Funeral held in Turkey for activist killed by IDF in West Bank

A funeral was held on Sept. 14 in Turkey’s western province of Aydın for Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi, an activist killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. Government officials and opposition party representatives were in attendance and wished the family condolences.

Sunday September 15 2024 12:46 pm

Duvar English

The funeral for Turkish-American activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi on Sept. 14 in Turkey’s western Aydın province. Eygi was shot dead by the Israeli Defense Force while protesting settlement expansions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Eygi’s body was brought to Turkey after an initial autopsy in Israel and was taken from Didim State Hospital to her family’s home in Altınkum. Prayers were held at the family’s house, and relatives sought blessings before bidding farewell to Eygi.

Security measures were heightened in the area. A police honor guard carried Eygi’s funeral from the hearse to the prayer platform. Deputy President of Religious Affairs Kadir Dinç offered condolences to all people “whose consciences have not rusted, whose compassion remains intact, and who have not lost their humanity.” After the speeches, Eygi’s body was taken in a large convoy to Asri Cemetery, where she was buried with prayers.

According to reports from Anadolu Agency, following prayers at her family home, the funeral was held at Didim Central Mosque. A crowd gathered outside her home, chanting slogans such as "Down with Israel." Due to the large turnout, the funeral took place on Cumhuriyet Avenue in front of the mosque.

A large crowd turns out for Eygi's funeral in Aydın's Didim Central Mosque.

The ceremony was attended by government officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Future Party (GP) leader Ahmet Davutoğlu, Aydın Governor Yakup Canbolat, along with several other parliament members.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş visited Eygi’s family. Offering his condolences, Kurtulmuş made a public statement, saying, “We will never forget or let anyone forget the great humanitarian struggle Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi waged. As the Republic of Turkey, we will pursue this matter to the end. We will seek justice in all international courts.”

Eygi’s body had been transported to the western İzmir province the previous day, where an autopsy was conducted at the İzmir Forensic Medicine Institute. Initial findings revealed that she had sustained a head injury from a gunshot that entered beneath her ear. The cause of death was identified as a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and brain tissue damage. The autopsy noted a bullet wound with no exit wound and millimeter-sized metallic fragments in her head, which were sent for ballistic analysis.