ÊLIH – Metin Abayay, brother of Çetin Abayay, the Êlih representative of Özgür Halk magazine who was killed by Hizbulkontra 33 years ago, stated, "Despite all pressures, his successors continue his search for truth."
Çetin Abayay (23), Êlih (Batman) representative of Özgür Halk magazine, is commemorated by his family and followers on the 34th anniversary of his assassination.
Abayay was first arrested at age 16 on charges of "terror organization membership." After five months in Diyarbakır Prison, he was released and began working for Özgür Halk magazine. He was soon re-arrested and spent two years in Siirt E-Type Closed Prison before being released.
After his release, Abayay became the Êlih representative of Özgür Halk magazine and received constant death threats but never gave up his search for truth. He was killed on July 29, 1992, in a gun attack by Hizbulkontra as he returned home.
33 YEARS HAVE PASSED, PERPETRATORS UNTRIED
Metin Abayay emphasized that the perpetrators remain unpunished despite the passage of time and reiterated the demand for justice. He recalled that his brother had become involved in the Kurdish freedom struggle in 1979.
He also remembered that Çetin was arrested in the second year of high school and the family was subjected to intense pressure. Their father was detained during the 1980 military coup and tortured for over three months before dying in 1988 from a chronic illness caused by the torture.
Metin said: "At that time, war and conflict were at their peak, and the oppression on the Kurdish people was intense. Çetin became part of the struggle against these attacks. He was braver than all of us and carried out his work meticulously, ignoring threats. After Cengiz Altun was killed by Hizbulkontras, Çetin intensified his struggle."
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES
Recalling ongoing pressure and attacks on the Free Press, Abayay said: "Kurdish journalists continue to be kidnapped, arrested, and killed. Files are constantly opened against them. Çetin fought to ensure that the truth of the Kurdish people would not remain in darkness. Despite all pressures, his successors continue his search for truth. Today, honorable journalists who carry on his struggle remain steadfast and do not retreat."