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YOUTH URGE CONGRESS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANTI-ARMENIAN HATE CRIMES IN TURKEY
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/01/30/youth-urge-congress-to-speak-out-against-anti-armenian-hate-crimes-in-turkey/
January 30, 2013
Capitol Hill Silent Protest Part of National "Stain of Denial" Campus
Campaign Raising Awareness about the Armenian Genocide and Legacy
of Intolerance
WASHINGTON-Armenian Student Association (ASA) members from the
across the U.S. have teamed up with the Washington, DC Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) Ani chapter and local youth in organizing a silent
protest on Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress to condemn a series
of vicious hate crimes perpetrated against elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul, Turkey and to call on U.S. leaders to end Turkey's gag rule
on proper U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
The protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office
Building, on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 The
protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office Building,
on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31, coinciding
with the nationwide "Stain of Denial" campus protests organized by the
All-ASA and supported by the AYF and ARF Shant Student organizations.
"The growing number of hate crimes against Armenians, and particularly
women, in Turkey is extremely disturbing. In only the past two
months more than four Armenians were attacked and killed in Istanbul,
once again bringing to light the strain of deeply rooted hatred and
intolerance in Turkish society that is encouraged by the government and
its continued policy of genocide denial," explained Knarik Gasparyan,
Public Relations Director of the UCLA Armenian Students Association,
in Washington DC for a semester-long internship.
Gasparyan is referring to four widely publicized attacks against
elderly Armenian women, one fatal, which have taken place over the
past two months, in the historically Armenian-inhabited neighborhood
of Samatya, in central Istanbul. On Dec. 28, an 85-year-old Armenian
woman was repeatedly stabbed and killed in her home, with assailants
carving a cross on her chest. Other attacks include the Nov. 2012
beating of an 87-year-old Armenian woman, and a failed attempt to
abduct an elderly Armenian woman on Jan. 6. According to Turkish
news outlet, Bianet, the latest incident took place on Jan. 22,
when 83-year-old Sultan Aykar was attacked and repeatedly kicked
until neighbors heard her screams and rushed to assist her. Aykar
lost sight in one eye because of the brutal beating.
The beatings sparked a sharp response from Amnesty International
earlier this week, which called on "Turkish authorities to carry
out a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the series
of attacks on elderly Armenian women in Istanbul." The January 28th
statement stressed that "Hate crimes constitute a serious form of
discrimination... It is regrettable that Turkish legislation does
not foresee any legislative and policy measures ensuring that hate
motives are systematically and thoroughly investigated and duly taken
into account in the prosecution and sentencing."
Questions regarding a government cover-up of the attacks abound, as
Turkish authorities attempt to downplay the crimes. "The incident was
inspired by robbery, there were no racial motives. Be sure we will find
the perpetrators. Good night," tweeted Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni
Mutlu to his 100,000 followers. This and similar statements prompted
Amnesty International to express "concern at public statements made by
the authorities discounting the possibility of a racist motivation to
the attacks." Meanwhile, the Turkish Human Rights Association stated
categorically that "the attacks were carried out with racist motives,"
according to a January 28th Economist article, "Turkey's Armenians:
The Ghosts of 1915," referencing the legacy of the Armenian Genocide
and its denial.
"The recent brutal murders and attacks on elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul once again showed the level of xenophobia and intolerance
within the Turkish society," explained Bloomfield College student
Armen Sahakyan. "The events also serve as a sober reminder for us
that the Armenian Genocide issue is not yet resolved and we should
work ever harder to stand up to Turkey's denial of that crime and
secure the return of what rightfully belongs to the Armenian nation."
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/01/30/youth-urge-congress-to-speak-out-against-anti-armenian-hate-crimes-in-turkey/
January 30, 2013
Capitol Hill Silent Protest Part of National "Stain of Denial" Campus
Campaign Raising Awareness about the Armenian Genocide and Legacy
of Intolerance
WASHINGTON-Armenian Student Association (ASA) members from the
across the U.S. have teamed up with the Washington, DC Armenian Youth
Federation (AYF) Ani chapter and local youth in organizing a silent
protest on Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress to condemn a series
of vicious hate crimes perpetrated against elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul, Turkey and to call on U.S. leaders to end Turkey's gag rule
on proper U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.
The protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office
Building, on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 The
protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office Building,
on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31, coinciding
with the nationwide "Stain of Denial" campus protests organized by the
All-ASA and supported by the AYF and ARF Shant Student organizations.
"The growing number of hate crimes against Armenians, and particularly
women, in Turkey is extremely disturbing. In only the past two
months more than four Armenians were attacked and killed in Istanbul,
once again bringing to light the strain of deeply rooted hatred and
intolerance in Turkish society that is encouraged by the government and
its continued policy of genocide denial," explained Knarik Gasparyan,
Public Relations Director of the UCLA Armenian Students Association,
in Washington DC for a semester-long internship.
Gasparyan is referring to four widely publicized attacks against
elderly Armenian women, one fatal, which have taken place over the
past two months, in the historically Armenian-inhabited neighborhood
of Samatya, in central Istanbul. On Dec. 28, an 85-year-old Armenian
woman was repeatedly stabbed and killed in her home, with assailants
carving a cross on her chest. Other attacks include the Nov. 2012
beating of an 87-year-old Armenian woman, and a failed attempt to
abduct an elderly Armenian woman on Jan. 6. According to Turkish
news outlet, Bianet, the latest incident took place on Jan. 22,
when 83-year-old Sultan Aykar was attacked and repeatedly kicked
until neighbors heard her screams and rushed to assist her. Aykar
lost sight in one eye because of the brutal beating.
The beatings sparked a sharp response from Amnesty International
earlier this week, which called on "Turkish authorities to carry
out a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the series
of attacks on elderly Armenian women in Istanbul." The January 28th
statement stressed that "Hate crimes constitute a serious form of
discrimination... It is regrettable that Turkish legislation does
not foresee any legislative and policy measures ensuring that hate
motives are systematically and thoroughly investigated and duly taken
into account in the prosecution and sentencing."
Questions regarding a government cover-up of the attacks abound, as
Turkish authorities attempt to downplay the crimes. "The incident was
inspired by robbery, there were no racial motives. Be sure we will find
the perpetrators. Good night," tweeted Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni
Mutlu to his 100,000 followers. This and similar statements prompted
Amnesty International to express "concern at public statements made by
the authorities discounting the possibility of a racist motivation to
the attacks." Meanwhile, the Turkish Human Rights Association stated
categorically that "the attacks were carried out with racist motives,"
according to a January 28th Economist article, "Turkey's Armenians:
The Ghosts of 1915," referencing the legacy of the Armenian Genocide
and its denial.
"The recent brutal murders and attacks on elderly Armenian women in
Istanbul once again showed the level of xenophobia and intolerance
within the Turkish society," explained Bloomfield College student
Armen Sahakyan. "The events also serve as a sober reminder for us
that the Armenian Genocide issue is not yet resolved and we should
work ever harder to stand up to Turkey's denial of that crime and
secure the return of what rightfully belongs to the Armenian nation."