The New Ihya Association president and HUDA PAR member Aytaç Baran, who was killed by the PKK's armed attack in Diyarbakır province of southeastern Turkey on June 9, 2015, was commemorated with mercy and gratitude by his family and loved ones on the anniversary of his martyrdom.

The moment of the attack against Baran, which was assassinated after the June 7th General Election, was recorded on security cameras. One attacker was captured and the other was killed by police in the Yenişehir district of Turkey’s southeastern Diyarbakır.

Another suspect, 22-year-old Diyadin Gümüş, who was tried without arrest in the trial following the assassination, was acquitted despite being charged with the PKK’s membership and deliberately killing.

"He had devoted himself to Islam"

Speaking about the life of Aytaç Baran, his wife, Gülşen Baran, said: "Ever since I knew him, he had devoted himself to Islam. He led aid to poor and needy people and worked for his Muslim brothers all the time. He loves to read the Qur'an and was working for the sake of the Qur'an. Everyone was pleased with him. He used to say ‘our future' for young people. Aytaç would never hurt anyone. He always expressed his desire for martyrdom. He asked me to pray for him to be a martyr. He was very upset when Yasin Börü and his friends were martyred in the 6-8 October incident. He always remembered them."

"The killers of my husband are Demirtaş and his followers"

Noting that her husband was constantly threatened, Gülşen Baran went on to say: "My husband told me he was shadowed by some men many times. 'We won't let you live here, leave here!” they threatened him. The killers of husband are Demirtas and his followers. It is the HDP and PKK supporters who do these things. Who else would turn against us? My husband had Islamic sensibilities."

"He was the unique teacher of young people with his high ethics and smiling face"

The chairman of New Ihya Foundation, Muzaffer Berber, who was one of closest friends of Aytaç Baran, underlined that Baran used to set an example for everybody with his good character.

Mentioning the foundation phases of the association and activities, Muzaffer Berber indicated that they were struggling in an educative, decent and ethical way against corruption of youth and show solidarity with oppressed and indigent people.

Beber said: "Everywhere and always, with his good character and smiling face made him a unique teacher of young people. To lead young people to the truth and save them from false ideologies not to be abused by anti-Islamic movements was always his single purpose. Relinquishing his life and his family to be a shield to these young people, maintaining his Islamic services and his courage against every kind of threats made him a love in these young people’s eyes. This mutual love has turned into a faith circle, a service caravan and a steel heart against tyrants and oppressors. This is what the traitors of Kurdistan were getting mad about him; they got mad when they saw these young people getting rid of their abuse and taking place in Islamic and Quran circle. In fact, this isn’t so weird to us. Because, throughout history; corrupt mindsets have always been enemies against those people of truth who work to spread Islamic cause to humanity."

"The stake, oppressors and tyrants get, is only shame and an eternal misery"

Indicating that oppressors have always lost and it shall be so, Beber went on saying that: "Yes, losing these rare flowers saddens us. Years passing haven’t faded anything from our yearning but we have a complete faith that they are in joy in their Lord’s honoring. Their brothers, they left behind, also pursue their way manfully. As for oppressors and tyrants; the stake, they get, is only shame and an eternal misery. We plead God to grant us strength and their determination to follow our precious brothers’ way and finalize our struggle with a martyrdom crown."

"He was killed by enemy of Islam"

Aytaç Baran's students said that their teacher, who dedicated his life to the cause of Islam, was killed by the enemies of Islam.

Abdulhalık Han, one of Aytaç Baran’s students, stated that the students that Baran raised will walk in his path.

"Aytaç Baran was on the side of the right. This organization, which wants to use young people in line with their own ambitions, martyred him for being upset with Baran's activities. When Diyarbakir is mentioned, everybody remembers terrorist incidents and potholes that have been dug. Aytaç Baran felt responsible for the reconstruction of Diyarbakir and worked to change this perception. The purpose of those who martyred him was to destroy it. As they tried to break it down, Baran was struggling to make it. The students he raised will walk his path," he added. (ILKHA)