Price of demand justice for Roboski: 17 trials, years in prison

  • actual
  • 09:28 27 December 2024
  • |

ŞIRNEX - Veli Encü, who was imprisoned for 4 years after 17 lawsuits were filed against him while demanding justice for his brother and 33 others who were killed in the Roboskî massacre, "From Zîlan to Roboskî, the perpetrators have not been revealed. As the families of Roboskî, we stand by what we said on the first day. We want those responsible for the massacre to be punished," he says.

On 28 December 2011, 34 Kurds were massacred in Roboskî village of Qileban (Uludere) district of Şirnex (Şırnak) province in a bombardment by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) warplanes. The investigation, which was initiated after the massacre on the grounds of "causing death by negligence" and was confidentialised, has not progressed a step further. While 13 years have passed since the massacre of 34 people and not a single person has been prosecuted, families seeking justice have been prosecuted, sentenced and arrested.
 
LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST FAMILIES
 
Şırnak Chief Public Prosecutor's Office concluded the lawsuit filed against Roboskî families in 2019 due to the banner in the village on 28 December 2015, the 4th anniversary of the massacre, with an acquittal.
 
To date, 17 lawsuits have been filed against Veli Encü, the Chair of the Roboskî Association, which was closed down by the Decree Law (KHK), who fought for justice for his brother Serhat Encü and 33 others in the massacre. Most of the lawsuits were filed on the grounds that he met with the families of Roboskî and his virtual media posts. Encü was arrested on 24 May 2019 and sentenced to 4 years in prison for "illegal organization membership". Encü was released in 2023 after 4 years of imprisonment.
 
Released after 4 years of imprisonment, Veli Encü made evaluations on the Roboskî massacre.
 
Veli Encü underlined that the families of Roboski have not given up their struggle for justice since the first day and said: "As the families of Roboski, we stand by what we said on the first day. Our demand is that those responsible for the massacre be found and punished. Until today, those responsible for this massacre have still not been found and punished."
 
Reminding that in 13 years not a single person has been held accountable before the judiciary, Encü stated that the perpetrators of any massacre against Kurds since the Zîlan massacre have not been revealed and punished. Stating that he had just been released from prison, "I was imprisoned for 4 years, the struggle for justice we have been waging since the Roboskî massacre was considered a crime and 17 lawsuits were filed against me. I was tried in separate files, but 13 years have passed and still not a single responsible person has been tried," he said. 
 
Encü said: "The perpetrators of no massacre in the history of Kurds have ever been prosecuted. On the contrary, the perpetrators were promoted and rewarded. From the Zîlan massacre to the Dêrsim massacre, none of the perpetrators were tried. Kurds were massacred in these massacres. That is why those responsible were not found and tried. We saw examples of this in Roboskî, Ankara and Pirsûs. This system of the state must change. We will not give up our struggle until those responsible for the Roboski massacre are found."
 
4 YEARS IN PRISON
 
"We believe that justice will be achieved if a common struggle is waged" said Encü and added: "In 2012, the first lawsuit was filed against me. Our phones were tapped then. Before Emine Erdoğan came here, we, the families of Roboski, were making preparations among ourselves and held meetings. All of these were shown as a crime. Interesting questions such as 'Why did you gather the families and what was your purpose in this?' were asked and investigations were started. Lawsuits were filed against me because of my social media posts. Here we were making our voices heard through social media, but even our posts were turned into investigations. We were put on trial and called to testify every day. Again, we had protests. We had marches and visits to the cemetery. They were also the subject of a lawsuit. They wanted us to keep quiet. During that period, a colonel here called the families and said to them, 'Why don't you give up this struggle? Suppose your children died in a bus accident'. In other words, he said that no matter how much the state persecutes you, you should keep quiet and accept it. We will never accept this and we will resist against it. We were persecuted and suffered great pain. We have not forgotten and we still demand the same as we demanded at that time."
 
Encü also touched upon the discussions on the solution of the Kurdish issue and underlined that a solution to the Kurdish issue would only be possible by exposing the massacres. Encü continued: "During the 2013-2015 solution process, we asked the state, 'If you are honest and want to solve the Kurdish issue, start with the Roboskî massacre.' We say the same thing now; if you are honest, you should start with Roboskî. At the moment, there are discussions by state officials about the solution and state officials say some things. But we say that the solution will only be possible if the Roboskî massacre is brought to light and those responsible are exposed. If this is done, perhaps the Kurdish people will believe in their sincerity. It is not possible without accountability." 
 
MA / Zeynep Durgut
 

View More Articles

25/04/2025
16:29 Youtube bans 'Kurdish Resurrection' documentary
16:23 IHD 2024 report: At least 7 thousand 431 rights violations in Kurdistan
15:40 One thousand 249 violations in 17 prisons in 3 months
15:17 DBP and DEM Party delegation met with Ilham Ahmad
14:54 Report on 9 prisons: Abolish Administrative and Monitoring Boards
14:39 Baloch protest in 20 cities against torture in prisons
14:21 Call for tomorrow's march of Platform for Combating Drugs
12:26 Kurdish Conference in Qamishlo starts tomorrow
11:51 Families applies to go to İmralı
11:47 We have hope even if it is weak says Sırrı Sureyya Onder's doctor
10:58 Citizens staying outside all night: Gathering areas insufficient, we are not safe
10:10 Successive earthquakes continue in Istanbul
09:47 Abdullah Öcalan's position must be legally secured says lawyer Ozen
09:21 Same question after every earthquake: Are we prepared for earthquakes?
09:18 It's time for Öcalan to be free says socologist Michael Löwy
09:15 My son must be release says mother of ill prisoner Akpinar
08:29 4.5 magnitude earthquake in Kütahya
24/04/2025
16:46 Treatment of ill prisoner Demir prevented
16:09 We were told that steps will be taken regarding isolation says Sezai Temelli
14:56 Call for 'Freedom for ill prisoner Yanik'
14:45 Daughter of ill prisoner Cam: His condition is bad, he must be released urgently
14:44 Statement after meeting: Öcalan's conditions must change without any buts
13:24 Turkish attacks continue despite ceasefire
12:04 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
12:04 Mazloum Abdi and Ilham Ahmad met with Nachirvan Barzani
11:46 Solution lies in Abdullah Öcalan's road map says mother whose son disappeared
11:21 DEM Party and Ministry of Justice meeting starts
11:01 'Execution law should be regulated for ill prisoners'
10:22 9 years undiagnosed prisoner's teeth fall out
09:38 Important meeting in Hewlêr
09:38 Students detained in Ankara release
09:37 Öcalan's proposals are the key to peace and a universal value says Maurizio Acerbo
23/04/2025
13:56 DEM Party delegation to meet Minister Tunc: Which agendas are on the table?
13:46 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Marmara Sea
13:24 Application for release of ill prisoner Cam
09:47 Equal citizenship, freedom of belief and peace demand Alevis
09:21 National Sovereignty and Children's Day in shadow of deaths and violations
09:15 She lost a son, another PKK member: One side peace impossible
22/04/2025
16:41 Condolence for Gulsun Tan
16:34 Onder's treatment on its 7th day: Visits from Bar Association and different circles
14:34 Prisoner Cam sent back to prison after heart attack
14:27 Mazloum Abdi announces date for Kurdish National Conference
13:51 Parties close to reconciliation in Tishreen
13:12 Kurdish Journalists' Day: We are heirs of 127 years of resistance
12:52 Lawyers applies to meet with Abdullah Öcalan
12:46 Citizens point to Parliament for solution
11:20 Struggle for peace and democracy should not be placed on shoulders of Kurds says Erdogmus
10:47 No release despite Constitutional Court ruling
10:05 Prisoners continue hunger strike against well-type prisons
09:24 6 members of family killed in clashes: If state sincere, it should take steps