Tweet
Turkish history books discriminating Armenians may be revised
December 17, 2011 - 13:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Education Minister Ömer Dinçer 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 Dinçer on December 12 to request the alteration of the
clauses in question. Dinçer 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 Hürriyet 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.
`In the past, as minority schools, we had to accept everything imposed
upon us, but now we can intervene,' he said, HDN reported.
From: A. Papazian
December 17, 2011 - 13:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Education Minister Ömer Dinçer 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 Dinçer on December 12 to request the alteration of the
clauses in question. Dinçer 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 Hürriyet 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.
`In the past, as minority schools, we had to accept everything imposed
upon us, but now we can intervene,' he said, HDN reported.
From: A. Papazian