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TURKEY HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS TO ALIYEV: END LYNCHING CAMPAIGN!
February 20, 2013
ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)-Four Turkish human rights and anti-racism
groups sent a letter to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
urging him "to urgently put an end to the lynching campaign against
Ekrem Eylisli" for his positive portrayal of Armenians.
Ekrem Eylisli The Armenian Weekly publishes the text of the letter
in full.
***
Mr. İlham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Dear Mr. President,
We, the defenders of human rights in Turkey and supporters of fight
against racism, nationalism, and hatred, are appalled by and deeply
concerned with the aggressive campaign and threats of violence
against the writer Ekrem Eylisli in your country. The only crime
committed by your fellow citizen Ekrem Eylisli, whose security is
your responsibility, is to have defended in his recent novel the
solidarity of peoples.
As the Human Rights Watch has declared in its global press release,
Eylisli has been targeted with an increasingly aggressive campaign of
enmity and defamation, further endorsed by official spokespersons and
the media, only because he has written a novel in which he has chosen
not to represent Armenians as an object of hatred. Since January 31st,
the said transgressions have included protests in front of his house,
insults and threats, and book-burning.
Notorious for her racist views, member of Azerbaijani parliament
Melahat İbrahimkızı has accused Eylisli of offending not only
Azerbaijan but the entire Turkish nation, thus sending a message to
Turkey and provoking the same campaign of hatred against Armenians
in Turkey.
Eylisli's family too has been subjected to retribution: His son
Necep Naibov, employed by the Ministry of Customs, and his wife
Galina Alexandrova, a library director, have been dismissed without
just cause.
The lynching campaign has reached its peak with the pro-government
Moderna Musavat Party leaders putting a reward of ten thousand Manat
on Ekrem Eylisli's ears.
And you, Mr. President, in your capacity as the higher most leader
of the state of Azerbaijan, have endorsed and even encouraged threats
against Eylisli's life by signing the presidential decree on Eylisli's
divestiture of the title "Writer of the People" and on the termination
of his entitlement to pension.
We are the defenders of human rights and opponents of racism,
discrimination, and hate in a country where, throughout its history,
writers have fallen prey to unsolved cases of murder, or left to
rot in prison. Ours is a country where those who express diverse
views remain under constant threat. We know well how the racist,
nationalist, and discriminatory state politics have driven the masses
to the streets and turned individuals into murderers, even of their
own neighbors. We have lost many in such attacks, but we also bear
witness to the fact that the people will not be silenced by oppression.
At the same time, we have seen firsthand how your state and the rulers
of the Republic of Turkey have joined endeavors in inciting enmity
among their peoples against Armenians. The hateful slogans against
Armenians in the "Hocalı Protest" in Taksim Square, Istanbul, are
still ringing in our ears; the banners bearing the words "You are
all Armenians, you are all bastards" are still before our eyes. As
a result of our opposition, those carrying these banners have been
charged and indicted. For us, the defenders of rights and opponents
of racial hatred in Turkey, opposing enmity against Armenians and
diverse ethnic and religious identities is a foremost duty.
As the proponents and defenders of peace, democracy, and justice,
of solidarity of the peoples and equal coexistence, we invite you, Mr.
President, to use your office and enlist all your subordinates to
urgently put an end to the lynching campaign against Ekrem Eylisli.
Leaders who have incited peoples to transgressions of racist hatred,
who have condoned such transgressions or turned a blind eye to them,
have come to be known in history as a disgrace, whereas the memory
of those who strive for peace will forever live to honor humanity.
HELSINKI CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
SAY STOP TO RACISIM AND NATIONALISM INITIATIVE
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION TURKEY
ASSOCIATION FOR FACING HISTORY
February 20, 2013
ISTANBUL, Turkey (A.W.)-Four Turkish human rights and anti-racism
groups sent a letter to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
urging him "to urgently put an end to the lynching campaign against
Ekrem Eylisli" for his positive portrayal of Armenians.
Ekrem Eylisli The Armenian Weekly publishes the text of the letter
in full.
***
Mr. İlham Aliyev
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Dear Mr. President,
We, the defenders of human rights in Turkey and supporters of fight
against racism, nationalism, and hatred, are appalled by and deeply
concerned with the aggressive campaign and threats of violence
against the writer Ekrem Eylisli in your country. The only crime
committed by your fellow citizen Ekrem Eylisli, whose security is
your responsibility, is to have defended in his recent novel the
solidarity of peoples.
As the Human Rights Watch has declared in its global press release,
Eylisli has been targeted with an increasingly aggressive campaign of
enmity and defamation, further endorsed by official spokespersons and
the media, only because he has written a novel in which he has chosen
not to represent Armenians as an object of hatred. Since January 31st,
the said transgressions have included protests in front of his house,
insults and threats, and book-burning.
Notorious for her racist views, member of Azerbaijani parliament
Melahat İbrahimkızı has accused Eylisli of offending not only
Azerbaijan but the entire Turkish nation, thus sending a message to
Turkey and provoking the same campaign of hatred against Armenians
in Turkey.
Eylisli's family too has been subjected to retribution: His son
Necep Naibov, employed by the Ministry of Customs, and his wife
Galina Alexandrova, a library director, have been dismissed without
just cause.
The lynching campaign has reached its peak with the pro-government
Moderna Musavat Party leaders putting a reward of ten thousand Manat
on Ekrem Eylisli's ears.
And you, Mr. President, in your capacity as the higher most leader
of the state of Azerbaijan, have endorsed and even encouraged threats
against Eylisli's life by signing the presidential decree on Eylisli's
divestiture of the title "Writer of the People" and on the termination
of his entitlement to pension.
We are the defenders of human rights and opponents of racism,
discrimination, and hate in a country where, throughout its history,
writers have fallen prey to unsolved cases of murder, or left to
rot in prison. Ours is a country where those who express diverse
views remain under constant threat. We know well how the racist,
nationalist, and discriminatory state politics have driven the masses
to the streets and turned individuals into murderers, even of their
own neighbors. We have lost many in such attacks, but we also bear
witness to the fact that the people will not be silenced by oppression.
At the same time, we have seen firsthand how your state and the rulers
of the Republic of Turkey have joined endeavors in inciting enmity
among their peoples against Armenians. The hateful slogans against
Armenians in the "Hocalı Protest" in Taksim Square, Istanbul, are
still ringing in our ears; the banners bearing the words "You are
all Armenians, you are all bastards" are still before our eyes. As
a result of our opposition, those carrying these banners have been
charged and indicted. For us, the defenders of rights and opponents
of racial hatred in Turkey, opposing enmity against Armenians and
diverse ethnic and religious identities is a foremost duty.
As the proponents and defenders of peace, democracy, and justice,
of solidarity of the peoples and equal coexistence, we invite you, Mr.
President, to use your office and enlist all your subordinates to
urgently put an end to the lynching campaign against Ekrem Eylisli.
Leaders who have incited peoples to transgressions of racist hatred,
who have condoned such transgressions or turned a blind eye to them,
have come to be known in history as a disgrace, whereas the memory
of those who strive for peace will forever live to honor humanity.
HELSINKI CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
SAY STOP TO RACISIM AND NATIONALISM INITIATIVE
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION TURKEY
ASSOCIATION FOR FACING HISTORY