Turkish opposition MP calls for executed revolutionary student leaders' honors to be restored
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Tekin Bingöl has submitted a bill for the honors of three executed revolutionary student leaders, Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin İnan, to be restored. "These three young people struggling for independence, democracy and freedom were hanged despite their rightful demands, such as justice, fraternity and the end to poverty," Bingöl said.
Duvar English
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Tekin Bingöl has called for the honors of three executed revolutionary student leaders to be restored, saying that the devastation caused by their hanging in the public has not been healed.
Bingöl submitted a draft bill on the issue on May 5, a day before the 48th anniversary of the executions of Deniz Gezmiş, Yusuf Aslan and Hüseyin İnan.
"These three young people struggling for independence, democracy and freedom were hanged despite their rightful demands, such as justice, fraternity and the end to poverty. The aim is to restore their honors legally, since it exists in the public," Bingöl said.
"The deep devastation caused by their hanging would be removed to some extent if the bill is accepted," he added.
Gezmiş, İnan and Aslan were found guilty under Article 146 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK), “attempting to change all or part of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey.” They were executed on May 6, 1972, at Ulucanlar Penitentiary in Ankara, after the March 12, 1971 military coup.
Bingöl said that the three student leaders put forward an unforgettable struggle for a fully independent Turkey, adding that they continue to live with their youth and combatant spirit.
"Yes, they were guilty. They were guilty of being in love with this country, of defending the brotherhood of the people, of looking after the interests of the people. They were guilty because they didn't want imperialists to make this soil dirty. Each of them were very courageous," he said.