Killing of Tyurkyan Feyzula

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
BornApril 24, 1983
DiedDecember 26, 1984
Cause of deathShooting
Resting placeMogilyane village, Kirkovo, Kardzhali Province

Event

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On 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

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Türkan 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Türkân Bebek kaç aylıktı?" (in Turkish). Kırcaali Haber. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 September 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b "'Türkan bebek' ölümünün 35. yılında Edirne'de anıldı". www.aa.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  3. ^ a b "Persecuted Bulgarian Muslims honored in ceremony". www.worldbulletin.net (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  4. ^ "İşte Türkan bebeğin hikayesi". www.hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 26 December 2008. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  5. ^ a b "Bulgaristan Türklerinin direnişinin sembolü 'Türkan bebek' ölümünün 35. yılında anıldı". www.aa.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  6. ^ Şafak, Yeni (2019-11-04). "4 soruda Bulgaristan'daki zorunlu göç: Türkan bebek direnişin sembolü olmuştu". Yeni Şafak (in Turkish). Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  7. ^ "Türkan Bebek anıtında anma töreni düzenlenecek". Radikal. 22 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Türkan Çeşme Özel Sayısı" (PDF). Kırcaali Haber. December 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Turkan bebegin anisi Bursada da yasatilacak". Bursa Municipality. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Turkan Bebegin Anisi Bursada Yasatiliyor". Milliyet. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  11. ^ Admin. "Türkan bebeği Şehit edilişinin 36. yılında rahmetle anıyoruz." BAL-TÜRK (in Turkish). Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  12. ^ Nursoy, Abdurrahim (2018). "Türkan Bebek ve Asimilasyon Şehitlerimizi 34. Yılında Rahmet ve Şükranla Andık". www.balgocizmir.org.tr. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  13. ^ Kadınların, Adı Zeynep Katledilen Tüm (2020-08-15). Adı Zeynep Katledilen Tüm Kadınların (in Turkish). Muhammed YAVAŞ. ISBN 978-625-400-687-6.