Reaction against the acquittal of police officer Y.Ş who murdered university student Kemal Kurkut during the Newroz celebration in Diyarbakır back in 2017 with the decision Diyarbakır 7th High Criminal Court continue. The Kurkut Family lawyer and Deputy Chairman of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), Reyhan Yalçındağ protested the decision as well.

 

Yalçındağ said, "This decision paves the way for similar murders. The impunity policy for the law enforcement is as old as the establishment of the republic.

 

Stating that the acquittal is the continuation of this impunity, Yalçındağ said: "Those who can commit similar murders are presented with a lot of courage with this decision. We must evaluate this decision with the encouragement given by the state to other law enforcement officers who might shot somebody to death anywhere, anytime without consequences."

 

Stating that the murder of Kurkut is a similar murder committed by the state officals since 90's, which by the way were punished by the European Court of Human Rights, time and time again, Yalçındağ said: "If it wasn't captured by the cameras of the free press, there wouldn't even be a trial. Just like the law suit for the murder of beloved Tahir Elçi, filed 5 years after his death. We would see that the murder of Kurkut would be covered up if it wasn't captured by the cameras of the free press."

 

Emphasizing that no matter what the decision is, they will not give up about the case, Attorney Yalçındağ said: "Us, the humans' rights defenders will be persuing this case. It will not be closed until we say it can be closed. We will persue this case until the murderer who committed this murder in front of the cameras is punished approppriately."