On January 9, 2013, PKK founder Sakine Cansız (Sara), Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) Paris Representative Fidan Doğan (Rojbîn) and Kurdish Youth Movement member Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî) were assassinated in Paris, the capital of France. In the 12 years that have passed, the French state has not revealed the people behind the assassination. With the confessions of the shooter Ömer Güney and documents, it was revealed that the incident was organized by Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT). However, 36 days before the hearing of the case on January 23, 2017, the case was dropped due to the suspicious death of Ömer Güney in prison (December 17, 2016). 

 

Later, with the confessions of MIT members and the emergence of information about new assassination attempts in Europe, a new investigation into the role of MIT was launched in April 2017 with the initiatives of the families and their lawyers. However, no progress was made in the second investigation. The families and Kurdish women who continue their struggle for the clarification of the case will be on the streets this year to reveal the real perpetrators. 

 

 

 

Abdulbari Şaylemez, the father of Leyla Şaylemez, spoke to our agency about his daughter's struggle and their legal struggle. 

 

Stating that his daughter's objections against the system and family structure started at an early age, father Şaylemez said that her struggle first started against her 6 brothers and continued. Saying that his daughter continued her education in Germany, where they had to migrate due to the oppression, father Şaylemez emphasized that his daughter never forgot her family and culture.  “We know why we lost Leyla. She was targeted and murdered because she wanted her people to have status.” 

 

'FRENCH AUTHORITIES HID THE PERPETRATORS'

 

Pointing out that the assassination has not been clarified despite the 12 years that have passed, father Şaylemez said, “We flew to Paris on the evening of the day she was murdered, but the French police interrogated us. We were interrogated as if we were suspects. I reacted to this twice. The French state also had a hand in this massacre, so they hid behind the scenes and have not revealed it until today.”

 

Drawing attention to the dialog between him and the judge of the case after the shooter Ömer Güney was captured, Şaylemez said, “The judge said that Ömer had a brain tumor and could die. I asked him, 'Does he really have a tumor or is this a planned situation?' The judge replied, 'I don't know about that.' When I asked, 'Could they kill Ömer Güney in prison?' he replied, 'I can't say anything'. In my opinion, he was killed in prison. France is guilty in our eyes until they clarify this massacre. If not guilty, let the perpetrators be found. Even if partially, the French court ruled the massacre as a 'terrorist attack'. They said that 2-3 more people are connected to Ömer Güney, the case is still ongoing with these connections."

 

'MIT'S ROLE NOT CLARIFIED'

 

Father Şaylemez continued, "At that time there was a 'solution process'. They were murdered so that there would be no solution. With the initiative of the lawyers, a new investigation was launched in April 2017 to shed light on the role of MIT. However, there has been no progress in the intervening 7 years. In order to prevent these massacres from happening, especially Kurds need to strengthen their organization. We lived through it, we don't want anyone else to live through it. In order for these massacres to end, the Kurdish people need to become conscious, organize and gain status.”

 

MA / Hamdullah Yağız Kesen- Abdulkadir Ayten