Thousands Bid Farewell to Ali Ismail Korkmaz in Antakya

The funeral of Ali Ismail Korkmaz departed from the central province of Eskişehir, arriving this morning to Ekinci village in the southern province of Antakya. 

By the entrance of Korkmaz home, villagers received the funeral with prayers. Around noon local time, the funeral was headed to the village cemetery for burial ceremony. 

Family members of Ethem Sarısülük and Abdullah Cömert - two young protestors who died during Gezi Resistance in Ankara and Antakya respectively - were ready in the village to support Korkmaz family. 

Around 10,000 people marched the 2-kilometer path between Kormaz’s home and village cemetery. 

“Don’t cry mama, your sons are here,” a group of young people shouted on the way to the cemetery. 

Other crowd attendees shouted slogans such as “Let those hands who reached Ali be broken”, “Killer Erdoğan” and “Killer state will account”.  

Lasting 1.5 hours, the march ended with a religious ceremony in the ceremony for burial. Ali Ismail Korkmaz was buried in Ekinci Village Cemetery.

Some of the notable attendees of the ceremony included: Samandağ Mayor Mithat Nehir, Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) Co-Chairperson Alper Taş, Socialist Re-Foundation Party (SYKP) Co-Chairperson Tuncay Yılmaz and CHP deputies. (AS/BK/BM)