HEVI LGBTI+ Association has been following the case of Ahmet Yıldız, who was murdered by his father, the first LGBTI murder in Turkey, since 2015. We talked to HEVI LGBTI+ Association, which calls for the case not to be time-barred, for the case to be brought to the public agenda and for Ahmet Yıldız's murderer to be found and punished as he deserves, and which runs the "Justice for Ahmet Yıldız Campaign", about a struggle against discrimination and hatred, and a search for justice.
Could you tell us about the Ahmet Yıldız case, its importance for LGBTI+ people and the process leading to the Justice for Ahmet Yıldız Campaign?
In 2008, Ahmet Yıldız was murdered by his father in front of his house in Istanbul after his family threatened him for being gay. Ahmet Yıldız was also recorded as the first known 'honor' murder in which violence and hatred separated him from us due to his sexual orientation. This murder not only ended Ahmet's life but also exposed the discrimination and violence faced by LGBTI+ individuals in Turkey, revealing how moral judgments, culture, the concept of family, the system, and even the judiciary legitimize death when it comes to the right to life of LGBTI+ people, and in fact, the fate that heterosexism has condemned us to.
In the years that followed the murder of Ahmet Yıldız, no justice was served, no effective process was carried out and the perpetrators remained unpunished. This situation showed that threats and discrimination against LGBTI+ persons are not taken seriously, how discrimination is legitimized in the social and legal dimension, and that the concept of protection is not enough when it comes to LGBTI+ persons. In this respect, Ahmet Yıldız became the most visible aspect of a symbolic process of impunity, discrimination and isolation for all LGBTI+ persons. Every hearing has been a proof that unless justice comes to Ahmet, it will not come to us. That is why Ahmet was killed again and again in every hearing. We were being driven away from equality and justice in every hearing.
What kind of solution does the campaign seek in the face of the lack of justice and the system's production of injustices?
The Justice for Ahmet Yıldız Campaign was launched to ensure that this terrible situation is not forgotten and to demand justice. In the process, we have seen how we have been left alone, how the system itself produces injustices and how we have been pushed into helplessness. As an action against this process, we said Justice for Ahmet Yıldız, Justice for all of us. In this way, we tried to include not only LGBTI+ people, but also all others, rights defenders and everyone in search of justice in the process. In this direction, we contacted many institutions before the last hearing. We ensured the participation of many people from bar associations, CSOs and initiatives. Perhaps with the effect of this, the last trial was the first time in years that people were allowed to attend the hearing. At least we were able to overcome an arbitrary practice. This was thanks to the efforts of our lawyer, journalist and activist friends who filled the courtroom. Our goal now is to increase the number of people who call for justice for Ahmet Yıldız, to increase public pressure and to do everything we can to get justice for Ahmet Yıldız. For this, STGM's contributions before the last hearing helped us to carry the process to a better point. For this, we would like to especially thank the STGM team. They made us feel more closely that we are not alone in this process.
Thank you for your persistent pursuit of justice for Ahmet Yıldız. Achieving justice will be an important development for all struggles for rights and justice.
The campaign is still renewing itself. That is why we are open to all kinds of support. We expect support from all segments of society to keep Ahmet Yıldız's memory alive and to ensure that justice is served. Achieving justice will be a big step not only for Ahmet Yıldız's friends, but for all LGBTI+ people and human rights.
This campaign is not only a search for justice for Ahmet Yıldız, but also a call for understanding that LGBTI+ people are equal and free citizens like everyone else in society. This fight for justice also aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, is recognized as deserving of equal rights. Let us not forget that justice for Ahmet Yıldız is justice for all of us. Ensuring justice will bring justice, hope and confidence to the whole society, especially LGBTI+ people.