HATAY – On the anniversaries of the Maraş and Roboskî massacres, the İskenderun branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD) called for legal reforms to uncover all massacres and for the establishment of a Truth Commission.
İHD İskenderun Branch Secretary Mustafa Şevket Anlar stated that December is marked in Turkey’s history by massacres that have deeply wounded the hearts of peoples, stressing that what occurred in Maraş and Roboskî constituted crimes against humanity.
Recalling that 47 years have passed since the Maraş massacre, Anlar said that despite hundreds of witnesses, the perpetrators have not been identified, judicial processes were rendered ineffective, and Alevis were forced to migrate, leading to a change in the city’s demographic structure. Drawing attention to the Roboskî massacre, Anlar reminded that although 14 years have passed since 34 civilians, 17 of them children, were killed after being bombed by warplanes, the perpetrators have still not been brought to light. Stating that the state has failed to conduct an effective investigation into the massacre, Anlar said that this pain will not subside unless justice is served.
Emphasizing that social peace can only be achieved through confronting the past and revealing the truth, Anlar called for legal regulations to be enacted to shed light on all massacres and for the establishment of a Truth Commission.