[Translate to Englisch:] 30 Jahre nach dem Massaker von Sivas (2.7.)

30 years after the massacre of the Alevi population in the city of Sivas, the crimes have still not been processed – neither legally nor politically. Alevi associations had repeatedly demanded independent investigations of the crimes of July 2, 1993, in which 35 people were killed. However, there is no punishment for the perpetrators in sight, nor an end to the ongoing oppression of the religious community of the Alevis: “Nothing much has happened – except for a few show trials against individuals. Most of the perpetrators are still on the loose. The men behind the attacks, such as current Turkish ruler Erdogan, never apologized – and they haven’t learned anything from what happened,” stated Dr. Kamal Sido, the STP’s Middle East Consultant, on the occasion of the upcoming 30th anniversary this Sunday. “On the contrary: During the last election campaign, Erdogan and his supporters had massively agitated against the Alevi minority, which Erdogan’s opposing candidate belonged to as well.” 

Sido is sure that there could have been less agitation against the Alevis during the pre-election phase if the crimes of Sivas had been dealt with politically beforehand. “It is unbearable that many people in Turkey are still living in fear of having to reveal their ethnic or religious identity or talk openly about it. It is not a crime to belong to the Alevis, the Kurds, the Armenians, the Yazidis, the Christians, or the Jews. However, it is a crime to discriminate against or to persecute someone because of his or her background, language, religious affiliation, or political views.” This rule must be respected by Turkey as well. Tukey must ensure equal rights – in the constitution and in everyday life.

The STP welcomes the efforts of the pro-Kurdish HDP party to promote a peaceful coexistence of the populations groups of the Alevis, Sunnis, Kurds, Turks, and Armenians in Turkey, Germany, and all of Europe. German cities and municipalities should support the Alevi minority in its efforts to bring about a coming-to-terms with the crimes of Sivas – and to promote a culture of remembrance. Peaceful coexistence can only be achieved if members of all ethnic groups are able to express their identity, language, and culture and engage in self-determined political action.

A total number of 35 people were killed on July 2, 1993, after an angry Islamist mob had set fire to the Madimak Hotel in Sivas in central Anatolia. 33 of the victims were Alevis, two were members of the hotel’s staff. Many of the perpetrators are still on the loose. Nine of them are said to be living in Germany today, some with German citizenship. There are around 1 million members of the Alevi minority living in Germany, and around 20 million in Turkey – where they have been persecuted and discriminated against for decades. There have been several pogroms. In 1938, for example, the Turkish state committed crimes of genocide in the region of Dersim, killing 70,000 Alevis. In the eyes of Sunni Muslims, they are often seen as heretics.