PanARMENIAN.Net
Turkish nationalists attempt to suppress ANCC representative’s speech
20.02.2009 19:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 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", ANCC reports.
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 about the testimony
of 100 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress