“Yücelciler” memorial unveiled in Mamuşa Municipality of Kosovo
The ceremony took place at Anadolu Primary School and was attended by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Pristina Sabri Tunç Angılı, President of the Turkish Language Association (TDK) Osman Mert, Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP) Chairman and current Minister of Regional Development Fikrim Damka, İHH Board Member Osman Atalay, Mayor of Mamuša Abdulhadi Krasniç, and representatives of Turkish civil society organizations from Kosovo and North Macedonia, along with numerous guests.
“A Struggle for Language and Identity”
Ambassador Angılı stated that members of the Yücel Organization paid a heavy price for the survival of Turkish language and culture in the Balkans, noting that four members were executed while others were imprisoned for many years.
“The first Yücelciler memorial was built at Tefeyyüz Primary School in Skopje. The fact that this second memorial has been erected in the garden of Anadolu Primary School in Mamuša is especially meaningful, as Mamuša is the only municipality in the Balkans with a constitutional Turkish majority,” Angılı said.
TDK President Osman Mert emphasized the importance of collective memory, stating:
“Martyrs only truly die when they are forgotten. This memorial is one of the most concrete and meaningful steps taken to pass this memory on to future generations.”
A Legacy for Future Generations
Minister Fikrim Damka underlined that the memorial serves as a powerful reminder to young generations of the sacrifices made to protect Turkish language and education in the Balkans.
“In 1948, members of the Yücel Organization gave their lives so that Turkish language and education could survive in the Balkans. This memorial keeps their memory alive and is a great source of pride for us,” Damka said.
İHH Board Member Osman Atalay noted that the graves of the Yücel martyrs remain unknown, adding:
“They did not struggle only for the Turkish community in North Macedonia, but for all Turks in the Balkans. That is why it was important to erect this memorial here in Kosovo as well.”
Following the unveiling, a commemorative program was held at Anadolu Primary School in honor of the Yücel members.
TimeBalkan
