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OTTOMAN-ERA ARMENIANS ADDED TO LIST OF SLAIN TURKISH JOURNALISTS
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=armenian-origin-ottoman-journalists-enter-the-list-of-the-slain-2011-03-08
March 8 2011
Turkey
The Contemporary Journalists Association, or CGD, adds 10 journalists
of Armenian origin killed in 1915 to its list of slain journalists
in Turkey. The association will hold a ceremony April 24, the date
when some countries commemorate the alleged Armenian genocide in
Ottoman lands
Ten journalists of Armenian origin who were killed in the waning days
of the Ottoman Empire will be added to a list of slain journalists in
Turkey by the Ankara-based Contemporary Journalists Association, or
CGD. The association will hold a ceremony April 24, the date when some
countries commemorate the alleged Armenian genocide in Ottoman lands.
The newly added names include Krikor Zohrab, a lawyer, author
and three-time deputy in the Ottoman Parliament; Taniel Varujan, a
renowned Armenian writer; Rupen Zartaryan, Siamento (Atom Yarjanian)
and six others, all also pioneers of western Armenian literature.
Though the CGD was late in making the move, it did not have the
necessary documents to add the journalists to the list before,
association head Ahmet Abakay told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic
Review. "We realized it when the list prepared by the Arrested
Journalists Solidarity Platform reached us. Journalist Ali Bayramoglu
wrote on April 24 about the Armenian-origin journalists killed and
we realized the list we had was incomplete. We expect assistance to
add more names to it," Abakay said.
The 76-name list of journalists killed in Turkey before and after the
foundation of the Turkish Republic includes well-known figures such
as Abdi İpekci, Cetin Emec and Ugur Mumcu, but previously contained
only one Armenian name: Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian
descent who was assassinated in Istanbul in 2007.
When asked whether the CGD is worried about the potential response to
adding the Armenian journalists to the list, Abakay said: "I wish we
had the information before and has taken this radical step before. We,
the Turkish people, unfortunately do not know anything but what the
official history has told us. The truth was hidden from us."
Mistakes made in the past must be discussed if the country believes
wholeheartedly in democracy, the CGD head said. "It is a crime to
hide from the people those names that have made contributions to the
Turkish press," Abakay said. "They are all people of this country.
They have been slain just like Abdi İpekci, Ugur Mumcu and others."
He added that the association seeks to add more names to the list
and raise awareness about it.
Armenia claims up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed
in 1915 under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies this,
saying that any deaths were the result of civil strife that erupted
when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.
Photo: These photos show 10 journalists of Armenian origin who were
killed in waning days of the Ottoman Empire.
From: A. Papazian
Hurriyet
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=armenian-origin-ottoman-journalists-enter-the-list-of-the-slain-2011-03-08
March 8 2011
Turkey
The Contemporary Journalists Association, or CGD, adds 10 journalists
of Armenian origin killed in 1915 to its list of slain journalists
in Turkey. The association will hold a ceremony April 24, the date
when some countries commemorate the alleged Armenian genocide in
Ottoman lands
Ten journalists of Armenian origin who were killed in the waning days
of the Ottoman Empire will be added to a list of slain journalists in
Turkey by the Ankara-based Contemporary Journalists Association, or
CGD. The association will hold a ceremony April 24, the date when some
countries commemorate the alleged Armenian genocide in Ottoman lands.
The newly added names include Krikor Zohrab, a lawyer, author
and three-time deputy in the Ottoman Parliament; Taniel Varujan, a
renowned Armenian writer; Rupen Zartaryan, Siamento (Atom Yarjanian)
and six others, all also pioneers of western Armenian literature.
Though the CGD was late in making the move, it did not have the
necessary documents to add the journalists to the list before,
association head Ahmet Abakay told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic
Review. "We realized it when the list prepared by the Arrested
Journalists Solidarity Platform reached us. Journalist Ali Bayramoglu
wrote on April 24 about the Armenian-origin journalists killed and
we realized the list we had was incomplete. We expect assistance to
add more names to it," Abakay said.
The 76-name list of journalists killed in Turkey before and after the
foundation of the Turkish Republic includes well-known figures such
as Abdi İpekci, Cetin Emec and Ugur Mumcu, but previously contained
only one Armenian name: Hrant Dink, a Turkish journalist of Armenian
descent who was assassinated in Istanbul in 2007.
When asked whether the CGD is worried about the potential response to
adding the Armenian journalists to the list, Abakay said: "I wish we
had the information before and has taken this radical step before. We,
the Turkish people, unfortunately do not know anything but what the
official history has told us. The truth was hidden from us."
Mistakes made in the past must be discussed if the country believes
wholeheartedly in democracy, the CGD head said. "It is a crime to
hide from the people those names that have made contributions to the
Turkish press," Abakay said. "They are all people of this country.
They have been slain just like Abdi İpekci, Ugur Mumcu and others."
He added that the association seeks to add more names to the list
and raise awareness about it.
Armenia claims up to 1.5 million Armenians were systematically killed
in 1915 under the rule of the Ottoman Empire. Turkey denies this,
saying that any deaths were the result of civil strife that erupted
when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia.
Photo: These photos show 10 journalists of Armenian origin who were
killed in waning days of the Ottoman Empire.
From: A. Papazian