ANKARA - Lawyer  Jean-Louis Malterre indicated that the unsolved murders of three women  politicians in Paris over the past 12 years are attributed to the "collaboration" between Turkey and France. He mentioned that there is a possibility of re-examining Turkey in the Peace and Democratic Society Process.

 

On January 9, 2013, in Paris, France, Sakine Cansız, a founding member of Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiye Karkerên Kurdistan-PKK), along with Fidan Doğan (Rojbin), the Paris Representative of the Kurdistan National Congress (Kongreya Netewî ya Kurdistanê-KNK), and Leyla Şaylemez (Ronahî), a member of the Kurdish Youth Movement, were assassinated at the Kurdistan Information Office. 

 

Over the past 12 years, there has been little advancement in the investigations conducted in both France and Turkey. Evidence indicated a connection between Turkey and Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in the assassination, which was later supported by confessions and documents. 

 

However, the case faced setbacks leading to the closure attempt after the suspicious death of the triggerman, Ömer Güney, in prison. Despite new information emerging and increased attention on assassination attempts against Kurdish politicians in Europe, no legal proceedings have been initiated.

 

‘MIT’S ROLE IN THE CASE’

 

The individual identified as the perpetrator in the investigation launched after the massacre, Ömer Güney, was taken into custody and arrested eight days later. It was established that Güney, who had entered and exited Turkey 13 times in the year before the incident, had connections to MIT. In France, where the primary investigation was carried out, no one besides Güney, who was associated with MIT, was named in the case due to a confidentiality order. The only defendant in the massacre, which occurred during the first official negotiations with Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imralı, rejected claims regarding his connections. 

 

However, later developments and documents revealed the links between the gunman Güney and MIT. The documents that surfaced confirmed that MIT was responsible for the massacre, and the indictment explicitly outlined MIT’s involvement. However, it was noted that it remains unclear whether the directive originated from the top of the hierarchy. Turkey, on the other hand, did not respond to any requests related to the investigation.

 

‘SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF GUNEY'

 

The investigation into the massacre lasted until May 2015. It was determined that the gunman, Güney, would appear in a French court on December 5, 2016, but the lawyers contested this and requested an earlier hearing. Consequently, the initial hearing was rescheduled for January 23, 2017. However, 37 days prior to the hearing, on December 17, 2016, it was reported that Güney had died in the hospital after becoming ill. Following Güney's questionable death, the case was closed.

 

‘A NEW INVESTIGATION’

 

In the Kurdistan Regional Government, on August 4, 2017, Erhan Pekçetin and Aydın Güney, in charge of MIT, were arrested during an operation conducted by PKK. After their confessions regarding the massacre, and with new information about potential assassination attempts in Europe, families and lawyers initiated a new investigation into the massacre. In March 2017, a preliminary investigation was opened concerning MIT’s involvement in the massacre. However, this investigation was dismissed by the prosecutor's office on April 18, 2018.

 

As a result of the application submitted by families seeking justice in March 2018 to investigate those who ordered the murder and their accomplices, an anti-terror judge was appointed on May 20, 2019 to reopen the case. At this point, despite the availability of information and documents, as well as new applications made following the death of the triggerman Güney and the Kurdish community’s prolonged demand for justice, no case has been initiated. The file has been closed under the justification of “state secrecy.”

 

Jean-Louis Malterre, the lawyer involved in the case, answered questions from the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the massacre.

 

‘CASE PROCESS’

 

The case was closed after the death of gunman Ömer Güney on December 17, 2016. However, Malterre indicated that they submitted a new complaint to the prosecutor's office in March 2017. This complaint was rejected by the prosecutor's office on April 18, 2018, leading to no further action. Malterre mentioned that they subsequently filed another complaint and joined the case as co-plaintiffs. On May 20, 2019, a new "anti-terrorism" judge was appointed to investigate "all accomplices and perpetrators" of the murder.

 

Although the case was closed after the gunman, Ömer Güney, died on December 17, 2016, Malterre stated that a new complaint was submitted to the prosecutor's office in March 2017. This complaint was rejected by the prosecutor's office on April 18, 2018, and no further action was taken. Malterre added that they subsequently filed another complaint and joined the case as co-plaintiffs. Malterre then stated that on May 20, 2019, a new "anti-terrorism" judge was appointed to investigate all accomplices and perpetrators of the murder.

 

‘THE AMBASSADOR DIDN’T TESTIFY’

 

Malterre stated that the investigating judge in the initial case requested Turkish phone numbers, including one suspected of belonging to MIT that was found on Güney's phones, which he may have been in contact with. He said: “Turkey never responded to the French investigating judge's request. Additionally, in the second case, the investigating judge sought to question Turkey’s ambassador to Paris, but the ambassador chose to leave France for other assignments. In this way, he avoided judicial questioning.” 

 

‘FRANCE’S ROLE IN THE ASSASSINATIONS’

 

Malterre stated that French and Turkish authorities have a long history of cooperation against the Kurds, adding: "This cooperation, supported at the high levels of government for economic, commercial, and political reasons, continued after the assassinations. Turkey was not held accountable for the French judges' refusal to grant a request for judicial assistance. The systematic blocking of access to information requested by various judges by the Ministers of the Interior and Defense, citing national security, appears designed to conceal the degree of responsibility held by France and its intelligence services in the assassination. This situation is hindering the investigation and preventing it from moving forward.”

 

Malterre referenced the Peace and Democratic Society Process, which began after Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s statement on February 27 regarding the future of the case. He indicated that within the context of the ongoing negotiations, it would be possible to re-examine Turkey’s role in the case.

 

MA / Deniz Karabudak