Hundreds gathered in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district on Saturday 20 July to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the massacre in which 33 people, mainly young socialists, were killed by an ISIS bomb attack in Suruç (Pîrsûs), Şanlıurfa (Riha) province. The victims, who had gathered at the Amara Cultural Centre in the town to take toys to children in Kobani (Kobanê) after its liberation from the Islamist group, were remembered, with vows to continue their dreams and seek justice.
The Co-chair of the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) Müslüm Koyun spoke, stressing that the attack was not only on the 33 individuals but on the collective struggle for a united revolutionary movement in Turkey and Kurdistan. “We are committed to reviving the ideals they tried to bury,” he stated.
Messages from prominent figures were read out during the commemoration. Alp Altınörs, sentenced to life imprisonment in the Kobani trial of hundreds of pro-Kurdish politicans and activists, condemned the criminalisation of support for Kobani while it was under attack by ISIS. The imprisoned former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ highlighted the enduring spirit of the socialist youth in a message penned prison. Besra Erol, who lost her child in the massacre, vowed to continue the struggle as long as she lived.
Ezgi Gürbüz, representing the Suruç Families Initiative, declared their commitment not to let the dreams of the 33 victims be forgotten. She said, “We will carry their names like torches in our fight for justice.”
Despite police obstruction, several youth organisations also held two marches, in Istanbul’s İstiklal Avenue, one from each end, chanting slogans for justice and remembrance. Many participants were detained amid clashes with police.
Families of the victims expressed their frustrations at their long and arduous quest for justice. Metin Kılıç, who lost his wife and son, lamented the lack of progress in the judicial process. Dilek Şeker, whose father was killed, questioned the actions of the authorities during the attack. Sultan Yıldız, whose husband was among the victims, criticised the failure of the judicial system to deliver justice.
Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, who also participated in the memorial events though not in the march itself, sent a message marking the ninth anniversary of the massacre. He stressed that the Suruç Massacre must not be forgotten, saying, “On the ninth anniversary, we will not forget the Suruç massacre, in which we lost 33 young lives, nor will we allow it to be forgotten. We honour the 33 victims and pledge to work towards achieving their dreams of a better and fairer world.”
The victims were also commemorated in Van (Wan), Muş (Mûş), Hakkari (Colemêrg), Mardin (Mêrdîn), Şırnak (Şirnex), Diyarbakır (Amed) and Ankara.
Suruç Massacre
The Suruç massacre was perpetrated at the Amara Culture Centre in the Suruç district of Şanlıurfa, Turkey, on 20 July 2015. A suicide bomber attacked a press conference held by 300 youth members of the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF), killing 33 people and injuring over 100. The attack, which targeted civilians, was a blatant crime against humanity.
Suruç is located near the Mürşitpınar border crossing, a region known for its intense security measures. The occurrence of such an attack in this highly secure area highlighted the extensive local connections of ISIS, the group responsible for the bombing. Human rights advocates have continuously criticised Turkey’s Syrian policy, arguing that the Suruç attack was a result of flawed strategies.
The young activists in Suruç aimed to deliver toys to children in Kobani in Kurdish northern Syria (Rojava), as part of the rebuilding of the city after the onslaught by ISIS, but their mission was still more profound. They sought to support the struggle against a globally threatening structure by showing solidarity with the people of Rojava.
The investigation into the massacre faced significant criticism for its lack of depth and thoroughness. Despite the region’s high security, the attack was carried out successfully, indicating potential negligence or complicity within Turkish security forces. The process of prosecution and indictment was criticised for being inadequate. Significant leads were not pursued, and the broader network behind the attackers was not investigated sufficiently.
Only one individual, Yakup Şahin, was convicted in relation to the attack. He received 34 aggravated life sentences. There were claims that three attackers had been killed, and that two others remained at large. Requests to hear key witnesses, such as then-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who purportedly had crucial information, were repeatedly denied by the court.
Despite the severity of the attack, no substantial accountability was assigned to security forces for their failure to prevent it. The judicial process left many unanswered questions about the planners and actual perpetrators behind the attack. Human rights advocates have criticised the proceedings as being inadequate and failing to deliver justice.
