Dersim labor and democratic forces held a commemoration event for Seyit Rıza and his companions who were executed on 15 November 1938.

The commemoration took place in Seyit Rıza Square and was attended by representatives of political parties and institutions, civil society organizations, Alevi associations, mayor Fatih Mehmet Maçoğlu, the trustees appointed by the AKP, Akpazar Mayor Orhan Çelebi and Songül Doğan, HDP Amed Deputy Musa Farisoğulları.

Dersim Associations Federation Representative Kenan Yiğit read the joint statement. Yigit recalled the 1937-38 Dersim Genocide and reminded that the decision to execute the Dersim leaders was actually announced in 1935 in the Turkish parliament with the promulgation of the "Tunceli Law" to which the arrest of Seyit Rıza and his companions followed. They were executed after a so-called trial in Elazığ Buğday Square.

Yigit stated that after the executions, an indisputable genocide was carried out. "The people of Dersim were forced to emigrate and the return to their lands was again forbidden by law. Children, especially girls, were separated from their families and given away, in accordance with the patriarchal system, to various families, especially officers' families. In addition to the massacre with poisonous gases of women and children who took refuge in the caves, innocent people gathered from their villages were shot and thrown off the cliffs."

Yigit demanded the opening of the archives, the use once again of the name Dersim, a public apology, the disclosure of lists of the exiles, disappeared and adopted children, the list of graves, the disclosure of the place of the graves of Seyit Riza and his companions, the recognition of freedom of mother tongue and Kizilbash Alevi project to be canceled.

HDP Amed MP Musa Farisoğulları said: "82 years ago Seyit Rıza and his comrades, together with tens of thousands of people were killed. We see that the same policies are in place today. Everyone should know that: the trustees imposed to the municipal buildings have seized these buildings. No power can break the will of our people. Our people continue the democratic struggle, resistance."