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SATURDAY MOTHERS COMMEMORATE ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS OF 1915
BIAnet.org, Turkey
April 29 2013
SATURDAY MOTHERS/PEOPLE
Saturday Mothers of Turkey, a group that has been gathering since
1995 to seek information on their sons who disappeared under police
detention, commemorated 220 Armenian intellectuals detained and
vanished by the order of Ottoman officials in 1915.
BarıÅ~_ MUMYAKMAZ
Saturday Mothers of Turkey, on their 422th gathering, commemorated
220 Armenian intellectuals detained and vanished by the order of
Ottoman officials in 1915.
On Saturday and at 12pm - a day and hour that never altered ever
since peaceful protests were first launched almost three decades
ago - the Saturday People gathered in their usual spot located in
the heart of Galatasaray Square, Istanbul, holding pictures of their
lost sons/beloved ones as well as faded black and white photographs
of 1915 Armenian intellectuals.
"Detention order was given by Ottoman government" "On the night of
April 24, 1915, on the order of the Ottoman government (Union and
Progress Party) 220 Armenian intellectuals were arrested in their homes
in Istanbul. They were taken to Merkez Prison in Sultanahmet, Istabul
and were sent by special train in the direction of Ankara. Some were
then transferred to Cankiri, some to Ayas," Human Rights Association
of Turkey said in a statement.
"Many of them were killed without leaving behind a gravestone.
Officials registered them either as fugitives or released."
"They were Armenian community leaders and notables" The association
statement was read by Serpil TaÅ~_kaya, the daughter of Huseyin
TaÅ~_kaya who disappeared under police detention in 1993.
"They were Armenian community leaders and notables including writers,
parliamentary deputies, musicologists, scientists and journalists,"
she read.
"Their arrest was to launch the state policy to annihilate the
Armenian entity. Therefore, they first eliminated those who could
raise their voices."
The statement also demanded the Turkish government to unfold the
reality behind what happened in 1915
The group pledged to keep the truth alive [behind the Armenian
Genocide] in spite of the denial policies that are based on
forgetting. "We will, we did not forget you, we will not forget you,"
they said.
"Union and Progress" mentality Hanife Yıldız, a Saturday mother,
said his son's disappearance is due to the lack of facing the truth
behind the "Union and Progress" mentality that led to the disappearance
of Armenians in 1915.
"This is a mentality that awards the killing of Armenians and Alevites
with heaven. It honors the killing of Kurds with bravery," she added.
Towards the end of the gathering, loud speakers amplified "Hov Arek
Sarer" by Gomidas Vardapet, an Ottoman Armenian musicologist and
orchestra chef.
"Gomidas was also arrested on 24 April 1915. He was saved after a
campaign launched by major intellectuals including novelist Halide
Edip Adivar," a Saturday People member said. "Following his release,
Gomidas ceased talking. He also ceased composing music and died in
a mental institution." (BM/EKN)
http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/146209-saturday-mothers-commemorate-armenian-intellectuals-of-1915
BIAnet.org, Turkey
April 29 2013
SATURDAY MOTHERS/PEOPLE
Saturday Mothers of Turkey, a group that has been gathering since
1995 to seek information on their sons who disappeared under police
detention, commemorated 220 Armenian intellectuals detained and
vanished by the order of Ottoman officials in 1915.
BarıÅ~_ MUMYAKMAZ
Saturday Mothers of Turkey, on their 422th gathering, commemorated
220 Armenian intellectuals detained and vanished by the order of
Ottoman officials in 1915.
On Saturday and at 12pm - a day and hour that never altered ever
since peaceful protests were first launched almost three decades
ago - the Saturday People gathered in their usual spot located in
the heart of Galatasaray Square, Istanbul, holding pictures of their
lost sons/beloved ones as well as faded black and white photographs
of 1915 Armenian intellectuals.
"Detention order was given by Ottoman government" "On the night of
April 24, 1915, on the order of the Ottoman government (Union and
Progress Party) 220 Armenian intellectuals were arrested in their homes
in Istanbul. They were taken to Merkez Prison in Sultanahmet, Istabul
and were sent by special train in the direction of Ankara. Some were
then transferred to Cankiri, some to Ayas," Human Rights Association
of Turkey said in a statement.
"Many of them were killed without leaving behind a gravestone.
Officials registered them either as fugitives or released."
"They were Armenian community leaders and notables" The association
statement was read by Serpil TaÅ~_kaya, the daughter of Huseyin
TaÅ~_kaya who disappeared under police detention in 1993.
"They were Armenian community leaders and notables including writers,
parliamentary deputies, musicologists, scientists and journalists,"
she read.
"Their arrest was to launch the state policy to annihilate the
Armenian entity. Therefore, they first eliminated those who could
raise their voices."
The statement also demanded the Turkish government to unfold the
reality behind what happened in 1915
The group pledged to keep the truth alive [behind the Armenian
Genocide] in spite of the denial policies that are based on
forgetting. "We will, we did not forget you, we will not forget you,"
they said.
"Union and Progress" mentality Hanife Yıldız, a Saturday mother,
said his son's disappearance is due to the lack of facing the truth
behind the "Union and Progress" mentality that led to the disappearance
of Armenians in 1915.
"This is a mentality that awards the killing of Armenians and Alevites
with heaven. It honors the killing of Kurds with bravery," she added.
Towards the end of the gathering, loud speakers amplified "Hov Arek
Sarer" by Gomidas Vardapet, an Ottoman Armenian musicologist and
orchestra chef.
"Gomidas was also arrested on 24 April 1915. He was saved after a
campaign launched by major intellectuals including novelist Halide
Edip Adivar," a Saturday People member said. "Following his release,
Gomidas ceased talking. He also ceased composing music and died in
a mental institution." (BM/EKN)
http://www.bianet.org/english/minorities/146209-saturday-mothers-commemorate-armenian-intellectuals-of-1915