A commemoration ceremony has been held for the 20th anniversary of Gazi Massacre - an incident that left 22 people dead in Istanbul’s predominantly Alevi Gazi neighborhood after a series of riots on March 12, 1995.
Held in Gazi Neighboorhood, the ceremony was attended by several leftist political groups including Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Labor Party (EMEP), Partizan, Halkevleri, Socialist New Foundation Party (SYKP), Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) and Democratic Alevi Associations.
Photo credit: İlerihaber
Several other groups initiated a march with banners criticizing the statute of limitation for crimes against humanity and condemning the massacre.
Protestors also chanted slogans condemning the massacre as well as to urge state officials to find those who were responsible for the death of 22 people.
Photo credit: İlerihaber
Among the notable mourners included HDP İstanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel.
A moment of silence was established after the end of march in Gazi Cemetery.
Tuncel: Freedom-seekers were punished with cruelty
Photo credit: @cnnturkcom
Following the moments of silence, Tuncel addressed to the crowd, saying that the search for justice resumed for 20 years.
“A message was delivered to Gazi neighborhood people with this massacre. They have punished freedom-seekers with death and cruelty."
“These massacres will continue as we don’t ask for the accounting of these actions. What happened in Gazi and Roboski are the same in mentality.
“Those responsible from Gazi Massacre will absolutely account for their actions. If the state won’t do this, the people will do one day anyway. Not only on March 12, we struggle everyday, we will never forget about this massacre, and we will not let new massacres happen,” she said.
Photo credit: Twitter
Mourners left coronary to the graves of the victims. Police, on the other hand, took photos of mourners with long-range cameras from a far distance. (EA/BM)
* bianet refers to Hürriyet, DİHA, İlerihaber and ETHA in the writing of this article.
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.
