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ULTRA-NATIONALIST GROUP TARGETS ARMENIANS IN TURKEY
http://hetq.am/eng/news/21032/ultra-nationalist-group-targets-armenians-in-turkey.html
11:06, November 29, 2012
A far-right Turkish group mostly active in the social media has been
targeting Armenian schools, churches, foundations and individuals
in Turkey as part of an anti-Armenian hate campaign according to a
November 28 Today Zaman report.
Goksel Gulbey, chairman of the International Association to Fight
Unfounded Armenian Allegations (ASIM-DER), has been actively targeting
Armenians and Turkish-Armenian institutions on Twitter, claiming
that these groups are part of a conspiracy supported by the Armenian
diaspora against Turkey.
Civil society representatives argue that such action is tantamount to
turning them into targets for ultra-nationalists in a country where
prominent figures of Armenian descent as well as Christians involved
in missionary activities have become targets of violence. The 2007
killings of three Bible publishers in Malatya, the 2007 murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and the 2006 murder of an
Italian priest in Trabzon are some of the painful examples of the
ultra-nationalist threat.
According to Taraf columnist Markar Esayan, the campaign is part of
a larger plan to create an anti-minority atmosphere. In remarks to
Today's Zaman, Esayan recalled Turkey's past experiences with the
demonization of Turkish Armenians.
"These Turkish-Armenian schools [whose addresses have been tweeted
by Gulbey] were established under the control of the Ministry of
Education. I have also studied in one of these schools and worked as a
supervisor afterwards. On the one hand, too much importance shouldn't
be attached to such campaigns, but on the other hand, those responsible
[for provocative claims] should be held accountable for their claims,"
Esayan said.
Rober Koptas, editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos,
also asserted that ASİM-DER's presence is the product of a deeper
and darker mentality than mere nationalism.
Koptas said: "Gulbey argues that the existence of Armenian institutions
is proof of Turkey's freedom and tolerance. So, according to [Gulbey],
the activities of Armenian institutions in Turkey are not acceptable
as they pursue 'demonic' goals. ... This approach, which associates
the Armenian ethnicity directly with hostility and malignity, is a
threat to our national peace."
ASIM-DER Chairman Gulbey denied the claims that his organization was
"targeting" any groups. He said the lists he tweeted consisted of
publicly disclosed address data about Turkish-Armenian institutions,
saying there are too many in Turkey. "When we said in a press statement
that there are 57 foundations, 21 schools and 15 associations, we
were accused of lying and exaggerating numbers." He said they had to
share the names and address information to refute these claims.
In response to a question on whether he would feel responsible if an
assault occurred on any of the organizations he publicly tweeted
http://hetq.am/eng/news/21032/ultra-nationalist-group-targets-armenians-in-turkey.html
11:06, November 29, 2012
A far-right Turkish group mostly active in the social media has been
targeting Armenian schools, churches, foundations and individuals
in Turkey as part of an anti-Armenian hate campaign according to a
November 28 Today Zaman report.
Goksel Gulbey, chairman of the International Association to Fight
Unfounded Armenian Allegations (ASIM-DER), has been actively targeting
Armenians and Turkish-Armenian institutions on Twitter, claiming
that these groups are part of a conspiracy supported by the Armenian
diaspora against Turkey.
Civil society representatives argue that such action is tantamount to
turning them into targets for ultra-nationalists in a country where
prominent figures of Armenian descent as well as Christians involved
in missionary activities have become targets of violence. The 2007
killings of three Bible publishers in Malatya, the 2007 murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and the 2006 murder of an
Italian priest in Trabzon are some of the painful examples of the
ultra-nationalist threat.
According to Taraf columnist Markar Esayan, the campaign is part of
a larger plan to create an anti-minority atmosphere. In remarks to
Today's Zaman, Esayan recalled Turkey's past experiences with the
demonization of Turkish Armenians.
"These Turkish-Armenian schools [whose addresses have been tweeted
by Gulbey] were established under the control of the Ministry of
Education. I have also studied in one of these schools and worked as a
supervisor afterwards. On the one hand, too much importance shouldn't
be attached to such campaigns, but on the other hand, those responsible
[for provocative claims] should be held accountable for their claims,"
Esayan said.
Rober Koptas, editor-in-chief of the Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos,
also asserted that ASİM-DER's presence is the product of a deeper
and darker mentality than mere nationalism.
Koptas said: "Gulbey argues that the existence of Armenian institutions
is proof of Turkey's freedom and tolerance. So, according to [Gulbey],
the activities of Armenian institutions in Turkey are not acceptable
as they pursue 'demonic' goals. ... This approach, which associates
the Armenian ethnicity directly with hostility and malignity, is a
threat to our national peace."
ASIM-DER Chairman Gulbey denied the claims that his organization was
"targeting" any groups. He said the lists he tweeted consisted of
publicly disclosed address data about Turkish-Armenian institutions,
saying there are too many in Turkey. "When we said in a press statement
that there are 57 foundations, 21 schools and 15 associations, we
were accused of lying and exaggerating numbers." He said they had to
share the names and address information to refute these claims.
In response to a question on whether he would feel responsible if an
assault occurred on any of the organizations he publicly tweeted