The Ahıska Turkish Community Center of Atlanta hosted a significant commemoration program on the 81st anniversary of the deportation of the Ahıska Turks, which took place on November 14, 1944. The program, titled “The Name of Oppression: Ahıska,” was organized with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Washington, D.C. and the Consulate General of Türkiye in Miami. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kanca, President of the Diyanet Center of America (DCA), and DCA Imam Bünyamin Özçiftçi were among the participants.

The event commenced with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Imam Bünyamin Özçiftçi, followed by remarks from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatih Kanca. In his address, Dr. Kanca emphasized that the Ahıska deportation stands as one of the most painful chapters in Turkish history, stressing that it is not merely a historical event but a collective trauma carried across generations. Highlighting how Ahıska Turks were uprooted from their homes, lands, and cultural memory, he stated, “This deportation was not only the loss of a geography; it was the fragmentation of home, heritage, and identity.”

Dr. Kanca underscored that Ahıska is not solely a story of suffering, but also a symbol of patience, resilience, and rebirth. He added, “For decades, they were scattered across different regions and subjected to various forms of oppression; yet they preserved their language, faith, and cultural traditions. Today, the trains and bayonets are gone, but a new danger remains: forgetting, slowly losing one’s identity.”

Addressing the younger generation of Ahıska Turks living in the United States, Dr. Kanca stressed the importance of maintaining cultural identity: “You cannot rise without your roots. The more you preserve your history, culture, and connection to your homeland, the stronger your future will be.” He reaffirmed that the Diyanet Center of America will continue to stand by the Ahıska community in their efforts to preserve their religious, moral, and cultural heritage.

The program concluded with prayers for the tens of thousands of Ahıska Turks who lost their lives during the deportation, as well as for the Turkish soldiers who were recently martyred in a tragic plane crash.

The ceremony delivered a powerful message, honoring the collective memory that the Ahıska community has preserved for 81 years and expressing hope for a future built on unity, resilience, and identity.