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Youth Urge Congress To Speak Out Against Anti-Armenian Hate Crimes I

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  • Youth Urge Congress To Speak Out Against Anti-Armenian Hate Crimes I

    YOUTH URGE CONGRESS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST ANTI-ARMENIAN HATE CRIMES IN TURKEY

    http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/01/30/youth-urge-congress-to-speak-out-against-anti-armenian-hate-crimes-in-turkey/
    January 30, 2013

    Capitol Hill Silent Protest Part of National "Stain of Denial" Campus
    Campaign Raising Awareness about the Armenian Genocide and Legacy
    of Intolerance

    WASHINGTON-Armenian Student Association (ASA) members from the
    across the U.S. have teamed up with the Washington, DC Armenian Youth
    Federation (AYF) Ani chapter and local youth in organizing a silent
    protest on Capitol Hill this week to urge Congress to condemn a series
    of vicious hate crimes perpetrated against elderly Armenian women in
    Istanbul, Turkey and to call on U.S. leaders to end Turkey's gag rule
    on proper U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

    The protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office
    Building, on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31 The
    protest will be held in front of the Senate Dirksen Office Building,
    on Constitution Ave., from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 31, coinciding
    with the nationwide "Stain of Denial" campus protests organized by the
    All-ASA and supported by the AYF and ARF Shant Student organizations.

    "The growing number of hate crimes against Armenians, and particularly
    women, in Turkey is extremely disturbing. In only the past two
    months more than four Armenians were attacked and killed in Istanbul,
    once again bringing to light the strain of deeply rooted hatred and
    intolerance in Turkish society that is encouraged by the government and
    its continued policy of genocide denial," explained Knarik Gasparyan,
    Public Relations Director of the UCLA Armenian Students Association,
    in Washington DC for a semester-long internship.

    Gasparyan is referring to four widely publicized attacks against
    elderly Armenian women, one fatal, which have taken place over the
    past two months, in the historically Armenian-inhabited neighborhood
    of Samatya, in central Istanbul. On Dec. 28, an 85-year-old Armenian
    woman was repeatedly stabbed and killed in her home, with assailants
    carving a cross on her chest. Other attacks include the Nov. 2012
    beating of an 87-year-old Armenian woman, and a failed attempt to
    abduct an elderly Armenian woman on Jan. 6. According to Turkish
    news outlet, Bianet, the latest incident took place on Jan. 22,
    when 83-year-old Sultan Aykar was attacked and repeatedly kicked
    until neighbors heard her screams and rushed to assist her. Aykar
    lost sight in one eye because of the brutal beating.

    The beatings sparked a sharp response from Amnesty International
    earlier this week, which called on "Turkish authorities to carry
    out a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation into the series
    of attacks on elderly Armenian women in Istanbul." The January 28th
    statement stressed that "Hate crimes constitute a serious form of
    discrimination... It is regrettable that Turkish legislation does
    not foresee any legislative and policy measures ensuring that hate
    motives are systematically and thoroughly investigated and duly taken
    into account in the prosecution and sentencing."

    Questions regarding a government cover-up of the attacks abound, as
    Turkish authorities attempt to downplay the crimes. "The incident was
    inspired by robbery, there were no racial motives. Be sure we will find
    the perpetrators. Good night," tweeted Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni
    Mutlu to his 100,000 followers. This and similar statements prompted
    Amnesty International to express "concern at public statements made by
    the authorities discounting the possibility of a racist motivation to
    the attacks." Meanwhile, the Turkish Human Rights Association stated
    categorically that "the attacks were carried out with racist motives,"
    according to a January 28th Economist article, "Turkey's Armenians:
    The Ghosts of 1915," referencing the legacy of the Armenian Genocide
    and its denial.

    "The recent brutal murders and attacks on elderly Armenian women in
    Istanbul once again showed the level of xenophobia and intolerance
    within the Turkish society," explained Bloomfield College student
    Armen Sahakyan. "The events also serve as a sober reminder for us
    that the Armenian Genocide issue is not yet resolved and we should
    work ever harder to stand up to Turkey's denial of that crime and
    secure the return of what rightfully belongs to the Armenian nation."

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