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TURKISH ACADEMICS ISSUE PERSONAL APOLOGY FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Chronicle of Higher Education
Dec 10 2008
Three Turkish scholars and a journalist have issued a personal public
apology for their country's role in the killing of as many as 1.5
million Armenians during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, which
modern Turkish governments have refused to characterize as genocide,
The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported today.
Academics and journalists who have flouted Turkey's official government
line on the "Armenian question" have faced prosecution under a
controversial provision of the country's penal law that criminalizes
"denigrating Turkishness."
According to The Guardian, the apology came in an open letter that
includes the following statement: "My conscience does not accept
the insensitivity showed to and the denial of the Great Catastrophe
that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915. I reject this
injustice and for my share, I empathize with the feelings and pain
of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them."
The Armenian News Agency reported that the statement would be opened
for signatures online. Armenia Liberty, an online publication, reported
that nearly 300 Armenian intellectuals appealed to Turkey's president,
Abdullah Gul, in a separate letter, made public yesterday, to recognize
the Armenian genocide and modern Turkey's "hereditary responsibility"
for the "monumental crime against humanity."
Relations between Turkey and Armenia have thawed in recent months,
with President Gul making an unprecedented trip in September to
the Armenian capital. The election of Barack Obama, who a leading
Armenian-American lobbyist said in an interview with The Armenian
Reporter "has repeatedly and clearly pledged to affirm the Armenian
Genocide," is also expected to focus attention on the contentious
issue. --Aisha Labi
Chronicle of Higher Education
Dec 10 2008
Three Turkish scholars and a journalist have issued a personal public
apology for their country's role in the killing of as many as 1.5
million Armenians during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, which
modern Turkish governments have refused to characterize as genocide,
The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported today.
Academics and journalists who have flouted Turkey's official government
line on the "Armenian question" have faced prosecution under a
controversial provision of the country's penal law that criminalizes
"denigrating Turkishness."
According to The Guardian, the apology came in an open letter that
includes the following statement: "My conscience does not accept
the insensitivity showed to and the denial of the Great Catastrophe
that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915. I reject this
injustice and for my share, I empathize with the feelings and pain
of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them."
The Armenian News Agency reported that the statement would be opened
for signatures online. Armenia Liberty, an online publication, reported
that nearly 300 Armenian intellectuals appealed to Turkey's president,
Abdullah Gul, in a separate letter, made public yesterday, to recognize
the Armenian genocide and modern Turkey's "hereditary responsibility"
for the "monumental crime against humanity."
Relations between Turkey and Armenia have thawed in recent months,
with President Gul making an unprecedented trip in September to
the Armenian capital. The election of Barack Obama, who a leading
Armenian-American lobbyist said in an interview with The Armenian
Reporter "has repeatedly and clearly pledged to affirm the Armenian
Genocide," is also expected to focus attention on the contentious
issue. --Aisha Labi