May 4 is considered, in various interpretations, one of the turning points of the Dersim events, when in 1937, by decision of the Turkish government, a process began that later turned into mass violence and displacement.

According to some historians and commentators, this decision marked the beginning of political steps aimed at carrying out military operations against the population of the Dersim region. These events are often described as the “Dersim tragedy” or “tertele,” meaning destruction and a complete rupture from previous life.

Prior to that, in 1935, the “Tunceli Law” changed the name of Dersim and placed the region under strict military and administrative control. Special governing bodies were established, and the area was declared a restricted zone.

The government decision adopted on May 4, 1937, according to these sources, provided for military operations, population movement, and the evacuation of villages. Over the following two years, actions in the region resulted in a large number of victims and mass displacements.

These events remain the subject of historical and political debate to this day. Some interpretations view them as a severe human tragedy and a process meeting the criteria of genocide, while official historiography offers differing assessments.

In conclusion, the memory of such events and open discussion around them are important for historical justice and for preventing the recurrence of similar cases.