25th Anniversary of Gazi Massacre Marked

*From Gazi to Ümraniye, we want justice. (Photos: Evrensel, ETHA)

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The massacre in İstanbul's Alevi-majority Gazi neighborhood was marked today (March 12) by hundreds of people on its 25th anniversary.

Twenty-three people were killed and more hundreds were injured in the incidents that took place between March 12 and 15, 1995.

The events began with an armed attack on several coffee shops in the neighborhood, where a "dede," an Alevi religious leader, was killed. The assault sparked protests both in Gazi and Ümraniye district on the Asian side of İstanbul, to which police responded with gunfire. Twenty-three people were killed by the end of the incidents on March 15.

Footage of protests:

During the commemoration, Engin Engin, who lost his brother Sezgin in the massacre, read out a statement in the name of the families of the slain people.

"The attack was against the entire people, both Sunnis and Alevis. How come the murderers disappeared so easily in a neighborhood like Gazi, where police patrols are always frequent," he said, asserting that the attack aimed to "intimidate democrats."

He recalled that the police opened fire against people who were protesting the armed assault, killing tens and injuring hundreds of people.

"We want the murderers, who are among us, and those who planned, organized the Gazi incidents to be found and punished to avoid killings of new souls.

"We salute our martyrs and the people of Gazi, who stand up only with their guts against thousands of murderers with guns and demonstrated to Turkey how cowardly and helpless they were."

After the statement, people laid carnations in front of the former Post Office (PTT) building. Then they marched to Gazi Cemetery while chanting slogans. Carnations were also laid at the cemetery.

Representatives from the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), the Labor Party (EMEP) and the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) also attended the commemoration. (EMK/VK)