You may have heard of the Nuremberg International Military Tribunals. Last week, we were invited to a wedding in Ingolstadt, a city close to this historic region.
Nuremberg was Hitler’s favorite city and is also famous for its courts. The trials of prominent German officials before the International Military Tribunal (IMT), the best known of the post-war war crimes tribunals, officially began in Nuremberg, Germany on November 20, 1945, six and a half months after Germany surrendered. On October 18, 1945, the IMT chief prosecutors read the charges against 24 prominent Nazi officials. The charges were crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Four Allied countries (the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and France) each provided a judge and prosecution team. Judge Geoffrey Lawrence of the Appeals Chamber of the Supreme Court of Great Britain served as the tribunal’s trial judge. The court’s rules delicately reconciled the Continental European and Anglo-American judicial systems. A team of interpreters immediately translated all proceedings into English, French, German, and Russian. On 1,200 occasions, the accused Nazi officials named Adolf Hitler as the perpetrator of all these crimes.
Ingolstadt, an hour away from Munich, is a city in the state of Bavaria. Bavaria is a highly developed and vibrant center, rich in culture and classical style architecture. It features modern and classic cars in its streets, with the AUDI headquarters, museum, and production factory being significant landmarks. The Audi production center employs 40,000 people and has been in service for 70 years. Ingolstadt is also known for its connection to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” written in 1818. In the novel, Viktor Frankenstein studies at Ingolstadt University.
We attended the wedding of our family friends Zeynep and Sakir in Ingolstadt. Mr. Sakir has been living there for about five years. He speaks German fluently and is studying social work. We met many nice people who have successfully integrated into the region in a short time. Our hosts, Mr. Salih, a lawyer, and Mrs. Mahinur, welcomed us warmly into their lovely home.
The wedding took place in a quaint, wooden building nestled in a forest area. The guests were so familiar with each other that everyone felt like a host, and we never felt like strangers. We enjoyed music accompanied by traditional Turkish bağlama and guitar played by friends at the wedding. The sound of the bağlama evoked deep emotions among the expatriates. Unfortunately, as has become common lately, the groom and bride’s relatives could not attend the wedding due to difficult visa processes and exit bans. Live Zoom interviews have now become a ritual for such happy or sad occasions.
In countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, many qualified, well-equipped, and virtuous people have fled the lawlessness and persecution of the regime in Turkey. These individuals, whom we call the New Europeans, organize social programs such as seminars and events in their regions. They engage in guidance and mentoring activities for their children while building a culture of dialogue and coexistence with the local population. Their efforts have led to significant progress and new friendships. At the wedding, German teacher Elke, who has become a friend of our friends, was present, helping them throughout the event.
In the library of the house where we stayed, I read a large part of the book titled “Bize de Gurbet Düştü,” published on September 15, 2023, by [Academics at Risk](https://www.academicsatrisk.org), an organization established by academics in that region. M. Said Arbatli wrote the foreword. It is a collection of interesting stories, mostly written anonymously, describing the tragic events of thousands of people in different ways. Although I wish to include all the stories, I can only share a part of one.
**Postmodern Seven Sleepers**
Something like death happened…
But no one died.
So says Özdemir Asaf. If you ask what absconding is, I would say this is it. You are like a spirit that is just watching what is happening; you are not really there, but you are in the world and observing events. When the state, which is supposed to protect its citizens, turns into an oppressive tool that crushes everyone in its path like an out-of-control press machine, it is crucial not to let yourself and your loved ones fall victim to this cruelty. To avoid this, you must not even pass through the doors of state institutions, including hospitals. Many people have lost their lives for this reason, and innocent mothers have been handcuffed at hospital gates, as everyone knows. You are no longer part of the joys or sorrows of your loved ones. Your expatriation is not tied to location or distance; you may feel like a stranger even within your own family, community, or country.
A handwritten note stuck in the book read: “Only written thoughts have value; the rest are nothing more than empty struggles and dreams of an hour carried away by the wind.” —Emile Zola
New worlds are being built, and new lives are being welcomed. Despite all the difficulties both within our country and abroad, people who were once thought to be finished are rebuilding their lives and moving forward toward days filled with the promise of beautiful beginnings.
