The Terrible Face of Racism: The Solingen Catastrophe

One of the most brutal examples of racism, one of the most appalling and inhumane ideologies to ever appear in history, appeared 29 years ago in Germany. A young family of Turkish origin living in Solingen, Germany was attacked by Neonazis on May 29, 1993. The Neonazis mercilessly set fire to the home of the young family! As a result of this terrible event, 5 people lost their lives. The event, later called the “Solingen disaster”, keeps its freshness in the memories of both the Turkish and German communities, despite the passage of 29 years.

On the other hand, the Solingen disaster, which is considered one of the symbols of racism in Europe, still deeply affects everyone, regardless of nationality, from a piece of humanity in their hearts, despite the intervening years. Here’s what you need to know about the Solingen disaster, one of the darkest spots in human history…

The Genk family, who immigrated to Germany from Turkey in the 1970s, settled in Solingen, famous for the production of knives and scissors.

The Genk family, who immigrated to Solingen, Germany from a village on the Black Sea in the 1970s, settled into a detached 19th-century two-story building in the city after the family increased. The immigrant family got on well with the neighborhood residents and everyone was well-liked.

The quiet life of his young family in Solingen was completely changed by a vile attack on May 29, 1993.

Later, it was revealed that they live in the same neighborhood as Genç’s family, and on the night of May 29, while their family members were sleeping, they planned a treacherous attack and set fire to Genç’s two-storey house. family.

5 members of Genk’s family were killed in the neo-Nazi attack.

Gursun Ince, Hatice Genc, ​​Gulushtan Ozturk, Hulya Genc and Saimi Genc burned to death in the Solingen disaster. On the other hand, 14 family members who were in the house at the time of the accident managed to escape from the attack. However, some will have to undergo dozens of surgeries before they can return to their normal lives…

The four Niyonazi who carried out the attack were arrested shortly after the incident.

The killers Markus Gartmann, Felix Cohnen, Christian Reiher and Christian Buchholz were arrested and sent to prison. The perpetrators were released after completing their sentences. It is known that the attackers still live in Solingen today …

The Solingen disaster caused great shock among the Turkish minorities in Europe, especially in Germany.

Many Turks living in Germany have begun to delete Turkish names from doorbells and keep boxes full of water on their balconies in case their homes catch fire! However, this terrible event was not just a shock to Turkish society.

There were also many German citizens who were deeply saddened by the accident. On the other hand, the Solingen disaster caused some old debates to flare up again in Germany and even in Europe. Many concepts such as racism, immigration, integration and human rights were discussed again after the Solingen disaster…

The Solingen disaster has become one of the symbolic events of racism in Europe over the years.

However, this horrific event was neither the first nor the last to happen due to racism. After the Solingen disaster, many terrorist attacks took place in different cities in Germany targeting different ethnic minorities, especially Turks. Many Turkish citizens were injured or lost their lives in these attacks. The homes and workplaces of Turkish citizens were severely damaged. Various attacks were also carried out on mosques in areas where Turkish citizens are concentrated.

The racist attacks that emerged in Germany from the 1990s to the 2000s were high on the agenda of public opinion in the country.

Some claimed that there was no organized, destructive racism in Germany, and viewed the terrorist attacks as isolated incidents. However, it was argued that the authorities in Germany did not adequately respond to the attacks and thus, knowingly or unintentionally, supported racism and racist attacks in the country.

However, in 2011, the underground far-right socialist terrorist organization (NSU) terrorist organization, whose existence was discovered by chance in 2011, caused those who deny the existence of organized racism to be mistaken in Germany … In the investigations, it was understandable That the organization called NSU has been responsible for many terrorist attacks. Members of this deadly far-right terrorist organization have killed dozens of people over the years.

Mevlut Genk, who lost her two daughters, two grandchildren and a niece in the Solingen disaster, has become one of the symbols of the struggle against racism.

Because Mevlut Genk was sending messages of peace, love and brotherhood instead of hatred, hatred and enmity despite the losses incurred. Young, after the disaster”I don’t hold anyone accountable, I forgive, we are all from here, we are all brothers.He became one of the symbols of the struggle against racism in Germany with his statement.

Despite the past 29 years, the Solingen disaster continues to deeply affect all who feel some humanity in their hearts.

Every year, those who lost their lives in the accident are commemorated at the spot where the terrible attack took place. And although 29 years have passed, the pain of those who lost their lives in the Solingen disaster is as fresh as day one…

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