Official apology request for Dersim Massacre 

2021-05-04 12:19:09


	 

	 

	ANKARA - HDP vice co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, who is responsible for the Peoples and Beliefs Commission, commemorated thousands of people who were killed due to the Dersim Massacre and stated that the official apology should be made, the name Dersim should be returned and it should be explained who the "Lost Daughters of Dersim" was adopted.

	 

	Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) vice co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, who is responsible for the Peoples and Beliefs Commission, issued a written statement commemorating those who lost their lives in the massacre due to the anniversary of the Dersim Massacre.

	 

	‘One of the bloodiest massacres in history’

	 

	In the statement titled "We commemorate the lives, we lost in the Dersim Genocide with respect", pointed out that Dersim is wanted to be shaped by the paradigm of one nation, one religion and one language. On December 25, 1935, it was stated that a law named "Regarding the Administration of Tunceli Province No. 2884" was prepared and that the ground was prepared for the "discipline" and "banishment" operation, and it was noted that one of the bloodiest massacres in history was carried out on May 4, 1937, with the decision of the Council of Ministers.

	 

	‘Over 50,000 people were killed’

	 

	According to official data, it was stated that 13,000 people lost their lives. It was continued: "However, according to local sources, more than 50,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were expelled from their homeland. May 4, which the people of Dersim call ‘roca şaê’, needs a social confrontation as a genocide against the ethnic and religious identities of the Alevi Kurds. Dersim, which Alevis see as the ‘City of Consent’; should be preserved as part of our cultural wealth, with its belief philosophy, and nature, which looks at 72 nations from an eye. Today, it is seen that Dersim is still trying to be assimilated with one language and one religious practice. Our social peace needs to abandon such practices. All ethnic and religious identities of Anatolia and Mesopotamia should be protected as our common values."

	 

	'Dersim name should be returned'

	 

	In the statement, it was stated that an official apology should be made to confront this bloody history 84 years ago, mentioned: "To confront with history; Disclosure of places of the graves of Seyid Rıza and his companions, who were hanged on November 15, 1937, opening archives about how many people were killed in 1937-1938, opening documents about adopted children, known to the public as the 'lost daughters of Dersim', announcing the fate of people who were deported, and it can only be possible if the name of Dersim is officially returned. These justified demands of the people of Dersim must be met as soon as possible. With our belief that social peace and justice for peoples, which we need more than anything in this geography, can be built through confrontation, we commemorate with respect the lives that were killed in Dersim Genocide in 1937-1938."