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Thank you Mr Chair,

Your excellencies,

My name is Hatice Cengiz. Cemal and I would have been husband and wife by now. I am addressing this chamber today on behalf of the DRCnet Foundation. I am addressing you as a victim, a title forced on me after the brutal murder of my Cemal.

I am here today to talk to you about my hopes from this Report.

Firstly, the Report makes it clear an international investigation must take place. I call on the Secretary General to urge member states to support Agnes’s call for this investigation.

I want to know who gave the order to kill Cemal, and who else knew. I want to know where is his body. I implore you to take action. As Agnes has said, it is time for sanctions. Those who are behind the murder and cover-up should face punishment.

It was not only my beloved Cemal who was murdered that day but also democracy, human rights & freedoms.
The failure to punish Cemal’s murderers affects us all.

Mr Chair, the truth always wins. History will take note of those who stood with truth and those who did not.

Please take action

Thank you.

• Download the Oral statement (in pdf format)