Tens of thousands are bidding farewell to Amed (Diyarbakir) Bar Association Chairman Tahir Elçi, who was murdered in Sur district yesterday.
Masses flocked to the Koşu Yolu Park as of early Sunday morning for the funeral for human rights defender Tahir Elçi, who spent his life fighting against extrajudicial murders, until he became a victim of one yesterday.
Speaking here, Elçi’s wife Türkan Elçi said; “Victims of extrajudicial murders will welcome you now. There is no need to introduce you, all the victims and the world know very well. We are watching you from here. Victims of these murders, to which you dedicated your life, will say ‘You defended us, but who will defend you?’. And he will answer; ‘I have comrades, friends and family standing by my side. History will understand me.”
Speaking after, Tahir Elçi’s brother Ahmet Elçi said the following; “The prosecutors, judges and media of the state fingered my brother as a target. My brother is not our first martyr, nor will he be the last one. The cruel and fascist cowards should know very well that they will never be able to intimidate the Kurdish people who will resist till the end. Tahir hasn’t died. He will never die. He was a free person. The state can put our hands in handcuffs but never our minds and ideas. We are free and we will resist together with our people and friends. Our people will never surrender to occupying forces. Tahir was a brother of all socialists, Armenians, Assyrians and Kurds. As a Kurdish intellectual, he has been murdered by the state which has committed similar murders over and over throughout its history. Yet, our people will never be afraid, and we will win.”
“Em te ji bîr nakin” (We will not forget you) and “PKK is not a terror organisation” read the huge banner carried by the people on the front line of the cortege leading tens of thousands during the march to the cemetery.
Elçi’s coffin was taken from the funeral coach and carried on shoulders to the grave by his colleagues.
The funeral witnessed expressions of anger towards the Turkish state and government amid often chanted slogans “Şehid Namırın” (Martyrs are Immortal), “Murderer Erdoğan”, “PKK is the people and the people are here”.
“We never surrendered” read the banners people carried at the funeral.
Human rights and peace defender Tahir Elçi was later laid to rest to the accompaniment of “Şehid Namırın” slogan. Carnations were left on his grave after his burial.
With a few words near Elçi’s grave, his elder brother Ahmet Elçi said; “Ours is a cause for fraternity, unity, peace and our people’s freedom.”