Assyrian International News Agency
April 29 2006
Threats Force Cancellation of Assyrian Genocide Conference in Holland
(AINA) — A conference on the 1915-1918 Turkish genocide of
Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians was cancelled because of threats
received by the speakers. The conference, scheduled for April 27, was
organized by Foundation Assyria Netherlands and the Jewish St.
Synagogue in the city of Enschede.
In the last 10 days numerous anonymous threats were received by the
conference. Mr. Z. Alsan, a Turkish national, was to speak on why
Turkey denied the Genocide. Dr. H. Hirschfeld, from the Centrum for
Information en Documentation Israel, was to speak on why the Jewish
genocide has been recognized. Prof. Johannes Houwink ten Cate, of the
university in Amsterdam, was to speak on the nature and recognition
of genocide. Dr. M. Beth Arsan, an Assyrian from Holland, was to
speak on why the Assyrians want recognition of the genocide.
Citing the threats, the organizers cancelled the conference after all
four speakers withdrew their participation. Mr. Aslan received the
most threats. He has spoken on the genocide on previous occasions,
but this time the threats were so numerous and intense he was forced
to cancel his appearance. Some of the threats came directly from
Turkey.
The conference was largely financed by the Provincial Parliament
Overijssel, which desired to stimulate the debate between Assyrians
and Turks on this issue.