A year ago today, Ali Ismail Korkmaz was beaten to death by police.  From the start, Turkish authorities seemed determined to undermine the quest for justice in the case. Following the attack, the Governor of Eskisehir said that police hadn’t been involved and that Ali Ismail Korkmaz had been beaten up ‘by his friends.’ Footage from a CCTV camera was deleted in the days following the incident, but was subsequently recovered by experts from the gendarmerie.

Korkmaz was savagely beaten on June 2, 2013 during the Gezi Protests. In a statement to authorities before he died, Korkmaz he described the attack:

Five or six people came up to me, they beat me with clubs on my head, back, shoulder and legs. I fell to the ground….Yesterday I didn’t have difficulty in speaking, but today I can’t remember. One of my teeth is loose because of the incident. My head hurts, I have difficulty speaking. I don’t know who beat me or why. They were wearing civilian clothes. I want to make a complaint

Ali Ismail was only 19 years old.  He deserved a long and happy life.  Now his family, and other families like his, deserve justice.

Amnesty has been following the case from the start and has observed every hearing of the trial.  Join us in working to ensure that the culture of impunity which has allowed so many young lives to be cut short in Turkey is brought to an end.  Join us in ensuring that Ali Ismail’s family receives the justice they deserve.

Calling an end to impunity in the case of Ali Ismail Korkmaz. The image contains thousands of people worldwide who have joined in our campaign.

Howard Eissenstat
St. Lawrence University