YTB Calls the Hanau Massacre to Mind
Cuma, Şubat 16, 2024The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) holds an event to commemorate the Turkish nationals who died of the racist terrorist attack carried out on February 19, 2020 in Hanau, Germany and to remember what happened.
Despite the years that have elapsed since, the pain is still fresh for the loved ones of 9 people including 4 Turks who died of the attack carried out at two cafes by a racist terrorist in downtown Hanau, near Frankfurt on February 19, 2020. YTB holds annual events of commemoration to remember the terrorist attack. To this end, YTB is going to hold a commemorative event on February 21, 2024 to remember those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attack, and raise awareness about racist attacks levelled at Turkish nationals in Europe on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the attack. The event is going to be held in the foyer area of the YTB.
Many Actions Taken Since the Attack
Bringing up racist attacks against the Turkish nationals on every occasion, YTB took many actions following the attack in Hanau. YTB officials have engaged in contact with the family members of those who lost their lives in Hanau, Dietzenbach, and Regensburg since day one after the racist attack in an effort to extend a helping hand to them and share their plight. Visiting the victims’ families to express their condolences right after the attack, YTB officials kept abreast of the shipment of the bodies of those who lost their lives to Türkiye, and attended a march joined by nearly 15,000 people in downtown Hanau, and the mass funeral prayer held in Marktplatz, Hanau. In addition, YTB officials attended the funeral ceremonies of the victims buried in Ağrı and Çorum. A social media campaign was conducted under the motto of “Enough is Enough (Yeter Artık)”, “Es Reich” to draw attention to racist and anti-Islamic attacks levelled at the Turkish nationals residing abroad and raise public awareness about them. The attack drew strong reactions from the fans who unfurled banners in the Turkish Super League games.
An online commemorative panel discussion was held under the title of “Hanau: Where the Fire Burns” attended by experts from Germany and Türkiye to mark the first anniversary of the attack. Public awareness was raised through the commemorative booths placed in Istanbul and Ankara.
On the second anniversary of the attack in Hanau, a street situated in İskilip, Çorum, the hometown of Fatih Saraçoğlu who fell a martyr in Hanau, was named after him to keep his memory alive. A library was rolled out in memory of Gökhan Gültekin, another martyr of Hanau, in the town of Tahir, Eleşkirt of Ağrı. Qur’an recitals and commemoration events at cemeteries were held, as well.