Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) expressed their concerns about the Turkish government’s continued discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity and belief in a written statement issued on Sunday for the 30th anniversary of the Sivas (Sêwaz) massacre.
The HDP’s Central Executive Committee emphasised that the Sivas massacre remains a painful chapter in Turkey’s history, highlighting the failure of the government to intervene in a timely manner. They pointed out that the main perpetrators and decision-makers behind the massacre have yet to be brought to justice, fuelling suspicions of pressure behind the scenes.
The HDP also criticised the prolonged and ineffective trial process, which has caused protracted torment for the families of the victims. They expressed concern at the large number of lawyers at the trial defending the perpetrators of the massacre who were later rewarded by being nominated to run for parliament by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The statement highlighted that the ongoing search for the perpetrators after 30 years continues to injure the conscience of the Alevi public. The HDP stressed that the massacre should not be subject to the statute of limitations as it constitutes a crime against humanity, affecting people of different origins, beliefs and thoughts.
They stressed that the truth about the Sivas Massacre absolutely must come out to prevent similar atrocities in the future, and called for the Turkish government to confront the massacre effectively to foster social peace and tranquillity.
