On 1 June, during the first week of the Gezi Park resistance, our friend, Gezi Park resister Ethem Sarısülük, was wounded in the head by a bullet fired from a police officer’s gun in Ankara’s Kızılay Square, in front of cameras; two weeks later, on 14 June, he lost his battle for life.

Abdullah Cömert, Mehmet Ayvalıtaş, and Ethem Sarısülük, who took to the streets for a more free and equal world, were victims of a brutality, hatred, and violence not even seen in times of war. With the violence during Ethem Sarısülük’s funeral still fresh in our memories, we have learned that the officer who caused Ethem’s death at the prime of his life was released.

The reason given for the decision that the officer who caused Ethem Sarısülük’s death be released pending trial was that the suspect acted “within the bounds of self-defense.”

Unlike the police who used violence against people expressing their democratic rights, Ethem had neither helmet, vest nor gun. Ethem was there with us, his friends, peacefully claiming his rights. Labelling the violence carried out by police officers as self-defense is unacceptable. We all saw it. The whole world witnessed it through videos.

We are all aware of the attempts being made to legitimize the unbelievable violence of law enforcement officers. We are faced with the fact that our friends who are expressing their constitutional rights are detained, arrested or missing, while those who committed crimes, with clear evidence pointing to them, are released. If those responsible for this violence think they can evade their responsibilities by “acquitting” the officers who carried out their illegal orders, they need to know that they are mistaken.

We will remember Ethem, Abdullah, and Mehmet in all corners of our country, on the streets, in the parks, at our homes, wherever we are. We stand by the families of Ethem, Abdullah, and Mehmet and we will not give up until the responsible are held accountable.

 Taksim Solidarity