Die Linke MP Ferhat Koçak and state parliament candidates Betül Havva Yılmaz and Yurtsever Özdemir paid a visit of support to the Cemevi (Alevi house of worship) as part of the campaign to bring to trial the defendants in the Sivas massacre case who are living in Germany.
Die Linke MP Ferhat Koçak and Betül Havva Yılmaz and Yurtsever Özdemir, Die Linke candidates for Neukölln in the Berlin House of Representatives, visited the BAT-Cemevi. The delegation was welcomed by BAT-Cemevi Second Chair Kadir Şahin, BAT-Cemevi General Secretary Deniz Yıldırım Caliman and Devrim Turan Özdemir of the Women’s Council, and was briefed on the defendants in the Sivas massacre case living in Germany and on the legal proceedings. The Die Linke delegation was accompanied by Barensel Ağca and Selin Özdemir of the organisation Tip Almanya.
Briefing the visitors, Şahin explained that the community wished to pursue the matter on a cross-party basis and that work had already been initiated in parliament to that end. Noting that the legal aspects were being examined alongside the ongoing signature campaign, Şahin said that they were “proceeding with careful steps so that the defendants in the Sivas massacre case, a crime against humanity, receive the punishment they deserve”.
Koçak emphasised that they were following the process closely, supporting the work in parliament and would continue to champion and support the cause even more strongly after the forthcoming elections. Betül Havva Yılmaz and Yurtsever Özdemir said that the Alevi community’s work in Berlin was extremely valuable, pledged to take the issue to the state parliament if elected, and gave their assurance that they would always follow the matter.
As a second topic, Deniz Yıldırım Caliman stressed the importance of anti-Alevi racism (Anti-Alevitischer Rassismus), noting that the community had received a large number of reports on this in recent years and wished to see the issue raised in parliament. Ferhat Koçak said that research and information work could be carried out on the subject and promised to bring the issue to a meeting on racism to be held after the election.
Following the discussion, Şahin gave an overview of the history and founding stages of the Cemevi and showed the delegation its working and worship areas. Saying that joint projects could be carried out in future, the delegation described the meeting as very productive and promised to meet again.
Finally, Şahin and Yıldırım Caliman wished Betül Havva Yılmaz and Yurtsever Özdemir every success in the elections on 20 September 2026.
