Amidst the bustling cityscape of London, a poignant memorial stands as a testament to a tragic event. The Alevi Memorial To Sivas Martyrs, located in Stoke Newington Common, commemorates the 35 victims of the Sivas Massacre. This horrific event took place on July 2nd, 1993, during the Pir Sultan Abdal festival in Sivas, Turkey. A mob set fire to the Hotel Madimak, where attendees, mostly Alevi intellectuals and artists, had gathered. The Alevi Memorial To Sivas Martyrs serves as a powerful reminder of this tragedy.
The Alevi Memorial To Sivas Martyrs was erected in 1997 by members of the Kurdish and Turkish Alevi communities in Hackney. The memorial features trees planted to honor each of the 35 individuals who perished in the fire, plus two perpetrators. The memorial’s surfaces originally displayed photographs and names of the victims. However, over time, sun exposure has caused some of these images and inscriptions to fade. This area of London has a significant Turkish community, making the memorial particularly relevant to the local population. The memorial was rediscovered in 2011 after a period of neglect. It was then reinaugurated by the London Alevi Cultural Centre under a new name: The Memorial to Pir Sultan Abdal and the Sivas Martyrs.
In 2024, the 31st anniversary of the massacre was commemorated at the Alevi Memorial To Sivas Martyrs. The event brought together community members and representatives to honor the victims. Speeches and musical performances marked the solemn occasion. The memorial stands not only as a tribute to the lives lost but also as a symbol of the ongoing struggle for justice and remembrance. The Alevi Memorial To Sivas Martyrs offers a space for reflection and remembrance in the heart of London. It stands as a reminder of the importance of tolerance and understanding in a diverse world. The memorial is a poignant tribute to the victims of the Sivas Massacre and a symbol of hope for a future free from violence and hatred.