Messages of justice, democracy, peace and freedom on the 43rd anniversary of the Corum massacre

57 people who were murdered in the Corum Massacre were remembered with a commemoration ceremony organised by the Corum branch of the Haci Bektas Veli Anatolian Culture Foundation. The central messages of the ceremony were justice, democracy, peace and freedom.

The ceremony began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the Madımak and Corum massacres. After the Alevi Dede, Şahin Polat “awakened the cheragh*”, followed by a whirling dervish dance performance.

DEMAND FOR “A MONUMENT OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP TO COMMEMORATE THE MARTYRS”

Haci Bektas Veli Anatolian Cultural Foundation President Ercan Gecmez, European Federation of Alevi Unions Board Member Mehmet Ali Cankaya, Alevi Bektasi Federation President Mustafa Aslan, Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association President Cuma Erce, European Federation of Alevi Unions President Huseyin Mat, European Federation of Alevi Unions Honorary President Turgut Oker, Haci Bektas Veli Anatolian Cultural Foundation Corum Branch President Nurettin Aksoy, representatives of some political parties and non-governmental organisations also attended the commemoration.

The messages of justice, democracy, peace and freedom were emphasised in the speeches made at the commemoration, where “deyish” were recited and “semahs” were performed. The speakers demanded the reopening of the trial and a monument in memory of those who died in the massacre.

*Awakening the Cheragh: In Alevism, three candles are lit at the beginning of the ritual. These candles symbolise Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, and the Prophet Ali. This ritual, called awakening the light or awakening the evidence, means enlightening the heart and mind. After the light is awakened, the “cem” begins.