Turkish Intellectuals Who Have Recognized The Armenian Genocide: Alper GörmüÅ?
By MassisPost
Updated: December 26, 2014
By Hambersom Aghbashian
Ahmet Alper GörmüÅ? (born 21 November 1952) is a Turkish journalist and
writer. He is a columnist for Taraf (since 2007) and for Yeni Aktüel.
He was the editor-in-chief of the weekly Nokta (2006-7), and was
previously a contributor to Aydınlık (1977 ` 1980). Following the 1980
Turkish coup d'état Aydınlık was closed down and he worked outside
journalism in a variety of roles. GörmüÅ? resumed journalism at Nokta
(1986 ` 1990), and was then editor-in-chief of Yeni Aktüel (1991 `
1995). He received the Hrant Dink International Award* in 2009, with
Amira Hass**. (1)
In December 2008, (200) prominent Turkish intellectuals released an
apology for the `great catastrophe of 1915³. This was a clear
reference to the Armenian Genocide, a term still too sensitive to use
so openly. The signatories also announced a website related to this
apology, and called on others to visit the site and sign the apology
as well. The complete, brief text of the apology says `My conscience
does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial of the
Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in
1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with the
feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers and sisters. I apologize to
them.' Alper GörmüÅ? was one of the Turkish intellectual who signed the
petition which in few days was signed by over 13,000 signatories.(2)
The Armenian genocide was commemorated for the first time in Turkey on
April 24,2010, where Intellectuals gathered in Taksim Square to
commemorate the killings of Armenians in 1915. A sit-down strike
organized by the `Say No to Racism and Nationalism Initiative' in
Taksim Square was attended by a group of public figures including
Professor Ahmet Insel, columnists Ali Bayramoglu, Roni Marguiles,
Alper GörmüÅ?, Ferhat Kentel, Erol Katýrcýoglu , Ã`mit Kývanç and many
others.(3)
www.panarmenian.net (April 20, 2011 ) quoted Turkish Zaman newspaper
reporting that `Armenians who lost their lives in the Armenian
displacement that took place in 1915, during the final days of the
Ottoman Empire, will be commemorated through a variety of events for a
second time this year. Commemoration ceremonies will be held in
Istanbul's Taksim Square, Ankara, Izmir, Diyarbakir and Bodrum. The
ceremonies are being organized by the `Say Stop to Racism and
Nationalism'. Spokesman Cengiz Algan said what took place in 1915 is
`a hurt we all share', and added `We need to confront the realities
that have been hidden by the official ideology for 100 years'. A
statement with the headline, `This pain is ours,' has been opened up
for signatures. More than 100 people including intellectuals, writers
and journalists, among them Alper GörmüÅ? signed the statement. `(4)
According to www.noravank.am , July 11,2013, and under the title
(Turkey on the threshold of 2015) , it was mentioned that `The
representative of the Turkish intelligentsia who writes critical
articles for `Taraf' newspaper , Alper Germus, expressed an opinion in
connection with assaults against the Armenians in Samatia district of
Istanbul saying that the assaults against the Armenians were direct in
consequence of `anti-missionary' movement which had been initiated in
early 2000s in Turkey, which could be considered as purposeful actions
directed to the intimidation of the Armenians on the threshold of
2015. (5)
'''''''''''''''
* The International Hrant Dink Award is presented by the HDV every
year on Sept. 15, Dink's birthday. The foundation states on its
website: `The award will be presented to people who work for a world
free of discrimination, racism, and violence, take personal risks for
their ideals, use the language of peace and by doing so, inspire and
encourage others. With this award, the Foundation aims to remind to
all those who struggle for these ideals that their voices are heard,
their works are visible and that they are not alone, and also to
encourage everyone to fight for their ideals.'Each year, the award
committee selects one recipient from Turkey and one from abroad.
**Amira Hass is an Israeli left-wing journalist and author, mostly
known for her columns in the daily newspaper Ha'aretz
1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alper_G%C3%B6rm%C3%BC%C5%9F
2-http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title0_prominent_Turks_apologize_for_gre at_catastrophe_
3- http://www.network54.com/Forum/248068/thread/1272245708/Armenian+genocide+
4- http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/67693/
5- http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=12258
http://massispost.com/2014/12/turkish-intellectuals-who-have-recognized-the-armenian-genocide-alper-gormus/
By MassisPost
Updated: December 26, 2014
By Hambersom Aghbashian
Ahmet Alper GörmüÅ? (born 21 November 1952) is a Turkish journalist and
writer. He is a columnist for Taraf (since 2007) and for Yeni Aktüel.
He was the editor-in-chief of the weekly Nokta (2006-7), and was
previously a contributor to Aydınlık (1977 ` 1980). Following the 1980
Turkish coup d'état Aydınlık was closed down and he worked outside
journalism in a variety of roles. GörmüÅ? resumed journalism at Nokta
(1986 ` 1990), and was then editor-in-chief of Yeni Aktüel (1991 `
1995). He received the Hrant Dink International Award* in 2009, with
Amira Hass**. (1)
In December 2008, (200) prominent Turkish intellectuals released an
apology for the `great catastrophe of 1915³. This was a clear
reference to the Armenian Genocide, a term still too sensitive to use
so openly. The signatories also announced a website related to this
apology, and called on others to visit the site and sign the apology
as well. The complete, brief text of the apology says `My conscience
does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial of the
Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in
1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with the
feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers and sisters. I apologize to
them.' Alper GörmüÅ? was one of the Turkish intellectual who signed the
petition which in few days was signed by over 13,000 signatories.(2)
The Armenian genocide was commemorated for the first time in Turkey on
April 24,2010, where Intellectuals gathered in Taksim Square to
commemorate the killings of Armenians in 1915. A sit-down strike
organized by the `Say No to Racism and Nationalism Initiative' in
Taksim Square was attended by a group of public figures including
Professor Ahmet Insel, columnists Ali Bayramoglu, Roni Marguiles,
Alper GörmüÅ?, Ferhat Kentel, Erol Katýrcýoglu , Ã`mit Kývanç and many
others.(3)
www.panarmenian.net (April 20, 2011 ) quoted Turkish Zaman newspaper
reporting that `Armenians who lost their lives in the Armenian
displacement that took place in 1915, during the final days of the
Ottoman Empire, will be commemorated through a variety of events for a
second time this year. Commemoration ceremonies will be held in
Istanbul's Taksim Square, Ankara, Izmir, Diyarbakir and Bodrum. The
ceremonies are being organized by the `Say Stop to Racism and
Nationalism'. Spokesman Cengiz Algan said what took place in 1915 is
`a hurt we all share', and added `We need to confront the realities
that have been hidden by the official ideology for 100 years'. A
statement with the headline, `This pain is ours,' has been opened up
for signatures. More than 100 people including intellectuals, writers
and journalists, among them Alper GörmüÅ? signed the statement. `(4)
According to www.noravank.am , July 11,2013, and under the title
(Turkey on the threshold of 2015) , it was mentioned that `The
representative of the Turkish intelligentsia who writes critical
articles for `Taraf' newspaper , Alper Germus, expressed an opinion in
connection with assaults against the Armenians in Samatia district of
Istanbul saying that the assaults against the Armenians were direct in
consequence of `anti-missionary' movement which had been initiated in
early 2000s in Turkey, which could be considered as purposeful actions
directed to the intimidation of the Armenians on the threshold of
2015. (5)
'''''''''''''''
* The International Hrant Dink Award is presented by the HDV every
year on Sept. 15, Dink's birthday. The foundation states on its
website: `The award will be presented to people who work for a world
free of discrimination, racism, and violence, take personal risks for
their ideals, use the language of peace and by doing so, inspire and
encourage others. With this award, the Foundation aims to remind to
all those who struggle for these ideals that their voices are heard,
their works are visible and that they are not alone, and also to
encourage everyone to fight for their ideals.'Each year, the award
committee selects one recipient from Turkey and one from abroad.
**Amira Hass is an Israeli left-wing journalist and author, mostly
known for her columns in the daily newspaper Ha'aretz
1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alper_G%C3%B6rm%C3%BC%C5%9F
2-http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title0_prominent_Turks_apologize_for_gre at_catastrophe_
3- http://www.network54.com/Forum/248068/thread/1272245708/Armenian+genocide+
4- http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/67693/
5- http://www.noravank.am/eng/articles/detail.php?ELEMENT_ID=12258
http://massispost.com/2014/12/turkish-intellectuals-who-have-recognized-the-armenian-genocide-alper-gormus/