* Photo: Adsız Günebakan - Maraş/AA
Click to read the article in Turkish
Death fasting arrested lawyer Aytaç Ünsal has addressed an open letter to Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, who criticized the hanging of Ebru Timtik's photo on the building of İstanbul Bar Association.
Ünsal has said in his letter:
"I watched your statements in the hospital cell where you have confined me together. You are apparently agitated again. You are afraid. You are on the defensive. You say, 'Those who hang the picture of terrorist organization members on a bar association do not have anything to do with the values of this land.' But, if that is the truth, then, why were you so agitated?
"Why were you so afraid of even a funeral? Why did you spray gas and water to the ones who attended the funeral? If lawyer Ebru Timtik did not have anything to do with this land, then, no one would have attended her funeral. Why didn't you make the funeral free?"
After a commemoration ceremony was held at the İstanbul Bar Association for arrested lawyer Ebru Timtik, who lost her life on the 238th day of her death fast for a fair trial on August 27, Minister Soylu said, "I curse and condemn the ones who hang the photo of terrorist organization member on the İstanbul Bar, I say, 'Shame on you,' I say, 'Pity'."
Though the Forensic Medicine Institution gave a report for Aytaç Ünsal, indicating that he was not in a state to stay in prison, Ünsal was not released and was referred to the Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul, still a pandemic hospital. As of today (September 1), Ünsal has been on a death fast for a fair trial for 222 days.
On a death fast with the same demand, lawyer Ebru Timtik lost his life in the Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, which is also a pandemic hospital in İstanbul. When she died on August 27, Timtik had been on a death fast for a fair trial for 238 days.
'You cannot suppress the calls for justice'
Further in his letter, Aytaç Ünsal has briefly said:
"You are right about one thing: Lawyer Ebru Timtik, honorable people of law and İstanbul Bar do not have anything to do with the values you represent!
"Though you know that it was not even in the file, you mentioned [murdered] Prosecutor Selim Kiraz. You are trying to create an impression.
"You are openly lying to suppress the ones who are laying claim to her. True, they do not have anything to do with being liars. They do not have anything to do with being conspirators!
"Lawyer Barkın Timtik, the sister of Ebru Timtik, is in prison; the gendarmerie affiliated with you did not allow her to attend the funeral.
"My mother and father, my hospital attendants, have been living like prisoners with me in the hospital cell for weeks.
"Mothers, brothers and sisters, spouses are persecuted. True, honorable lawyers do not have anything to do with this atrocity! Where in Anatolia is there such atrocity? Where are there lies, conspiracy and terror?
"Lawyer Ebru Timtik and the honorable people of law struggling for justice represent the rightful, they represent truth and justice. And no matter how physically strong you are today, there are actually only a handful of you. I am aware of it, you are panicked about this.
"But, now, stop threatening İstanbul Bar Association with your threats and mafia-like bullying. Save your breath because you cannot suppress millions' cry for justice no matter what you do!" (AS/SD)
