156th Anniversary of the Circassian Genocide
21 May marks the anniversary of Circassian genocide and exile of 1864.
Genocide is a crime against humanity. Genocide targets the entirety of a people, a community. The impact and consequences of genocide are devastating.
156 years ago more than one million Circassians were subjected to forced migration from their indigenous lands and lost their lives. The Circassians, who developed a language and culture in their homeland Circassia where they had been living since ancient times, were torn apart from their homeland through genocide committed in line with the colonialist policies and goals of great states despite hundreds of years of resistance. All these prove to be the first ethnic cleansing, the first genocide of modern European history.
Czarist Russia pursued a policy of complete annihilation of people without exception, including women and children, during the war in the East Caucasus, Dagestan and Chechen-Ingush area. More than one million Circassians were murdered, more were exiled from their homeland. More than five hundred thousand people died during the deportation and in the areas they first settled. 53 thousand Circassians died only in Trabzon. No one speaks the language of Ubykhs anymore. The name of Hatukay, an Adyghe tribe, is now only heard in history books.
İHD, first of all, calls for the recognition of Circassian genocide by the world as it does for all peoples subjected to genocide, for the establishment of memory centers, and the initiation of reparative justice or, in other words, a process during which recognition, apology and reparation of losses would be realized in no time. The cultural rights of Circassian people were grossly violated as well due to genocidal policies and practices.
İHD, therefore, calls on to the whole world notably the government of the Republic of Turkey on the occasion of the Circassian Genocide Memorial Day:
- “Circassian Genocide and Exile” should be recognized by Turkey and other states.
- Circassian people’s losses that incurred due to genocide should be redressed.
- Circassians’ collective rights should be recognized and the current legal obstacles should be removed to enable Circassians to speak their languages, to live their cultures and identities together with all different identities living in Turkey in order to build social peace. In addition to the removal of obstacles, special measures should be taken to secure the development of Circassian language and culture.
İHD respectfully commemorates those who were killed during the Circassian Genocide.
Human Rights Association