“We Are All Metin, We Are All Charlie”

Journalist Metin Göktepe, who was arrested on the job and killed due to the police violence 19 years ago, was commemorated at his graveside.

The commemoration at Esenler Kemer Cemetery started with the arrival of Fadime Göktepe, mother of Metin Göktepe, at the cemetery.  Fadime Göktepe welcomed the visitors saying “Welcome to home of Metin. You are all Metin for me”.

Despite snow and cold weather, many journalist friends of Metin Göktepe, his comrades from Labor Party and many other supporter of him attended the commemoration ceremony.

The attack at humor magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris was condemned in the commemoration which started earlier due to the cold weather. It is also emphasized that the mentality of killers of Göktepe and the one of persecutors of Charlie Hebdo attack are the same.

The participants held the banners that wrote “Je suis Charlie” (I am Charlie). “We are all Metin, we are all Charlie” slogans were often shouted during the ceremony.

Polat: Both attacks are similar to each other

Having delivered a speech at the graveside of Metin Göktepe, Fatih Polat, editor-in-chief of Evrensel Newspaper, stated: “The attack at Charlie Hebdo is actually similar to the one on Metin Göksel. They belong to the same barbarian mentality.”

Elvan: Journalist and children continue to be killed

One of the participants was Gülsum Elvan, mother of Berkin Elvan. “The journalists and children continue to be killed,” she stated and reminded the incident where a 14-year-old child Ümit Kurt was killed by the police.

Şık: You will be either Metin or part of the cruelty

“While we are shouting ‘we are all Metin today’, people from all around the world are shouting the slogans ‘We are all Charlie’,” stated Ahmet Şık, one of the friends of Metin Göktepe.

“Your options are clear. You will either collaborate with the evil-doers and become a part of the cruelty of the evil or you will struggle for good of every human being.  You will be either Metin or be the evil-doers who collaborate with the government whose cruelty and theft were revealed.”

Gürkan: The press should be a part of the democracy struggle

Having stated that the press is still under pressure, Selma Gürkan, chairperson of EMEP (Labor Party), asserted that Charlie Hebdo attack will lead security policies to be increased.

Olcayto: Dear Metin, our struggle continues

Turgay Olcayto, chairperson of Turkish Journalists’ Association, who couldn’t manage to attend the commemoration, sent a message to the participants. He mentioned that barriers to censor, self-censor, and freedom of expression persist and added:

“You were young, but many of us learned the importance of solidarity and coming together for struggling from you. Our struggle continues for Turkey to make it a more livable place where fraternity and independent journalism prevail.” (MUY/ÇT)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.