Behçet Aysan's poems find new life in 'For Those Who Forgot How to Love' album

The poetry of Behçet Aysan, a poet who lost his life in the Madımak Massacre, has been brought back to life in a new album titled 'Sevmeyi Unutanlar İçin' (For Those Who Forgot How to Love). The album features Aysan's verses set to music by Turgay Yakut.

In his writing for the album's booklet, Yakut emphasized the enduring relevance of poetry and conscience. He noted the current world's tendency to forget past tragedies and to reduce important concepts to slogans. "In a world that forgets the tragedies that have occurred, that is corrupt, and that has become sloganized, poetry, the bard, and conscience are needed more than ever," Yakut wrote.

The Madımak Massacre, which occurred on July 2, 1993, in Sivas, Turkey, resulted in the deaths of 33 intellectuals and two hotel employees. It was triggered by an attack on a gathering of Alevi cultural figures, including writers and musicians, by a mob incited by religious and political extremists. Behçet Aysan was among those who perished in the event.