We will not give up demanding justice for Tahir Elçi
Tahir Elçi, a human rights defender and lawyer, was targeted due to his opinions on democratic and peaceful solution of the Kurdish question and thus, legal investigations were launched against him. Despite this oppression and targeting, Tahir Elçi stood his ground to defend the truth and peace.
On 28 November 2015, he was killed in an armed attack while he was making a public statement drawing attention to the curfews and serious human rights violations. The process of investigation and prosecution, which had been progressing at a snail’s pace, ended in impunity on 12 June 2024.
We know that the appeal made by his family and friends to the Regional Court of Appeal has also been rejected. The murder of Tahir Elçi, is a murder that was committed in front of police cameras, in broad daylight, in front of the eyes of the public. Concluding the trial process of this murder with impunity and the decision of rejection by the regional court of appeals amount to the end of the rule of law and the principle of legal security and are unacceptable. As human rights defenders, we will continue our struggle for the truth and justice in the murder of Tahir Elçi.
We call on the legal authorities and the government to act responsibly in order to elucidate the murder of Tahir Elçi.
Human Rights Association