COMMEMORATIONS took place in Istanbul today to mark the 24th anniversary of the Gazi massacre, a four-day pogrom against the Alevi community during which 24 people were killed.

A march took place from the Cem Evi cultural and worship house to the Gazi cemetery to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in their resistance against the forces of the Turkish state.

Turkey’s Pir Sultan Alevi Cultural Association vowed to continue the fight for justice for those killed over a four-day period in 1995 following a gun attack on a number of cafes in this working-class district of Istanbul.

Alevi leader Dede Halil Kaya was killed in the initial attack on March 12 when shots were fired from a passing taxi. The driver had his throat slit and his cab was torched as the gunman escaped.

In the aftermath, at least 23 people were killed and hundreds injured as security forces opened fire on protesters after riots erupted across the Gazi district.

Unrest spread to the Umraniye district and martial law was imposed until calm returned on March 15.

Just two police officers were found guilty of murder and 18 were exonerated. But their sentences were overturned by the Supreme Court, which found no basis for the murder charges.

“This reactionary, fascist and denialist mentality that aims to destroy us has not succeeded, despite all the massacres it carried out over the centuries,” the Alevi Cultural Association said, remembering the massacres in Maras (1978) and Sivas (1993).

“24 years ago in Gazi and Umraniye our people stood up against persecution … being the heir of this resistance tradition. They were attacked, wounded, killed for days but never bowed,” a statement said.

The group vowed to continue the fight for justice. “We will not forget the massacres of Gazi and Umraniye,” the statement concluded.