Another investigation against Emine Şenyaşar for ‘insulting’ the police

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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Emine Şenyaşar lost her spouse and two sons in an attack by the security guards and relatives of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız in Urfa. She and her son Ferit Şenyaşar, who survived the attack, have been seeking justice since then.

The Şenyaşar family have been demanding justice in front of the Urfa courthouse for 247 days as of today (November 10).

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), as part of a new investigation against her over her statements during their 'justice watch', Emine Şenyaşar gave her statement at the Suruç Security Directorate and could not come in front of the courthouse yesterday for this reason.

'It is me who comes to the police station'

Emine Şenyaşar was summoned to depose as part of the investigation launched by the Urfa Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on the grounds that she allegedly "insulted" the police with her remarks on the 24th day of their "justice watch" in front of the Urfa courthouse.

Dismissing the charges in her statement, she said, "I am searching for my sons' murderer. It is me who comes to the police station every time."

What happened on the 24th day?

On the 24th day of their justice watch, the Şenyaşar family were taken out of the courthouse by police officers. They wanted to keep their justice watch in the place known as the outbuilding of the courthouse. But the police wanted to force them out of this building as well.

Not agreeing to leave the building, the Şenyaşar family faced an attempted detention with battery. Dragged on the ground to be detained, Ferit Şenyaşar's foot got stuck under a parked vehicle.

During the ensuing commotion, Şenyaşar, with blows to his head as well, had a mental breakdown, passed out and was hospitalized.

Emine Şenyaşar, who was there when Ferit Şenyaşar was battered, said, "They killed my sons 3 years ago. They wanted to kill Ferit as well today. JinNews and MA reporters trying to cover the incident were prevented from taking pictures and videos and threatened with "detention."

Coming to the courthouse, Ferit Şenyaşar, discharged from the hospital on the same day, filed a criminal complaint against the police officers who battered him. While there has been no development or progress about the criminal complaint filed by Şenyaşar, an investigation has been launched against Emine Şenyaşar for "insulting a commissioned officer."

One court case, four investigations for 'insult'

A lawsuit was previously filed against her by AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız on charge of "insult". The first hearing of the case will be held on November 12. There is also one investigation against Emine Şenyaşar for "insulting" Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu as well as three different investigations for "insulting" police officers and public employees on duty.

What happened?

During the election campaign of ruling AKP Urfa MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız in Suruç, Urfa on June 14, 2018, an attack turned into an armed conflict, which claimed the lives of Yıldız's brother Mehmet Şah Yıldız, shop owner Hacı Esvet Şenyaşar and his sons Adil and Celal Şenyaşar.

Having lost his father and two brothers and been wounded himself in the incident, Fadıl Şenyaşar was discharged from hospital and detained on June 17. He was then arrested and sent to prison.

Demanding justice for two sons, husband and her arrested son, Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit Şenyaşar, who survived the attack, have been keeping a "justice watch" in front of the courthouse.

There has been a confidentiality order on the file of the investigation into the attack for 3 years, 3 months. The second appeal of the Şenyaşar family against the "confidentiality" order on the investigation into the second attack at the Suruç Public Hospital was rejected on April 21, 2021.

The Constitutional Court, to which the family appealed, has not yet given its decision. One of the demands raised by the family on their justice watch is the removal of this "confidentiality" order. (KÖ/SD)