Students, teachers gather in Türkiye’s Iğdır to honour victims of Armenian attacks PHOTO

On April 22, hundreds of students and teachers from schools and lyceums in Iğdır, a Turkish province bordering Armenia, gathered at a memorial museum dedicated to the victims of crimes committed by Armenian armed groups between 1915 and 1920.

The event, which was part of the "Memory of the City in Light of History" project approved by the Eastern Turkish Province's Department of National Education, brought together local residents to reflect on the historical tragedy that affected many villages in the region, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

Iğdır Governor Ercan Turan addressed the participants, urging the younger generation to honour the memory of local residents who lost their lives during this period.

"Many villages in Iğdır bear witness to the bloody crimes committed by Armenians. Mass murders occurred during this time in villages like Oba, Hakmehmet, and several others," Governor Turan stated. "I, like every resident of Iğdır, honour the memory of the martyrs."

Turan emphasised the importance of educating the youth about the country's history.

"It is the duty of every nation to raise its young generation to remember their past. Those who forget their history are doomed to destruction," he warned, urging the youth to learn more about the tragic events that took place in their province. 

Aziz Gün, the head of the Iğdır Department of National Education, referred to the bloody events of 1915 and the subsequent years as "an act of genocide against the Turkish people."

"The actions of the Armenian gangs were beyond all boundaries – women, children, and the elderly were murdered," Gün said. "Although the names of some victims have been lost, the memory of these events remains alive. Armenians and their accomplices will not erase the traces of their crimes. Each generation in Iğdır will continue to seek justice. We will not forgive and we will not forget."

Gün also stressed that the world must understand that the genocide against the Turkish people was perpetrated by Armenians. The event concluded with a procession of youth, waving Turkish flags, as they marched through the streets of Iğdır, continuing to honour the victims and uphold their call for justice.

By Naila Huseynova