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