A monument honoring the victims of the 1937–1938 #Dersim Massacre# was inaugurated in Berlin after years of preparation.
A special monument honoring the 1937–1938 genocide in Dersim was unveiled at a major ceremony in Berlin, the capital of Germany.

Unveiled in a park located at Blücher Platz in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin, the Dersim Massacre Monument aims to memorialize the genocide, preserve collective memory, and encourage official recognition at the international level.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Clara Herrmann, mayor of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district; Cem Özdemir, Germany's Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture; and Ezgi Kılınçaslan, the artist who designed the monument. Numerous others were also present, including historians, sociologists, artists, and representatives of various institutions.

Held under the slogan “We commemorate, we remind, we demand a culture of remembrance,” the event began with a Gulbang, a traditional Alawite prayer, recited by Cevahir Altınok, Turabi Karabulut, Seydali Çiçek, and Celal Keykubat, followed by speeches.

Kemal Karabulut, chairperson of the Federation of Dersim Associations in Europe, spoke about the process of creating the monument and expressed his gratitude to all those who contributed.

Clara Herrmann, mayor of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, recalled that a significant number of people from Dersim settled in Kreuzberg during the labor migration period, stating: “They brought with them not only their belongings but also their culture, their understanding of health, and their sacred memories. This is our shared story. That is why being here today holds deep meaning for us. Standing here is a statement against state violence, nationalism, and discrimination. In Kreuzberg, we are becoming a strong voice for democracy, peace, and equality.”

A democratic future cannot be built without confronting the past

German Minister of Food and Agriculture Cem Özdemir stated that the Dersim Massacre is still distorted in official history books in Turkey and continued: “The anger of Dersim is here with us today in Kreuzberg. The names of the red forests were erased. Those who resisted were killed; those who could not were forced into submission. This pain has not subsided. It is said that the Dersim Operation was carried out in the name of unity, but that unity was the unity of Sunni Islam, Turkish identity, and obedience. A democratic future cannot be built without confronting the past, just like what was done to Armenians and Syriacs in 1915. Denying what happened in Dersim also damages Turkey’s dignity. But by not forgetting these memories, we can build a just and clean future together.”

This monument is an invitation to open our hearts to one another

Artist Ezgi Kılınçaslan, who designed the monument, said the following about its creation: “This idea has been within me for nearly 15 years. For the past two and a half years, I’ve pursued it individually. I began the work in 2022 through a workshop I joined. I built connections with many people, from Armenia to Paris to Beirut. I asked myself: How do we remember the ‘we’? How do we want to evoke the ‘we’? How can we bind our love to other people? This city, this square, with all its pain, memories, and beauty, stands here. This monument is an invitation to open our hearts to one another.”

Pascal Meiser, Member of the Federal Parliament from Die Linke, said: “This is no longer just a matter for people from Dersim. Around 40,000 people from Dersim live in Berlin. Their past lies in Dersim, but their roots are in Kreuzberg. The 1938 massacre was not only about killings; it was an attempt to eradicate a language, a religion, and a culture. This is not an easy process, but we must remember. This square is an answer to nationalism, to denial, and to the silence that has become a taboo.”

Germany also bears responsibility for the Dersim Massacre

Gökay Akbulut, Member of the Federal Parliament from Die Linke, stated: “The people of Dersim refer to those days as ‘Tertele’. The Kurdish Alawite population, who speak Zazaki, were ruthlessly targeted. Women and children hid in caves. Some were burned alive. It is estimated that around 70,000 people were killed. Germany also bears indirect responsibility for this crime, as documented evidence shows that German experts provided weapons training to the Turkish army. To this day, the Federal Government has not launched an independent investigation. Around 200,000 people of Dersim origin live in Germany. This is a part of their identity. This monument is not just a sculpture; it is a representation of collective memory, a call for confrontation.”

This wound is still bleeding

Ferhat Koçak, Member of the Federal Parliament from Die Linke, emphasized in his speech that Dersim is more than a geographic region; it is a symbol of resistance and memory. Koçak said, “Dersim is a wound… and this wound is still bleeding,” emphasizing that what happened is not limited to Dersim alone.

Koçak recalled that the first major attacks against Kurdish Alawites began in Koçgiri in 1921 and drew attention to the resistance of Alişêr and Zarife. He said, “They rose up for unity, but they were betrayed and abandoned. The fire of that betrayal burned Dersim in 1937.”

Koçak pointed out that the planes and bombs used in the Dersim Genocide were manufactured in Germany, stating: “The people of Dersim were victims of the German-Turkish brotherhood in arms.” He emphasized that, just as in the past, Germany remains silent today and added: “But we will not remain silent. If we forget, this pain will happen again. The monument we inaugurate today is not a stone of mourning; it is a stone of hope. It stands for justice, peace, and unity. It is also a warning, a call, for Koçgiri, for Dersim, for Seyit Rıza, and for future generations. If we do not struggle together, we will be destroyed together. But if we stand together, we will win. May Khidr be our companion.”

At the ceremony, speeches were delivered by Associate Professor Dr. Gülşah Stapel, Nurettin Ertaş (Chair of the Dersim Cultural Association Berlin), Federal Parliament Member Hakan Demir, director Gülsel Özkan, author Celal Yıldız, Berlin State Parliament Member Sevim Aydın, AGADEKA Association and Peoples' Council member Dimitros Constantinidis, historian Professor Dr. Taner Akçam, sociologist and writer Professor Dr. Tassa Hoffman, Dr. Yüksel Özdemir (Chair of the Berlin Alawite Community), and Müslüm Karadaş (Chair of the Dersim Cultural Association Berlin).

Following the inauguration of the monument, musical performances were presented by Rençber, Punara Ma, and Imam Özgül.[1]