Dr. Sinan Ates, former president of Urucu Ocaklar and associate professor at Hacettepe University, was shot dead on December 30, 2022, along with his friends Selman Bozkurt and Ahmet Keçik, at the exit of Friday prayers in Çankaya, in the center of Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
Who is responsible for this murder?
The answer to this question was given by then Prime Minister and current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on social media platforms at 12:42 pm on May 20, 2014.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan @RTErdogan As the Prime Minister of this country, I state clearly that even sheep caught by wolves on the banks of the Tigris are under my responsibility. 12:42 PM – May 20, 2014
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Dear readers, Sinan Ateş is not a “sheep”, he is a human being.
The place where “the wolf caught him” is not “on the banks of the Tigris River,” but in the center of Ankara, Turkey’s capital.
According to his own statement quoted above, the murder of Sinan Ateş is primarily (and primarily) the responsibility of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan!
I am not saying this, Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself is saying it!
Therefore, for failing to protect Sinan Ateş and preventing his murder, the responsibility (legal liability) lies first and foremost with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at least for the arrest, trial and punishment of his assassins and instigators.
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The story of “The Sheep on the Banks of the Tigris” that Erdogan refers to is a story by Herz. It is based on an Islamic legend about Omar. The generally accepted form of this legend is as follows:
“One day, people (some say Hazrat Ali) saw Omer riding a horse and going somewhere in a hurry and asked him:
“Emirul Mu’minin, where are you going?”
He replies:
“One of our state-owned camels has escaped, so we’re going to search for him!”
Then they say, “Believe me, you are leaving a heavy burden on those who rule the country after you!” Not everyone can do what you are doing!
So Hz. Omer said:
Hertz. I swear by Allah, who sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a true prophet, that if a child goes missing on the banks of the Euphrates (or if a wolf catches a sheep), even Omar will be held responsible on the Day of Judgement!
This is a myth. Hertz. I’m not sure if Omar said this, but Hertz said it. This is a story often used to describe Omar and his justice.
The famous poet Mehmet Akif, who also wrote our national anthem, mentioned this legend in his poem The Poem of the Old Man and the Omer:
Yes, he was not supposed to be the caliph in the past.
If a wolf steals a sheep on the Tigris,
He came over and asked Omar for it!
This is the “responsibility” President Erdogan referred to in his message.
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However, Mehmet Akif’s definition of “responsibility” goes beyond “sheep on the banks of the Tigris.”
See what Akif says about “shedding a drop of blood.”
When someone spills a drop of blood on the ground with a guzzle, that drop will turn into a giant whirlpool and drown Omar!
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Even if the government and the judiciary do not show on whom the shed blood of Sinan Ateş will “swirl” and “drip”, conscience will!
In the meantime, let us say that Osman Kabala’s retrial will not be accepted and he will be left to his own devices.