Twelfth anniversary of the Alevis massacre in Sivas: Museum as a gesture of reconciliation

During a press conference today in the European Parliament in Brussels to mark the twelfth anniversary of the massacre of Alevis in the Turkish city of Sivas, Cem Özdemir, German Green member of the Parliament's Turkey delegation, said:

"Each year the Alevis commemorate the horrible events in Sivas. And each year they wait for the Turkish state to acknowledge their sorrow. So far it has been in vain. Today the hotel where the massacre took place is a kebab restaurant and there is nothing there to acknowledge the tragedy."

"It would be a powerful signal if the building were converted into a museum. It should be a place of remembrance, and, above all, a place of reconciliation for Turks of all religious affiliations and a symbol of a new beginning for Turkey."

"The European Alevi Confederation already has wide support for this plan. However, a sign of respect and understanding from the Turkish state is still lacking. Supporting this plan would be a good start."

Background: On 2 July 1993, in Sivas, Turkey, the Hotel Madimak, site at the time of an Alevi cultural festival, was set on fire by a fanatical mob roused into action by radical Muslim clerics. The police and the fire company waited too long to act. Thus 37 individuals died, among them artists, writers, students, and children.

Source: www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/101/101881.twelfth_anniversary_of_the_alevis_massac@en.htm