

Ali İsmail Korkmaz

Ali İsmail Korkmaz was 19 years old. One year ago, on the night of June 2, he was beaten by a group of civilians and police.  The first hospital he was admitted forced him to give a statement at the police station in order to receive a medical treatment. Next morning after his statement, he was hospitalized and diagnosed with cerebral hemorrhage. He lost his life after a struggle of 38 days. 

Last night, a march was organized for the memory of Ali İsmail Korkmaz in Eskişehir.

With the participation of Korkmaz’s brother and father, the march was headed to the street where he was beaten.

Mehmet Ayvalıtaş

Mehmet Ayvalıtaş was in a group of demonstrators who blocked the TEM highway at İstanbul’s 1 Mayıs neighborhood on June 2, 2013. He lost his life due to a car crash caused by a speedily driven car against the protestors.  He was 19 years old.

Yesterday, a commemoration was held at his graveside in İstanbul's Çekmeköy district for the memory of Ayvalıtaş. After giving a dinner in Ataşehir Cemevi, a march was held towards to the place where he killed. Along with Merhmet Ayvalıtaş, his mother, who lost her life on the month of December, also commemorated. 

Kadıköy Forums announced that they would organize a commemoration at Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Square. However, the event has been postponed to next week due to adverse weather conditions. 

Ethem Sarısülük

Ethem Sarısülük was shot by the police gun on June 1, 2013 during Gezi protests in Ankara and lost his life on June 14. He was 26 years old.

The incident took place when police prevented a group from commemorating Ethem Sarısülük in Kızılay Square on the day of his shooting. Despite all interventions, Ethem Sarısülük was commemorated in the place where he was shot. With the participation of Sarısülük Family, his memory was called with cloves.

Medeni Yıldırım

June 1 also marked the birthday of Medeni Yıldırım (18), a young protestor who lost his life due to a gun fire by a soldier on June 28 during the march against police station construction in Lice district.

Several messages were tweeted with the hashtag #iyikidoğdunmedeniyıldırım (#happybirthdaymedeniyildirim) in order to celebrate his birthday. (BK/CB/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.