Italian artist Bacca's remains fly home to Milan

A group of people from Turkish non-government organizations bearing pictures of murdered Italian artist, Bacca, gathered outside the funeral home preparing her funeral and condemned the violence and promised to continue her struggle for peace.

"I hope next time I will come to Turkey for a nice holiday, not for such a tragic incident," di Marineo's sister Antonia Giuseppina Pasgualino di Marineo, who also attended the gathering, said. She also thanked Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and all the Turkish people.

Returning to her home in Italy, Bacca's remains were fare-welled by a cheering crowd from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. Bacca's funeral will be held on Saturday in her hometown Milan, her sister told reporters.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered on Monday condolences to family of Italian artist Pippa Bacca. Her death has caused indignation among the Turkish people and an investigation is under way, the statement read.

"Turkish police have arrested the suspect who confessed that he committed this inhuman crime. We offer our condolences to Pasqualino's family," the Ministry statement read.

Italian artist Giuseppina Pasqualino, also known as "Pippa Bacca" in her home country, departed from the Italian city of Milan together with Silvia Moro, an artist friend, on March 8. The two artists were hitchhiking to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv by to send a "peace message" to the world.

Pasqualino and Moro separated from each other in Istanbul on March 19. Since March 31, no contact could be established with Pasqualino. The 33-year-old artist was found dead in a forest near the town of Gebze in the northwestern province of Kocaeli on April 12. The 38-year-old suspect in the murder, Murat Karatas, was arrested.