A Turkish court has decided to continue the detention of Fadıl Şenyaşar, who has been held in solitary confinement for nearly six years following a deadly altercation in 2018. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of Şenyaşar’s two brothers and her father, as well as the brother of a then-MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), had reignited discussions about justice and political influence in the country.
The confrontation took place at the family’s shop in Urfa (Riha) during the run-up to Turkey’s 2018 general election, and escalated into a violent encounter that left three members of the Şenyaşar family fatally injured in a subsequent hospital attack. Fadıl Şenyaşar, who is accused of killing his attacker during the confrontation, has been in prison since the incident.
The family’s vigil for justice continues
Mother Emine Şenyaşar and her son Ferit Şenyaşar, a newly elected MP from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party who survived the ordeal in 2018, held their vigil for justice, which they have been holding since March 2021, in front of the Malatya (Meletî’) court building on Friday to highlight their quest for justice in the case. They have expressed their frustration at the delays in the judicial process and protested by not entering the courtroom during the hearing.
The case and the verdict
The case has been mired in controversy and allegations of political protection.
Originally, the murder case was split into two files, one for the initial incident at the Şenyaşar family’s shop and another for the subsequent attacks at a hospital, but they were later merged during the trial.
Before the merger, Fadıl Şenyaşar was sentenced in April 2021 to 37 years and 9 months for first-degree murder, while Enver Yıldız, a relative of the AKP deputy and named suspect, was sentenced to 18 years for manslaughter.
The final sentence for Fadıl Şenyaşar will be decided in the consolidated trial.
The family and their legal representatives have criticised the trial, pointing to discrepancies in the verdict and the handling of the case. They argue that the death of Mehmet Şah Yıldız, which triggered the case against Fadıl Şenyaşar, was an act of self-defence, supported by evidence such as CCTV footage and witness statements.
Legal and public reaction
The defence highlighted the lack of thorough investigation and the perceived protection of individuals associated with state power. During the trial, Fadıl Şenyaşar challenged the injustice of his prolonged detention and the failure to fully investigate the incident, citing the lack of clarity regarding the ownership of the firearms used at the scene. His lawyers emphasised society’s expectation of justice and argued against the grounds for his continued detention, pointing out that Şenyaşar was not a flight risk.
A notable moment in the trial was the rejection of a petition by defendant Celal Yıldız, who criticised Fadıl Şenyaşar for referring to the region as the “Kurdish region”. The judge dismissed the case, reiterating that such statements fall under freedom of expression.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for 7 June. The case continues to draw attention to issues of justice and political influence in Turkey and remains a flashpoint for Kurdish rights.
