Sunday 21 May 2023 marked the solemn commemoration of the 159th anniversary of the Circassian Genocide and Exile, an event that continues to echo through history as a crime against humanity.
The Russian Empire, under Tsarist rule, pursued a ruthless policy of total extermination in the Caucasus. The Circassians bore the brunt of this genocidal campaign, with over a million lives lost and many more forcibly exiled from their homeland. The journey of exile and initial settlement claimed the lives of over 500,000 individuals, including 53,000 Circassians in Turkey’s north-eastern coastal province of Trabzon alone.
The Peoples and Beliefs Commission of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) issued a statement expressing solidarity with the Circassian people on the 159th anniversary of their exile and genocide. The HDP statement called for the recognition of the Circassian genocide and emphasised the importance of granting Circassians in Turkey their names and surnames, language and cultural rights. They called for the restoration of village names that have been changed and unconditional support for the return of Circassians to their homeland. They emphasised the need for democratic rights and freedoms to be granted to the Circassian people, expressing heartfelt empathy for their pain and suffering.
The Human Rights Association (İHD), a prominent rights watchdog in Turkey, released a statement emphasising the devastating impact of genocide on entire communities and called for global recognition and justice.
In their statement, the İHD echoed the demand for global recognition of the Circassian Genocide, the establishment of memorial centres, and the initiation of restorative justice processes involving recognition, apology and compensation for the losses endured.
Additionally, the İHD stressed the importance of recognising the collective rights of Circassians, along with other diverse identities living in Turkey, by removing existing legal obstacles and creating an environment that supports the preservation of their language, culture and identity. The İHD also emphasised the need for special measures to promote the development of the Circassian language and culture.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also shared a message for the occasion, expressing condolences, stating, “We still feel the great suffering of our Circassian brothers and sisters in our hearts, 159 years after their exile from their homeland in the Caucasus through inhumane methods. On this anniversary, I commemorate all our brothers and sisters who lost their lives with mercy.” However, his omission of the term “genocide” and failure to explicitly name the perpetrators drew dissatisfaction from some within the Circassian community in Turkey.
The Circassian Association in the city of Manbij in Syria released a statement, saying, “We condemn the actions of the Ottoman Empire and Russian tsars in the past and express our concern over the current attempts by the Turkish occupation to exterminate and displace the Circassian people.”
The statement further emphasised the significance of 21 May 1864, saying, “This date holds great importance for us as a day to remember the resistance of our Circassian ancestors against the Russian Empire.”
In addition, the association expressed pride in the heroic history of the Circassian people, saying, “We take pride in the resilience and bravery demonstrated by our ancestors.”
Their statement also condemned past massacres perpetrated by the Russian tsars and their Ottoman allies, which resulted in the forced deportation of Circassians to various parts of the world. It highlighted ongoing challenges faced by the Circassian people, including acts of terrorism and attempts to displace them, allegedly driven by those seeking to revive the Ottoman Empire and disrupt regional stability.
