November Last year, Turkey – “and the world lost Tahir Elci,” said Tony Fisher of the law society, during his speech in amnesty international’s night commerating the great Lawyer (Tahir), in Amnesty’s London Headquarters.
Tony met Tahir in the midst of state terror in the south-eastern region of Turkey during the early 90s. “He was calm, vigilant, dedicated and warm… he will be missed as, not only a great human rights advocate, but a close friend,” he said, grappling with his emotions.
Tahir Elci fearlessly took human rights violations to court. Even though he reserved considerable amount of time criticising the PKK, for he was a person of pure objectivity, he was hailed with a barrage of heavy criticism, death threats and hassling when he argued in an CNN program (2 months prior to his death) that the PKK was not, in fact, “a terrorist organisation”, even though they have and continue to us “terror tactics”.
“I found out at his funeral: He was attacked in Ankara, in the underground metro. In a way, he felt Diyarbakir was safer for him…[…]…Worse case, his murder was planned from before; best case, the murder was [hap and stance] organised there and then,” said Orhan Kemal, lawyer and a friend to Tahir Elci.
Andrew Gardner, Turkey researcher for Amnesty International and, “most importantly”, a close friend of Mr.Elci, Unable to hold back his tears, said: “I cannot make sense of this…[…]…he is irreplaceable”.
Tahir’s wife, reflecting the calmness expressed in both ‘biographical’ (Of Tahrir) speeches of Tony and Andrew, also attended the event, sitting at the front row, listening to her interpreter.
“I did not know wether it was the right to com here; but, now, I am glad. I thank everyone for coming.
“Tahir was not only a loss for us that knew him but a loss for all that have managed to achieve being human.”
Following small clips outlining the well-established lawyer’s life, the night came to an end with a refreshments reception, giving the audience the chance to interact with speakers who knew so much about Tahir Elci: Rest in Peace, 1966 – November 28, 2015.
