The code name and the quatrain written in Kurdish on Turan's gravestone were covered with black paint, while the star sign painted in yellow, red and green colours on the gravestone was covered with concrete. While it is not known on which day Turan's gravestone was vandalised, the family visited the grave of their son the previous day and came across the vandalised gravestone.

 

Upon this, father Turan repaired his son's tombstone and removed the concretes hit on the tombstone.  Stating that his son was killed in a clash in Mîdyad on 22 January 2012, father Turan said that they visited the grave on the Feast of Sacrifice and that there was nothing wrong with the grave. Turan stated that he was previously warned to remove the symbols on his son's grave but he did not remove the symbols and said: "I was sued for not removing the symbols and was fined 7,500 liras. Since I did not pay the fine, my sentence was changed to one month of public service. Afterwards, they damaged my son's gravestone and the gravestones of other HPG members in this cemetery. We came to visit him on Eid, nothing had happened. When his mother came after the feast, she saw that they had covered the star with concrete."

 

Pointing out that a process was initiated with the "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" made by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February, father Turan said, "While such a process is being carried out, I wonder who is doing such bad things. Why are they doing it, what do they aim for? Is there another state within the state? We want these perpetrators to be revealed. We want peace. Although my son was a 'martyr', we are extremely pleased with these peace talks. We are all pleased that our Leader (Abdullah Öcalan) has opened this path. We want this process to succeed."

 

Asking who would be harmed by a star on the gravestone, father Turan said: "They cannot even tolerate our graves. We expect them to turn back from this path. If they really want brotherhood, they should not do such things. They are disturbed not only by the star, but even by their names. They even covered the name with paint. We want those who do this to be prevented."

 

Stating that they are loyal to Abdullah Öcalan, Turan concluded, "As long as such things continues, we will not trust the state. They want to spoil and sabotage this process. The state needs to be sensitive to such situations. They should not leave the hand extended by the Leader in the air. We want them to take the outstretched hand and ensure a lasting peace."

 

MA / Ahmet Kanbal