Tens of thousands of people gathered in Kadıköy, İstanbul this weekend to protest the outcome of the Sivas case, where several defendants accused of participating at the 1993 massacre were acquitted due to a statue of limitations.

The police presence was strong at Sunday's meeting. Following the call of major Alevite organizations, protestors began arriving at the scene early in the morning. There was participation from outside Istanbul, too. Socialist and dissident groups and parties also supported the meeting.

Among the organizers were European Confederation of Alevite Associations (AABK), Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Foundation (PSAKD), Hacı Bektaş Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation (HBVAKV) and Association of Alevite Culture Research.

During the meeting, protestors also reacted against the ongoing education reform, recent threats to Alevites in some cities, the discrimination against Alevites at state organizations and the compulsory religious education at schools.

The Ankara 11th High Criminal Court decided to drop procedures of the Sivas Massacre trial in line with the prosecutor's demand to apply the statute of limitation.

The final hearing of the trial related to the Sivas Massacre that left 35 people dead in 1993 was held on Tuesday (13 March).

The Sivas massacre in central Anatolia was an attack against Alevite intellectuals and artists. 35 people burned to death and two assailants died when the Madimak Hotel in Sivas was set on fire on 2 July 1993.

The trials would have continued if the Sivas Massacre would have been accepted as a crime against humanity. (HK/EÜ)

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