Paris, 18 June
2003
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) is extremely
worried by recent measures approved by Turkish Government intended
for teaching the 1915-1917’s tragic history in the educational
system, a period during which the ‘Young Turk’ government
had planned and perpetrated the deportation and extermination
of the entire Armenian peoples from Anatolia.
A decree issued on 14 April 2003 by Mr. Huseyin Celik, Minister
of Education, explains how to implement measures down to the
secondary and primary school levels aiming at « fighting
against the allegations of genocide » of Armenians, but
also of Pontus Greeks and Assyrians. This decree follows a series
of instructions sent to University rectors and deans in order
to determine in advance what and how the scientists will think
about the « Armenian Deportation » and how to train
educators on this issue.
The FIDH condemns with force this attempt to deny formally
and universally established historical facts, qualified and
recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century, in the
sense of the Convention for Prevention and Repression of Crime
of Genocide, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December
1948. The « Young Turks » leaders have been tried
and condemned for this matter in 1919 by the Special Court of
former Ottoman Empire ; crimes against humanity being one of
the convictions.
The first victims of this denial policy are the Turkish citizens
themselves, their rights and freedoms as well. Then, the FIDH
is informed about the arrest and immediate prosecution on 30
May of 6 teachers, being present at an information meeting set
up by the sub-prefect of Elbely county (in the province of Kilis).
They dared asking detailed information about the implementation
procedures set up by the Turkish Government to « fight
against the Armenian genocide allegations ». This constitutes
a clear violation of fundamental freedom of expression, as guaranteed
by article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, duly ratified by Turkey.
These measures are clearly in contradiction the recommendation
(2001) 15 issued by the Council of Europe’s Committee
of Ministers on 31 October 2001, in relation to the education
of the 20th century’s history. It requested from member
States « to take all necessary education measures preventing
repetition or denial of devastating events occurred during this
century, namely the Holocaust, the genocides or other crimes
against Humanity, ethnic cleansings, massive violations of human
rights (…) ».
Late 5 June, the European Parliament adopted a general resolution
about the adhesion of Turkey in the European Union. It stressed
its worry « about recent instructions set up by the Turkish
ministry of education forcing primary and secondary schools
to participate into a denial campaign of the minorities oppression
during history of Turkey, especially against the Armenian community
».
Therefore, the FIDH demands from the Turkish authorities to
cancel these measures in the shortest timeframe and to guarantee
in all circumstances the freedom of expression for all its citizens
and all the rights of its Armenian minority, especially the
right and respect of its proper history and memory.
Finally, the FIDH demands from the current Turkish Government
to officially recognise the genocide committed against the Armenians
in 1915-1917, conforming to the resolution of European Parliament
on 18 June 1987 (doc.A2-33/87). It pointed out that «
democracy can be established in a country only to the condition
that this one recognises and enriches its history in all its
ethnical and cultural dimensions » and assessed that «
the denial by the Turkish government of the genocide perpetrated
earlier by the Young Turks government against the Armenian people,
its unwillingness to implement the international law standards
as far as its dispute with Greece, the continuous presence of
Turkish troops in Cyprus as well as the denial of Kurdish question
(…) » constitute obstacles to the eventual adhesion
of Turkey into the European Union.
Very truly yours,
Sidiki Kaba
President
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