Father of Turkish American activist wants U.S. probe into her killing by Israeli soldiers
DIDIM, Turkey — The father of the Turkish American activist killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Thursday welcomed Turkey’s decision to initiate an independent investigation into her death and called on the United States to do the same.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who held Turkish and American citizenship, was killed last Friday during demonstrations against settlements in the West Bank. A witness who was there, Israeli protester Jonathan Pollak, said Eygi posed no threat to Israeli forces and that the shooting came during a moment of calm, following clashes between stone-throwing protesters and Israeli troops firing tear gas and bullets.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced Thursday that Turkey had launched its own investigation into her death days after the Israeli military said in a preliminary report that Eygi was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally†by its soldiers.
Eygi’s father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, who is based in Seattle but spoke in western Turkey, said he was very happy to learn that Turkey had opened an investigation into what he called the “arbitrary murder†of his daughter.
Israel says its forces likely killed Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a 26-year-old activist from Seattle, unintentionally.
“I hope that the American government does the same,†he said.
He said his daughter was 10 months old when the family left Turkey for the United States. “She studied in the schools there, she grew up with freedoms there. She is a citizen of that country,†he said. “I hope the American government will show the same sensitivity.â€
He was speaking in the Aegean coastal town of Didim, where Eygi used to come for vacations and spend time with family members — and where she is expected to be buried. Eygi’s grandfather’s home — and the street where the house is located — was adorned with Turkish flags, an honor usually bestowed on Turkish soldiers killed in conflict.
The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office was leading the Turkish probe, Tunc said, adding that Turkey would seek international arrest warrants for those responsible for her death. He also said Turkey would present findings to a U.N. court overseeing a genocide case against Israel filed by South Africa over the war in Gaza.
“We will take every judicial step for our martyred daughter, Aysenur,†Tunc said.
Mehmet Suat Eygi said his daughter was a “special person†who cared about nature and human rights and traveled to Brazil, Australia and Mexico to campaign for environmental and human rights issues.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26, who also held Turkish citizenship, was killed while demonstrating against settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Eygi, who attended Seattle schools and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology this year, was married and was financially comfortable, her father said. “She could have enjoyed a comfortable life, but she pursued her ideals. She left everything and went to the hell of the Middle East. She was that idealistic,†her father said.
Another relative, Ali Tikkin, told the Associated Press that Eygi’s family believes she was deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers.
“There was no error or accident,†he said. “I think it was a message to the world.â€
Tikkin, who is married to Eygi’s aunt, described the activist as a “free-spirited person†who began traveling the world on her own at an early age.
“Even at the age of 18 or 19, she went to different countries of the world on her own. First she started traveling out of curiosity. Later she took part in organizations by the United Nations,†he said. “She was sensitive to events happening around the world.â€
Friends of American protester Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, who was shot to death during a West Bank protest, fear no one will be held accountable for her slaying.
A statement released by the Palestinian Ministry of Justice and signed by two forensic doctors said Eygi was brought to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, in the West Bank, after she was hit with a bullet fired by the Israeli army. The young woman had no signs of life as her heart was not beating, the statement said, adding that the bullet entered from behind her left ear, causing damage to the brain.
Medical staff tried for a sixth time to reactivate her heart with no luck and she was considered dead at 2:36 p.m. on Friday. The statement said the bullet damaged the brain and the skull and different shrapnel caused tears and bruises.
Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said Eygi’s body was expected to be flown from Tel Aviv to Baku, Azerbaijan, and arrive in Turkey on Friday. Burial was likely to take place on Saturday.
Guzel writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Suzan Fraser contributed from Ankara, Turkey, to this report.
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