Sabah Newspaper Balçiçek Pamir Interview
6 September 2005
Nazire Dedeman
Founder President of Umut Foundation
I am indebted to my son
She, whose son was murdered 12 years ago, explains why she took the case to Human Rights Court: Actually I am embarrassed...Because going there and complaining about Turkey...I am not that kind of person but I am indebted to my son...
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Sorry son, I could not do it. She cannot forget a court moment when the killer of her son got away with a fine: I apologised my son. I said here is Turkey.
Year 1993, day is 23 September. A gun blasted in Ankara, a young boy died with that bullet. His name was Umut. Who fired that arm was his friend; he said that it was an accident. Only Umuts mother protested; she yelled no it was not accident, my son fell victim to murder. This was not her first loss; she lost her other two sons. Her relatives told her not to open a case after her young son fell victim to hospital neglect, they said you can do and gain nothing. She listened to them but regretted it all the time, why I could not take shelter in justice. Today this woman with grey hair who sits in front of me smiles bitterly. Think about that I was going to want to take shelter in justice once again, again for my son; how bizarre it is, isnt it? she is dauntless since she lost Umut, she spent her life at the doors of the court. She wandered around from one barrister to another. She aimed the empty gun many times, she wanted to understand. She wanted to know whether the bullet killed her son was fired accidentally or not. The forensic medicine report helped her, she took a deep breathe. She was not wrong. Umut did not die accidentally. This raised her hopes but the case did not result as she expected. The court concluded that Melih Turgut, the son of Ahmet Turgut with nickname Kurt Ahmet, killed his friend Umut accidentally. At the time, the mother who yelled There is a girl matter behind this could not make herself heard. Today she tells what she has been through and the point the case reached. There is not the founder of Umut Foundation in front of me anymore, which she established with the slogan of Individual Disarmament. There is a mother in front of me, who cannot get used to her sorrow.
ONGOING PROTEST
Your son was killed with a gun, what do you feel when reading hooligan bullet news? Do you encounter incidents that make you say I give in? -Yes all them make feel that way. It is murder, suicide or accident, they both affects me to the same degree. Recently, a young girl died, no body can understand ore than me what kind of wounds it opened. I know what her mother feels, how she is hurt inside. I also know that the pain will never go away.
This is a hard life of yours, isnt it? You suffer again with every death. That is true on the other hand if could teach even one person that arms are wrong, it gives me peace immensely.
When your son was murdered, you uttered your protest in every opportunity while the case continued. At the time, I was in a protesting mood regarding the case, actually my protest still continues. I always separated Umut Foundation and the case. I did not want to bring my private matter in the foreground.
OĞLUMA BİR BORCUM VAR
I AM INDEBTED TO MY SON
What happened to the case? -It finished, although it was murder...the killer was sentenced to 2 years prison and that sentence was changed to fine, although my son was murdered. My son was murdered and they got away by paying 18 500 YTL fine. Now the case is in Human Rights Court. Actually I am embarrassed for going there, because going there means complaining about Turkey...I am not that kind of person but I am indebted to my son...
You often tell the importance of taking refuge in the justice. You emphasise the rule of law. What about what you have been through? If peoples sense of justice is not fulfilled there will be a big chaos. I can give myself as an example; you suffer twice as much, which is a heavy burden. You lose your son, your dear and you are humiliated. The scale should be very thorough; my protest is still going on inside.
THE MOMENT OF HUMILIATION
What did you feel when heard the verdict in the court? I felt, how I can put it, humiliation. I apologized to my son as a mother. I said Sorry son, here is Turkey. I could not do it, I fought, but nothing happened son. I could only apologise to him. (Her eyes were tearful, we take a break)
What keeps you going? My belief in Turkey that will be a state governed by the rule of law. The truth is I want to believe. What happens when everybody takes up arms and tries to find justice? Perhaps, it may be easier but it is not right. Nobody should feel as a threat but what I and others, who expects help from the justice, have been thorough is really not easy; it is the hard part of it.
His murderer married to his girl friend
You have been saying it is a murder since your son was killed. I did not say that, the files told actually. I did not speak the first days thinking I may be emotional and partial. But the reports showed that I am right to be suspicious. I do not know if you believe me, but I tried many times by holding the gun the same way to see if I can get the same angle... I sat in front of a real gun in a described position, but it was not the same. In the end, I think the same way as in the first days, it was a murder.
Umut and Melih were close friends. They were close friends.
If I am not wrong, Melih Turgut married to your sons girl friend. It is true, which means that they were not close friends. Since the first day, I claimed that this incident happened because of his girl friend. Anyhow, those two got married after a few years later. I was after a reason since the first day, I did not believe in accident. All these details were considered by the court. Despite all these data, the court imposed 2 years prison sentence; I was not expecting that at all. Turkey Republic humiliated my honour as a mother whose son fall victim to murder by not ensuring justice. I want to regain my honour. I believe in justice because I want to be different from the opposite side.