TURKEY’S PRESIDENT FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CHP DEPUTY, WHO CLAIMS THAT GUL’S MOTHER IS OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN

armradio.am
23.12.2008 12:25

President Abdullah Gul has filed a lawsuit against Republican People’s
Party (CHP) deputy Canan Arıtman, who claimed that Gul’s mother is
of Armenian origin. "Arıtman, who has political motivations, caused
doubts about the performance of the president, who has non-political
responsibilities," the petition states, Hurriyet Daily reports.

The defendant’s claim, which is based on racism and discrimination,
is a heavy assault on the client’s personal and family values,
honor and reputation." The 1 YTL lawsuit petition submitted by the
president’s lawyer, Omer Kucuközcan, refers to Arıtman’s claims.

On Dec. 17, Arıtman attacked the campaign initiated by a group of
intellectuals to apologize for the Armenian massacres of 1915, which
Armenians claim constituted genocide.

"The false scientists signing it should apologize to Turkey," she
said, claiming that Gul — because of his "ethnic origins" — was
rubberstamping the campaign. "We see that the president supports
this campaign. Abdullah Gul should be the president of the entire
Turkish nation, not just of those sharing his ethnicity. Investigate
the ethnic origin of the president’s mother and you will see."

The petition states that Gul stands at an equal distance from all
citizens in his cur rent position and that in his previous duties as
a Deputy, Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister
and President, he expressed his ideas openly at the national and
international platforms on the topic and on Turkish-Armenian relations.

"My client’s views have been distorted and it was suggested that he
has ethnic ties on his mother’s side, as if he stands closer to a
part of society because of that," the petition states.

The petition also states that according to the news reports, CHP head
Deniz Baykal has been uneasy about Arıtman’s statements.

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