Our brother Selim Esen had been the victim of a homophobic serial killing in Toronto, Canada in April
2017!

Selim, as the youngest boy of our Kurdish family was born on July 1973 in lstanbul. He stopped
his secondary school education and started working in his teenage years in order to contribute to
the family?s income. This didn't stop Seiim's enthusiasm and passion for learning. After the 18
months compulsory army service and 8 years work in the textile sector, he managed to ?nish his

schooling through his own efforts and later graduated from Hacettepe University studying sociologv
and philosophy.

As a gay person Selim wasn't happy living in Turkey. initially, he went to Australia and lived there for
nearly 3 years. He returned back to Turkey in 2011 and did his postgraduate studies to be able to
teach philosophy. In 2013 he went to Canada to get married with his boyfriend and settle there for a
new life. He completed a counselling course to provide help and support to people in the local
communityjust days before he was reported missing.

He was very friendly, kind hearted, open, independent minded and curious, passionate about
learning new things, gardening, exploring new places and meeting new people. People who met him
for the ?rst time would be surprised to see how open, friendly and kind spirited he was. His tender

and kind humanity came before everything else. He thought, believed, felt and lived free as a bird,
beyond any borders and any boundaries.

As Selim?s brothers we find it hard to come to terms with our youngest brother? 5 death. He was too
young to leave us. He had things to do, friends to make, flowers to grow in hearts, life to sharel We
feel humbled and heartened with kind words and feelings expressed about Selim by his friends!

We feel equally saddened and want to send our sympathy and condolences to other victims? families
and friends. We wish to express our thanks to the LGBT community, other victims' families and
friends for their campaign work on this case putting pressure on authorities for a full investigation

on the case. As yet we have more questions than answers. it is deeply worrying to see that it took
years for the authorities to act upon the cases of missing persons reports.

Lastly, we hope that the memory of our beloved brother Selim Esen raises the spirit of friendship,

kindness, solidarity, equality, reSpect and love that goes beyond boundaries of nationality, ethnicity
gender, sex and colour of skin.

Rest in peace brother Selim!
Forever in your loving memory!

Your brothers Ferhat Cinar and Omer Esen