| Türkan Feyzullah | |
| Birth Date: | April 24, 1983 |
| Birth Place: | Mogilyane, People's Republic of Bulgaria |
| Death Date: | December 26, 1984 |
| Death Place: | Mogilyane, People's Republic of Bulgaria |
| Death Cause: | Shooting |
| Resting Place: | Mogilyane village, Kirkovo, Kardzhali Province |
The killing of Türkan Feyzullah occurred on December 26, 1984, in Mogilyane, People's Republic of Bulgaria. Türkan Feyzullah (Bulgarian: Тюркян Фейзула) was a Turkish baby, who died after a bullet hit her when Bulgarian militsia shot at a group of people, peaceful protesting against the forceful Bulgarisation policy held then.[1] [2] [3]
On December 24, 1984, protests started in Mlechino against Bulgarisation policy of Bulgarian government and human right violations of Turks from Bulgaria. Türkan's mother attended the protests.[4] The protests continued until December 26 when they were violently suppressed by the Bulgarian militsia.[5] Bulgarian militsioners started shooting at protesters, bullets wounded tens of people and killed 3. The deaths included Türkan Feyzullah, who was 18 months old then.[6] Türkan died instantly in her mother's arms when the bullet hit upon her. Her killer was never arrested.
Türkan became symbol of Turkish resistance against Bulgarisation after her death. She is remembered at her grave every year with prayers at 26 December. Several monuments of Türkan exist in both Turkey and Bulgaria.[7] [8] A memorial fountain and a monument have been built on the site of the event, where commemorative celebrations are held every year on the day of the killing.
A monument was put up in Bursa in Türkan's memory.[9] Her brother Turhan Öztürk said in an interview about the persecution of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria: "They wanted to destroy our Turkish identity. The villagers didn't stay silent and marched in protest. Soldiers shot at defenseless people. My 18-month-old sibling was killed in my mother's arms. This left deep scars on my mom. All this showed you cannot make a people forget their roots. People must know what this monument stands for, the new generations must remember."[10]
Türkan is commemorated every year with a poem written for her and carved on her memorial stone:[11] [12]
They called me Türkan
I had reached one and a half years old.
The cruel took my name
I got on my mother's back for the dirty road
you can't force this we said
Without checking left or right
they shot a bullet into my head[13]