Family remembers Turkish poet quietly

MUĞLA - Doğan News Agency

Famous poet Can Yücel’s wife, two daughters and granddaughter gather for a quiet commemoration in his tomb on the 12th nniversary of his death. DHA photo

The family of famous Turkish poet Can Yücel staged a family-only commemoration for the 13th anniversary of his death this weekend following an attack last year on the writer’s grave in the southwestern province of Muğla’s Datça district.

The poet’s widow, Güler Yücel, visited the tomb along with the couple’s daughters, Güzel Yücel and Su Yücel, as well as granddaughter Nathalie Defne Gier for a commemoration of Yücel’s life over the weekend.

The family announced last week that they decided not to hold a public ceremony until authorities captured those responsible for last year’s attack, which occurred in the night after commemorators had poured wine on Yücel’s grave in honor of the poet, angering the local head of the Justice and Development Party (AKP). The family also said the Can House would be closed for visits until the assailants were found.
Güler Yücel said they had been deeply affected by the attack.
 
“No matter whether it is a physical assault or not, verbally assault is a big crime, too. Because of this, we do not want those persons to be assaulted although they committed a crime. Here is a tomb of tolerance. Many ethnic groups like Christians, Jews, and Muslims have their tombs here [in the Datça graveyard]. I hope such an offense does not happen again,” she said.

The poet’s widow also said the assault was perpetrated not only against Can Yücel but also the sculptor of the tomb, Mehmet Aksoy. “I know how long it took to make that tomb. He did it in return for nothing. It is an example of solidarity among artists.”