Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Assembly spokesperson Ayşe Acar Başaran and HDP MP Feleknas Uca have shared their views on the murder of three female politicians in Paris, and the apparent “confession” of an ex-security official.
Three female Kurdish politicians and activists, Sakine Cansız, Fidan Doğan and Leyla Şaylemez were assassinated in Paris in 2013.
The comments of İsmail Hakkı Pekin, a former high ranking security official in Turkey’s top military intelligence unit, during a live broadcast on Turkish television triggered a debate regarding the assassinations.
Ayşe Acar Başaran and Feleknas Uca spoke to Jin News about what needs to be done to secure justice for the three murdered women.
‘This confession should be accepted as evidence’
Başaran said Pekin’s controversial statements amounted to a “confession” which should be accepted as “new evidence”.
“A former MIT member clearly stated on a television programme that this was a successful operation”, said Başaran, “There is a new statement which supports the previous statements. In terms of international law and in accordance with the basic principles of law, the investigation in Paris should be reopened and a more detailed investigation should be conducted”.
Başaran also noted that the HDP will act on Pekin’s statements and carry the issue to the Turkish Assembly to initiate a legal process in Turkey.
‘The lives of Kurdish politicians are in danger in Europe’
Feleknas Uca stressed that the murder of three Kurdish politicians has not been clarified in the last eight years.
“Eight years ago we asked about the involvement of Turkish intelligence in that massacre. However, France left the Kurdish people alone at this point and did not investigate the truth”, said Uca.
“We clearly see that France protects Turkish intelligence. If this massacre is not clarified today and now, that means the lives of Kurdish politicians are in danger in Europe. Europe will then be responsible if any of those lives are taken. Therefore, we asked the [Turkish] government, ‘What is the role of the MIT in the massacre? Who met with Omar [the killer] in a southern city of Turkey?’ However, all our questions have remained unanswered. If the mystery behind the Paris massacre was solved, the role of Turkey would be revealed”.
‘More of these massacres will occur’
Commenting further on the former Intelligence Officer’s statements Uca said that he was not only sharing critical information about the Paris massacre, but also signalling the possibility of new massacres in Europe.
“In Europe, Turkish intelligence is trying to make a blacklist of Kurdish families. Many of our citizens are targeted or taken into custody for being on these lists. İsmail Hakkı Pekin confessed the role of Turkish intelligence in the massacre after eight years. More of these massacres will occur”, she said.
