Berkin Elvan's father hails Gezi convicts: 'We will continue the struggle'

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Mücella Yapıcı's words in the courtroom after the verdict in the Gezi trial reminded us of those who lost their lives in the resistance and their families:

"After the eight kids, it doesn't matter that I will serve 18 years

"Does it matter after the eight kids that I will serve 18 years? I don't give a darn."

Sami Elvan, the father of Berkin Elvan, who was hit in the head with a gas canister fired by the police during the Gezi Resistance and lost his life after 269 days in coma, says all those arrested were sincere people while maintaining optimism:

"I believe they will regain their freedom as soon as possible."

At the final hearing of the Gezi case on April 25, the İstanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court sentenced Osman Kavala to aggravated life imprisonment for "attempting to overthrow the government" and seven others — Mücella Yapıcı, Çiğdem Mater, Hakan Altınay, Mine Özerden, Can Atalay, Tayfun Kahraman and Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi — to 18 years imprisonment for "aiding" Kavala in the attempt.

"They are like our own family"

Speaking to bianet, Elvan said, "We all now know that there is no law in our country. We think that the trials of people who have suffered great injustice are heard in the Palace. We underline that there is no law.

"But in terms of struggling for rights, I think those people resisted beautifully, they were not afraid and expressed themselves very well. I  sincerely believe that they will regain their freedom as soon as possible.

"We know that those who received 18-year sentences wouldn't harm a fly, and they stood with people who suffered injustice and fought till the end.

"These people are fighting for the people and I know that they don't benefit from it. Because we have been together with those people for nine years; they are like our own family.

"I haven't met Osman Kavala. I know all others ... They are cordial, clean, and sincere people. We will continue to fight, with them inside [prisons] and us outside."

"We are not afraid"

Elvan says they visited the Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison on April 30 to show solidarity with the prisoners.

"We first visited our friends in Silivri [Prison] and then we went to Bakırköy. Like I said, we will continue our struggle. We will not run away from whatever task falls on us. We are not afraid, and we will not be afraid.

"There is unfairness, injustice, and usurpation of people's rights. Of course, they will resist ... Think of us, we have been a living dead family for nine years. What more can be done to me? Is there anything beyond this?

"I must talk about these unlawfulnesses for our country, future and children. I will do that as best I can."

Gezi families

"We are still resisting together with the Gezi families. We talk to each other when something about our children happens." (MD/AÖ/VK)