Berkin Elvan Commemorated Upon His Grave

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Berkin Elvan has been commemorated in 2nd anniversary of his killing.

Elvan was injured in the head during Gezi protests by pepper gas police fired aged 14 on June 16, 2013, and had lost his life after 269 days of struggle in Okmeydanı Hospital on March 11, 2014.

Alongside his family, families who lost their relatives in the Gezi protests attended the commemoration held today (macrh 12) at Ferikoy Cemetery.

In the joint statement issued on behalf of Elvan family and Taksim Solidarity, justice demand has been underlined.

Berkin Elvan’s father, Sami Elvan said, “As long as the ones issuing the order are not judged, there is no meaning in trying that police”.

The police who shot Elvan has been identified.

What happened? 

On June 16, Berkin Elvan has been hospitalized due to grave head injuries after the police intervention in Istanbul’s Okmeydanı district. When he was admitted to the Okmeydanı Research Hospital, his heart has reportedly stopped already. 

Suffering from brain hemorrhage, Elvan went through at least 5 surgeries. 

On January 5, Elvan turned 15 in his comatose. He died on Day 269. 

While Istanbul Prosecutors Office is currently investigating the case, prosecutors allegedly denied to follow charges related to “attempted police killing and torture” - a complaint submitted by Elvan’s family advocates. 

On the other hand, the suspected policemen have been charged with “excessive use of their right to exercise force” according to Turkish Penal Code Article 256/1.

“Did Berkin carry items like molotov cocktail, stone or torpedo along with him?” the former prosecutor Adnan Çimen reportedly asked the eyewitnesses. (BK/TK)