The Great Geloylu Meeting, Crowned with Peace

The Great Geloylu Meeting was held on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at the Anatolia Wedding Hall. In addition to participants from Hakkari, Van, Ardahan, Ağrı, Kars, and Iğdır, Geloylu people living in metropolitan areas also showed great interest. The meeting, which started at 11 AM, continued with lunch. The trilingual dictionary work titled “Ferheng / Sözlük / Dictionary”, co-authored by Mücahit Özden Hun and Şeval Hun, was placed on the tables as a gift.

After the meal, Mücahit Özden Hun was invited to the podium. After greeting the guests, Hun called upon Mehmet Emin İçten Hodja to recite the Fatiha. After the Fatiha, Hun continued his speech as follows:

“Esteemed ladies, esteemed elders, brothers and sisters, dear young people!

Welcome, all of you, to the Great Geloylu gathering! Before I begin my speech, I would like to convey the greetings and good wishes sent to us from afar for this meeting. Our brother Mehmet Haşimoğlu sends his love and respect to all of you. (Long applause) Also, our elder brothers Ünal Tırpan and Yılmaz Tırpan sincerely greet you. (Applause) My two sisters living in Germany, Süheyla Aksoy and Leylagül Hun Özalp, also send us their best wishes. (Applause!)

Dear brothers and sisters;

The Geloylu Community is entering a new era and is ready to act to fulfill the requirements of its historical mission. What is this mission? Our Iğdır has not been able to achieve the desired progress in industry and trade for years. Many valuable entrepreneurial compatriots planned large investments, but unfortunately, they could not achieve the desired results. Currently, Alagöz Holding is trying to add value to our Iğdır with all its might. As a native of Iğdır, I am grateful to them. However, no investment can succeed in Iğdır without peace between the communities. Trees are nourished by water, and money by peace. The only civil society force in Iğdır that is equidistant from the Azerbaijani and Kurdish segments is the Geloylu Community. There is a reason for this, which I would like to explain: You can liken the Geloylu Community to an eagle flying over Mount Ağrı. One wing is Azerbaijani, the other is Kurdish. We see this sociological phenomenon and reality as a richness of the Geloylu Community. As some claim, we are neither Kurdifying Azerbaijani Geloylu people nor Azerifying Kurdish Geloylu people. We accept both segments with their own linguistic and cultural identities and embrace them. Therefore, a Geloylu Community that achieves its internal peace will be the fundamental pillar and strength of peace in Iğdır.

Dear brothers and sisters;

In short, I want to respond to the accusations made against the Geloylu Community:

Some circles want to label the Geloylu Community with "separatism or treason." The reason for this is that, in the last twenty years, the Geloylu Community has largely gravitated towards and voted for certain parties or candidates. The Geloylu Community is free to exercise its political will as it wishes. It does not have to account to anyone.

In 1919-1920, while Iğdır was grappling with civil war, our Geloylu ancestors fought at the forefront as militia forces in this struggle, gave martyrs, and played an important role in the inclusion of Iğdır and its vicinity, which was not even shown within the borders of the National Pact (Misak-ı Milli), into the borders of the Republic of Türkiye. For this reason, the Geloylu Community does not need lessons on "homeland" and "flag" from anyone.

On the other hand, some circles accuse us of "tribalism." Those who say this are unaware of Kurdish social structure and history. There is a point on which famous foreign-born Kurdologists and sociologists like Martin van Bruinessen agree: "If there were no Kurdish tribes, Kurds would have been assimilated long ago in the historical process."

Therefore, we are proud of our tribal identity. One should not confuse "tribe" with "tribalism." "Tribe" has a social content, while "tribalism" has a political content. The tribal structure, as a social phenomenon, has existed for thousands of years in various forms and will continue to exist by transforming. We accept restructuring our tribe in accordance with the requirements of the age as a duty and responsibility.

Furthermore, as the Geloylu Community, we believe that fundamental social problems such as education in the mother tongue will be resolved and overcome not by opposing our state, but by cooperating with it.

Dear brothers and sisters;

In our previous meetings, we had made four fundamental decisions. I would like to remind you of these four basic rules that the Geloylu Community must adhere to, and also submit them for your approval:

1. Blood money is prohibited. Those who accept? (Participants raised their hands and unanimously approved this decision.)
2. Bride price is prohibited. Those who accept? (Participants raised their hands and unanimously approved this decision.)
3. Milk money is prohibited. Those who accept? (Participants raised their hands and unanimously approved this decision.)
4. Geloylu people can exercise their political preferences as they wish. No one can be forced to vote openly. Those who accept? (Participants raised their hands and unanimously approved this decision.)

Furthermore, although it is not a separate article in itself and is a very rare situation, we also consider the marriage of a deceased man's wife to his brother to be contrary to general moral rules and we do not approve of this approach.

Dear brothers and sisters;

Now we have come to the most important part of our meeting. Unfortunately, on December 24, 2012, a feud arose within the Geloylu community, a fight broke out between the parties in the center of Iğdır, and our brother Sıddık Akpınar passed away due to his injuries. As a result of this incident, the Geloylu community suffered a great blow and was internally fragmented. Despite all efforts, this problem has continued as a bleeding wound until today.

To prevent the feud from escalating, in August 2013, I brought my late mother with me to Iğdır and arranged a meeting between the parties. Unfortunately, I could not achieve any results from this initiative. This time, on October 16, 2013, together with my brother Hacı Maruf Çakmaz, we held a dinner meeting at a place called Posedero on Vali Road, and formed a committee under the leadership of our late uncle Timur Kesip. As a result of the committee's efforts, we prevented the existing feud from growing further, more bloodshed, and unfortunate incidents from occurring, but we could not achieve peace. Subsequently, the ongoing court decision was finalized, sentencing 8 Geloylu youths to a total of 237 years in prison.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Now I ask all of you to stand up! I invite Tevfik Akpınar, the brother of the late Sıddık Akpınar, to come to my uncle Hacı Reşit İldiz, kiss his hand, and achieve peace. (Applause)”

As Mücahit Özden Hun concluded his speech, emotional moments were experienced in the hall. Some participants could not hold back their tears. The meeting dispersed in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. In this way, the feud that had been ongoing since December 24, 2012, came to an end. This peace also holds the distinction of being the FIRST PEACE achieved within the Geloylu Community for a significant, long-standing feud without the payment of "blood money." The meeting concluded with the hope of holding a large festival in Karakuyu village at the end of April, in the spring.

I congratulate the families who consented to peace, the Geloylu Community, and everyone who contributed to the realization of peace, and wish them success.