Aktaş and Yavuzel were commemorated with a march

2024-02-26 21:00:07


	RIHA - When the commemoration of journalists Rohat Aktaş, DBP PM Member Mehmet Yavuzel and Mazlum Yeşil, who were murdered in the basement where they took shelter in Cizîr district, was prevented, the crowd marched accompanied by slogans of "Şehîd namirin".

	Azadiya Welat newspaper Editor-in-Chief Rohat Aktaş, who was murdered in the basement where he took shelter in the Cizîr district of Şirnex, where he went to follow the news during the curfew period, and was buried on February 26, 2016, and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) PM Member Mehmet Yavuzel and Mazlum Yeşil, who were murdered in the same basement, were prevented from being commemorated at their graves. Families of Aktaş, Yavuzel and Yeşil, Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) Co-chair Serdar Altan, journalist Hakkı Boltan, Xwebûn Newspaper Editor Rohat Bulut, Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Riha Deputy Omer Ocalan, DEM Party and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) provincial and district organization representatives attended to the commemorate. The commemoration planned to be held at Pirsus Asri Cemetery was prevented by the police on the grounds that the cemetery is "a place of worship".

	 

	The police chief admitted that there was no document or justification for the ban and said that they were working with instructions. He did not leave the front of the mass cemetery and waited silently for two hours against the police's attempt to prevent it. Families entered the cemetery and left carnations on the graves and prayed against the attempt to prevent them. Then, a commemoration was held in front of the cemetery with the participation of the families.

	 

	'PURPOSE WAS TO BRING TRUTH TO PUBLIC'

	 

	Speaking at the commemoration, which started with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy, Mehmet Yavuzel's brother Halil Yavuzel reacted to the attempt to prevent it and said: "They did not allow the cemetery commemoration or a prayer at the grave. My brother went to be with the oppressed in Cizîr and was martyred."

	 

	Speaking afterwards, DFG Co-Chair Serdar Altan said: "Today, we wanted to commemorate our murdered friends. The commemoration we wanted to hold at the graveside illegally was prevented. We know that this is unlawful, we are aware that the aim is to make our friends forget. But they will not achieve this goal. Our friend Rohat was a journalist and what happened in Cizîr he wanted to announce the brutality to the whole world. He gave his life to bring the truth to the public. We will not forget it no matter how many years pass. We condemn the attempts to prevent it."

	 

	The commemoration ended with the slogans "Şehîd namirin (Martyrs Don't Die)". 

	 

	REACTION TO BLOCKING

	 

	After the commemoration, the mass went to the town centre and reacted with a press statement to the blocking attempts in Pirsus Square, where the flow of people was highest. The surrounding citizens also supported the crowd who marched from the DEM Party district building to the square with the slogans "Şehîd namirin", "Kurdistan will be a grave for fascism" and "We will win by resisting". Speaking in the statement made in the square, DEM Party Deputy Omer Ocalan stated that they made a press statement to complain to the people of Pirsus about those who prevented the cemetery commemoration and said: "The cemetery was blockaded and our family and we were unlawfully prevented from entering the cemetery. According to our belief, the cemetery is sacred. Our condolences are being prevented. All the people of Pirsus should know this, this people has never bowed down and will not bow down. We do not accept this. Those who were murdered are our children. Friends should know that we will always protect these children, who are our most precious. No one can prevent this. We will commemorate according to our customs and traditions. Our people should know that those who prevent this have nothing to do with the religion of Islam. All they know is oppression."

	 

	The statement ended with the slogan "Şehîd namirin".