The father of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Turkish-American activist who was killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, has expressed approval of Turkey’s decision to initiate an independent investigation into her death and has urged the United States to do the same. Aysenur, who held dual citizenship, was fatally shot during protests against settlements in the West Bank. According to a witness, she did not pose a threat to Israeli forces at the moment of the shooting.
Turkey’s Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc revealed that Turkey had commenced its investigation into Aysenur’s death just days after the Israeli military stated that she was likely shot “indirectly and unintentionally” by their soldiers. Aysenur’s father, Mehmet Suat Eygi, who resides in Seattle, expressed satisfaction with Turkey’s actions and hopes for a similar investigation by the American government.
Speaking from western Turkey, Mehmet Suat Eygi highlighted that Aysenur had grown up in the United States, where she enjoyed freedoms and received her education. He called for the American government to show sensitivity towards her case. Aysenur is expected to be buried in Didim, a town on the Aegean coast where she spent time with family.
The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office is leading the Turkish investigation, with plans to issue international arrest warrants for those responsible for Aysenur’s death. Additionally, Turkey intends to present its findings to a U.N. court overseeing a genocide case against Israel filed by South Africa over the Gaza conflict.
Described as a “special person” who advocated for environmental and human rights issues worldwide, Aysenur graduated in psychology from the University of Washington this year. A relative of Aysenur, Ali Tikkin, shared that the family believes she was deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers, viewing it as a message to the world. Aysenur’s body is expected to be repatriated to Turkey from Tel Aviv via Baku, Azerbaijan, with burial likely to occur on Saturday.