Imprisoned Kurdish politician Gültan Kışanak attends sister's funeral after temporary release

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Former Diyarbakır Co-Mayor Gültan Kışanak, who has been in prison for about 7 years, was granted permission yesterday to attend the funeral of her sister, Zeynep Özer. She participated in the funeral ceremony today.

Accompanied by a significant number of gendarmes, Kışanak was taken to the Ehlibeyt Cemevi in Fevzi Çakmak Neighborhood.

Özer's body was later transported to the Sün Köyü Cemevi. Celal Fırat, a Green Left MP and an Alevi dede, a spiritual leader, conducted the funeral ceremony according to Alevi rituals.

After the ceremony, Özer was laid to rest in the village cemetery, and Kışanak herself placed soil on her sister's grave. Kışanak also visited the graves of her mother, Melek Özer, her father, Lütfü Özer, and other relatives. Subsequently, Kışanak visited the Koca Seyit Shrine in the village, where she received condolences.

Zeynep Özer, Kışanak's sister, had been undergoing treatment for kidney failure in Elazığ for a while. Following Özer's passing, Kışanak's lawyers had applied for her to attend the funeral. Upon the acceptance of the application, she was taken to Elazığ today.

On August 7, 2021, Kışanak had also lost her father, Lütfü Özer. Shortly after attending her father's funeral, she lost her brother, Cumali Özer.

On Monday, Kışanak participated in the Kobanê trial through videoconference, where she attempted to provide a legitimate excuse for not attending the court due to her sister's illness.

However, the court cut her off, stating that she had not provided any evidence of her sister's illness. Subsequently, the court disconnected the videoconference link, preventing Kışanak from giving her statement. (RT/VK)