Kilicdaroglu draws attention to AKP-linked murder case of Kurdish family

Kilicdaroglu draws attention to AKP-linked murder case of Kurdish family
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Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu drew attention to the AKP-linked murder case of a Kurdish family, where he said prosecutors were afraid to take action against the killers, because they were close to the ruling government

Joint opposition presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu on Friday drew public attention to Emine Senyasar, a Kurdish woman whose husband and two sons were murdered by people allegedly close to the ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party), saying that eight prosecutors had changed during the murder trial and prosecutors were too afraid to open a case because the killers were very powerful. He urged people to think of the injustice suffered by the family's mother.

Kilicdaroglu made the remarks at an iftar event organized by the Istanbul Platform, where he met with former Justice Minister İsmail Muftuoglu.

Emine Senyasar's family was attacked in Suruc district of Turkey's southeastern city of Urfa in 2018, with two of her sons and her husband being killed after a conflict broke out between AKP deputy Ibrahim Halil Yildiz and the Senyasar family during the deputy’s election campaign visit to businesses in the district.

Her husband was reportedly shot and then had a gas canister pushed into his mouth at the hospital where he was receiving treatment.

After the attack, Emine Senyasar took up a public struggle for justice, often speaking to political figures to raise awareness of the issue.

Kilicdaroglu expressed his admiration for Senyasar, saying he went to see her despite the fact that she spoke no Turkish, with an interpreter present.

The case against the suspected perpetrators of the crime was eventually opened, but it took a long time, and the prosecutors on the case were replaced numerous times.

Ibrahim Halil Yildiz's brother Enver Yildiz, who turned himself in 15 months after the incident, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for "committing a crime under unjust provocation."

Kilicdaroglu urged the public to think about the injustice suffered by Senyasar and her family and to stand up against such crimes.