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| Hasan Demirchi, a renowned Turkish activist and musician from Iranian Azerbaijan, passed away in Tabriz due to heart disease. He faced repeated threats, arrests, and pressure from Iranian authorities due to his cultural activism. |
The renowned musician, Turkish activist, and public figure Hasan Demirchi, who passed away at the age of 77 due to heart disease, was laid to rest in a ceremony on June 25 in Tabriz, attended by thousands of citizens. Composer Memmed Ansari, who studied at the music school founded by the late Demirchi in his youth, and Turkish activist Oktay Alptürk, who was imprisoned alongside him in Tabriz Prison in 2006, spoke with Voice of America about the late master's artistic activities, public service, and his days in prison.
"Hasan Bey Demirchi worked with music both before and after the Revolution and was imprisoned during both regimes... About 30 years ago, after meeting Dr. Zehtabi, he took on the responsibility for the development of music in Azerbaijan and, on his initiative, established a music school in the name of Azerbaijan," the composer says.
According to Memmed Ansari, "Demirchi was particularly concerned with the problems of his students. He created opportunities for musicians and supported them... Even now, when we look at social media, we can see the heartfelt words of his students, who value Hasan Bey like a father."
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| Həsən Dəmirçi |
Ansari highlights Demirchi’s support campaigns for the victims of the 2012 Qaradagh earthquake and his aid to political prisoners and their families, emphasizing that he was always active in various arenas:
"As a responsible musician, as a writer and poet, and as a public figure, he was always active in the field. He carried out these services not with the support of the state, but rather despite the state’s oppression... We will continue to see the impact of the activities Hasan Bey carried out, and of course, we will feel the effects of his absence."
Hasan Demirchi was arrested in May 2006 following the outbreak of a major uprising in Iranian Azerbaijan.
Oktay Alptürk, who was held in the same section of Tabriz Prison as Demirchi at the time, shares in an interview with Voice of America that even during his imprisonment, the artist remained highly active.
"I spent 4 of my 6-month prison sentence in the same section with Hasan Bey in Tabriz Prison. He had been arrested two months before me," says Alptürk.
Oktay Alptürk states, "When I entered the prison, Hasan Bey and other Turkish activists had organized various courses for young activists. For example, there was Artum Bey, who had been asked to give sociology lessons. Other friends also had English and Turkish courses at different times. These were all organized by Hasan Bey."
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| Hasan Demirci |
According to him, Hasan Demirchi was not only concerned with the problems of Turkish activists but also with the issues of other prisoners imprisoned for various reasons:
"During my 6 months in prison, I met many Turkish activists and valuable individuals. But Hasan Bey was truly a different person. At times, he was a friend, sometimes an older brother, and at other times, a grandfather. Different people would ask for help from him, and he would do everything he could to help everyone."
"Thanks to Hasan Bey's presence, we were treated with respect. People imprisoned for different crimes and even the prison guards showed us respect, and this was largely because of Hasan Bey's presence. I witnessed this firsthand. For this reason, they had a good and positive view of our struggle. They welcomed us warmly," says Oktay Alptürk.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Həsən Dəmirçinin sənət, aktivizm və həbs həyatı