ANCA WELCOMES STATE DEPARTMENT'S CONCERN OVER TURKEY'S PROSECUTION OF NISANYAN
http://armenpress.am/eng/print/723074/anca-welcomes-state-department%E2%80%99s-concern-over-turkeys-prosecution-of-nisanyan.html
20:40, 18 June, 2013
YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS: The ANCA has welcomed the State
Department's first public expression of concern regarding a recent
Turkish court's "blasphemy" ruling against noted journalist and writer
Sevan Nisanyan, an ethnic Armenian citizen of Turkey.
In a June 7, 2013 letter, the Department of State responded to ANCA's
requests for a public U.S. position on this human rights and religious
freedom issue, by noting: "We are deeply concerned about any attempt
to punish individuals for exercising their right to free speech,
including the case of Sevan Nisanyan. The long term stability,
security, and prosperity of all countries, including Turkey are
best guaranteed by upholding the fundamental freedoms of expression,
assembly, and association. These freedoms are crucial to any healthy
democracy," is said in the statement, reports "Armenpress".
The ANCA has, in its outreach to the White House and State
Department on this case, stressed the need for a vocal American
defense of Nisanyan's right to freedom of expression, noting that
the U.S. government, despite many warning signs - including those
shared by the ANCA - remained publicly silent on Turkey's persecution
of writer Hrant Dink, until after he was assassinated in 2007. The
ANCA will continue to press for a more active and vocal U.S. defense
of Nisanyan, who has, in the past, been prosecuted and politically
pressured over his truthful statements about the Armenian Genocide.
http://armenpress.am/eng/print/723074/anca-welcomes-state-department%E2%80%99s-concern-over-turkeys-prosecution-of-nisanyan.html
20:40, 18 June, 2013
YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS: The ANCA has welcomed the State
Department's first public expression of concern regarding a recent
Turkish court's "blasphemy" ruling against noted journalist and writer
Sevan Nisanyan, an ethnic Armenian citizen of Turkey.
In a June 7, 2013 letter, the Department of State responded to ANCA's
requests for a public U.S. position on this human rights and religious
freedom issue, by noting: "We are deeply concerned about any attempt
to punish individuals for exercising their right to free speech,
including the case of Sevan Nisanyan. The long term stability,
security, and prosperity of all countries, including Turkey are
best guaranteed by upholding the fundamental freedoms of expression,
assembly, and association. These freedoms are crucial to any healthy
democracy," is said in the statement, reports "Armenpress".
The ANCA has, in its outreach to the White House and State
Department on this case, stressed the need for a vocal American
defense of Nisanyan's right to freedom of expression, noting that
the U.S. government, despite many warning signs - including those
shared by the ANCA - remained publicly silent on Turkey's persecution
of writer Hrant Dink, until after he was assassinated in 2007. The
ANCA will continue to press for a more active and vocal U.S. defense
of Nisanyan, who has, in the past, been prosecuted and politically
pressured over his truthful statements about the Armenian Genocide.