“July 2nd Memorial and Justice Park” Opened

On the 32nd anniversary of the Sivas Massacre, Bornova Municipality inaugurated the “July 2nd Memorial and Justice Park” in Kazım Dirik Neighborhood to honor the 33 intellectuals who lost their lives at Madımak and to keep the collective memory alive. Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki emphasized that the park is a legacy that carries responsibility and memory for future generations.

The “July 2nd Memorial and Justice Park,” established by Bornova Municipality on the 32nd anniversary of the Sivas Massacre, was opened with a meaningful and emotional ceremony. Located at the intersection of 370th Street and Ord. Prof. Dr. Muhittin Erel Avenue, opposite Bornova Anatolian High School in Kazım Dirik Neighborhood, the park was designed not only as a green space but also as a monument area to preserve collective memory.

Strong attendance, emotional moments at the ceremony

The opening ceremony was attended by Bornova Deputy Mayor Göksel Ceviz, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Council CHP Group Spokesperson and Bornova Municipal Council Group Deputy Chair Av. Yağmur Yurdakul Özkan, Bornova Deputy Mayor Cem Arıkan, municipal council members, neighborhood headmen, representatives of civil society organizations, and many citizens.

The ceremony began with the National Anthem and a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Sivas Massacre. The emotional atmosphere was heightened by folk songs accompanied by the bağlama, and the unveiling of the monument listing the names of 33 intellectuals murdered at Madımak Hotel. Saplings were also planted in the park in memory of the martyrs.

Arıkan: “This park is our memory and our struggle”

Speaking at the ceremony, Bornova Deputy Mayor Cem Arıkan emphasized that July 2nd must not be forgotten or allowed to be forgotten. Arıkan said:

“We want to show that we have not forgotten our pain, and that these lands are woven with the struggle for democracy and freedom. From Sheikh Bedrettin to Deniz Gezmiş, from Ali İsmail Korkmaz to Ethem Sarısülük, many names will live symbolically in this park. Because we have never lost our faith in justice. If the past had been held accountable, Sivas would not have happened. In this park, we will defend not only the past, but also the future.”

Mayor Ömer Eşki: “This park is not only a memorial; it is a warning”

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, who could not attend the ceremony because he was at a meeting at the CHP İzmir Provincial Headquarters with CHP Chair Özgür Özel regarding an ongoing investigation into İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, shared his feelings in a statement:

“The lives lost in Sivas are a shared wound on our conscience. This park is not only a memorial space but a warning left to the future to prevent the repetition of injustices of the past. This park, which young people and students pass by every day, is an invitation to memory, hope, and struggle. As Bornova Municipality, we will never give up on our fight for justice and freedom.”

A heartfelt voice at Ayfer Feray: “July 2nd Oratorio”

The commemoration events organized by Bornova Municipality on the 32nd anniversary of the Sivas Massacre concluded with an emotional finale at Ayfer Feray Open-Air Theater in Büyükpark. The oratorio “Written in Fire: July 2nd Oratorio”, staged in cooperation with the İzmir Culture, Art, and Education Association (KSED), brought audiences face to face once again with the pain of the lives lost at Madımak Hotel through its powerful narrative and musical expression. Directed by Fatih Ay and brought to life by the music of Grup İlyada, the oratorio spoke to the shared memory of humanity against darkness.