Laborer Diran Nigiz, 34, died in Taksim

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Diran Nigiz was born in 1943.

His place of birth is registered as Derik, Mardin. He was a laborer.

According to the autopsy report, the cause of Diran's death was rib fractures accompanied by mechanical asphyxia from compression of the abdomen and chest.

This was the only information we had about Diran Nigiz, so reaching his relatives was extremely difficult. Through the connections we made in Derik, we learned that Diran Nigiz was a man, not a woman as had previously been stated in commemorations of the event, and that he was an Armenian who had migrated to Istanbul.

Our thanks go to Ayşe Karadağ

Since we were unable to find his family, on the advice of Nimet Tanrıkulu, founding member of the Human Rights Association (İHD), we decided to contact Ayşe Karadağ, former Mayor of Derik, in the hope that, because of the uncommon name and surname, she may be able to provide us with some information.

Ms. Karadağ did know of Diran Nigiz. She said that he had died in the First of May demonstration, and put us in touch with a relative.

Antranik Yontan is a distant relative of Diran Nigiz: Nigiz was the maternal uncle of Yontan's sister-in-law. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Antranik Yontan for enabling us to record Diran Nigiz's story by taking such a sincere and conscientious interest and for sharing what he knew about Diran.

Antranik Yontan, relative, tells

Diran had a limp in one leg.

He was a laborer. He could do anything from shoe polishing and repairs to plastering. He was both a laborer and a hard worker. He didn't work for any particular organization. He took on these jobs by himself and that's how he earned his living.

He was a social person. He liked to travel and see places.

Whenever his work allowed him, he liked to visit the historical sites and ruins of Istanbul. He went to the First of May rally both to watch the event and because it was a day of celebration.

'Our holiday'

He called 1 May "Our holiday," and it was with that excitement and enthusiasm that he went to Taksim Square.

When the shootings started, like many of our citizens who got stuck on Kazancı Slope, he fell and was crushed in the stampede. That's how he lost his life.

Diran Abi's family migrated to Istanbul before we did, at the beginning of the 1970s. I was in Derik at the time. I was working as a dental technician. I returned to Derik in 1976 after completing my military service and then went to Viranşehir in Urfa where I had a dental laboratory.

The sorrow of death

In 1977, we heard about the incident. After studying the newspapers we called Istanbul and learned that this ember had landed and set a fire right in the heart of our family. For many years we felt the sorrow of Diran dying in that panic, and that sadness has continued until today.

Just like the relatives of those other 34 people, we also lost a relative that we loved dearly. And those people we loved were there in a celebratory spirit. This made the news even more saddening for us. Because we knew with what great joy they were all there.

Diran Abi was older than me. I was born in 1954. Because he was older, we didn't see each other all that much, but when he came to Derik he would come to visit. During those visits he would talk about the beauties of Istanbul. Of course, he spoke of developments together with their social, health and economic aspects too. He was politically aware in that way.

A good person

He never married.

He was a good person; he was friendly, concerned about nature and all other creatures, he would talk about current events in a humorous way. I know that's how everyone remembers him.

I would like to thank you for sharing Diran's story. I hope that from now on, Diran Abi will be remembered properly, that the correct information will be shared about him. (TY/APA/SD)

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