Sinan Ateş’s mother speaks to 12punto for the first time: What were his words before he was killed?

Ersin Eroğlu/ 12punto EXCLUSIVE

The trial regarding the murder of former Idealist Hearths President Sinan Ateş continues in Ankara. Sinan Ateş's mother, Saniye Ateş, who was among those following the trial in the courtroom inside the Sincan Prison Campus, broke her 18-month silence for 12punto.

Stating that Sinan Ateş held a family meeting before he was killed to explain the threats he had received, Saniye Ateş said, "He shared with us that some people had marked him for death and were looking for a hitman to assassinate him. When he saw the anxiety and sadness on my face, he calmed me down by saying, 'Mother, don't be sad, God is with us. I haven't done anything wrong, nothing will happen to me.'"

'I STILL DON'T KNOW WHY HE WAS KILLED'

Saniye Ateş, who said she has been in a state of great collapse for 18 months, continued her words as follows:

"I cannot accept my son's absence. My son was helpful to everyone. He was someone who loved his homeland and his nation. What bothers me the most is that I still don't know why my son was killed."

Stating that the court process started off difficult for her, Saniye Ateş said, "I am facing those who took my son from me, but I cannot say anything to them. Those who took my son from me frequently told the court panel that they have families and children and that they are victims. I don't understand how those who say this never thought about my son's children or me. If they have families and children, I wish they had put themselves in our shoes before planning this vile murder."

'HE FELL VICTIM TO A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION'

Expressing that they expect justice from the court, Saniye Ateş stated that her son fell victim to a political assassination and said the following:
"Everything has been clarified in this case, and there is no dark corner. Everything is out in the open. My son fell victim to a political assassination, and the perpetrators are known. We do not want to listen to the stories and lies of the perpetrators. We expect our state to show the will and for justice to be served as soon as possible. My mother's heart can no longer take it, you can understand me, right? My heart hurts so much, I cannot sleep until the morning, I am just waiting for justice."

Selma Ateş, Saniye Ateş, and Sevda Ateş at the courtroom inside the Sincan Prison Campus

HE EXPLAINED THE THREATS AT A FAMILY MEETING

Stating that Sinan Ateş held a family meeting before he was killed and that their frequency of meeting increased during this period, Saniye Ateş said, "I used to meet with my son very often. Recently, due to the pressure and threats on him, the frequency of my meetings increased even more. My son was constantly receiving death threats from the individuals being tried in this case and the structure they belong to, and he was being subjected to an operation on social media. When he came to Bursa a week before the incident, we held a family meeting, and he told us about everything that had happened. He shared with us that some people had marked him for death and were looking for a hitman to assassinate him. When he saw the anxiety and sadness on my face, he calmed me down by saying, 'Mother, don't be sad, God is with us. I haven't done anything wrong, nothing will happen to me.'"

'MAY GOD NOT TAKE MY LIFE BEFORE THE INSTIGATORS FACE JUSTICE'

Saying that she has not been able to breathe for 18 months and that she will fight until the instigators face justice, Saniye Ateş said, "What keeps me standing now is to seek justice for my son, who was martyred by traitors who infiltrated a structure to which my son, my husband, and we have given our lives. I will never give up until justice is served and the instigators face justice. My only wish from God is that He does not take my life before I see these days."

'MY GRANDCHILDREN CANNOT UNDERSTAND'

Stating that they try not to reflect the events to their grandchildren as much as they can, Saniye Ateş said, "They also want justice to be served as soon as possible and for our pain to be eased, even if only a little. Of course, the children cannot understand how my son was betrayed and murdered by friends who sat at his own table. They do not understand in their minds why their father or uncle was killed, and they always ask, 'Grandma, our father, our uncle was a very good person. He helped everyone, why did they kill him?' We honestly have a very hard time answering these questions."

News Source: 12punto