Tunceli residents have put up posters throughout the city showing Öymen with a

Hitler-like toothbrush moustache. Meanwhile, civil society organizations, the municipality, the local university's rector's office and Alevi associations in the city have plans to march to the CHP's local office and lay a black wreath in front of the building.

During a speech in Parliament on Tuesday criticizing the government’s Kurdish initiative, which seeks to extend the rights of Kurds in Turkey to alleviate and ultimately end the separatist terrorism of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Öymen said: “Didn’t mothers also cry at the time of the Sheikh Said Rebellion? Didn’t mothers also cry at the time of the Dersim Rebellion?” in response to the government’s used of the phrase “Let no more mothers cry” as part of its efforts to end the PKK’s campaign of terrorism.

The rebellion took place in 1937 in Dersim, which had historically been a semi-autonomous region. Dersim was renamed Tunceli after the rebellion. The rebellion was led by Seyyid Riza, the chief of a Zaza tribe in the region. The Turkish government at the time, led by İsmet İnönü, responded with air strikes against the rebels. Thousands were killed in the campaign.

There were also protests by Alevi groups in İstanbul and Ankara yesterday condemning Öymen’s controversial remarks.

Öymen hasn’t apologized

Despite widespread public outrage, the CHP deputy chairman stood by his words, telling members of the press on Thursday, “In no part of my speech can expressions that might offend our citizens of different ethnic, religious or sectarian roots be found.” He blamed the media for twisting his words, accusing “some columnists and TV commentators” of making interpretations that would be misunderstood by the public. Öymen also stated that he would not apologize for his remarks.

Tunceli deputy Şerafettin Halis from the Democratic Society Party (DTP) said: “With this speech, Öymen points out the idea that killing is a good solution to the Kurdish problem. What Öymen said is equal to saying, ‘The CHP’s blood-drenched bayonet in Tunceli shall never dry’,”

Independent deputy Ufuk Uras dared Öymen to make a similar speech in Tunceli before the province’s residents.

Hubyar Sultan Alevi Cultural Association President Ali Kenanoğlu said: “The Dersim massacre is a shame for humanity. Offering such a crime against humanity as a model for the settlement of the Kurdish question is being part of that crime. Öymen should apologize to the people of Dersim in particular and to the entire Alevi community in general.”

Tunceli University Rector Durmuş Boztuğ said Öymen’s statement was unfortunate, noting, “Such a statement is really saddening when people should be trying to understand the pains of the Tunceli people.”

Seher Dilovan, an Ankara-born folk singer whose parents are from Tunceli, said: “Does he approve of what was done? This statement is the product of a backward mind.”

Fermani Altun, head of the World Ehl-i Beyt Foundation, an Alevi association, said: “The statement is completely scandalous. It is a most unfortunate declaration. They [the CHP] are not only blocking the country’s movement away from the official ideology to a democratic system but are also showing the same mentality as the official ideology with such statements.”

“This means that if they had the chance, they would carry out similar massacres. Those who are afraid of democracy resort to massacres,” said Metin Tarhan, head of the Erikli Baba Cemevi and Cultural Association.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Association (İHD) yesterday filed a criminal complaint against Öymen, stating that his speech was in violation of a number of legal regulations including Article 215 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which criminalizes “praising a crime and its perpetrator.”