Brother demands evidence from former Turkish minister about possible MİT hand in sister’s death

Burcu Purtul Uçar ISTANBUL

The brother of Serap Eser, the 18-year old victim of a fire bomb attack on an Istanbul city bus six years ago, has demanded information from a former interior minister, who recently said intelligence officials were involved in the attack.

“Why didn’t you do anything if know [the issue]? If you have learnt this recently, then share the evidence with us so that we can apply to the prosecutor’s office” Selçuk Eser addressed former Interior Minister İdris Naim Şahin, speaking to daily Hürriyet.

Şahin, today the leader of the tiny Milat Party, said in an interview with daily Bugün earlier this week that the incident took place before he became a minister of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“I have unfortunately learned that the people who sabotaged the bus, throwing Molotov cocktails, were members of the National Intelligence Organization [MİT],” he said.

Serap Eser died in hospital on Dec. 12, 2009, one month after she was badly burned on the bus in which she was traveling.

Her brother said his family previously thought his sister had died in an attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

“But now someone from the top of the state says this is not true. ‘The state killed Serap,’ he says. What a sad thing is this. What shall we say now? Who shall we hold to account? Give us any evidence you have. I am looking for the killer of my sister,” Selçuk Eser said.

Daily Vatan reported last year that a suspect in the case, identified only as A.S., said at court that he was a member of the MİT, before the court put an end to the trial.

Vatan also claimed that the MİT had responded to the court, saying A.S. had been used as an intelligence operative in a number of incidents.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş also claimed in 2012 that the MİT was responsible for the killing, along with a number of other shady acts. Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has also raised questions about the incident.  

Five minors were eventually convicted over the killing of Serap Eser.

Her brother said the family wants the real culprits to face justice, regardless of whether they are from the PKK or the MİT.

“I know just one truth: Serap is gone and she will not come back,” he said.