Victims of the attack carried out by the Turkish-backed ISIS against the Peace Rally in Ankara on 10 October 2015 were commemorated at the site of the massacre. The commemoration was attended by many people as well as the families of those killed and wounded in the massacre. The Peoples‘ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, representatives of the Labour Party (EMEP), Halkevleri, CHP, Public Workers’ Union (KESK), Human Rights Association (İHD) and many non-governmental organisations and political parties also attended the commemoration.

Behind a banner that read ‘We will not forget the 10 October Massacre’, the crowd marched from Ulus Metro Station to Train Station Square, where a moment of silence was observed for the victims and their names were read out.

Metin Yurdanur, the architect of the monument built in the square to honor the memory of the victims, made a speech. Mehtap Sakinci Coşgun, wife of Uygar Coşgun, a lawyer who lost his life in the massacre, and President of the 10 October Peace Association, read the prepared joint text. Mehtap Sakinci Coşgun asked, “If the 10 October Ankara Massacre will not be accepted as a crime against humanity, which case will be accepted?” Mehtap Sakinci Coşgun said, “Looking at the statements of the politicians of the time, the 10 October Ankara Massacre is clearly evident as a political murder.”

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları stated the following: “Their only demand was peace, an end to the ongoing war and conflicts in Turkey. Their demand was the end of wars and conflicts in the Middle East. Their demand was for the Kurdish question to be solved through peaceful and democratic methods. Their demand was bread. Their demand was rights for the pensioners. They know that without bread there is no peace, without bread there is no justice. Our 104 pigeons slaughtered here were those who knew this very well. Their demand was that women are not slaughtered. Their demand was that women are not slaughtered with the ISIS-like methods as the women whose throats were slit in the centre of Istanbul in the past days. Their demand was an independent and fair judiciary. They demanded human rights, freedoms, recognition of Alevis as equal citizens in this country, an end to the massacres and assimilation policies against Alevis. Their demand was that young people not emigrate, that they be able to find jobs in Turkey, that they be fed where they were born, and that young people be happy. Their demand was to shout the hope and happiness of the youth. Their demand was equal pay for equal work. In short, their demand was to establish peace, justice and brotherhood in this country.

This government perpetrated the 10 October Train Station Massacre in order to protect its power. You will remember that in the process leading up to 10 October, there were massacres everywhere, as if a massacre alarm had been pressed. The wedding massacre in Antep, the blast at the HDP's rally in Diyarbakır, the bombs left at the HDP's Adana and Mersin provincial organisations and the massacre of the dream travellers in Suruç. They perpetrated all these massacres together with ISIS, they paved the way for ISIS. This government wanted to ensure its existence through co-operating with ISIS.

They were aware of all these massacres. They were aware of all of them, together with the MIT (Turkish intelligence service) and the law enforcement agencies in the centre of Ankara. While watching the trial of the Ankara Train Station Massacre, they were terrified and horrified. They almost confessed how this massacre was realised step by step. If we go back to the court minutes and look at how they obtained the fertiliser, how they prepared the bomb, how they set off from Antep and made their way to Ankara, we can all see that the state, law enforcement and MIT paved the way for this massacre.

We will never forget our beloved ones. We will never let them be forgotten. We will keep them alive in our struggle. We will continue our struggle to establish democracy with all the forces of democracy in Turkey, with all leftist and socialist structures, with labour and professional organisations, with all opposition groups who say ‘no, I will not obey’ to this government, until all their aims are realised. Dear doves of peace, we promise you that our flag will never remain unclaimed. Our promise to you; we will not forget you, we will keep you alive in the struggle and in every field. Let it be known that our struggle will continue until peace wins. Those who think that they have broken the wings of the doves of peace should know that - as the beloved Hrant Dink said - even if we walk with the timidity of a dove in these lands, we will continue this struggle, knowing that when we look back, there are peoples behind us who support us. We will not forget them, we will not let them be forgotten.”

After the speeches, carnations were left in front of the monument.