Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
Feb 19, 2009
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian
ANCC Challenges Prof. Ataov’s Armenian Genocide Denial Campaign
Turkish nationalists attempt to curtail Canadians’ freedom of speech
Toronto–The Armenian National Committee of Canada’s (ANCC) Executive
Director Aris Babikian challenged Turkish professor Turkkaya Ataov’s
attempt to deny the historic reality of the Armenian Genocide during the
latter’s lecture at the Ryerson University on Feb. 18. Prof. Ataov’s
presentation was titled "How to come to terms with one’s past".
When Babikian tried to correct Prof. Ataov’s erroneous statements
regarding the Armenian Genocide, and the Turkish professor’s accusations
that the Western world was racist, anti-Islamic and practiced genocidal
policies, many of the Turkish nationalists in the audience tried to
silence Babikian. When Babikian insisted on being heard, some of the
organizers turned off the microphone and threatened Babikian with
forceful removal from the podium.
Babikian reminded the audience that they are living in Canada and not in
Turkey and that freedom of speech is one of the most cherished rights of
Canadians, specially in academic settings.
After Babikian’s condemnation of Turkish nationalists’ anti-democratic
behavior, the ANCC executive director was allowed to make his statement,
challenging Prof. Ataov’s boiler-plate propaganda. Babikian also
condemned Prof. Ataov’s use of the "religion card" to justify his
accusations against the West. Earlier in his lecture Ataov had accused
Western countries of killing five million Muslims in the Balkan and in
the Caucasus. Ataov’s manner was condescending towards the West and his
audience.
Babikian asked Atoav how did he reconcile his statement that only two
Armenians were killed on April 24, 1915 with Talaat Pasha’s, Minister of
Interior and the main architect of the Armenian Genocide, diary ("Black
Book") which stated that 924,158 Armenians had been killed by the
Turkish government. Talaat also kept a detailed account of Armenians
deported from each city, county, and province.
Babikian also questioned the credibility of the historians Ataov cited
as experts on the Armenian Genocide, such as Justin McCarthy, Gunther
Lewy, Sanford Show, and Andrew Mango. Babikian then read "British
Journal of Middle Eastern Studies’" evaluation of McCarthy’s work as
"junk food, junk bonds and now junk history". Babikian reminded Ataov
and the audience with the testimony of 126 Holocaust scholars,
International Association of Genocide Scholars, the International Centre
for Transitional Justice and hundreds of other scholars and historians
who have contradicted Ataov’s claims and the Turkish Government’s denial
of the Armenian Genocide.
When Babikian tried to question some of Ataov answers, Turkish
nationalists once again tried to suppress Babikian from speaking.
Embarrassed by his compatriots behavior and as a face-saving measure,
Ataov invited Babikian to the stage to stand next to him and to continue
the discussion. Babikian and Ataov continued to discuss many relevant
issues to the Armenian Genocide.
After the event, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the ANCC, said that
he "condemned the behavior of the Turkish nationalists and their attempt
to intimidate and silence a Canadian, while trying to deny him one of
the most basic human rights to freedom of thought which is enshrined in
our constitution."
Dr. Basmadjian added: "The modus operandi of these nationalists is
indicative and reminiscent of the Turkish government’s modus operandi in
suppressing freedom of speech and silencing anyone who dares to
challenge the official Turkish government narrative of the Armenian
Genocide under article 301 of the Turkish penal code." The persecution
of award-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and many other righteous Turks,
and the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist are eloquent
examples of these policies," said Dr. Basmadjian.
"We also abhor Prof. Ataov’s ‘the West is racist’ statement and his
other temper tantrums. Such a statement has no place in our academic and
scholarly circles," said Basmadjian. Ataov’s attempt to whip up hysteria
and to try to put a wedge among Canadians by using religious fervor
should be condemned by everyone, he said. "Therefore, we ask Ryerson
University to dissociate itself from this lecture which she jointly
organized with the Federation of Canadian Turkish Association, apologize
to Canadians, condemn Prof. Ataov, and hold accountable the sociology
department professor of Turkish background who deceived the university
and put Ryerson in such a compromising situation," said Basmadjian.
*****
The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.
——
Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
