The final letter from Sinan Ateş's father to his son: 'They killed the child I couldn't bear to touch!'

Sözcü columnist İsmail Saymaz shared in his column the final letter written to his son by 64-year-old Musa Ateş, who passed away the day before yesterday, the father of former Idealist Hearths President Sinan Ateş, who was killed in an armed assassination in Ankara on December 30, 2022.

Ayşe Ateş published a book last year for her husband titled 'Sinan Ateş / Yaşar Hatıralarda' (Sinan Ateş / Living in Memories). This book includes a piece written by his father, Musa Ateş, for his son, just like every other family member.

That piece reads as follows:

“I never laid a finger on Sinan in my life. I laid my precious one, whose every whim I indulged and whose every trouble I endured, into the ground with my own hands. They killed the child I couldn't bear to touch! Why? My mind cannot grasp it; everyone says good things about Sinan, what evil could he have done to anyone that they would kill him! What could a child who wouldn't even hurt an ant have done to deserve being killed? Before 1980, my friend was martyred beside me, and I was wounded. Those were difficult days. I wish they hadn't happened. Back then, guns were doing the talking; now, minds are doing the talking. So, who were those who saw my son as an enemy?

Did they martyr my son because he was more intelligent, more clever? Sinan wouldn't even put a cigarette in his mouth. They say a drug dealer shot Sinan. What business would my son have with drug dealers? Sinan wouldn't even greet such people. My son was a Turkish nationalist. He became the president of the Idealist movement to which we dedicated our lives. Every conversation of his was about the party, the hearth, the Turkish nation, and Islam. This means those who martyred Sinan are enemies of the party, the hearth, the Turkish nation, and Islam. Who are they?

Before 1980, the times we felt safest were during Friday prayers. What kind of people are those who martyred Sinan, shooting my child as he was leaving Friday prayers? What is the difference between them and the Israeli soldiers who martyr Palestinian Muslims as they leave Friday prayers? They martyred my son in front of cameras. They martyred him in the center of Ankara. Who, and by what authority, can martyr the President of the Idealist Hearths? How can the Idealists remain silent about this? And where is our state? Why are those who had Sinan shot not being arrested? Does our state believe that a drug dealer brought all these people together? Why hasn't Sinan's trial started yet?

They showed me a post written on Facebook along with my photo. It said, (It is not enough to be against Pharaoh; one must be on the side of Moses). That is very true. I am Musa Ateş. It is not enough to root out my son's killers from among you; stand by me. My child was the President of the Idealist Hearths. They martyred my son. If they are martyring even my son, no one will show mercy to your son.”

Musa Ateş will be buried today next to his son, who lies in the Emir Sultan Cemetery.

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