SOLINGEN - Five members of Turkish Genc family, who were killed in an arson attack by racist German youngsters in Solingen, Germany, on May 29th, 1993, were commemorated on Tuesday.
Turkish Consul General in Dusseldorf Hakan Olcay and Solingen Mayor Franz Haug were in attendance at the commemoration ceremony.
Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador to Germany Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik sent a message which reads, "although 14 years have elapsed, this saddening event was not forgotten. Unfortunately, there are still some people supporting such a distorted mentality even in the 21st century. I believe that the German people will maintain their fight against racism and xenophobia with the same determination."
Meanwhile, German teacher Christel Gottschalk was presented with the "Silver Shoe Award" for her contributions to Turkish people`s efforts to adjust themselves with the German society.
The house of the Genc family was set on fire by extreme rightists on May 29th, 1993. Five people were killed in the arson attack. After the event, 4 extreme rightist youngsters were arrested. Three of them were sentenced to ten years in prison while the remaining other was given a 15-year imprisonment term.