Despite Obstacles, Armenian Genocide Commemoration Events Held in Turkey
Armenian Weekly
Sat, Apr 24 2010
By: Khatchig Mouradian
ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.) – On April 24, three outdoor commemorations of
the Armenian Genocide and a lecture by a Diasporan Armenian journalist
were held in Istanbul, while a two-day conference on the Armenian
Genocide began in Ankara, while obstacles, counter protests and
fascist rhetoric tried to disrupt the commemorations, and reminded the
few hundred participants of the long way ahead.
The first commemoration event was by Kurdish mothers whose sons had
`disappeared.’ For the past few years, an organization bringing these
mothers together was holding silent protests every Saturday. In
Beyoglu at noon, in an act of solidarity with Armenians and as a
powerful statement of the continuities between the Ottoman Empire and
modern Turkey, these mothers, joined by human rights activists and
supporters, held up photographs of not only their disappeared sons,
but of the Armenian intellectuals who were arrested and killed on
April 24, 1915 and in the weeks following it. The organizers of the
gathering made statements calling Turkey to recognize the Armenian
Genocide.
A small counter-demonstration by the Workers’ Party was held on a
street nearby. They condemned genocide commemoration in Turkey,
holding banners that said, `The Armenian Genocide is an imperialist
lie.’
The second commemoration event was held at 1:30 p.m. at the
Haydarpasha train station. Organized by the Istanbul branch of the
Human Rights Association of Turkey, the commemoration brought together
a few hundred people, who held photographs of Armenian intellectuals
who were murdered in 1915 while lawyer and activist Eren Keskin, a
leading figure in the Human Rights Association, read a statement which
highlighted the importance of recognition and justice. Dozens of
journalists, photographers and TV crews were present at the
commemoration, which was held amidst heavy police presence, and went
without serious incidents. Several individuals, however, started
yelling at the organizers near the end of the commemoration, and the
police intervened.
At 5 p.m., a genocide commemoration lecture was held at the Cezayir
center’s meeting hall in Beyoglu. The lecture, by Armenian Weekly
editor Khatchig Mouradian, was attended by Turkish intellectuals and
activists who have been outspoken about 1915 in Turkey, reporters, and
members of the local Armenian community. The Armenian Weekly will
provide coverage of the lecture separately.
At 7 p.m., a candlelight vigil was held in Taksim Square, in the
presence of hundreds of policemen, and a large crowd of the press and
onlookers. Organized by Turkish intellectuals, the vigil was the most
advertised of the commemoration events that day, and attracted the
largest number of participants and counter-demonstrators. The
organizers read a statement about April 24, 1915, saying that this was
their pain as well. Then, for almost half an hour, the participants in
the vigil sat in silence while, nearby, counter protestors being
pushed back by the police were yelling: `Death to the Armenian
Diaspora.’
Contrary to what was reported in some U.S. and European media, today’s
commemoration events were not the first in Turkey. The Istanbul Human
Rights Association has been organizing commemoration events (lectures,
panels discussions, musical performances) for the past several years.
What was particular about the commemorations this year was the fact
that they were held outdoors, on or near busy streets, intersections,
and station, hence generating greater attention.
In Ankara, a two-day long genocide conference dealing with the history
and the consequences of the Armenian Genocide began. A few days ago,
the conference was cancelled because of bureaucratic, political
pressure and security concerns. Later, an announcement came that the
conference will be held as scheduled. Despite the confusion the
cancellation was created, most scholars, including the ones from
overseas, attended the conference or will do so on April 25.
A more detailed report with photographs will be posted soon.