ISTANBUL—Hundreds gathered in Taksim Square Tuesday to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reported Today’s Zaman.
A sit-down gathering organized by the Say No to Racism and Nationalism initiative in Taksim Square was attended by a group of public figures, including wife of murdered journalist Hrant Dink, Rakel Dink; Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Istanbul deputies Sırrı Sureyya Onder and Sebahat Tuncel; former Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) head Ufuk Uras; journalists Oral Çalışlar, Hüseyin Hatemi and Hilal Kaplan as well as other intellectuals.
Protesters laid carnations in front of a banner that read, “This pain belongs to all of us.” Zişan Tokaç, who made a statement on behalf of the protesting group, said Armenians were sent into exile to places where they could not survive, recounting atrocities committed at that time.
Uras told reporters that Turkey will face its history and “shared pain” in building a 21st century democracy. He added that people from all walks of life were present at the sit-in protest.
Dink said Armenians had gone through things that she cannot even say aloud and that they are still facing similar problems. Meanwhile, two nationalist groups protested the gathering; however, police didn’t allow them to approach the group.
Seriously, these are brave people who tell the truth! I pray for them all!
Truly they are brothers and sisters to us as far as I am concerned
I bet that most of the people gathered there are actually secret Armenians. Many Armenians changed their names to Turkish names and only speak Turkish to hide their identity. I am glad that the Kurds now understand what the Turkish-Armenians have gone through and are going through because the Turks are killing many Kurds as we speak but the Western media is silent about it. It is sad that the Turkish government is brainwashing their the Turkish people with anti-Armenian propaganda and creating a new generation of racists and barbarians. I am glad that there are enlightened Turks and Turkish human rights activists out there but unfortunately their numbers are small and they are under constant threat of arrest for violating Article 301 of the Turkish penal code.
Tese are Courageous Armenian’s
There are two types of people on Earth
HONEST vs DISHONEST …
I don’t believe in Nationality,Religion, Race…!
Sylva
I would like to congratulate these brave man and woman.
I would like to see us in the diaspora supporting their stuggle to win bigger support inside Turkey and brake the “Taboo” once and for all.
Say No to Racism and Nationalism initiative??
I am sorry, did anyone see any reference to the 1915 Genocide?
Did they even mention the Armenian people?
How is this classified as a Genocide Commemoration??
I am not blaming those that attended this, they are under a heavy burden having to LIVE in a country that would persecute you if even mention the word Genocide.
Hats off to these honorable people, Turks and Kurds alike,who acknowledge and “share the pain” with us Armenians, on April 24,
Heaven belongs to those who say the truth no mater what race or creed or gender.
We thank those Armenians & others in Taksim Square in Istanbul for not forgetting what the Armenian Nation went thru in 1915-1923 under the Young Turk Regime of those years.