Cemal Köyük – İhsan Yalçın / Istanbul, Jan 8 () - Journalist Metin Göktepe who was killed 20 years ago due to police violence was commemorated on Jan. 8 in front of his grave, gathering his mother Fadime Göktepe and his journalist friends as well as many party and union members.

Gülsüm Elvan, mother of Berkin Elvan who has died at the age of 15 after being shot on the head by riot police officers during Gezi Protests was also at the commemoration ceremony.

Photojournalist Metin Göktepe was beaten to death by police officers while in police custody in 1998.

“It has been 20 years since we have lost Metin. You have never left me alone during these years” said Fadime Göktepe.

“Where are the murderers of Metin, where are the murderers of Uğur Mumcu? Why don’t they come to light?” she urged.

Uğur Mumcu, prominent journalist, researcher and writer was killed in Ankara on Jan. 24, 1993, as a bomb was planted under his car exploded in front of his house when he started the engine.

Justice, equality, democracy

Republican People’s Party MPs as well as the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) members who have attended to the commemoration raised concern that “the law has been detracted from the justice” in Turkey, urging right to live is violated in the southeast of the country.

Attendees promised to “establish peace, justice, equality and democracy” and slammed "threats and blackmailing against journalists and media institutions, in Turkey where dozens of reporters are detained and arrested".

Mother Fadime Göktepe and other attendees of the ceremony left red cloves to grave of Metin Göktepe.

How did photojournalist Metin Göktepe died?

Göktepe was detained on Jan. 8, 1996 on his way to report on the funeral of four prisoners who had been killed in Ümraniye prison. Police have detained around one thousand mourners that day, to block the way of attendees going to the funeral. Göktepe was one of these people taken to Eyüp Sports Hall.

Göktepe was reportedly beaten to death by eight police officers in the basement of the hall, although he said he was a journalist.

Police officers’ respond was alleged to be “then he should be shown special treatment”.

The police officers were sentenced to seven years and six months jail, however were released after 17 months.

(Photo)