REMEMBERING HRANT: ASSEMBLY RENEWS HR106 PUSH AS LEGACY TO SLAIN JOURNALIST
- Tomorrow (January 19) marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic slaying of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. A fierce defender of the freedom of the press and an outspoken advocate for democratic reform in Turkey, Dink’s murder on an Istanbul street exposed the depths of ultra-nationalist sentiment and the repercussions of a flawed judicial system. Dink committed his life to championing the cause of democracy and freedom of thought through peaceful means. A man of strong convictions, he was determined to serve as a catalyst for mutual understanding, tolerance and dialogue between Turks and Armenians. Despite all his good intentions, his life was tragically cut short by forces determined to suppress public discourse on the Armenian Genocide.
It is inexcusable that 12 months after his death, Turkey has yet to adopt standards and practices that would improve conditions for its ethnic and religious minorities. Ankara has done precious little to overturn the climate of intolerance, prejudice and repression, which led to this heinous crime.
Instead, the EU-aspirant has taken a step back by escalating its shameless campaign of genocide denial. Turkey continues to threaten retaliation should the U.S. Congress pass a resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide. It has been widely reported that Turkey’s parliament may amend, but not abolish, Article 301 of the Turkish penal code by replacing the term “denigrating Turkishness” to “denigrating the Turkish nation.” This is simply a cosmetic change at best. The EU, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and others have repeatedly called on Turkey to scrap the entire provision.
It is clear that Armenians and other minorities in Turkey are still at risk. Dink’s son, Arat Dink, was recently convicted under Article 301 for allegedly “insulting Turkishness” by characterizing the killings of Armenians as genocide. As editor of his father’s newspaper Agos, he was given a one-year suspended prison sentence for republishing his father’s statements on the genocide.
Not satisfied with repression at home, Turkey’s allies have also waged an intimidation campaign against Taner Akçam, a leading Turkish scholar at the University of Minnesota. Akçam (who was denounced as a mastermind of terrorist violence) has written extensively about the Armenian Genocide. Following the publication of his book, “A Shameful Act: The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility,” the campaign against him was markedly intensified.
Like Dink, Article 301 is now being used to prosecute Akçam for having used the word genocide to describe the Armenian tragedy. In June, Akçam took legal action against the Turkish government by filing an application before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The Court, based in Strasbourg, enforces the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Akçam stated, “For many Turkish intellectuals, freedom of speech has become a struggle in North America as well as in our native country. What is happening to me now could happen to any scholar who dissents from the official state version of history.”
In this atmosphere of insularity, unfortunately the United States shares responsibility with Turkey. The Bush administration has been an enabler by supporting Turkey’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. Last fall, the White House, the Turkish government and its army of lobbyists united in producing a political tsunami to prevent an affirmative vote on the House floor for the adoption of the resolution affirming the Armenian Genocide. With Congress back in session the Armenian Assembly together with other Armenian community activists have renewed their efforts to urge Congress to finally adopt House Resolution 106. Success in this endeavor will honor Hrant Dink’s life and martyrdom.
- Bryan Ardouny
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- 1830 Following Sultan Mahmood's decree and the advice of the French, British, and Russian ambassadors, the Armenian Catholics in Turkey were given a Patriarchate and their own administrative organization.
- 1888 Birth, in Constantinople, of the actor Vahram Papazyan. He is considered to have no equal in the Armenian theater.
- 1906 Birth of composer Ashot Satian. He died in 1958.
- 1911 Birth of theater personality Gevorg Ashughyan.
- 1990 Start of hostilities between Armenian and Azeri Turkish forces near Raskh.
- 2001 The French Senate recognizes the 1915 Genocide of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire.
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