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HISTORY BOOKS TO EXCLUDE DISCRIMINATION
Hurriyet
Dec 16 2011
Turkey
Some Turkish history books 'inculcate enmity in children,' Erol Dora
says. DHA photo
Education Minister Omer Dincer has promised to alter clauses in
Turkish history books that are antagonistic toward Armenians and
Syriac Christians, according to Erol Dora, a deputy of Syriac origin
from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).
Dora met Dincer on Dec. 12 to request the alteration of the clauses
in question. Dincer showed close interest in the subject, Dora
said, adding that he had told the minister that the clauses against
Armenians and Syriacs in school history books ran counter to the
European declarations on children's and human rights, as well as
United Nations resolutions.
"It is not only Syriacs and Armenians but also Turkish families,
Kurds and the whole country that need to react to these books, which
inculcate enmity in our children. This is exceedingly important for
a peaceable future," Dora recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Dora also outlined the consequences of failing to remove the language
from the books. "Unless the ministry takes decisive steps soon,
legal action will be pursued against Turkey. The Syriac diaspora has
developed into a lobby, and there is severe backlash against Turkey,"
Dora said.
Clauses involving hostility toward Armenians and Syriacs appeared
relatively recently, said Dora, adding that he had not encountered
history books that denigrated Syriacs and Armenians until his
graduation from school in Turkey in 1973.
"Clauses denigrating Syriacs and Armenians entered books 12 years ago.
Turkey also changed its history books to propagate its own official
theses of history because of lessons in history books that are taught
in Armenian diaspora schools," a minority school administrator told
the Daily News on condition of anonymity.
The Turkish school books state that the tragic events of 1915 were
committed by the Armenians and that the Armenians and Syriacs initiated
revolts and stabbed the Turkish military in the back, he said.
"In the past, as minority schools, we had to accept everything imposed
upon us, but now we can intervene. Teachers skip those pages in history
books, and we can speak to any teacher who does not comply with the
rules. Despite the absence of an official directive, the Education
Ministry now recognizes this right," he said.
Hurriyet
Dec 16 2011
Turkey
Some Turkish history books 'inculcate enmity in children,' Erol Dora
says. DHA photo
Education Minister Omer Dincer has promised to alter clauses in
Turkish history books that are antagonistic toward Armenians and
Syriac Christians, according to Erol Dora, a deputy of Syriac origin
from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP).
Dora met Dincer on Dec. 12 to request the alteration of the clauses
in question. Dincer showed close interest in the subject, Dora
said, adding that he had told the minister that the clauses against
Armenians and Syriacs in school history books ran counter to the
European declarations on children's and human rights, as well as
United Nations resolutions.
"It is not only Syriacs and Armenians but also Turkish families,
Kurds and the whole country that need to react to these books, which
inculcate enmity in our children. This is exceedingly important for
a peaceable future," Dora recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Dora also outlined the consequences of failing to remove the language
from the books. "Unless the ministry takes decisive steps soon,
legal action will be pursued against Turkey. The Syriac diaspora has
developed into a lobby, and there is severe backlash against Turkey,"
Dora said.
Clauses involving hostility toward Armenians and Syriacs appeared
relatively recently, said Dora, adding that he had not encountered
history books that denigrated Syriacs and Armenians until his
graduation from school in Turkey in 1973.
"Clauses denigrating Syriacs and Armenians entered books 12 years ago.
Turkey also changed its history books to propagate its own official
theses of history because of lessons in history books that are taught
in Armenian diaspora schools," a minority school administrator told
the Daily News on condition of anonymity.
The Turkish school books state that the tragic events of 1915 were
committed by the Armenians and that the Armenians and Syriacs initiated
revolts and stabbed the Turkish military in the back, he said.
"In the past, as minority schools, we had to accept everything imposed
upon us, but now we can intervene. Teachers skip those pages in history
books, and we can speak to any teacher who does not comply with the
rules. Despite the absence of an official directive, the Education
Ministry now recognizes this right," he said.