Türkan Feyzullah |
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![]() Türkan with her mother |
| Born | April 24, 1983
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| Died | December 26, 1984
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| Cause of death | Shooting |
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| Resting place | Mogilyane village, Kirkovo, Kardzhali Province |
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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]
Event
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
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
References
