PRESS RELEASE
October 17, 2007
Armenian National Committee of South Florida
931 NE 48th St., Oakland Park 33334
Contact: Albert Mazmanian
Tel. 561-628-8982

AUTHOR TARGET OF TURKISH THREATS
FOLLOWING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BOOK READING

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Amid security concerns and ongoing Turkish
death-threats, author Margaret Ajemian Ahnert led the Fort
Lauderdale book reading of her Armenian Genocide family memoir,
"The Knock at the Door," reported the Armenian National Committee
(ANC) of South Florida. Over 80 people attended the event hosted
by the Broward County Main Library, sponsored by the Florida Center
for the Book.

The subject of the book, a skillful retelling of her mother’s
traumatic battle to survive as a young girl during the Armenian
Genocide, comes at a crucial time when the United States House of
Representatives is set to vote on H.Res. 106, calling upon the
President to ensure that the foreign policy of the United States
reflects appropriate understanding and sensitivity concerning
issues related to human rights, ethnic cleansing, and genocide
documented in the United States record relating to the Armenian
Genocide.

Among the audience were the influential members of the Writers
Network, and civic leaders from South Florida. Despite a high
turnout, "I was uncomfortable from the threats I received from
angry Turks," said Ms. Ahnert. To assure the safety of the public,
the Fort Lauderdale Police Department (FLPD) provided security for
the night.

"Turkish death threats to Ms. Ahnert are an insult to American
values upon which our country was founded. The threats demonstrate
the incompatibility of Turkish nationalism and the first amendment
of the US constitution; the freedom of speech and to assemble,"
said Albert Mazmanian, chairman of the ANC of South Florida.

Threats to proponents of genocide affirmation are not
unprecedented. Last January, Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian
journalist, was assassinated by a 17-year old nationalist for
speaking about the Armenian Genocide. Article 301 of the Turkish
Penal Code outlaws criticism of Turkish identity, and academicians
have been victims of such laws.
On the state level, Turkey threatened to cut-off supplies to US
troops in Iraq in response to the House Foreign Affairs Committee
vote on H.Res 106. "Turkey’s threats against U.S. interests are
outrageous and must not be tolerated. I applaud the House Foreign
Affairs Committee for adopting the Genocide resolution and look to
House Members to show the same courage and principles," said Sandra
Lalaian, an activist and resident of Key Biscayne, Florida.

During the Q&A session, a Turkish-American from the audience asked
Ahnert, "if you want to remember something, why do you remember the
bad things," citing Seljuk liberation of the Armenian Church from
the Byzantines. Ahnert rebutted that fifteen of the sixteen
chapters of her book are "happy memories," and only one chapter is
a "bad memory."
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Photo Caption: Margaret Ahnert speaking at Broward County Main Library