Saniye Ateş responds to 'crocodile tears' remark: 'Cut ties with him, and we will kill him'

As the trial of former Ülkü Ocakları President Sinan Ateş, who was assassinated in Ankara, continues at the Ankara Sincan Prison Campus, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in a speech at his party's group meeting, addressed the Ateş murder, saying, "Those who look for instigators and killers, those who test our patience with crocodile tears, should first look in the mirror and speak only as much as their honor and dignity allow."

Targeting Sinan Ateş's mother, Saniye Ateş, who has pointed to MHP figures regarding the murder, Bahçeli had said, "It will never suit a lady to speak to every microphone she encounters without regard for her age, or to become a figurehead for political provocation and remote-controlled games." Saniye Ateş responded to MHP leader Bahçeli during an appearance on Halk TV.

ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND

Stating, "If Devlet Bahçeli has the heart, let him come on any channel he wants and let us talk face-to-face," mother Saniye Ateş said the following:

"I will explain. He will listen. And he will explain to me. Then let's see who was right. Who was wrong, because he doesn't know me. Also, my tears are supposedly 'crocodile tears.' Someone who doesn't have a child, who hasn't lost a child, cannot understand my tears. Because only I know the pain in my heart. Nothing can hurt me more than the pain of my child. I say it again: let my son's killers find their punishment. Let this justice be served; let everyone take their hands off this judiciary. Let the faces of weeping mothers smile. Let me die in 5 minutes, let me not live. I am an elderly person. I am a person with health issues. I am a kidney patient. I had a spasm a week ago. I can barely stand. Two people take my arms and bring me to court like this. That is how I go to court. You will see. If this situation continues like this, they will come to my words. Tomorrow, so many mothers' hearts will burn that they will say, 'Saniye Ateş was truly right.' May my tears pierce their hearts.

'I HAVE NO FEAR OF ANYTHING'

May they burn where I burn. Then they will understand. I absolutely have nothing to do with any institution or organization. I am not saying anything to anyone. But who are those inside protecting? Who are they protecting? I am saying it here. I have no fear of anything. I have one life, to be given to God. İzzet Ulvi Yönter, Semih Yalçın, Olcay Kılavuz, Ahmet Yiğit Yıldırım... Halit Türk is a living witness. They went to him. Saying, 'Cut your ties with him, and we will kill him.'"

SELMA ATEŞ SPEAKS

A recess was called in the Sinan Ateş trial continuing at the Ankara Sincan Prison Campus. Sinan Ateş's sister, Selma Ateş, made statements during the break. Selma Ateş said, "Our search for justice continues. Sooner or later, if not tomorrow, then the next day, justice will be served. Everyone will be held accountable before justice."

I ATTRIBUTE IT TO HIS AGE

Commenting on the criminal complaint filed against them by two MHP Deputy Chairmen, İzzet Ulvi Yönter and Semih Yalçın, Ateş stated that they had filed a complaint due to the words they said about them, noting the following:

"I hope they come to the case they filed so we can ask why Sinan Ateş was murdered. Does justice only move slowly when it comes to us? No one will be able to sit comfortably in the seats they occupy. The greatest nationalist is my mother, my brother. A mother whose son has not died cannot know my pain. But I attribute it to his age. It is normal for him to say certain things because of his advanced age."