IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT – TURKEY

10 August 2007

Historian receives death threat, is harassed by newspaper, for questioning
official history

SOURCE: IPS Communication Foundation (BIANET), Istanbul

**For further information on previous harassment of Akcam over his position
on the Armenian genocide, see IFEX alerts of 30 and 12 July 2007**

(BIANET/IFEX) – Prof. Dr. Taner Akcam of the history department at
Minnesota University, who has consistently described in his work the events
of 1915 a "genocide", fears for his life since receiving death threats over
e-mail.

Researching the source of the threats, Akcam has found a person with the
assumed name "Holdwater".

The "Hürriyet" newspaper reported on this, saying that Akcam was "targeting
a person who was opposing his Armenian theses". The newspaper has published
a string of news items on Akcam.

Akcam told BIANET via the Internet that "Hürriyet" did not give him the
opportunity to have a say. The same reporters who claimed that he was
"making himself scarce" had no problems contacting him when a bridge
collapsed in Minnesota recently.

What frightens Akcam is the connection between the e-mail threats and the
"Hürriyet"’s spate of reports about him and the fact that the newspaper was
able to claim in its headlines that he was "making himself scarce". "I have
overcome much danger, but I don’t remember being this scared," he said.

"When they created that headline, they did not call anywhere. They did not
attempt to find me. This is a very frightening situation for me," he
continued.

He added that he could not but find mysterious similarities with the lynch
campaign against journalist Hrant Dink before his murder (see IFEX alerts
of 13 July, 2 April, 23 and 19 January 2007).

On 11 June 2007, Akcam received an anonymous e-mail, saying, "Today we have
started the struggle against you and those creatures you call friends. If
we do not get results, we will use alternative measures. For the peace and
truth in the world, it is better if sewer germs like you are eradicated.
Tomorrow will be much more difficult for you. Pray that the devil takes you
at once, or you will experience hell on earth."

The message continued, "You think you know who ‘Holdwater’ is. From now on,
the world will be full of millions of Holdwaters. One day you and your
Armenian blood brothers will drown in a sea of Holdwaters."

The message ended, "Who am I? That you will find out, Taner, you will find
out."

Akcam has drawn attention to frightening similarities between the language
of the e-mail threat and the newspaper’s articles. The articles started 10
days after he received the message.

Akcam argues that the "Hürriyet" newspaper has ignored the most basic
principles of journalism in its publications.

In a 16 July statement, he said: "Again, intellectuals and activists brave
enough to question the state’s official history are being warned. This
shameful campaign does not only threaten me, my family and my colleagues;
it makes light of freedom of expression."

For further information contact Nadire Mater at BIANET, Faikpasa Yokusu,
No. 41, Antikhane, Kat: 3, D.8-9, Cukurcuma, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey,
tel: +90 212 251 1503, fax: +90 212 251 1609, e-mail: bia@bianet.org,
Internet:

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of
BIANET. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit
BIANET.
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