TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS PROTEST AGAINST FILM STAR SYLVESTER STALLONE

Assyria Times, CA
Jan 11 2007

EasternStar News Agency

Turkish lobby groups protest against the American film star Sylvester
Stallone, who will take part in and produce a film based on Franz
Werfel’s "The 40 days at Musa Dagh".

The Turkish lobby group "Association on struggle against Armenian
Genocide acknowledgement" with its leader Egilmez emphasizes that:

"Films are often used in propaganda and Armenians use this opportunity
for their propaganda. The Austrian-Jewish author Franz Werfel wrote
this novel in 1933. It is full of lies, since the author got his
information from nationalist and radical Armenians… We have already
sent necessary documents about the mentioned days to the producer of
the film. Our allies will urge and pursue the producer to not produce
this film".

Despite the threats and accusations against Sylvester Stallone, he
has emphasized that his intentions are to direct a film based on the
heroic defence of Musa Dagh in 1915. The film is based on the book
"The 40 days at Musa Dagh".

The producers were surprised by the strong reactions from Turkish
interests. They say that the film is based on a well documented true
event. Above all it is a pity about the Turkish people, that it isn’t
able to elect a modern government that can stop 85 years of denial
of genocide.