Victims’ families boycott Ankara train station bombing monument opening ceremony

Duvar English

On the ninth anniversary of the Ankara train station bombing, the long-awaited memorial requested by the victims' families was unveiled. Leading the opening ceremony were the Republican People's Party (CHP) and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, along with several CHP members of parliament and officials.

However, the 10 October Peace and Democracy Association, established by the families of those killed in the attack, decided not to attend the ceremony.

In a statement, the association said that the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and CHP Ankara canceled the program they spent days preparing just hours before the ceremony. “Disregarding our association, the 10 October Family, and the labor and democracy forces that have fought alongside us for nine years, they imposed their own program and invited us as mere guests. We reject this imposition and announce that we will not attend the ceremony on October 9,” announced the association. 

Following the association's decision, the monument's sculptor, Metin Yurdanur, also declined to attend, stating, "I cannot be present in an environment where the 10 October families are not satisfied."

During the opening, after a moment of silence and the national anthem, Mayor Yavaş said, “We do not forget any of our citizens who lost their lives to terrorism. Terrorism is the most severe crime against humanity. That is why the ‘10 October Mothers’ Wail Monument,’ which we are unveiling today, is not just a structure but also a symbol of the pain and losses we have endured.”

Yavaş detailed the delays in its construction: “Various competitions were held for the monument design, but the process was prolonged due to legal issues. TMMOB (Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects) held a competition and submitted the winning design, but it couldn’t be implemented because the area was an underpass. There was also a suggestion to plant a tree for each person who lost their life, but this was rejected due to concerns from the police and the train station about obstructing visibility. That’s why there was a delay.”

Following Yavaş, CHP Chair Özgür Özel remarked that they had gathered to unveil a long-overdue memorial. He stated, “Those we lost that day came here to stand for democracy, peace, and brotherhood. But others came here to destabilize Turkey, at a time when the government was struggling to secure a decisive victory in the elections. Every terrorist group in the country was activated.”

Özel continued, “When this massacre is fully illuminated, much more about Turkey will come to light. Until a new era begins, this massacre will not be fully uncovered. We need to ask, who ordered it, who resigned as a result, and who activated all the terrorist groups at once. One day, we will look back and know.”

The suicide bomb attack struck on October 10, 2015, during the “Labour, Peace and Democracy" rally held at the Ankara Train Station Square, becoming the deadliest terror attack in Turkey with 103 casualties and over 500 injured. The victims were largely supporters of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP). 

The attack was attributed to ISIS, however, opposition figures have maintained the neglect of the Turkish Intelligence Agency and security forces were decisive in the magnitude of the massacre.

The victim's families complained that no official responsible for the massacre had yet stood trial.

An Ankara court sentenced 10 defendants to aggravated life in prison over the massacre. Moreover, the defendants received 18 years imprisonment 379 times each over attempted murder.