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Jewish body adds voice against Genocide denier McCarthy
MEDIA RELEASE
http://anc.org.au/news/Jewish+body+adds+voice+against+Genocide+denier+McC arthy
November 20, 2013
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
SYDNEY: The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has released
a powerful statement expressing their deep concerns of Professor
Justin McCarthy's upcoming address in Parliament House, Canberra.
In a media release dated 20 November 2013, the ECAJ accepts the
`overwhelming view of history scholars that the killing of hundreds of
thousands of civilians in these communities was done with genocidal
intent.'
The release goes on to address the issue of McCarthy's upcoming event
at Parliament House on 21 November, which the ECAJ says, will mean the
institution is `lending his theories the misleading appearance of
official approval. In our view, no part of Parliament House should be
misused in this way.'
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia
(ANC Australia), Vache Kahramanian stated: `We thank the Executive
Council of Australian Jewry for their principled position on this
important matter. Venues such as Parliament House should never allow
genocide deniers to have a stage.'
McCarthy was due to speak at events at the University of Melbourne and
the New South Wales Art Gallery but were both cancelled by the
respective institutions upon learning of McCarthy's denialist views on
the Armenian Genocide.
ANC Australia has written to Laurie Ferguson MP, who booked the venue
in Parliament House for the event, to immediately withdraw his name
and revoke access to the venue to ensure McCarthy isn't allowed to
spread his denialist views.
The full text of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry media
release can be read below:
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry notes the current visit to
Australia of the American Professor of history, Justin McCarthy.
Professor McCarthy campaigns around the world against the recognition
of the Armenian genocide.
Professor McCarthy does not deny that from 1915 to 1923 more than 1
million Armenians, Pontian Greeks and Assyrians, almost all of them
civilians, lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Caliphate.
However, notwithstanding that this slaughter was on a massive scale
over a period of years, Professor McCarthy maintains that this loss of
life was not systematic and was not carried out with the intention of
eradicating these Christian communities, but was an act of war.
The inherent implausibility of this contention raises many questions
about the quality of Professor McCarthy's analysis. The ECAJ accepts
the overwhelming view of history scholars that the killing of hundreds
of thousands of civilians in these communities was done with genocidal
intent.
Whilst freedom of expression and academic freedom require that
Professor McCarthy must be at liberty to put forward his theories, the
manner in which he does so must not lapse into racial vilification.
Professor McCarthy is a guest of Australia and must respect
Australia's laws during his visit.
One of the venues to which Professor McCarthy has been invited to put
forward his views, is a room in Parliament House Canberra, thereby
lending his theories the misleading appearance of official approval.
In our view, no part of Parliament House should be misused in this
way.
Peter Wertheim AM | Executive Director
MEDIA RELEASE
http://anc.org.au/news/Jewish+body+adds+voice+against+Genocide+denier+McC arthy
November 20, 2013
The Peak Public Affairs Committee of the Armenian-Australian Community
SYDNEY: The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has released
a powerful statement expressing their deep concerns of Professor
Justin McCarthy's upcoming address in Parliament House, Canberra.
In a media release dated 20 November 2013, the ECAJ accepts the
`overwhelming view of history scholars that the killing of hundreds of
thousands of civilians in these communities was done with genocidal
intent.'
The release goes on to address the issue of McCarthy's upcoming event
at Parliament House on 21 November, which the ECAJ says, will mean the
institution is `lending his theories the misleading appearance of
official approval. In our view, no part of Parliament House should be
misused in this way.'
Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia
(ANC Australia), Vache Kahramanian stated: `We thank the Executive
Council of Australian Jewry for their principled position on this
important matter. Venues such as Parliament House should never allow
genocide deniers to have a stage.'
McCarthy was due to speak at events at the University of Melbourne and
the New South Wales Art Gallery but were both cancelled by the
respective institutions upon learning of McCarthy's denialist views on
the Armenian Genocide.
ANC Australia has written to Laurie Ferguson MP, who booked the venue
in Parliament House for the event, to immediately withdraw his name
and revoke access to the venue to ensure McCarthy isn't allowed to
spread his denialist views.
The full text of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry media
release can be read below:
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry notes the current visit to
Australia of the American Professor of history, Justin McCarthy.
Professor McCarthy campaigns around the world against the recognition
of the Armenian genocide.
Professor McCarthy does not deny that from 1915 to 1923 more than 1
million Armenians, Pontian Greeks and Assyrians, almost all of them
civilians, lost their lives at the hands of the Ottoman Caliphate.
However, notwithstanding that this slaughter was on a massive scale
over a period of years, Professor McCarthy maintains that this loss of
life was not systematic and was not carried out with the intention of
eradicating these Christian communities, but was an act of war.
The inherent implausibility of this contention raises many questions
about the quality of Professor McCarthy's analysis. The ECAJ accepts
the overwhelming view of history scholars that the killing of hundreds
of thousands of civilians in these communities was done with genocidal
intent.
Whilst freedom of expression and academic freedom require that
Professor McCarthy must be at liberty to put forward his theories, the
manner in which he does so must not lapse into racial vilification.
Professor McCarthy is a guest of Australia and must respect
Australia's laws during his visit.
One of the venues to which Professor McCarthy has been invited to put
forward his views, is a room in Parliament House Canberra, thereby
lending his theories the misleading appearance of official approval.
In our view, no part of Parliament House should be misused in this
way.
Peter Wertheim AM | Executive Director