On 15 April, a condolence service was held in Cudi neighbourhood of Cizre district of Şirnex (Şırnak) province for Abdurrahim Erzen, an People's Defense Forces (HPG) soldier who was killed in an armed clash in the countryside of Federated Kurdistan Region on 4 February. The police prevented the family's condolence service at the condolence house.

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Şirnex MP Newroz Uysal Aslan asked the Directorate of Religious Affairs about the issue. The Directorate of Religious Affairs stated that the issue was not under its responsibility and pointed to the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry answered the parliamentary question on the incident.

 

In its response, the Ministry claimed that the police had taken "security measures" upon the news of the condolence and that the family had left the condolence house voluntarily. In the response, it was stated that "There is no practice by public officials to prevent mourning or condolences, and all our citizens can mourn and condole in a way that does not disrupt public order and trust environment".

 

'THE TRUTH IS BEING DISTORTED'

 

Commenting on the ministry's response, Newroz Uysal Aslan said that the ministry "distorted the truth". Newroz Uysal Aslan said: "Neither the Diyanet's denial of its responsibility by saying 'I am not an interlocutor' nor the ministry's statement 'the family left of their own accord' reflects the truth. The family was removed from the condolence house after the state's pressure and threats, and after the police massed in front of the condolence house. The family's statement, the applications to the bar association and the criminal complaints show that this is not the case. The Ministry cannot evade its responsibility by pretending that the pressure and arbitrary obstruction was with the consent of the citizens. We see the concealment of the truth, distortion of the truth, manipulation, and evasion of responsibility in this answer."

 

Newroz Uysal Aslan said: "Condolence is not subject to a permit. As clearly stated in ECtHR judgements, the right to mourning is part of human dignity. No ministry or mufti's office can interfere in this area. The obstruction against the family in Cizîr is a social attack."

 

Newroz Uysal Aslan stated that they had faced similar bans on condolence services in the past: "The ministry says 'we do not interfere', but who is preventing them? On what grounds are the Şırnak Police Chief and Cizre District Governor implementing this ban? It is clear that there is a chain of instructions here. Attacking funerals, destroying gravestones, preventing condolences is an indication of a systematic policy. The right to mourn is a universal right, a right that protects human dignity. The Ministry should give up this political pressure."

 

MOTHER ERZEN: WE DID NOT LEAVE, WE WERE REMOVED

 

Asya Erzen, the mother who told what happened, denied the allegations of the ministry. Asya Erzen said: "At first we were allowed to organise a condolence. We cleaned the condolence house and made preparations. Then they said they would not give permission. We were very aggrieved and devastated. We did not leave voluntarily, the police took us out. What the ministry said is absolutely not true. If we are brothers, why don't you allow our condolence? Immediately afterwards, another condolence was organised in that house."

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut