These days the families of Turkmen migrant workers who died after getting poisoned with poor quality alcohol are holding weekly commemoration lunches, referred to as djumalyk, which are attended by many people, including neighbours, relatives, friends and colleagues.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan report that Toyota Camry or Toyota Corolla vehicles with private regional car plates with four people on board come to the houses where commemoration ceremonies are held to monitor what is going on.
It has also transpired that representatives of local BSM offices held meetings with the elders and religious leaders to oblige them to reduce the texts of the prayers and refrain from using the phrase “dearly departed”.
Following a commemoration meal and a prayer people have been instructed to leave immediately and refrain from staying and having conversations.
In Dashoguz velayat four unidentified men attended the sadaka until those present dispersed.
The relatives are outraged by the fact that the authorities have not undertaken any efforts to transport the bodies to the home country and now they prevent them from grieving and holding commemoration ceremonies.
In March 2020 several dozens of Turkmen nationals died in Istanbul after they had got poisoned by fake alcohol. The fake vodka was sold to Turkmen migrant workers by their fellow countrymen.
As of 21 March, 2020 the death toll of Turkmen nationals who died in Istanbul after being poisoned with surrogate alcohol reached 37.
The editorial board of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” learned about one case a man named Perkat, a native of Sakar, who was born in 1973.Thus, the number of those who died has reached at least 38.