JINHA

ŞIRNEX – After Turkish police killed ambulance driver Şeyhmuz Dursun in the largely Kurdish district of Beytüşşebap, Şeyhmuz’s mother declared at his funeral: “the whole town saw the police kill my son.”

After three days of being prevented by Turkish soldiers and police, the Dursun family was able to bury ambulance driver Şeymuz Dursun in the largely Kurdish district of Beytüşşebap today. Şeyhmuz’s mother Gule Dursun spoke at the funeral to denounce the state officials responsible for her son’s death. Police shot Şeyhmuz, an ambulance driver for 25 years, as he was heading to the scene of clashes in the district. Şeyhmuz was the latest of many healthcare workers killed in the ongoing Turkish state assault on Kurdish areas.

On the day of the killing, Turkish soldiers were launching a massive attack on Beytüşşebap’s downtown area and villages, but ambulance driver Şeyhmuz did not leave the house, Gule explained. It was only when the district governor called personally to request an ambulance that Şeyhmuz decided to head out with two paramedics.

“[The district governor] is my son’s killer,” said Gule. After police opened fire on the ambulance, killing Şeyhmuz, local people spent hours trying to retrieve his body. Police continued opening fire on anyone who approached.

“The police killed my son; everyone in this town saw it,” said Gule.

Hacire Dursun, Şeyhmuz’s widow, attended the funeral with her 10-year-old son Botan.

“What can I say; they killed my husband. I’m just left with my 10-year-old son Botan,” said Hacire, who had difficulty speaking. As Şeyhmuz was buried, his 10-year-old son embraced the coffin, saying “take me to my dad.” Funeral attendees managed to calm him with some difficulty.

(ekip/gc/cm)