Translation of a speech given by the Initiative Buraks Bektaş at the Demo against Right-Wing and Racist Structures in the State and Society on 7th Nov 2020
I speak for the Initiative for the Clarification of Burak Bektaş’ Murder. The murder of Burak must be seen as part of the Neukölln Complex. The murder of Burak must be solved.
What happened?
On November 4th, 2011, the series of cruel murders and crimes of the National Socialist Underground (NSU) was revealed to the public. The racist murders were not uncovered through police investigations, but rather because the murderers and their supporters choose to reveal themselves.
Exactly five months later, on the night of April 5th 2012, a group of young men were fired upon in Neukölln, Berlin. They were standing on the street, talking, about to go home. They were shot at by an older white man with a handgun. There was no exchange of words whatsoever – the perpetrator came without a word, opened fire, and left without a word. Burak died, two of his friends were seriously injured. The murder and the attempted murders have never been solved. But questions have been raised: Was racism again the motive? Was the attack in imitation of the NSU murders?
Three years later, a white man about the same age shot Luke Holland, also in Neukölln. Luke was shot at close range with a shotgun and died. He died because he was speaking English. The culprit, Rolf Zielezinski, was arrested and convicted. The judge and the public prosecutor’s office allegedly fail to identify a motive for this murder. When searched, his apartment looks like that of a Nazi, with a bust of Hitler and pictures that do clearly reveal his sentiments. Zielezinski’s social contacts and visitors to the bar, where both the victim and perpetrator had previously been guests, testify to racist statements. Why is that not taken into consideration?
Many assume that Zielzinski could also have murdered Burak. There are references made to him as a possible suspect in the investigation files into the murder of Burak. They were obviously not carefully followed up on.
We say: The exposure of the blatant racism involved in the investigations into the NSU, has not led to any change in practice.
Nothing will be cleared up. The NSU complex has not been resolved. The trial against a few members of the NSU Complex, as well as the especially mild verdicts, was disastrous for the plaintiffs
Elif Kubaşık, the widow of Mehmet Kubaşık, shot on 4th April, 2006 in Dortmund, writes in her statement: “I had so many questions: How could an armed group commit fascist murders and attacks in Germany for years? Why were they not stopped? What did the state know about it?”
And the mother of Halit Yozgat, who was shot in Kassel on April 6th, 2006, certifies to the Higher Regional Court in Munich: “They worked like bees, but did not produce honey. There is no result.” Ayşe Yozgat (at the verdict in the NSU trial in Munich 1th July, 2018)
Luke Holland’s parents have made it clear that if the investigating authorities had thoroughly investigated the murder of Burak, their son might still be alive. Rita Holland, Luke’s mother, died on October 21st, 2019, from pain caused by the death of her son.
We are certain that no clarification can be expected from the investigating authorities.
The Landeskriminalamt (LKA) Berlin is, on many levels, part of the problem rather than the solution. Even during the series of murders carried out by the NSU, the LKA Berlin led an undercover agent who procured explosives for the NSU’s main trio. Then there is the role of the LKA in the Neukölln complex. Deployed from 2007 to 2016, an officer and member of the “Investigation Group into Right-Wing Extremism” (EG Rex), as well as being involved in the investigation of a series of attacks in Neukölln and assigned as the contact person for those affected, was placed under investigation for a racist act of violence. An unbelievable incident and a further loss of confidence for those affected!
In order to meet the demands for clarification of right-wing attacks in Neukölln by those affected, the special reconstruction group Fokus was founded in May 2019. The “BAO Fokus” ended its work in September. The final report is largely secret. Now the public is being fobbed off with a special commission… the cover-up continues!
We will not rest! We will not rest until we know who murdered Burak and injured Jamal and Alex so badly. We want answers.
Never again should victims be forgotten and relatives be left alone with their pain.
Remembering means fighting and fighting means remembering.
_______________________________________________
Burak Bektaş: Family Bektaş and the Initiative for the Clarification of Burak Bektaş’ Murder have been fighting since Burak’s violent death for the clarification of the murder and an appropriate commemoration.
http://gedenkort-fuer-burak.org/
Luke Holland: Closing statement from the parents of Luke Holland at the end of the trial, 11th July 2016.