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Yesterday (May 5), those who were murdered in Dersim in 1937-1938 were commemorated in the 79th anniversary of the Cabinet meeting on May 4, 1937 as Dersim Massacre.
The bones belonging to Baran and Canan families who had been murdered in Seka Sure Mezrası of Hozat district in Dersim on August 14, 1938 were laid to rest with a ceremony 78 years after their death.
Miyase İlknur talking to bianet upon seeing the bones of her relatives who were murdered in Dersim massacre discovered during a mass grave digging, had expressed that she had experienced both happiness and sadness at the same time.
CLICK - “SO SAD AND SO HAPPY FOR FINDING BONES OF MY RELATIVES”
“Laying 24 of our elders to rest”
The bones which were laid to rest yesterday, had been discovered in the mass grave digging on April 14-15, 2015.
According to the report of Evrensel daily reporter Kemal Özer, the bones of the 11 persons have been united in a single coffin which has later been covered with a red cloth and Dersim puşi (a local scarf). During the ceremony, mourning songs have been sang.
Talking on behalf of the Seka Sure Initiative in the ceremony, Suat Baran has explained that they had fight for three years to find the bones;
“Today is May 4. [...] We are putting the bones of 24 of our elders to rest today. We are commemorating the ones who were massacred in 1938. And we would like to send the message that, the bones of these 24 persons are a part of the Dersim massacre. They also stand for other families wiped off”.
“Massacre planned by the state”
Noting that everybody had been asking “Why have these Pirs(*) have been murdered” for years, Baran has added:
“This was a plan of the state. With this decision taken in the Parliament, they wanted to massacre the Qizilbash Alevis and dry this source out. Destroying Dersim means destroying entire Kurdistan. Wiping off Dersim means wiping off Kurdish and Dimli (Zazaki).
“They did not only aim at a physical destruction but also intended to restrict the mind. They wanted to wipe off all colors of Kurdistan. They wanted to destroy the rights and justice with regards to the Auchan Pirs. While walking in Elazığ, Seyit Rıza had said; “We are the sons of Karbala, we are sinless.
“Those who had been massacred in these caves had also said the same”.
What had happened? | |
Within the investigation into claims of 24 members of Canan and Baran families being executed by firing squad and buried in a mass grave during the Dersim massacre in 1938 in Bargini (Karabayır) village of Hozat district of Dersim, an excavation works have been carried out. In the diggings which have lasted for two days, various jawbones and craniums 13 of which were in good condition have been found in April 2015. The Forensic Medicine Institution has confirmed that the bones belonged to 24 members of Canan and Baran families. The bones found belong to: Seyit İbrahim born in 1925, Seyid Ali born in 1930, Seyid Hıdır born in 1928, Seyid Ahmet born in 1930, Seyid Besime born in 1931, Seyide Sultan born in 1934, Seyide Kevser born in 1925 and Seyit Hasan born in 1894. |
*Pir: is a title for a Sufi master or spiritual guide equally used in the nath tradition. They are also referred to as a Hazrat or Shaikh, which is Arabic for Old Man. The title is often translated into English as "saint" and could be interpreted as "Elder". (Source: Wikipedia)
(AS/DG)
