Turkish family missing in Evros river after trying to escape from Erdogan’s persecution

Victims of Erdogan’s regime are increasing every day, as there has not been an effective mechanism to prevent him. In Turkey, thousands of families and tens of thousands of people had to leave their country soon after the failed coup attempt on July, 15, 2016. 151,967 people were dismissed from their jobs, 136,995 people were detained, 77,524 were arrested.

A group of 11 people including the Akçabay family tried to escape from political persecution in Turkey on July 18, 2018. Their rubber dinghy boat crashed into something like a rock and it later overturned.

Murat Akcabay said “At the time my wife went adrift and then held on to a branch. I shouted to her, ‘Don’t let go of the branch, I will rescue you.’ While I was trying to fight the waves, I saw she wasn’t in the same place. I repeatedly shouted, but I never heard her voice again”. Murat Akcabay said his wife, Hatice Akcabay, and three sons (seven-year-old Ahmet Esat, five-year-old Mesut, and one-year-old Aras) were missing after their boat capsized in the Evros River on Wednesday night.

Early Friday, June 20, 2018, It was reported that 36 years old Hatice Akçabay and her 1-year-old Bekir Aras found dead, while search and rescue operation is still ongoing for 7-years-old Ahmet Esat, 5-years-old Mesut. Murat Akcabay had noted that 7-years-old Ahmet was wearing a life vest. Turkish villagers said that they saw a child in Greece coast. There is still hope that Ahmet and his brother Mesut may be still alive.

Turkish police also detained Yunus Akçabay, the uncle of the missing children, who was trying to find his lost nephews and their mother. No accusations against him were made by police. The Turkish police also prohibit civilians from searching for the missing two children.

Advocates of Silenced Turkey calls on all the international and non-governmental human rights organizations to raise awareness about the drowned Akcabay family and also to take immediate action as regards the problems in Turkey to prevent other families and children from suffering as such. We hope the situation in Turkey will get better for those in Turkey and abroad who are oppressed by the ruling government of Turkey.

We urge everyone to take action. Express your views or send attached statement to following addresses:

1) United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+41) 22 917 9656
Twitter: @UN_HRC
Website: www.ohchr.org/hrc

2) Human Rights Watch
Twitter: @hrw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumanRightsWatch
NY Address:350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA
Tel: +1-212-290-4700
Fax: +1-212-736-1300

Emma Daly, Communications Director
Tel: +1-212-216-1835
Fax: +1-212-736-1300

3) Human Rights Foundation
Twitter: @HRF
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humanrightsfoundation/
New York Address:350 5th Ave., #4515 New York, NY, 10001
Phone Number: (212) 246-8486

4) Freedom House
Twitter: @FreedomHouseDC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomHouseDC
[email protected]
Phone: 202-296-5101
Fax: 202-293-2840

Annie Boyajian, Advocacy Manager
[email protected]

5) Amnesty International
Twitter: @amnestyusa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amnestyusa
[email protected]

6) International Federation for Houman Rights
Twitter: @fidh_en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIDH.HumanRights
FIDH AT THE UN (NEW-YORK)
110 East 42nd street, Suite 1309 NY 10017 New-York
Phone Number: 001 646 395 7103

7) International Court of Justice
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (+31) 70 302 23 23
Fax: (+31) 70 364 99 28
Twitter: @CIJ_ICJ
Website: http://www.icj-cij.org/en

News articles on Akcabay Family:

http://www.euronews.com/2018/07/20/family-missing-after-boat-capsizes-on-the-evros-river

https://turkeypurge.com/bodies-of-turkish-mother-one-year-old-son-found-in-evros-river-report

https://turkey.theglobepost.com/mother-kids-missing-evros-river/

http://www.politurco.com/another-family-has-gone-missing-in-evros-river-trying-to-escape-from-erdogans-persecution.html

https://stockholmcf.org/4-people-trying-to-escape-persecution-in-turkey-missing-after-boat-capsizes-in-evros-river/

Tweets on Akcabay Family: