Monument to Humanity

Former sculpture by Mehmet Aksoy

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Monument to Humanity under construction in 2009

Monument to Humanity (Turkish: İnsanlık Anıtı, Armenian: Մարդկության հուշարձան, romanized: Mardkut'yan hushardzan, lit. 'Monument of Humanity') was a nearly completed statue in Kars, Turkey. Created by Turkish artist Mehmet Aksoy, the 30-metre-tall (98 ft) monument stood atop Kazıktepe, across from the ancient Castle of Kars. Visible from neighboring Armenia, the statue depicted two halves of a man, each reaching to hold the other's hand.[1][2] The monument was demolished in April 2011, only months after being criticized by then–prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a "freak"[3] or "monstrosity".[4]

## Background

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The statue was commissioned by the Kars municipality as a gesture of reconciliation in Armenia–Turkey relations following the Zurich Protocols, a 2009 accord to establish formal diplomatic recognition between the two countries.[4][5] Then–mayor of Kars, Naif Alibeyoğlu [tr], referred to the statue as "his dream," that would help bring together the "brothers and sisters" of the two nations.[6]

However, the statue was also criticized, because it was erected without any consultation with the Armenian community, and represented a one-sided imposition rather than "reconciliation".[7] Egemen Özbek writes:

> the use of the blanket category "humanity" obscures crucial cultural and political differences between ethno-religious groups, and difference in responsibility for, and benefits from, the Armenian genocide... a commemorative project that does not engage with questions of historical responsibility, recognition, and justice runs the risk of eternalizing the post-genocide status quo which favors the Turkish position and reproduces an asymmetry of power, without recognizing historical wrongs committed against the Armenians.[8]

## Demolition

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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the monument as a "freak"[3] or a "monstrosity" (Turkish: ucube) during a visit to Kars on 8 January 2011.[4] In spite of protests, the city authority decided to remove the statue.[3][5]

On 26 April 2011, demolition began with the dismounting of the sculpture's two heads, which Armenian sources considered effectively a decapitation.[9] Aksoy also said "I felt as if my children were being beheaded."[4] An official statement by the demolition company stated: "In order to dismantle it, first the head will be cut off and taken down with the help of a crane. Then, in the following ten days, the statue will be dismembered into 20 pieces."[10] The demolition was completed on 14 June 2011.[11]

While Erdoğan insisted that this was merely a question of aesthetics, international observers believed the demolition an attempt to appeal to nationalist sentiment ahead of the 2011 general election,[12] concurring with Aksoy, who said Erdoğan was "maneuvering to consolidate his reactionary base in the run-up to elections," and that he "bagged the vote of local Azeris," who denounced extending a hand to Armenia.[4]

## Aftermath

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As a response to Erdoğan's comments, Aksoy filed a lawsuit against Erdoğan for insulting him. Erdoğan's lawyer claimed it was a critique rather than an insult, but on 3 March 2015, an Istanbul court fined Erdoğan 10,000 Turkish lira for the insult, a ruling that was termed "a refreshing move by the Turkish judiciary" by oppositional commentator Sibel Hürtaş.[4] However later on, a local court overturned that verdict.[13] Aksoy announced he would spend the money for a Nevruz Day party with his friends,[14] thereby directing haram (Arabic for "immoral") money to its adequately haram purpose.[4] In July 2019, the Constitutional Court ruled that its demolition violated Aksoy's freedom of expression and that he shall be compensated.[15]

## References

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1. ^ Alyanak 2012, p. 35.
2. ^ "Monument to symbolize peace, unity". Turkish Daily News. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
3. ^ a b c "Turkey-Armenia friendship symbol being demolished". BBC News. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
4. ^ a b c d e f g Sibel Hürtaş (10 March 2015). "Erdogan fined $3,800 for insulting peace monument". Al Monitor. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
5. ^ a b "İnsanlık Anıtı yıkılacak". Hurriyet (in Turkish). 9 January 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
6. ^ Alyanak 2012, p. 36.
7. ^ Erbal, Ayda (2016). "Lost in Translation: The Monument's Deconstruction". The Armenian Genocide Legacy. Palgrave Macmillan UK. pp. 212–226\. ISBN 978-1-137-56163-3.
8. ^ Özbek, Egemen (2018). "The Destruction of the Monument to Humanity: Historical Conflict and Monumentalization". International Public History. 1 (2). doi:10.1515/iph-2018-0011. S2CID 166208121.
9. ^ Nanore Barsoumian (11 May 2011). "'Ucube' Decapitated in Kars: 'Monument to Humanity' Demolition Underway". Armenian Weekly. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
10. ^ "İnsanlık Anıtı Direniyor" [Statue of Humanity Withstands]. Anadolu Ajansı. 25 April 2011.
11. ^ Alyanak 2012, p. 33.
12. ^ "Two vast and ugly blocks of stone". The Economist. 13 January 2011.
13. ^ "Constitutional Court: Demolition of 'Monument of Humanity' a Right Violation". Bianet.org. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
14. ^ Umut Erdem (5 March 2015). "Artist 'to party with' Erdoğan's money". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
15. ^ Ruken Tuncel, "Constitutional Court: Demolition of 'Monument of Humanity' a Right Violation", Bianet, 12 July 2019

### Literature

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* Alyanak, Oğuz (2012). "Facing the Ghosts of the "Statue of Humanity"". Lights. 1 (2). Middle Eastern Studies Students Association at the University of Chicago (MESSA): 33–46.

## External links

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* Image gallery at Hürriyet
* Iğdır Genocide Memorial and Museum, the tallest standing monument in Turkey

40°36′39″N 43°05′10″E﻿ / ﻿40.61083°N 43.08611°E﻿ / 40.61083; 43.08611

Authority control databases |

* Kulturenvanteri monument

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