* Photo: Zeynep Kuray
Click to read the article in Turkish
Shot to death with a tear gas canister during Gezi resistance in 2013, Berkin Elvan has been commemorated by his family and loved ones at his grave in Feriköy, İstanbul on the 7th anniversary of his death.
Berkin Elvan was wounded in his head by a tear gas canister fired by police in Okmenydanı, İstanbul on June 16, 2013; treated for his wounds at the Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital for 269 days, 14-year-old Berkin Elvan lost his life on March 11, 2014.
'I say justice, justice...'
Today's commemoration ceremony was attended by several people, including Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP Musa Piroğlu and Republican People's Party (CHP) MP Ali Şeker.
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony, father Sami Elvan said that they did not struggle only for Berkin Elvan. He briefly said, "We say, 'Let there be equality, justice and peace in this country.' The instigators are moving on with their lives in the lap of luxury. They declared a 14-year-old child a terrorist. Which book writes something like that?"
"Nothing happens to those insulting our children on social media everyday; when someone says something about them, they are detained.
"15 days ago, my daughter was taken into custody in the middle of the street. What is it with the trouble that you make people suffer? Whom did my daughter treat unfairly? Whose money did she steal? I am calling out from here open-heartedly: We want justice."
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), mother Gülsüm Elvan said that in no way were they treated with justice all through their 7-year struggle for justice. "We are seeking nonexistent justice," she said.
Addressing President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Gülsüm Elvan said:
"A 14-year-old child... If you have conscience, I leave you alone with it. You have made me go through this pain for seven years. Today, you are once again trying to attack us. Enough is enough.
"The damage that you have inflicted on this country is everywhere. Are we supposed to forget about Roboskî, Ankara, Suruç and the three-month-old baby in Sur? I assure you that all these incidents and all these mothers will settle accounts with you. I will not stop until I make you appear before the judge and stand trial. I say justice, justice..."
Can Atalay, an attorney for the Elvan family, also said, "At one dawn, a child was shot and killed in the middle of the street. The trial of the murderers, except for one, has not even started. All types of tricks are played to ensure that this one murderer will not get the sentence he will be given."
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What happened?On June 16, 2013, Berkin Elvan was hospitalized due to grave head injuries after the police intervention in the district of Okmeydanı in İstanbul. When he was admitted to the Okmeydanı Research Hospital, his heart had reportedly stopped already. Suffering from a brain hemorrhage, Elvan went through at least five surgeries. On January 5, 2014, Elvan turned 15 in his comatose. He died on March 11, 269 days after being shot. While the prosecutor investigating the incident was changed for six times, the investigation was completed on December 7, 2016. Prepared by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the indictment demanded that police officer F.D., who was referred to as the only defendant, be penalized on charge of "killing with eventual intent." The 11-page indictment sent to the İstanbul 17th Heavy Penal Court has been accepted. A verdict of non-prosecution has been given for 42 police officers, who previously made their depositions as part of the investigation into the death of Elvan. Speaking to bianet, Oya Aslan, one of the attorneys for the Elvan family, stated that a lawsuit was filed only against a single police officer who was on the scene of incident and added that since the lawsuit was filed for "killing with eventual intent", rather than for "wilful murder", it has reduced the foreseen prison sentence to 20 years. The case is still continuing. |
(AS/SD)
