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ARF SHANT STUDENT ASSOCIATION ISSUES STATEMENT ON YEREVAN HATE CRIME
asbarez
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
LOS ANGELES-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student
Association on Wednesday issued a statement condemning a recent hate
crime in Yerevan that has sparked controversy. Below is the text of
the statement.
The news of a recent fire-bombing incident at a private business
operating in Yerevan is disturbing. Furthermore, the fact that the
violence was motivated by intolerance and homophobia makes it even
more outrageous and deserving of the strongest condemnation.
In the aftermath of this incident, certain groups and individuals
have opted to point the finger of blame on the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, simply because the suspects apprehended for the unfortunate
crime allegedly have affiliations with the organization.
What has inflamed the matter further are the equally unfortunate
statements made by some individual party members in Armenia.
The egregious act and the subsequent statements run counter to
the fundamental tenets and ideology of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. As the ARF Program states: "the ARF advocates individual
freedoms and rejects all forms of and expressions of domination and
exploitation including fascism, racism, and chauvinistic manifestations
of national supremacy."
The ARF firmly believes that democracy is anchored by respect for
human and civil rights and freedoms for all and that free expression,
even amongst party members, is vital to the growth and development
of any peoples.
True to its ideology, the ARF is dedicated to utilizing its resources
to defending the political, economic, social, and cultural interests
of the Armenian nation with the goal of creating the Free Armenian,
the Free Citizen, and a free homeland.
We stand in full support of an Armenia that is free of all forms of
discrimination, intolerance, and violence. Those responsible for the
crime must be brought to justice to the full extent of the law. We,
along with countless others inside Armenia and throughout the
Diaspora will be vigilantly advocating equal rights by encouraging
a long overdue dialogue and discourse that will advance the cause
of freedom and free expression and quell any future incidents that
target a group or individuals that are subjected to discrimination.
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION "SHANT" STUDENT ASSOCIATION (USA)
asbarez
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
LOS ANGELES-The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Shant Student
Association on Wednesday issued a statement condemning a recent hate
crime in Yerevan that has sparked controversy. Below is the text of
the statement.
The news of a recent fire-bombing incident at a private business
operating in Yerevan is disturbing. Furthermore, the fact that the
violence was motivated by intolerance and homophobia makes it even
more outrageous and deserving of the strongest condemnation.
In the aftermath of this incident, certain groups and individuals
have opted to point the finger of blame on the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation, simply because the suspects apprehended for the unfortunate
crime allegedly have affiliations with the organization.
What has inflamed the matter further are the equally unfortunate
statements made by some individual party members in Armenia.
The egregious act and the subsequent statements run counter to
the fundamental tenets and ideology of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. As the ARF Program states: "the ARF advocates individual
freedoms and rejects all forms of and expressions of domination and
exploitation including fascism, racism, and chauvinistic manifestations
of national supremacy."
The ARF firmly believes that democracy is anchored by respect for
human and civil rights and freedoms for all and that free expression,
even amongst party members, is vital to the growth and development
of any peoples.
True to its ideology, the ARF is dedicated to utilizing its resources
to defending the political, economic, social, and cultural interests
of the Armenian nation with the goal of creating the Free Armenian,
the Free Citizen, and a free homeland.
We stand in full support of an Armenia that is free of all forms of
discrimination, intolerance, and violence. Those responsible for the
crime must be brought to justice to the full extent of the law. We,
along with countless others inside Armenia and throughout the
Diaspora will be vigilantly advocating equal rights by encouraging
a long overdue dialogue and discourse that will advance the cause
of freedom and free expression and quell any future incidents that
target a group or individuals that are subjected to discrimination.
ARMENIAN REVOLUTIONARY FEDERATION "SHANT" STUDENT ASSOCIATION (USA)