Balkans | The Turkan doll, a symbol of the Bulgarian Turks, is commemorated in Edirne

18-month-old Turkan Faizullah, who was killed in her mother’s arms in the events that unfolded during the attempted assimilation in Bulgaria in 1984, is commemorated on the 38th anniversary of her death.

Turkan Faizullah, who was martyred in Karjali, Bulgaria, when he was 17 months old as a result of being shot by Bulgarian soldiers on his mother’s lap is commemorated and became a symbol of resistance during the totalitarian communist regime. In front of the monument in Edirne on the 38th anniversary of his martyrdom. I witnessed the emotional moments with the poems recited by our fellow students at the ceremony which was attended by many people from Bulgaria.

“We are a country that has paid that price many times in the past.”

On the occasion of the 38th anniversary of this tragic event, the ceremony was held in the park named after Türkan Bebek in the region named by the Thracian-Balkan Association for Culture and Solidarity with the Turks of the Balkans after the old immigrant homes. Edirne Governor Hüseyin Kursat Kirbek, who spoke at the ceremony, stated that they are happy on the one hand, and emotional on the other, because of the unity and solidarity that prevailed on this important day.

Students from the Kislagac district of Karjali, Bulgaria recited my poetry. During the concert, some of the participants could not hold back their tears. Edirne Governor Hüseyin Kursat Kirbek stated in his speech that the growing Turkish presence throughout history has a price.

Edirne Foreign Ministry representative, Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yurk, Edirne Police Chief Mustafa Salar, deputies of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sezgin Mehmet and Erten Arnisova, Stanbulovo Mayor of Bulgarian Haskova District Adnan Yildiz, representatives of NGOs, political parties and citizens also attended the program.

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