Maraş Province Governor’s Office banned all marching, protest and press statement activities related to the commemoration of 1978 Maraş Massacre on its 36th anniversary.
The governor’s office based the ban on the possibility that protests might “go out of control and lead to a crime”.
“AKP insincere”
Alevi Bektaşi Federation (ABF) Chairman Fevzi Gümüş said that Justice and Development Party (AKP) showed its insincerity on the facing of past pains.
“As ABF, we are behind our word. We will be in Maraş on December 21 so that there won’t be new massacres and we will not let this one forgotten.”
Held every year
Pir Sultan Abdal CANLAR Association also reacted to the ban, reminding that commemorations are held every year.
“On 19 December1978, people with ultranationalist and Sunni background in Maraş; shortly the ISIS people of the era, raided Alevi neighborhoods and brutally killed Alevi people. The massacre took 7 days...
“Alevis hold commemorations every year between December 19 and 25 in masses!”
İHD: The path to peace is from facing the truth
Human Rights Association (İHD), on the other hand, reminded the government that the path to peace is from facing the truth.
“While the government always refers to previous coup and massacres and claim that they are against coups; banning commemorations to find culprits of events that led to September 12 Coup is a proof that the government is not sincere with its attitude."
Tolls
According to official tolls, the incident left at least 111 people killed, hundreds wounded. 210 apartments and 70 offices were stormed. While 804 suspects were tried, only 29 people were executed, 7 received life sentence and 321 defendants were sentenced to prison from 1 to 24 years. (YY/BM)
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