Commemorative Ceremony
We remember holocaust victims with respect.
In a resolution dated November 1, 2005 and co-sponsored by Türkiye, the United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day.”
On this day, we remember with respect 11 million victims of the Holocaust, including 6 million Jews, the Roma people and the disabled persons, who were systematically and brutally murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. We once again honor the memories of the Turkish diplomats who extended a helping hand to victims fleeing the atrocities.
Türkiye has been participating in the activities of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as an observer country since 2008. IHRA was established with the aim of researching the Holocaust thoroughly, remembering the sufferings of its victims as well as passing this awareness to new generations.
Despite the unprecedented grim reality of the Holocaust, we observe with concern a global rise in hate speech and crimes as well as the still existing discriminatory ideologies of Antisemitism, racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia.
Türkiye will continue to resolutely fight against these hate-based phenomena and all kinds of discrimination that pose threats to global peace and security. Türkiye underlines the importance of international cooperation to this end.
In the past, Türkiye saved by hosting thousands of Jews fleeing Nazi persecution from the Holocaust. Today, our doors remain open to those fleeing violence and we continue to provide protection to millions of people.
Türkiye, who embraces a human centered approach in its foreign policy, calls upon the international community to prioritize humanitarian principles for the prevention of the recurrence of past tragedies.
Genocide is the darkest and the most gruesome crime against humanity. To never forget this atrocity that targeted all the values we cherish and to prevent its recurrence, it is necessary to keep the memories of the victims alive, as well as exhausting and understanding all the knowledge at hand about what had happened. Today it is the onus for all people who embrace the values of equality, justice and freedoms not just in words but also in deeds, to fight more than ever against the racism that lies at the core of this shame.
The crimes that were committed approximately 80 years ago, by the Nazi regime and its collaborators were the source of the term “genocide”. Holocaust with 11 million people including 6 million Jews, Roma people and people with disabilities who were systematically and deliberately murdered, has opened a deep wound in the conscience of humanity.
While January 27 is designated as the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, United Nations stated as follows: “Holocaust will forever be a warning to all people of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.” At this point, it should be stated clearly that the responsibility for new tragedies will fall upon the shoulders of those who do not take into account these warnings.
We remember with pride and gratitude that our diplomats, starting with Selahattin Ülkümen, Necdet Kent, Behiç Erkin and Namık Yolga, fulfilled the human duty in such dark times by helping the people who struggled to escape this tragedy which occurred at the very heart of Europe. While welcoming many scientists and artists fleeing Nazism, we also did what we saw necessary in accordance with our understanding of humanity nourished by our national and moral values, of which we presented many examples throughout the centuries.
It was a significant moral stance to save lives in those dark times despite every risk, and it is equally necessary and indispensable to reveal the will to realize "never again" discourse today. Yet, unfortunately only a few countries display this will.
As Türkiye, today, we faithfully, resolutely and successfully continue to be on the right side of history. Just as Ottoman Empire welcomed the Jews who were displaced from their homes in Spain, and the Christians fleeing sectarian conflicts, we receive millions facing humanitarian tragedies with open arms.
Today, 11 million displaced Syrians are alive thanks to the neighboring countries where they found refuge. Whereas the unwelcoming attitude displaced by Europe is contrary to that. In our opinion, states which do not prioritize the humanitarian outlook in the foreign policy show that they did not learn from history.
The year 2020 was the year that the world has faced great challenges morally and materially. These challenges are still not over, unfortunately. However, this period also made clear to international community what the permanent priorities of us must be and today, the need to understand recent challenges facing the world is being felt more than ever. However, we receive with dismay that ideas and attitudes which divided people and societies and made them suffer different pains are present still in various forms. The international community must realize that there has been little progress so far and should come together to find ways to overcome.
The world must open its eyes to reality. Antisemitic or Islamophobic acts of violence and terrorist attacks are fueled by the very same source. Those who were in Nazi uniforms in the past are today gunmen of hatred and racism in the form of terror. As Türkiye, we resolutely continue to fight against crimes against humanity and will stand together with everyone who pursue the same goal. To act in coordination against problems threatening the global peace and prosperity and to ensure that the implementation of common policies in cooperation is the only valid way for solution.
As I am ending my speech, I once again commemorate with respect the victims of Holocaust and those who confronted this persecution. I reiterate my firm belief that those who embrace compassion, understanding and toleration will always win and I pay my respect to all of you.
On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I commemorate with respect the victims of Holocaust, one of the most painful incidents that dark days of war left in our memories.
Holocaust, which we remember by saying “never again”, is a painful reality that is imprinted in the collective memories of every country in a different way. Türkiye was neither the perpetrator or collaborator of the Holocaust, nor she remained idle.
Türkiye hosted more than 190 predominantly Jewish intellectuals that fled the Nazi regime before and during the World War II. These included three professors who were saved from concentration camps through Turkish diplomatic efforts. They received a warm welcome in Türkiye and continued their scientific research here for the good of all humanity.
Despite the difficult domestic and international circumstances of the World War II and the restrictions imposed upon European Jews by their governments and the financial constraints, Türkiye extended her helping hand also to non-Turkish Jews. The names of; Selahattin Ülkümen, the then Consul General of Türkiye in Rhodes recognized as the “Righteous among the Nations”; Numan Menemencioğlu, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs; and 19 other diplomats of Türkiye, who had put their lives at risk and saved numerous Jews from Holocaust, are currently inscribed in the “Board of Honor” of the Quincentennial Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews.Deriving lessons from the history is an important task assigned by the painful legacy of Holocaust to every nation in the world.
Undoubtedly, fulfilling this task would also shed light to our common fight against all kinds of discrimination based on ethnicity, language, race and religion and the hate-based phenomenon including Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Anti-Christianity as well as the extremism and violence fostered by these. We continue to pursue resolutely the policy of zero-tolerance against all sorts of extremism and intolerance.
We believe that, to learn and to teach about Holocaust and the past sufferings of humanity as well as the embodiment of a common strong stance within the international community against all hate-based phenomenon are sine qua non elements in translating the “Never Again” discourse into reality.
With this understanding, since 2008, with a delegation comprised of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Turkish Jewish Community, we have been participating as an observer country in the activities of the “International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)”, which aims at not only remembrance and research but also raising awareness in future generations to prevent the recurrence of the crime of crimes.
This year, IHRA marks the 23rd anniversary of its foundation. As the main sponsor of the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution expressing Antisemitism as a human rights violation and as one of the co-sponsors of the UN General Assembly Resolution designating January 27 as the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day”, Türkiye can actually be considered as a “natural member” of IHRA, as we share the same goals and values.
We attach importance to the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust and apart from the ceremonies we have been organizing in our country since 2011, our diplomatic missions also host remembrance ceremonies or attend in ceremonies organized under the auspices of UN and other organizations. The introduction of the website “We Remember” is another testimony of our deeds to this end.
Dedicated to the legacy of cultural pluralism and tolerance inherited from our history, we also continue to pioneer and support projects aimed at the preservation of Jewish cultural heritage and religious centers. The comprehensive renovation of the Grand Synagogue of Edirne and the restoration of Izmir Synagogue set the most recent examples.
While ending my speech, last but not least, I would like to briefly mention another tragic incident that is imprinted in our collective memory: the Struma. Struma vessel, which was carrying 769 Jewish refugees departed from Constanza Port, Romania and headed to Palestine, was torpedoed offshores of Sarayburnu on February 24, and sunked into the waters of the Black Sea. All but 1 of the passengers on board of the Struma vessel lost their lives. We commemorate their dear memories with a ceremony held in İstanbul every February since 2015. This trauma, which will never be erased from the memories of the Turkish people, is a deep pain that reminds us of our failed attempts before the relevant states for the safe passage of the ship which lasted 70 days during the darkest days of the war.Our responsibility, today, is to remember the sufferings of millions who lost their lives during the Holocaust, to teach next generations about this tragedy and to prevent its recurrence.
I wish such pains will never ever happen again and in the presence of you, I once again commemorate with respect all the victims of Holocaust.
As we once again commemorate the tragedy of the Holocaust and the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, can we make a self-criticism based on the questions standing before us?
Where do we stand today?
Were we able to take necessary lessons from the Holocaust and the most brutal evil in history, rooted in Hate, Discrimination and Indifference?
Despite the existence of many civil and state institutions fighting this evil, can we admit to ourselves that all efforts have failed, and that these crimes are once again unmercifully on the rise across the world, creating intolerant and even brutal masses devoid of loving kindness?
Can we consider living in such societies as our destiny?
Can we raise our voices against this evil that demonizes the “Other”, and pressure our State authorities, to sincerely prosecute and severely sanction those who are responsible of all these forms of hate?
Can we ask our leaders to invest more in education, in order that the current and future generations will understand what happens when indifference, prejudice and hatred are allowed to thrive?
Shouldn’t this be our primary and collective responsibility towards our children, towards our world?
Sure, remembrance days are important, but in a time when even the Holocaust can be denied, the fight against hate is a challenge that must be met every single day.
Else, we would be doomed to live in a world where we would remember to say “never again” once a year, and “ever again” on remaining days.
Let’s not forget that the COVID-19 disaster we are going through today started with 1 single person spreading the virus. Hate also began in this way throughout history, and sneakily captured crowds and our memories, aiming to destroy them.
As Elie Wiesel said: “Without memory there is no culture, without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future...”
And finally comes the question that stands before us since the creation of mankind: “Are we ready to come forward and say: ‘I know that hatred and crime are at our doorstep, but I am here and I am my brother’s keeper,’” as a reply to God’s: “Where is thy brother?” question asked to KAYIN (Cain) who had killed his brother out of hatred, despite God’s warning.
May the Holy lives, memories and sufferings of all Holocaust and hate crimes’ victims be a blessing and light to us all…
Yehi Zihram Baruh
Amen!
Esteemed Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Our gathering here today to commemorate the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day” is simply one of the reactions that can be shown in the name of humanity, to one of the darkest pages – probably the darkest one – of history.
It is simply one of them, because:
It is certainly useful and even necessary to confront the most painful, the most unjust, and the most ruthless period in the history of humanity generated in recent history, but it is impossible for anyone to undo what has happened.
However, even before the smudgy smokes fuming from the crematoriums’ chimneys could disappear from the atmosphere, the attempts that started to underestimate, even to deny and ignore, and more importantly to live down the Holocaust, keep – I regret to say this but – shamelessly and cynically continue.
But:
Trying to make people forget this human tragedy whose evidences speak for themselves and whose witnesses are still alive; can only turn those who attempt to do so into implied suspects of this drama.
The Holocaust should never be forgotten and should always be remembered, because:
A world which does not learn from the past and would let history to repeat itself will absolutely not deserve to honorably outlive the third millennium’s civilization.
The Holocaust should be told and taught, because:
Every generation – not only to bring history to account – is responsible for preparing a relevant environment for future generations to seek out universal truths among the mistakes made in the past.
The Holocaust education must be an integral part of formal and non-formal curricula, because:
In a period when younger generations are still at their top of their learning and understanding, the way they perceive and comprehend the Holocaust within a scientific framework, free from any information pollution is crucial for structuring their intellect.
The distinctness and uniqueness of the Holocaust should be particularly emphasized, because:
The Holocaust is a phenomenon that goes far beyond the scope of the genocide concept, widely used nowadays, and should not be allowed to become an ordinary term or be banalized for whatever reason.
Therefore,
The human of our time should not remain as a spectator, but be a contributor, an actor, and an activist in all these efforts.
In short:
The attitude towards the concept and the fact of the Holocaust is a test for human beings, for going beyond being mortals, to being humans.
Therefore,
The human of our time should not remain as a spectator, but be a contributor, an actor, and an activist in all these efforts.
In short:
The attitude towards the concept and the fact of the Holocaust is a test for human beings, for going beyond being mortals, to being humans.
Hello, I am Aydın Elbasan, an academician, and advisor to mayor of Kırklareli.
Today, I will try to express my feelings with a video to commemorate The Holocaust victims.
Our topic is Holocaust, which tells about the most shameful days in human history, the genocide. A period between 1941 and 1945 in which 10 to 12 million people were brutally murdered in the heart of Europe.
The Memorial Day of the genocide that thousands of innocent people were tested for their resistance for pain, exposed to toxic gases alive in crematoriums by Nazis.
The days full of pain. Even today our hearts are not strong enough to listen to the stories of those who had escaped from the camps.
The population subjected to massacre mostly consisted of European Romani people along with the Jewish.
The Romani people, along with the Jewish, the disabled, the homosexual, were seen by the Nazis as the non-pure-race, lacking the characteristics of the superior race. Therefore, every means of murder and massacre were approved by the Nazis for racial extinction of the Romani people.
They forced Romani people to work under harsh conditions by taking them from their home, from their living places to the camps. Romani people were murdered in masses in these camps.
In the early months of 1942, they were poisoned with carbon monoxide gas, in gas chambers, along with tens of thousands of Jews.
It is said that the roman population, which was subjected to genocide by Nazis and lost their lives in the second world war, was between 220 and 500 thousand. The scale of the massacre is understood much better when considered that this number was half of the Romani population in Europe.
The Nazis committed genocide in Auschwitz where they had made a centre for genocide by murdering 3 thousand Romani in one day on August 2, 1944.
In 2015, the European union accepted the date of august 2-3 as the European Roman holocaust Memorial Day to commemorate the Romani, who had become victims of the genocide during the second world war.
As for today, the Romani are sadly faced with hate, violence, discrimination and racism daily in many countries.
Most of the Romani do not have access to basic needs, such as housing, employment, education and health.
Today, the Romani who are living all over the world are struggling to survive below the poverty threshold.
Most of the Romani children do not have the same education opportunities their peers have.
Most of the girls in Romani settlements are left without education.
With the excuse of urban transformation, the Romani are being removed from the settlements, in which they have lived for hundreds of years, and their culture is being destroyed. Unfortunately, they are being ignored in many countries they live in.
When some commentators want to defame someone on live broadcast, they do not hold back from using racist and discriminatory remarks such as, "what kind of a gypsyness is this? Sorry, but this is pure gypsyness; what, should i call them, a beggar instead?"
It should be ensured that governments impose sanctions, in accordance with laws, on persons and organisations engaged in such activities.
Romani people are portrayed as thieves, frauds, and non-law-abiding persons in TV shows and movies. Necessary legal sanctions need to be imposed on those persons who are involved in the production of such films and tv shows.
Romani people, who struggle for life by working in day-wage jobs, suffer from and try to fight against deep poverty. In times of the pandemic, Romani people have unfortunately faced greater poverty.
In the fight against discrimination and racism, the most important element is for governments to introduce and ensure the enactment of relevant laws and regulations.
Publications must be made, and films and documentaries must be produced related to the Holocaust in Europe and in Türkiye.
In order to fight against discrimination, it should be taught as a course at universities, and it should certainly be ensured that teachers and pedagogues graduating from these universities are knowledgeable on prejudices and biases.
We commemorate with respect all those Jewish refugees who lost their lives in the Struma vessel on 24 February 1942 while trying to flee the Nazi persecution during the Second World War.
The Struma vessel, carrying refugees fleeing the persecution of the Nazi regime and its collaborators was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine in the international waters of the Black Sea on 24 February 1942.
In order to commemorate 768 people who lost their lives in this tragic incident, a memorial ceremony will be held in Istanbul on 24 February this year as well.
A ceremony was held by the Governorship of Istanbul on 24 February 2022 in memory of the Jewish refugees who lost their lives in the “Struma” vessel on 24 February 1942.
At the ceremony, annually organized since 2015, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Hasan Hüseyin Can and the Turkish Jewish Community Executive Director Deniz Baler Saporta delivered speeches. The Chief Rabbi Rav İsak Haleva prayed for the souls of the victims. The event was concluded with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The members of the diplomatic and consular corps and representatives from the Jewish community attended the memorial ceremony.
Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in Response to a Question Regarding the Ceremony Held in Remembrance of 768 Victims of the Struma Vessel that was Torpedoed by a Soviet Submarine during WWII.
The Struma vessel, carrying Jewish refugees fleeing the persecution of Nazis and their allies during the Second World War, was torpedoed by a Soviet submarine in the international waters of the Black Sea on 24 February 1942, resulting in deaths of 768 people.
Commemoration ceremonies have been annually held at Sarayburnu on February 24th since 2015, under the auspices of the Governorship of Istanbul with the support of the Turkish Jewish Community in remembrance of this tragic incident. As we once again remember with the ceremony held today, at Sarayburnu, we commemorate with respect and honour the memories of all those who lost their lives in the Struma vessel in the hope of fleeing the Holocaust 78 years ago.
The President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Video Message
Communications Director Prof. Fahrettin Altun
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hakan Fidan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Release Regarding the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
We remember once again with deepest sorrow the Genocide against the Tutsi, one of the worst atrocities in the recent history of mankind, which took place in the Republic of Rwanda in 1994.
We sincerely share the pain of the friendly state and people of Rwanda. We commend that Rwanda was able to reestablish its social peace by healing the wounds of this atrocity. We wish that peace, stability and prosperity achieved through this process will be lasting.
Türkiye opposes all kinds of crimes against humanity, racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and extremist ideology and will continue to fight resolutely for preventing the recurrence of similar sufferings in the future.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Release Regarding the International Holocaust Remembrance Day
In accordance with the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, today, on the occasion of the “International Holocaust Remembrance Day” we commemorate with respect millions of Jews, Roma people, disabled persons as well as all targeted groups, who were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
Türkiye, which embraced many Jews fleeing the Nazi atrocities during the Second World War, continues to be a safe haven for millions of people who have been persecuted in different parts of the world today. We also take this occasion to honor the memories of the Turkish diplomats who saved the Jews from being sent to concentration camps.
Türkiye continues to emphasize the importance of taking necessary measures to prevent the increasing danger of racism, xenophobia, anti-Islam and anti-Semitism. With this understanding, we actively take part in and contribute to the work of international organizations in this field, particularly the "International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance".
In this framework, the International Institute for Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity at İstanbul University hosted this year’s commemoration ceremony on January 27, 2023.
Türkiye will continue to maintain its uncompromising stance against anti-Semitism, xenophobia, racism, anti-Islam and all forms of intolerance, and is determined to contribute to international cooperation in the fight against hate-based speech and crimes.
The President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Communications Director Prof. Fahrettin Altun
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Release Regarding the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
We remember once again with deep sorrow the Genocide against the Tutsi, one of the worst atrocities in the recent history of mankind, which took place in the Republic of Rwanda in 1994 where more than 1 million people were systematically and brutally murdered. We sincerely share the pain of the friendly state and people of Rwanda and offer our condolences.
Türkiye opposes all kinds of crimes against humanity, racism, xenophobia and extremist ideology and will continue to fight resolutely for preventing the recurrence of similar sufferings in the future.
Communications Director Prof. Fahrettin Altun
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Release Regarding the International Holocaust Remembrance Day
On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we commemorate with respect millions of Jews, Roma people, disabled persons as well as targeted minorities and groups, who were systematically murdered by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
The Ottoman Empire and Türkiye have been a safe haven where millions of people, including Jews, who had been persecuted in different parts of the world throughout history, took shelter. During World War II, Türkiye welcomed many Jews fleeing the Nazi atrocities. A considerable number of Jews were saved from being sent to concentration camps thanks to the determination of the Turkish Government and the remarkable efforts of Turkish diplomats. We also take this occasion to honour the memories of the Turkish diplomats who extended a helping hand to those victims.
This year, Holocaust victims will be commemorated in an online ceremony due to increasing COVID-19 cases.
Türkiye maintains its uncompromising stance against Antisemitism, xenophobia, racism, anti-Islam and all forms of intolerance, and contributes to international cooperation in the fight against hate-based speech and crimes.
weremember
The crime of crimes.
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