Ali Osman Çırak, a specialist physiotherapist who was dismissed from his profession by a Statutory Decree (KHK), lost his life along with his wife Yasemin Çırak and two children in a traffic accident while he was reuniting with his family in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This tragic incident once again reveals the difficulties experienced by Statutory Decree victims.

Tens of thousands of people were dismissed from their public positions with the Statutory Decrees issued after the July 15 coup attempt. During this process, many people lost their jobs before their legal processes were completed and their rights to defense were taken away. Those who were dismissed were deprived not only of their professions, but also of their social and economic rights.

Among the grievances experienced by Statutory Decree victims, suicide cases, psychological traumas, divorces and economic difficulties stand out. In particular, during this process defined as “civil death”, individuals face exclusion from social life, stigmatization and economic difficulties.

Unfortunately, the tragedy experienced by Ali Osman Çırak and his family is not the first painful incident that KHK victims have faced. Many KHK victims have lost their lives before due to the pressure and difficulties they have experienced. For example, some KHK victims who were receiving cancer treatment had difficulty accessing healthcare services due to their dismissal and lost their lives in the process. Both the ruling and opposition parties in Turkey are not sufficiently addressing the problems experienced by KHK victims. This situation makes it even more difficult to solve the problems of KHK victims. This painful event experienced by Ali Osman Çırak and his family reminds us once again how important the difficulties faced by the victims of the Statutory Decrees and the search for justice are. As a society, we must act together to eliminate these grievances and ensure the establishment of justice.