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ANKARA: Controversial `YouTube' song to be taken to EP

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  • ANKARA: Controversial `YouTube' song to be taken to EP

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Sept 28 2007


    Controversial `YouTube' song to be taken to EP
    In a draft resolution prepared by Dutch Member of the European
    Parliament (MEP) Ria Oomen-Ruijten, European Parliament deputies have
    asked for singer Ýsmail Türüt and folk poet Ozan Arif to be
    condemned.


    Three Italian Christian Democrat MEPs tabled an amendment asking the
    parliament to condemn the song and its lyrics, which they claim
    incite hatred and animosity. Italian Christian Democrats Antonio
    Tajani, Jas Gawronski and Mario Mauro proposed an amendment, stating:
    "We are concerned about the spreading of the song sung by Ýsmail
    Türüt, whose lyrics were written by folk poet Ozan Arif.'

    The statement continues, `The song praises the murder of [Hrant] Dink
    and we strongly condemn it. We welcome immediate action by Turkish
    authorities against this incitement to hatred against Christians and
    Armenians.'

    The three deputies want their amendment to be included in the draft
    resolution prepared by Dutch Christian Democrat Oomen-Ruijten. The
    draft will be discussed at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee
    on Oct. 3 and is expected to be voted on Nov. 14. Ýsmail Türüt's song
    `Plan Yapmayýn Plan' (Do not make plans) includes phrases which have
    been interpreted as xenophobic and praising those who murdered
    Armenian-Turkish journalist Dink. It gained prominence after a video
    containing images of the murdered Dink, amongst other things, was set
    to it and uploaded on YouTube. Investigations are pending against
    both Türüt and songwriter Arif.

    `Genocide' amendments tabled again

    Oomen-Ruijten, who has been resisting attempts to make a reference to
    the `Armenian genocide,' has been under intense attack from many
    Armenian lobbies. Despite Oomen-Ruijten's calls to not distort the
    balances in the draft report, many French and Polish deputies have
    proposed various amendments asking Turkey to recognize the
    `genocide.' Sources say Oomen-Ruijten continues to resist and there
    is a possibility that the amendments could be withdrawn. Members of
    the Socialist, Liberal and Green parties are expected to give their
    support, but experts say Oomen-Ruijten should convince her own group,
    the Christian Democrats.


    28.09.2007

    SELÇUK GÜLTAÞLI BRUSSELS

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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