The killing of Türkan Feyzullah occurred on December 26, 1984, in Mogilyane, People's Republic of Bulgaria. Türkan Feyzullah (Bulgarian: Тюркян Фейзула) was a Turkish baby, who died after a bullet hit her when Bulgarian militsia shot at a group of people, peaceful protesting against the forceful Bulgarisation policy held then.[1][2][3]
Türkan Feyzullah | |
|---|---|
 Türkan with her mother | |
| Born | April 24, 1983 |
| Died | December 26, 1984 |
| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Resting place | Mogilyane village, Kirkovo, Kardzhali Province |
Event
editOn December 24, 1984, protests started in Mlechino against Bulgarisation policy of Bulgarian government and human right violations of Turks from Bulgaria. Türkan's mother attended the protests.[4] The protests continued until December 26 when they were violently suppressed by the Bulgarian militsia.[5] Bulgarian militsioners started shooting at protesters, bullets wounded tens of people and killed 3.[5] The deaths included Türkan Feyzullah, who was 18 months old then.[6] Türkan died instantly in her mother's arms when the bullet hit upon her. Her killer was never arrested.[3]
Legacy
editTürkan became symbol of Turkish resistance against Bulgarisation after her death. She is remembered at her grave every year with prayers at 26 December.[2] Several monuments of Türkan exist in both Turkey and Bulgaria.[7][8] A memorial fountain and a monument have been built on the site of the event, where commemorative celebrations are held every year on the day of the killing.
A monument was put up in Bursa in Türkan's memory.[9] Her brother Turhan Öztürk said in an interview about the persecution of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria: "They wanted to destroy our Turkish identity. The villagers didn't stay silent and marched in protest. Soldiers shot at defenseless people. My 18-month-old sibling was killed in my mother's arms. This left deep scars on my mom. All this showed you cannot make a people forget their roots. People must know what this monument stands for, the new generations must remember."[10]
Türkan is commemorated every year with a poem written for her and carved on her memorial stone:[11][12]
They called me Türkan
I had reached one and a half years old.
The cruel took my name
I got on my mother's back for the dirty road
you can't force this we said
Without checking left or right
they shot a bullet into my head[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Türkân Bebek kaç aylıktı?" (in Turkish). Kırcaali Haber. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ a b "'Türkan bebek' ölümünün 35. yılında Edirne'de anıldı". www.aa.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ a b "Persecuted Bulgarian Muslims honored in ceremony". www.worldbulletin.net (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-09.
- ^ "İşte Türkan bebeğin hikayesi". www.hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 26 December 2008. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ a b "Bulgaristan Türklerinin direnişinin sembolü 'Türkan bebek' ölümünün 35. yılında anıldı". www.aa.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ Şafak, Yeni (2019-11-04). "4 soruda Bulgaristan'daki zorunlu göç: Türkan bebek direnişin sembolü olmuştu". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ "Türkan Bebek anıtında anma töreni düzenlenecek". Radikal. 22 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ "Türkan Çeşme Özel Sayısı" (PDF). Kırcaali Haber. December 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- ^ "Turkan bebegin anisi Bursada da yasatilacak". Bursa Municipality. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Turkan Bebegin Anisi Bursada Yasatiliyor". Milliyet. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ Admin. "Türkan bebeği Şehit edilişinin 36. yılında rahmetle anıyoruz." BAL-TÜRK (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ Nursoy, Abdurrahim (2018). "Türkan Bebek ve Asimilasyon Şehitlerimizi 34. Yılında Rahmet ve Şükranla Andık". www.balgocizmir.org.tr. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
- ^ Kadınların, Adı Zeynep Katledilen Tüm (2020-08-15). Adı Zeynep Katledilen Tüm Kadınların (in Turkish). Muhammed YAVAŞ. ISBN 978-625-400-687-6.