The co-chair of the Human Rights Association (IHD) Öztürk Türkdoğan, spoke to ANF about the police attack against the Gazi Cemevi and the mourning and funeral ceremonies for Grup Yorum member Ibrahim Gökçek.

Türkdoğan stressed that the police attack on cemevi, the Alevi place of worship, is unacceptable. He added that not showing the same respect shown for mosques to other places of worship means there is a serious problem.

Türkdoğan also noted that these kind of attacks are an attack on Turkey's secular principles but it also shows that the police receives orders from religious authorities. If there is no criminal proceedings launched in relation to the policemen responsible for these attacks, it clearly means that Istanbul Governor and Police Chief are acting on religious motives, which is a situation very grave. You cannot attack a funeral because it is being held in the cemevi.”

Once again, said the IHD co-chair, these attacks show the discrimination and repression of the Alevi community. Something which has already been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights on more than one occasion. In Turkey there are 20 million Alevis. 

Reminding that it is a crime to abduct the remains of people and destroy graves, Türkdoğan emphasized that an investigation must be opened against those who do so. Stating that the attacks on funerals and cemeteries constitute the crime of “insulting the memory of the person” according to the Turkish Penal Code, Türkdoğan said that the victims should file a criminal complaint about the attacks. 

Türkdoğan pointed out that the Alevis were being humiliated through the attacks on cemevi, while the Kurdish people were being humiliated through the destructions of graves.

Reminding that the public has a limit in its endurance, Türkdoğan said these attacks should be stopped immediately. He pointed out that the President of Religious Affairs should make a statement about this issue.